Hire and reward insurance for food delivery drivers (UK)

Checked 1 Nov 2026 against GOV.UK and the official Deliveroo and Just Eat driver pages (linked below). For drivers and riders delivering food in a car, scooter or motorbike for apps like Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats.

1. The short answer

Your normal car insurance is usually Social, Domestic & Pleasure (SD&P). Deliveroo says plainly: “Your SD&P insurance does not cover you for your food delivery work.” If you deliver food for payment in a car or on a motorised scooter, you need Hire & Reward cover as well as SD&P. Deliveroo

2. What counts as the right cover

Deliveroo accepts any of these, on top of SD&P: Deliveroo

• Hire and reward insurance, or
• Fast food delivery insurance, or
• Carriage of goods, including food, for hire and reward insurance.

Deliveroo needs to see proof of this before you start. Just Eat says car, motorcycle and scooter couriers must have “suitable vehicle insurance in place (including Hire and Reward cover)”, a valid driving licence, and a roadworthy, correctly registered vehicle, and must tell Just Eat at once if they are banned or suspended from driving. Just Eat

3. Why personal cover isn't enough

• SD&P covers everyday use of your vehicle, the times you're not working. It is a legal requirement for any vehicle not declared off-road. Deliveroo
• By law you need at least third party insurance to drive on UK roads. GOV.UK
• GOV.UK warns that even if the vehicle itself is insured, you can be penalised if you're not correctly insured to drive it. GOV.UK

4. What happens if you're caught uninsured

• Police can give a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points.
• If it goes to court: an unlimited fine and you can be disqualified from driving.
• Police can seize, and in some cases destroy, the vehicle.

GOV.UK: Driving without insurance

5. Quick checklist before your next shift

• Look at your certificate or schedule: does it say hire and reward, fast food delivery, or carriage of goods for hire and reward? If it only says SD&P (or SD&P plus commuting), ask your insurer before you deliver.
• If you buy a pay-as-you-go delivery policy that only runs while you're online, you still need SD&P for the rest of the time (Deliveroo asks for both).
• Using a different vehicle or a new app? Check the policy covers that vehicle and that kind of work.
• Just Eat also has its own Personal Accident and Public Liability policies for couriers. These are not a replacement for your own motor insurance. Just Eat

Sources (fetched 1 Nov 2026)

• GOV.UK: Vehicle insurance
• GOV.UK: Driving without insurance
• Deliveroo Rider Support: What insurance do I need?
• Just Eat Inside Track: Insurance and vehicle compliance

General information only, not insurance or legal advice. We don't sell or recommend any insurer and get nothing from any. Check your own policy wording with your insurer or a regulated broker. Not affiliated with Uber, Just Eat, Deliveroo, Evri, Amazon or DHL.

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