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Our guide to the cover you need to work as a food delivery driver in the UK.

When you’re looking to start work as a food delivery driver, you are likely to come across the terms Hire & Reward and Social, Domestic & Pleasure insurance. As part of your application 

to start food delivery work, you will need additional insurance cover in place.

 But we know that this can sometimes be confusing.

In this post, we’ll look into the reasons why you need to have food delivery insurance in place and we’ll explain how you can get started with Zego quickly and easily.



In the UK, food delivery insurance, known as hire and reward, is a legal requirement for anyone using their vehicle for paid delivery work. Standard car insurance doesn’t cover activities like delivering food.



Without the correct policy, you risk fines, points on your license, or invalidating your insurance. Hire and reward insurance ensures you're protected for accidents, third-party claims, and vehicle damage, making it essential for working with platforms like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat. Stay compliant and safeguarded on the road.

The short answer is that you need to have Hire & Reward (H&R) insurance in place to cover your food delivery work because your standard Social, Domestic & Pleasure (SD&P) insurance will not cover you for activities like this.

Your SD&P covers your personal driving, like driving to the shops or visiting a friend. If you are delivering food in exchange for payment, your SD&P insurance does not cover you. Instead, you also need Hire & Reward cover in place for the time when you’re carrying out your delivery work.

We understand why some drivers are concerned about this. However, it does not count as dual insurance if you have two policies that cover different types of risk. There is no overlap between your SD&P and your H&R cover, so you don’t need to worry about dual insurance.

If you are caught driving without the correct 

, there can be a range of consequences, some of which can be severe. These can vary from a fine to points on your licence to having your vehicle seized by the police. That’s why it’s important to make sure you have the correct insurance cover in place for your work.

At Zego, we offer a range of delivery insurance options so you can get the cover that’s right for you. 

, we offer pay-as-you-go, 30-day and annual insurance, so we’ve got options for both part-time and full-time delivery work.

, we also offer pay-as-you-go, 30-day and annual cover, so you have a choice of options depending on how you prefer to work.

Download the Zego Delivery app and get a quote

 – it only takes a minute. For more information about our delivery insurance products, you can visit the 

If you have any questions, please let us know by sending an email to support@zego.com. Our friendly team are available 7 days a week and we’ll be happy to help.

Why do you need food delivery insurance?

We offer a range of policies designed to suit the way you work.

If you’re a delivery driver, our pay-as-you-go 

hire and reward (H&R) delivery insurance 

can help you save money on the cost of your cover.

 works, how we calculate the cost and what you can do to make sure you’re getting the most out of your cover.

How do we calculate the cost of your insurance?

With our pay-as-you-go delivery insurance, your cover is charged by the minute, with 

As soon as you accept a job with any of our delivery partners (like 

), your cover will start and you’ll be charged for 1 hour (that’s the minimum charge).



 1 hour after you accept your first job, we’ll check to see if you’re still making deliveries. If you’re still delivering, we’ll start charging you by the minute until you’ve finished your shift.



We’ll pause your cover automatically, end your current pay-as-you-go insurance session and the Zego Flex app will deduct the cost from your balance.


Don’t forget, there’s a 1 hour minimum charge!

As soon as you start working a shift, your insurance session will begin and you’ll be charged a minimum of 1 hour’s cover (even if you only work for 20 minutes).

This means that you might notice a difference between the length of time you’ve worked with your provider (like Uber Eats or Deliveroo) and the length of time you’ve been covered by Zego.

Dan works a 1-hour shift with Uber Eats, plus 2 separate shifts that are each just 30 minutes long. In total, his shifts with Uber Eats add up to 2 hours.

However, because our minimum charge is 1 hour, Dan’s insurance statement shows that he’s been covered for 3 hours — 1 hour for each shift worked (even those shifts that only lasted 30 minutes).

 before you pick up the next delivery, your current pay-as-you-go insurance session will end and the Delivery app will deduct the cost from your balance.

When you’re ready to start a new delivery shift, we’ll start a new pay-as-you-go insurance session and 

you’ll be charged for a minimum of 1 hour’s cover.

After you finish your shift, your cover will end and the Zego app will deduct the cost from your balance.

What happens if you accept jobs from different companies?

If you accept jobs for any of our delivery partners, you’ll be charged the same way we’ve described above. You won’t be charged more than once if you’re working with different companies.

What happens if you work for a different company?

 you need to work with one of our delivery partners, ranging from food to parcel delivery. If you have a pay-as-you-go policy, you’re only covered with the following work providers:

What if you have questions about your charges?

 where you'll find answers and handy guides about all our policies and insurance products.

If you're still not sure, you can contact our Customer Service team using Live Chat. We’ll be happy to help. 

Before you get in touch with us, check out your shift history on your Zego app. You can see a record of all your previous shifts and how much you’ve been charged for each insurance session.

Our guide to how pay-as-you-go delivery insurance works and how we calculate the cost of your cover.

How does pay-as-you-go delivery insurance work?

Our guide to the cover you need for food delivery work and how to get an insurance certificate.

fast food takeaway delivery driver you will need insurance

 and you may be asked to provide proof that you have the insurance you need as part of your application. But if you’re brand new to delivery work, it’s not always easy to make sense of what insurance you need to have in place, or how to get the policy that’s right for you.

In this post, we’ll take you through the insurance cover you need to have in place, the different options available to you and how you can get the certificate you need to show companies that you have food delivery or courier insurance in place.

What insurance do you need to have in place?

To work as a food delivery or courier driver, you’ll need to make sure you have both Social, Domestic & Pleasure (SD&P) and 

cover in place. Each type of cover protects you for using your vehicle for different activities and both are required by law for food delivery work.

Your SD&P protects you for the everyday use of your vehicle, such as driving to the shops or visiting a friend. H&R is the specific type of cover that protects you for carrying food or parcels in exchange for payment. Even if you only want to use your vehicle for your work, you still need to have both types of protection in place.

At Zego, we offer a range of options for food delivery and courier drivers, so you can get cover that works for you. For scooter riders and car drivers, we’re the only provider of flexible, pay-as-you-go H&R cover in the UK. Our most flexible option is perfect if you’re just starting out as a food delivery driver, or if you’re working up to or around 25 hours per week.

You pay an hourly rate and you’re covered to work with our partnered work providers, which includes the likes of Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats, Stuart and more. Simply link your Zego app with your delivery account and you’re good to go.

If you’re looking for one convenient policy that includes all the cover you need for your work and personal driving, a combined policy could be for you. We offer 30-day and annual combined insurance policies for scooter riders and car drivers. we have a breakdown here of the 

To get started with your quote for flexible or combined delivery insurance, just 

download the Zego Delivery app and get a quote

Where can you get your insurance certificate?

Once you’ve completed your sign up for flexible cover, or you’ve set up a combined delivery insurance policy, we’ll be able to provide you with the cover you need to show your work providers you have insurance in place.

We’ll email your documents to you once we have everything we need. If you use Zego’s pay-as-you-go cover, you can also find your insurance certificate on the Zego app.

If you have any questions, or if you need any further help getting started, just let our team know and we’ll be happy to assist you. You can also visit our car delivery insurance or 

Does business insurance cover food delivery work?

Our guide to the cover you need for fast food delivery work and how to get an insurance certificate. Come take a look...

How To Get an Insurance Certificate For Fast Food Delivery work

We take a look at what business insurance protects you against and the cover you need for food delivery work.

When you’re looking to get started with fast food delivery work, sorting out the insurance you need is an important part of the process. If you already have some form of insurance in place, you may wonder whether your existing policy protects you for working as a food delivery driver.

In this post, we’ll take a look at what business insurance is, what it protects you for and why it won’t 

cover your insurance for fast food delivery work.

What is business insurance and what does it cover you for?

Business insurance protects you for using your vehicle to travel between several places of work. If you regularly use your vehicle to travel between meetings, or if you use your vehicle for business related trips during the day, you’ll need to have business insurance in place.

So are you covered for food delivery work under a business insurance policy?

This will depend on the type of business insurance policy you have. If it includes hire and reward (H&R) cover for carrying food or parcels in exchange for payment, then you should be fine to work as a delivery driver. But many business insurance policies (including class 3 business insurance) don't include H&R cover, so you'll only be insured for commercial driving or using your vehicle for business use. 

So, before you start making any deliveries, always check to make sure that your insurance covers you for hire and reward work.

What cover do you need for food delivery work?

To work as a food delivery driver, you need to have both Social, Domestic & Pleasure (SD&P) and Hire & Reward (H&R) insurance in place. Your SD&P covers your personal use of your vehicle and H&R is the specific type of cover that protects you for carrying food or parcels in exchange for payment.

What food delivery insurance options are available?

Many insurers, including Zego, offer combined 

 policies, which include all the cover you need for your food delivery work and your personal use of your vehicle. At Zego, we offer 30-day and annual combined delivery insurance policies for scooter riders and car drivers.

Alternatively, if you’re just getting started with food delivery work, or if you’re working part-time, you may be better suited to our flexible delivery insurance policies. With this option, you pay an hourly rate for your delivery insurance when you’re working with any of Zego’s partnered work providers. You still need to have 

 in place, but you only pay for your delivery insurance when you’re actually working.

 for pay-as-you-go cover – it only takes a minute. If you're looking for 30 day or annual insurance click the button below.

For more information, you can visit the car delivery insurance or 

 pages of our website. If you have any questions, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help.

How much will food delivery insurance cost?

How to get a fast food insurance certificate?

Does Business Insurance Cover Food Delivery Work?

What your Private Hire insurance policy covers you for and whether delivery work is included.

At Zego, we want to help you get the most out of your insurance cover, with a policy that gives you everything you’re looking for. We know it’s not always easy to understand the cover that you need to have in place, and sometimes you might not be sure what your current policy protects you for.

In this post, we’ll take a look at what our Private Hire insurance policies cover you for and whether you can carry out delivery work with your policy. We’ll also show you how you can get started with your quote for Private Hire insurance in less than a minute.



policies can vary in their coverage of food delivery services. Some insurers include 

 as standard, while others require drivers to request this addition when obtaining their public or private hire insurance. 

Can I carry out delivery work with a Private Hire  insurance policy?

If you are a Zego Private Hire insurance policyholder, your insurance also includes cover for delivery work, such as transporting food or parcels in exchange for payment. This is automatically included within all our Private Hire insurance options at no extra cost, so you get the flexibility to work in a way that suits you.

If you have Private Hire insurance with another company, you’ll need to have a look into the details of what your policy covers to see if you’re protected for delivery work too. If you’re not sure, it’s always a good idea to check first rather than risk driving without the right insurance cover in place.

What else is included in Zego’s Private Hire insurance?

As well as covering delivery work, our Private Hire insurance policies also include the protection you need to work as a private hire driver and use your vehicle for personal use (Social, Domestic & Pleasure). You also get up to £5m Public Liability insurance included, with the option to increase the maximum limit to £10m for even greater protection.

On top of this, we also offer you the chance to customise your policy by selecting from our great range of 

, which includes Breakdown Cover, No Claims Discount protection and at-fault claim licenced vehicle replacement.

You can also choose between 7-day, 30-day and Annual cover options to get cover that lasts as long as you need, as well as selecting the level of cover that’s right for you so you get as much protection as you need to feel safe.

How can I get started with a quote for Private Hire insurance?

At Zego, we believe getting a quote should be quick and easy. 

For more information about our cover and how our products work, have a look at our 

 page. If you have any questions, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help. Our team is available 7 days a week, so we’re always on hand to support you whenever you need us.

Does Private Hire taxi insurance cover delivery work?

For complete step-by-step instructions and additional details, visit our 

Help Centre article on how to renew your policy

Renewing your policy with Zego is simple and convenient. Whether you prefer using one of our apps or following the instructions in your renewal email, we’ve outlined everything you need to know to make the process quick and easy.

Follow the Instructions in Your Renewal Email

When you receive your renewal email, it will include step-by-step guidance to help you set up your next policy seamlessly.

 on the policy you’d like to renew and follow the instructions on the screen.

Ensure you have the most up-to-date version of the 

 (this option will appear only during your renewal window).

Follow the on-screen steps to finalize your renewal.

Download or update to the latest version of the 

 and complete the process by following the prompts.

If you have questions or encounter any issues, our 

 provides comprehensive guidance and troubleshooting tips.

Our guide to renewing your policy as an existing customer at Zego.

How to renew your policy with Zego

Sten Saar, founder and CEO of Zego, has long harboured a passion for entrepreneurship - a drive that was ignited long before he moved to London in his early twenties.

Originally from Estonia, he began his entrepreneurial journey aged 17, launching a business that sold notepads to students. Despite its niche market, this venture earned a notable $1 million across four countries, all while Saar was pursuing a degree in Business and Management.

While working at Deliveroo during its rapid expansion, Sten Saar identified a critical gap in the market: flexible insurance options tailored for gig economy workers like couriers and delivery drivers. This insight led him to create Zego, focusing on affordable, accessible, and efficient insurance specifically designed for the gig workforce.

By 2026, Zego will celebrate a decade in business, having established a reputation as a trailblazer in insurtech.

The journey has seen plenty of highs and lows – from raising millions in capital and a swift expansion, followed by the global pandemic and then the global economic downturn.

You launched Zego in 2016 – almost a decade ago. Looking back on that very first entrepreneurial inspiration that led to the company’s launch, and comparing it with the company today, how does the vision and the reality match up?

The initial idea for Zego came from noticing a real customer problem: motor insurance being too expensive for delivery drivers and riders. While at Deliveroo, we noticed that people couldn’t afford expensive, up-front annual policies, so we set out to offer more flexible pay as you go policies – something no other insurer was doing at the time. We wanted to help drivers by creating an easy to use and affordable product.

From our initial Flex offering, we expanded to other market niches where customer need was biggest, including ride-hailing. By incorporating telematics technology (Zego Sense) we created a new way to decrease the cost of insurance for good drivers.

Our aspiration is now to expand into customer niches (such as Personal Car Insurance for young drivers, new drivers) which are most impacted by rising insurance premiums. At the same time, we are aiming to offer our customers an industry-leading claims and customer experience, enabled again by modern app-based interfaces and tech.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in scaling Zego and how did you overcome them?

Scaling an insurtech like Zego came with its set of challenges, particularly in navigating the complexities of insurance, while shifting from a startup mindset to a mature business without losing our innovative edge. We overcame these by focusing intently on building a solid internal end to end infrastructure — streamlining our claims process and optimising our underwriting practices were pivotal.

"While the average insurer’s expense ratio is around 25%, we’ll be achieving 13-15% in a few years, coupled with a structurally better loss ratio. Achieving this is only possible through technology, especially with the rapid advancements in AI, which will fundamentally transform companies’ cost structures.” - Sten Saar

Now that we have built strong fundamentals, we are well positioned to grow without the need to further increase our cost base. I told the team that we can comfortably double our business without needing to hire any extra team members. I believe that this will put us in a strong competitive position against industry incumbents. We’re aiming to cut our expense ratio to be 50% better compared to large insurers in the market. This will translate into Zego being able to offer lower price of insurance to customers.

Tell us about the company’s funding journey – you’ve raised $282 million to date – a pretty impressive amount. What’s the strategy?

Our funding journey has been strategic, with a large part of the $282 million raised—around 70%—secured in our latest round. Before that, we focused on raising smaller amounts, aligned with reaching key milestones. 

Building a technology-first insurance company requires substantial capital for two primary purposes: investing in technology development and meeting regulatory capital requirements for underwriting. For instance, for every £5 we write, we’re required to hold a minimum of £1, so as we grow, our capital needs grow as well.

From day one, we’ve prioritised technology investment. Even today, 20% of our team works in tech. This ongoing commitment to building a strong tech foundation means that over time, we’re creating substantial aggregate value. It’s a long-term investment that demands patience and significant funding, but as we scale, we’re confident that the benefits will be evident—both in underwriting through better risk selection and in an improved expense ratio. We’re on the path to achieving this, and we can see the advantages becoming clearer as we continue to grow.

A significant portion of our funds also supports regulatory capital, ensuring that we’re positioned to underwrite responsibly as we expand.

Fortunately, we’ve timed our funding rounds to align with supportive market conditions, which was a bit of luck, allowing us to secure the capital we need to keep progressing toward our goals.

As a young and successful CEO, what are the most important lessons you’ve learned so far? How have these lessons shaped your leadership style?

I wouldn’t call myself successful – I still have a lot to learn. But over the years building Zego, a few key lessons have really stuck with me:

First, hiring exceptional people is incredibly important, a lesson I learned the hard way. Exceptional people want to work with others of the same calibre – they become talent magnets. And these individuals often deliver ten times the impact of an average person, not just a bit more. I invest a lot of time in finding them; for example, I’m personally involved in 90% of our hiring processes.

"From day one, we’ve prioritised technology investment. Even today, 20% of our team works in tech." - Sten Saar

Second, you need to test your hypotheses as you build the business. Failing fast is crucial. It’s easy to sit on a solution and hope it improves, but if it isn’t working, you have to cut it and move on. This encourages innovation and keeps us focused on growth. Every failed experiment is a step closer to a successful one.

Lastly, think from first principles. If something doesn’t make sense, I ask, ‘why?’ Too often, the answer is, ‘because it’s always been done this way,’ which means we’re doing things for tradition’s sake rather than for real value. Asking questions from first principles and building from there removes the unnecessary and focuses on what truly matters for the customer.”

What advice would you give to aspiring young entrepreneurs who are looking to start their own businesses?

Everyone is going to tell you why it won’t work. I would never have started Zego if I had listened to them. So, my only advice is to just give it a go. What have you got to lose? You’ll become so much more employable after trying and even failing. I’d hire an ex-entrepreneur any day over someone from a more traditional career path. I know the challenges they’ve faced, which makes them more resilient, determined, and driven.

How do you motivate and inspire your team?

I explain my vision in granular detail and keep communicating it repeatedly. I’m here to build the next household-name insurer that saves customers literally millions on insurance, while making the world safer by reducing premiums for good drivers. I genuinely believe in this mission, and I discuss it across the company—in company-wide meetings, team sessions, and one-on-ones. Additionally, we have clear goals that directly connect to everyone’s daily work.

I’m open and transparent, taking any questions in our monthly meetings, and I don’t sit in a separate office on the top floor. I have conversations with anyone in the business, regardless of their seniority – from claims manager to senior engineer. I try to lead in the way I’d want my own leader to, though I’m not certain if it’s the ‘right’ way. But so far, it’s worked.

How do you prioritise building a healthy and positive company culture at Zego when the startup environment is so frenetic?

Building a company is intense and requires immense effort. I compare our culture to a sports team—you have to perform at a high standard to be on the team, and to get on the pitch, you need to play even better. If you and the team collectively play well, we’ll win. If someone chooses not to give their all anymore, then they may not stay on the pitch, or even in the team. We’re not a family; we’re a sports team. This means that for people who want to make an impact and deliver value, Zego is the best place to do so. Our employees win by realizing their ideas, and our customers benefit from vastly improved products.

At the same time, we are committed to providing everything needed for people to succeed—a culture that’s supportive and positive. We make sure our core values, like ‘Zego before ego,’ are deeply embedded in every part of our business.

Ultimately, my goal is that, one day, when our employees are in their 70s, sitting by a beautiful lake telling stories to their grandchildren, they’ll say that Zego was a career-defining experience—a place where they learned, grew, and became who they are.

How do you plan to stay ahead of the competition in the rapidly evolving insurtech industry? What are the key trends and opportunities that you’re focusing on?

Our founder and CEO, Sten Saar, discusses his passion for entrepreneurship, looks back on a decade of startup scaling, and shares some insight on the highs and lows that came along the way. 

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