Can I use my normal car insurance for delivery work?

No. Standard social, domestic and pleasure or commuting cover excludes carrying goods for payment, so you need a hire and reward policy.

Do I need courier insurance for occasional weekend work?

Yes. Any paid delivery work needs hire and reward cover, although pay-as-you-go policies let part-time couriers pay only for the time they work.

Is public liability a legal requirement for couriers?

It is not a legal requirement, but many delivery platforms and clients ask for it, and it protects you against third-party claims.

Courier

What insurance do couriers need?

What insurance couriers need in the UK: hire and reward, goods in transit and public liability explained, and why a standard van policy is not enough.

Couriers need hire and reward motor insurance to carry goods for payment, and this is usually bundled with goods in transit and public liability cover. Standard car or van policies do not cover paid delivery work, even if it is only now and then.

The three core covers

A typical UK courier insurance policy brings together the protections delivery work calls for. Driving for payment changes how insurers view your risk, so an ordinary van policy is not enough.

Hire and reward: the motor cover that lets you carry other people's goods for a fee.
Goods in transit: covers the parcels and cargo you carry against loss, theft or damage.
Public liability: protects you if you injure someone or damage property while working, for example when walking a parcel to a customer's door.

Optional extras

Many couriers also add:

Breakdown cover, so a breakdown does not cost a whole day of drops. See our breakdown cover page.
Tools or equipment cover for things such as sack trucks, scanners and straps.
Courier fleet cover if you run several vans or employ drivers. See fleet insurance.

Annual or pay-as-you-go

Cover can be arranged annually or on a flexible pay-as-you-go basis, depending on how often you work. Full-time couriers often choose an annual policy, while part-timers may prefer cover that only runs when they are working.

Things to tell your broker

To get cover that fits, be ready to explain:

The vehicle you use and who drives it.
Whether you do single-drop or multi-drop work.
Who you deliver for, as some platforms and contracts set minimum cover levels.
The typical value of the goods you carry.

Getting courier insurance quotes

With Kompare you fill in a short form about your vehicle and your work. A specialist FCA-authorised broker from our panel then contacts you about courier insurance quotes, and any policy you take out is with that broker. Read how we work, or start on our courier insurance page.