If you’re looking for flexible working hours – whether that be as your main source of income or alongside education or another full-time job – then riding for Deliveroo might be a great option for you.  

In this blog, we’re going to be running through everything you need to know about riding with Deliveroo, from the requirements you need to meet and strategies to increase your earnings.  

Deliveroo is a food delivery service where customers order from restaurants through the Deliveroo app, which connects them to riders who deliver the orders.  

As a Deliveroo rider, you’ll be able to access delivery orders when logged into the app, and you’ll have the choice to reject or accept these orders. Once accepted, the app will provide a route to the customer for you to deliver the food.  

You’ll be paid weekly for completed deliveries, and riders keep 100% of their tips.  

Applying to work for Deliveroo as a rider is a straightforward process. You’ll just have to fill out an application form on the Deliveroo website, and make sure you meet the company’s eligibility requirements.  

According to Deliveroo, in order to work with them you’ll need:  

• Proof of your right to work in the UK as self-employed 
• A smartphone (iOS 13.6, Android 6.0 or above) with near-field communication (NFC) and front and rear facing cameras. 
• Your own vehicle with the necessary safety equipment. 
• A UK bank account 

You’ll also need to have delivery insurance on your bike.  

Yes! As long as you meet the requirements set out in the above paragraph, you can become a Deliveroo rider by completing a CBT or having an A1 licence.  

Deliveroo pays riders per delivery, so while there is the potential to make money, it all depends on the hours you work and how busy the area you’re in is. As Deliveroo legally classifies its riders as self-employed, there is no guaranteed income.  

By contrast, if you deliver with Just Eat and are located within one of its ‘scoober’ cities such as Birmingham, Brighton, Cambridge, Liverpool or London, you’ll have the chance to work on a contract as a salaried worker. You can read our dedicated article on delivering for Just Eat to learn more. 

Deliveroo riders are normally paid every Tuesday, but riders also have the option to claim their wages straight away. If you request your fees early on a weekday before 17:30 you should receive the payment owed to you immediately. 

In any other instance, you’ll receive the money the next working day. 

However, by cashing out early you will discount your delivery fee by 50p, so if you can wait until the next weekly payment, it’s best to do so.  

Deliveroo pays between £2.90 and £6 per delivery which, according to Deliveroo, is calculated based on factors like distance, traffic and the time of day. You may be able to pick up multiple deliveries from the same restaurant, which will increase the amount you’re able to make per journey.  

Riders will also only be paid for completed deliveries, and you won’t receive this payment if you breach Deliveroo policies (such as not checking a customer’s ID when delivering alcohol.) This also means you won’t be paid for cancelled orders.  

If a customer requests a refund, you’ll still be paid in full if the reason for this refund is an issue in the restaurant’s control (like missing items or cold food) but if the refund is due to a Deliveroo fault (like a late rider) you’ll be paid the order amount minus any commission.  

Yes, Deliveroo riders will keep 100% of the tips they make, which will be paid to you at the same time as your other fees.  

Deliveroo argues that it does pay its riders fairly, but some disagree.  

As you’re paid only for deliveries (and not the time spent waiting in between orders) you may end up spending a lot of time on your shift not earning any money at all. 

Unfortunately not.  

As you’re technically self-employed when riding for Deliveroo, the company is under no legal obligation to pay you minimum wage for hours worked. Instead, riders are paid only for the time spent on deliveries, and not the time spent waiting.  

According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, this means that some Deliveroo riders are earning as little as £2 an hour, with one in three earning under the minimum wage.  

Of course, there is the potential to earn more than this, but there is no guarantee of wages for any session.  

While there’s no tried and true strategy to earn more money, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of earning more while working. These include: 

Deliveroo’s busiest hours tend to be 18:00-21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, so working during those times means you’re likely to take on more deliveries and make more money. 

When you open the Deliveroo app, you’ll be able to see how busy the area around you is using the heatmap – darker areas equal more orders, and lighter equal fewer. Focus on working the busiest areas around you to maximise the amount of deliveries you make.

 Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Day and bank holidays are great times to get out on the road. Deliveroo tends to see a surge of orders on days like this, so you can expect more orders – leading to higher than normal earnings.  

As a self-employed Deliveroo rider, there are costs you’ll need to cover yourself. These include: 

In order to ride with Deliveroo, you’ll need (at a minimum) to have completed your CBT. A CBT course in the UK typically costs between £130 and £190, but this can vary based on your location and training provider.  

It’s important to remember that your CBT license is only valid for two years, so you’ll need to pass your theory test and full moped or motorcycle test within that time, or you’ll need to retake your CBT if you want to keep riding. 

The cost of this can fluctuate depending on the type of licence you’re going for and the amount of training you undertake, so it’s worth looking into local training schools before you decide if this is something you want to invest in.  

 As a Deliveroo rider, you’ll be responsible for covering your own fuel or charging costs. For that reason, it’s a good idea to pick a fuel efficient bike that will save you money in the long run. Read our guide to buying the right scooter for delivery work for more details on this.

You’ll need delivery rider insurance before you start working for Deliveroo, as your standard insurance will not cover you for paid deliveries.  

Failure to have the correct insurance cover in the event of an accident may mean that you would be responsible for the accident and could be liable for all costs involved whether that be to the person or/and their vehicle. 

At Lexham, we offer delivery rider insurance aimed at mopeds, scooters and motorcycles up to 500cc.  

If you’re riding your bike more frequently for deliveries, your bike is likely to need more maintenance when it comes to your yearly MOT. You will of course need to pay for these things normally, but it is something to take into consideration.