Food Delivery Insurance UK: Cover for Deliveroo, UberEats and Just Eat Drivers

Why Standard Insurance Does Not Cover Food Delivery

Standard motor insurance policies covering social, domestic and pleasure use explicitly exclude Class 3 use - carrying goods or passengers in exchange for payment where the payment is for the transport service. Food delivery work for Deliveroo, UberEats, Just Eat, Stuart, or any similar platform or restaurant employer is precisely Class 3 use. If a delivery driver on an SDP policy has an accident during a delivery, the insurer can refuse the claim for misrepresentation of use, void the policy, and report to the Motor Insurers Bureau. The driver faces personal liability for third-party injury claims, which can be very substantial for serious accidents.

What Platform Insurance Covers by Platform

Deliveroo: Third-party only fleet insurance for riders while actively completing an assigned delivery task. Cover begins when the delivery is accepted in the app and ends when marked as delivered. Not covered: the inter-delivery period; damage to the rider own vehicle; travel to the delivery zone.

UberEats: Third-party motor insurance while a delivery partner is on an active trip assigned through the app. The inter-delivery period is not covered. Cover ends when the delivery is marked complete.

Just Eat: Delivery partners in the standard Just Eat arrangement are required to hold their own hire and reward insurance. Just Eat does not provide motor insurance to delivery riders. This makes Just Eat delivery one of the clearest cases where personal H&R cover is non-negotiable before starting work.

Amazon Flex: Amazon provides supplemental third-party cover during active delivery blocks. This does not replace a personal H&R policy and does not cover the inter-delivery period or damage to the driver own vehicle.

The Inter-Delivery Gap Explained

The inter-delivery gap is the period when a delivery driver is logged in and available on the platform app but has not yet accepted (or has just completed) a delivery. This includes: waiting for the next order after completing a delivery; driving to a restaurant area to wait for orders; repositioning between delivery zones. During all of these periods, platform insurance does not apply. The driver is on their standard SDP policy alone - which excludes hire and reward use. A PAYG H&R policy or annual H&R policy active throughout the working session covers the entire period including the inter-delivery gaps.

PAYG H&R Cover: How It Works in Practice

PAYG hire and reward cover is the most cost-effective solution for part-time delivery workers:

1. The driver maintains their standard SDP motor policy for personal and commuting use.
2. When starting a delivery shift, they open the PAYG provider app and activate H&R cover. The H&R layer extends cover to Class 3 use for the duration of the session.
3. When the shift ends, cover is deactivated in the app. Billing is calculated by the minute or hour.

Indicative PAYG rates for 2026: approximately GBP 1 to GBP 3 per working hour for a standard delivery car. A driver working 10 hours per week spends approximately GBP 520 to GBP 1,560 per year on PAYG cover. An annual H&R policy for the same driver might cost GBP 400 to GBP 600, making annual cover more cost-effective above approximately 15 to 20 working hours per week.

Cyclists and E-Bike Delivery Workers

Pedal cyclists are not subject to motor insurance requirements. However, personal accident insurance and cycle insurance are strongly advisable for delivery cyclists given the injury risk profile of urban cycling under time pressure. Electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) with a maximum continuous rated power not exceeding 250W and not assisted above 25km/h are treated as bicycles for road traffic and insurance law purposes. E-bikes exceeding these limits are motor vehicles requiring motor insurance, registration, road tax, and an appropriate driving licence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Deliveroo insurance cover me between deliveries?

No. Deliveroo fleet insurance applies only during an active, assigned delivery task. The inter-delivery period - logged in and available but not on a specific task - is not covered. A personal H&R policy or PAYG H&R cover active throughout the working session covers this gap.

I work for Just Eat - do they provide insurance?

Just Eat delivery partners in the standard arrangement are required to hold their own hire and reward insurance. Just Eat does not provide motor insurance as part of the standard partner arrangement. You need a personal H&R policy or PAYG H&R cover before starting deliveries for Just Eat.

Is PAYG H&R cheaper than an annual policy?

For part-time workers doing fewer than 15 to 20 delivery hours per week, PAYG is typically more cost-effective. Above that threshold an annual H&R policy generally offers better value. Compare your expected annual PAYG cost (hours per week x 52 x hourly rate) against annual policy quotes when deciding.

Does one H&R policy cover working for multiple platforms?

Yes. A personal H&R policy or PAYG cover from a specialist provider covers the vehicle and driver for hire and reward use regardless of which platform the delivery is made through. The insurance follows the driver and vehicle, not the platform. You do not need separate policies for Deliveroo, UberEats, and Just Eat.

What is the EAPC definition for e-bikes?

An EAPC under UK law must have a maximum continuous rated motor power not exceeding 250 watts and must not assist the rider above 25km/h. EAPCs meeting these criteria are treated as bicycles - no motor insurance, licence, tax, or registration required. E-bikes exceeding either limit are motor vehicles and require motor insurance, registration, road tax, and an appropriate driving licence.