With flexible working hours, the ability to work independently and the potential for a good income, it’s understandable why so many people are interested in becoming delivery riders – either through food delivery apps like JustEat, Deliveroo, UberEats or directly through a restaurant or shop.  

In this blog, we are going to be running down everything you need to know about becoming a delivery rider – including the requirements you’ll need to meet, choosing the right bike for you and the best ways to maximise your earnings. 

So, without further ado – let’s get into it! 

Becoming a delivery rider is a relatively straightforward process, but there are things you’ll need to make sure you have in place before you start applying.  

As a delivery rider, you’ll typically need: 

• Access to your own motorcycle or scooter. 
• A valid motorcycle CBT or full motorbike license. 
• Be at least 18 years old. 
• Suitable delivery rider insurance.  

You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got all necessary motorbike equipment to keep you as secure as possible while riding.  

Once you’ve got everything you need, you can start applying. This can be done either directly through the Just Eat, Uber Eats or Deliveroo websites, or alternatively, you can contact individual restaurants and shops directly to deliver for them.  

When choosing a motorbike or scooter for deliveries, there are a few key things you’ll want to take into consideration: 

• Is it comfortable? 
• Is there enough storage, or space to install a top box? 
• Is it fuel efficient?  
• Does it fit my budget? 
• Can I be insured to make deliveries on it? 

If you want to know more about how to choose the right motorcycle or scooter for delivery work, you can read our fully comprehensive guide. 

According to Glassdoor, the average UK salary for a food delivery rider ranges from £20,000-£28,000. This can vary based on a variety of factors, including your location and the number of deliveries you take on (if you’re self-employed).   

Signing up to work as a delivery rider for larger retail chains and restaurants can provide you with more security in money and the jobs you get, compared to being self-employed with apps like Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber Eats.  

That being said, being self-employed affords you the flexibility to choose what hours you want to work, so you can work around other jobs and/or family commitments. It’s definitely worth having a think about which type of delivery riding will suit both your schedule and your lifestyle the best. 

This depends on who you ask. 

If you work for Deliveroo, JustEat or UberEats, you’ll be classed as self-employed. On paper, these companies now pay the National Living Wage for their self-employed workers, but only for the time spent actually out on a delivery.  

Because of that, there’s no guaranteed wage, with some Deliveroo riders earning as little as £2 an hour during shifts, and a third earning under the minimum wage. Similarly, UberEats riders typically earn £3.42 less than the National Living Wage on average per shift.  

While you can earn more than this, it’s important to remember that your earnings with these apps will vary.  

This can depend on where you’re based and how flexible you need your work to be. 

Overall, UberEats and Deliveroo are generally considered the apps with the most earning potential, and you can log in whenever is best for you instead of signing up for shifts.  

However, some restaurants will be exclusively on one app, so it’s worth doing some research on the Deliveroo and UberEats presence in your area before signing up. 

While earnings from JustEat tend to be slightly lower than the other two, the company operates in more rural areas than Deliveroo or UberEats – so if you’re not based in a city, this may be a smarter choice for you.  

Plus, JustEat assigns riders shifts instead of having them logging in when they want. Although this does mean less flexibility, there should be less competition working at the same time as you – meaning you can pick up more deliveries.  

There are many factors at play when it comes to delivery rider earnings. Here are some of the most common. 

According to Deliveroo, peak hours for delivery riders tend to be between 11:30am-2:30pm and 5:30pm-9:00pm, so working during these times means you’re more likely to take on deliveries and earn money.  

If you work in a more densely populated area with a high number of restaurants, you’ll likely have shorter delivery times and be able to do more deliveries at once, upping your earnings.  

In the colder months, people are more likely to order in, so you’ll probably have more deliveries. You can read our article on riding safely during the winter months to make sure you’re well prepared. 

If you’re riding for UberEats, Deliveroo or JustEat, you’ll keep 100% of any tips you make. For this reason, it’s a great idea to brush up on your customer service skills, as regular tips could significantly increase the amount you earn on shift. 

The more riders working on any one shift, the less deliveries you’ll be able to pick up. To combat this, you can try out new areas that may have more demand and test out different delivery apps to see which works best for you.  

As we mentioned previously, there are a few outgoing costs with delivery riding that you will to consider. These include: 

If you’re buying a scooter or motorbike for the first time, it’s important to remember that you’ll need to get an MOT once a year, and pay road tax. The cost of road tax for a motorbike can range from £26 a year (for a zero emission bike or a bike with an engine size of under 150cc) up to £121 for a 600cc+ motorbike.  

The cost of an MOT for a motorbike is currently capped at £37.80. If you’re not sure if your bike has a valid MOT, you can check on the GOV.UK website. 

When riding your bike more often for deliveries, you might find that it needs more frequent servicing and maintenance. As a self-employed rider you will need to cover these costs yourself, so it’s a good idea to do small maintenance tasks yourself if you can. 

You’ll be responsible for covering your own fuel or charging costs, so it’s a good idea to choose an efficient bike that can save you money in the long run. Read our article on choosing the right scooter for delivery work for more.  

You’ll need delivery rider insurance before you start working as a delivery rider, as 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. 

At Lexham, we offer delivery rider insurance aimed at mopeds, scooters and motorcycles up to 500cc. You can get a quote for this online.  

Yes, delivery riding absolutely can be profitable, even after expenses.  

However, there will be quieter periods where you have less deliveries coming in, so you’ll want to make sure you plan strategically and lower costs where you can to maximise your earnings. You can also read our guides on delivering specifically for UberEats, JustEat and Deliveroo for advice tailored to those specific apps.  

Well, there you have it. I hope you found this article on working as a delivery rider helpful.  

If you’re interested in becoming a delivery rider, it’s important to make sure you have the correct insurance, so don’t forget that you can get a specialist delivery rider insurance quotation direct with Lexham!