Two wheels carry more risk than four
If you deliver on a moped, motorbike or bicycle, you are far more exposed than someone in a car. Potholes, wet roads and tight city traffic lead to falls, and a broken wrist or collarbone can mean six weeks with no work at all.
Insurers know this, so they will ask what you ride and how many hours you spend on it. Some may charge more for riders, and a few may decline certain types of two-wheeled delivery work. A broker can find the ones that take a fair view of your round.
Earnings that move every week
App work pays by the drop, and quiet weeks happen. That makes it harder to work out a monthly benefit. Insurers usually base it on the profit in your last tax return or an average of recent years, after you deduct vehicle and fuel costs.
If you have only just started, some insurers will still offer a modest level of cover based on what you expect to earn. Keeping clear records of what you earn and spend helps when you apply and again if you ever need to claim.
When you have to stop driving
If you use a car or scooter for deliveries, you need to meet the DVLA's medical rules for your licence. A blackout, seizure or some eye conditions mean you must stop driving and tell the DVLA, which ends your delivery income straight away.
Mental health matters too. Long, lonely shifts and the pressure of ratings and targets can wear people down. Good income protection covers stress and depression on the same terms as a physical injury, subject to the insurer's assessment and medical evidence from your GP.
- Falls and collisions on bikes and mopeds
- Wrist, shoulder and knee injuries
- Health conditions that end your right to drive for a time
- Stress and burnout from long shifts
Thinking beyond the next shift
Lots of delivery workers are young and single, and life insurance can feel like something for later. Once you have a partner, a child or a joint tenancy, it becomes worth a look. Cover bought while you are young and healthy tends to cost less, and the price can be fixed for the whole term.
If you are saving for a home, buying income protection first protects the deposit fund from a long spell off the bike. You can add life cover when the mortgage arrives and your lender asks what happens if you die.
How Hi Tomorrow helps delivery workers
We look at what you ride or drive, how many hours you work and what you earn, then compare UK insurers that accept delivery work. Insurers group jobs into risk classes, which affects price and whether they judge you against your own job or any suitable work. We explain those differences before you buy.
If you want to keep costs down, we can show you policies that pay for a limited period per claim, which suits many younger riders. We will also tell you plainly if an insurer is unlikely to accept your type of round, so you do not waste time on forms. Cover and price depend on the insurer's underwriting.