Your Complete Guide to Becoming a Food Delivery Courier in the UK (2026)
Becoming a food delivery courier in the UK is one of the fastest ways to start earning flexible income — whether you ride a bicycle, e-bike, scooter or car. In this complete guide, we walk you through every step: from eligibility and insurance to choosing the right app and getting your first order.
Six Steps to become a Courier
- Check Your Eligibility Before you start, ensure you are at least 18 years old and have a valid right to work in the UK.
- Choose Your Wheels Decide if you’ll deliver by bicycle, e-bike, scooter, or car. Your choice affects your overhead costs and speed. Compare the best vehicles for delivery here →
- Get Specialist Insurance If using a motor vehicle, standard insurance isn’t enough. You must have “Hire & Reward” (H&R) cover to stay legal. View our recommended insurance providers →
- Select Employer Find out which food delivery app pays the best View our Food Delivery apps comparison →
- Submit Your Application Download the apps and upload your documents. Background checks usually take between 2 and 14 days.
- Grab Your Gear You’ll need a high-quality insulated bag, a phone mount, and a power bank to stay on the road longer. Check out our top-rated courier gear list →.
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Step 1) Check Your Eligibility
Before you start, ensure you meet these basic requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a valid right to work in the UK
- Must have a National Insurance number
- Must have a UK bank account for payments
- Must have a valid ID (passport or driving licence)
💡 Pro tip from a real courier: “When you sign up to Uber Eats they will occasionally ask you to take a selfie to verify your identity — both when you first sign up and sometimes between deliveries. Make sure your account photo is up to date.”
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Step 2) Choose your Vehicle
Your vehicle choice affects your earnings, costs and which platforms you can work for. Here’s an honest breakdown:
| 🚲 Bicycle | 🛵 E-Bike | 🛺 Scooter | 🚗 Car | |
| Running Cost | Cheapest | Low | Medium | Highest |
| Best For | City Center | All areas | All areas | Long orders |
| Range | Limited | Extended | Good | Unlimited |
| Platforms | All | All | All | Uber + Just Eat |
💡 Pro tip from a real courier: “If you’re on a bike or motorbike, focus on the city centre for short orders. Car drivers tend to do better on the outskirts near leisure complexes and shopping centres where cyclists don’t usually go.”
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Step 3) Get the Right Insurance
This is one of the most important steps — and the one most new couriers get wrong.
Standard car or motorbike insurance does NOT cover you for paid delivery work. You legally need what’s called “Hire & Reward” (H&R) insurance
What you need by vehicle:
- 🚲 Bicycle: Public liability insurance recommended (not legally required but sensible)
- 🛵 E-bike/Scooter/Motorbike: Hire & Reward motor insurance
- 🚗 Car: Hire & Reward motor insurance
⚠️ Delivering without the right insurance is illegal and could result in your vehicle being seized.
🔗 View our recommended insurance providers →
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Step 4) Choose Which App to Work For
There are 4 main food delivery platforms in the UK. You can sign up to more than one and experienced couriers usually do.
🔗 View our comparison for each App to compare their pricing and sign up →
💡 Golden rule -> Aim for £1.50 per mile minimum, ideally £2 per mile
| Distance | Pay | Ratio | Worth Taking? | |
| Bad Order | 11 Miles | £10 | £0.90/mile | ❌ No |
| OK order | 5 Miles | £7.80 | £1.56/mile | 🟡 Maybe |
| Good Order | 1.5 Miles | £4 | £2.67/mile | ✅ Yes |
💡 Pro tip from a real courier: “When you sign up to Uber Eats they will occasionally ask you to take a selfie to verify your identity both when you first sign up and sometimes between deliveries. Make sure your account photo is up to date.”
💡 Also check how many deliveries are in the order. Two or three stops means more waiting time at restaurants, factor that in
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Step 5) Get your Gear
Before you head out on your first delivery, you’ll need a few essentials. The good news? You don’t need to spend a fortune. Here’s exactly what experienced UK couriers recommend and where to get the best deals
The must-haves:
- 🎒 Insulated delivery bag — Required by all platforms. Keeps food hot and customers happy. Don’t cheap out on this one.
- 📱 Phone mount — Hands-free navigation is essential for safe riding. Make sure it fits your phone and handlebar.
- 🔋 Power bank — Delivery apps drain your battery fast. A dead phone means zero earnings. Always carry one.
Highly recommended:
- 🧥 Waterproof jacket — Rain = more orders = more money. Couriers who ride in bad weather earn significantly more.
- 💡 Bike lights — Legally required at night. Essential for evening shifts which are the most profitable.
- 🔒 Bike lock — Never leave your bike unsecured while making a delivery.
- 🧤 Cycling gloves — Your hands will thank you after a 3-hour winter shift.
- ⛑️ Safety helmet — Legally required for motor vehicles. Strongly recommended for cyclists too.
💡 Pro tip from a real courier: “Get a small secondary thermal bag just for drinks. Keeping drinks upright and separated from hot food is one of the biggest challenges — especially for McDonald’s orders with milkshakes and coffees. Also carry wet wipes — spills happen more than you’d think.