Does food delivery insurance cover private hire work?
In most cases, no.
Food delivery insurance is designed to cover the transport of goods, not people. If you’re also working as a private hire driver—say, picking up passengers for Uber—you’ll usually need a separate policy or one that’s been tailored to cover both types of work.
It’s a common point of confusion, especially for drivers using multiple apps. And it’s a potentially costly mistake if you’re not covered for everything you’re doing on the road.
In this article, we’ll explain exactly why food delivery insurance typically doesn’t cover private hire work, what kind of policy you’ll need if you’re doing both, and the risks of assuming you’re insured when you’re not. We’ll also look at real-world scenarios, insurer expectations, and how to avoid invalidating your policy.
What’s the difference between food delivery and private hire insurance?
Food delivery insurance does not cover private hire work unless the policy specifically includes both.
Standard food delivery insurance is for transporting goods like takeaway meals. If you’re carrying passengers—for Uber, Bolt or similar—you’ll need a separate private hire insurance policy or one that covers both types of work.
That might sound like splitting hairs, but to an insurer, the difference is huge.
Food delivery insurance is classed as carriage of goods for hire and reward. It’s about transporting items—hot food, groceries, small packages. You’re typically on the road a lot, working to a tight drop-off schedule. That creates its own risk profile, and insurers price accordingly.
Private hire insurance falls under carriage of passengers for hire and reward. Different risks, different liabilities, and a totally separate licensing requirement. As soon as someone steps into your vehicle as a fare-paying customer, you’ve moved into another legal category—and your insurance needs to match.
If you’ve ever flipped between Uber Eats insurance and Uber private hire work in a single shift, you’ll know how easy it is to assume your cover carries over. But if your insurer doesn’t explicitly allow it, you could be driving uninsured without realising. And that’s not a grey area—it’s black and white.
If you’re doing both kinds of work, or thinking about it, the takeaway is simple: don’t rely on assumptions. Ask your insurer what’s covered. If they can’t give you a clear yes on both food delivery and private hire, then you don’t have dual cover.
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Get QuotesHow can you get dual cover for food delivery and private hire?
You’ll need a policy that’s built for both types of work—either through a specialist insurer or a broker that understands dual-use drivers.
Standard food delivery or private hire cover won’t be enough on its own. Unless dual-purpose use is explicitly listed on your documents, you’re likely not fully insured.
That’s the catch: most drivers assume the overlap is built in. It rarely is.
Some policies do offer combined cover, but you won’t find it on a price comparison site by accident. You’ll usually need to speak to an insurer or broker who deals specifically with gig economy drivers—people switching between food deliveries, passenger fares, maybe even parcel runs during off-peak hours.
Expect them to ask which platforms you drive for. Mention Uber Eats, Uber, Just Eat, Bolt, Deliveroo—be transparent. If you try to save a bit by omitting passenger work, you’ll likely end up with food-only cover and a false sense of security.
The paperwork matters too. Your insurance certificate should clearly show both types of hire and reward use: goods and passengers. If you’re ever pulled over or involved in an accident, that detail becomes the difference between valid cover and legal chaos.
You might find policies described as:
- “Dual cover for private hire and courier use”
- “Combined PHV and fast-food delivery insurance”
- “Multi-platform insurance for app-based work”
Each provider phrases it differently. The key is to confirm in writing that it covers both. Not “might,” not “should,” not “some cases.” It has to say it.
Some drivers choose two separate policies—one for each type of work. This can work, but it’s risky if there’s any crossover during a shift. If you forget to switch policies or clock into the wrong app, your insurer could void the claim. Dual cover is usually cleaner, safer, and in the long run, cheaper.
Want to know what this kind of policy might cost? That depends on location, vehicle type, driving history, and your declared usage—but we’ll come to that.
Why isn’t one insurance policy enough for both jobs?
Because UK insurance law treats the transport of goods and passengers as two entirely separate activities—with different risks, responsibilities, and legal requirements.
Even if you’re using the same car for both, that doesn’t mean one policy will legally or financially protect you across both types of work.
This isn’t just a paperwork issue—it’s a classification issue. A courier transporting pad Thai is exposed to one kind of risk. A private hire driver carrying a family home from the airport is exposed to another. From an underwriter’s perspective, the two aren’t just different—they’re incompatible without explicit multi-use cover.
Even if your policy mentions “hire and reward,” that’s not enough on its own. Without a clear reference to what is being carried—goods or people—your insurer may decline a claim outright. And if that happens after an incident involving a passenger, the consequences aren’t just financial. You could be facing legal penalties, revoked licences, and a red flag on your insurance record for years to come.
Still unsure? If your certificate doesn’t mention both “carriage of goods for hire and reward” and “carriage of passengers for hire and reward,” there’s your answer. You don’t have dual cover. You might want to revisit what insurance is needed to deliver food before assuming you’re covered by default.
And if you’re still trying to work it out mid-shift—while toggling between Just Eat and Uber—you’re already cutting it too fine.
Do you need to inform your insurer if you drive for both?
Yes—and if you don’t, you could be driving uninsured.
Any time your use of a vehicle changes, your insurer needs to know. That includes switching between food delivery and private hire work. Omitting that detail, even accidentally, could void your policy entirely.
This isn’t about ticking a box—it’s about the basis of your contract. Insurers calculate risk based on declared use. If you’re delivering food one week, then transporting passengers the next without updating them, your actual risk exposure is no longer what they agreed to cover.
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve had a claim yet. If the insurer discovers undeclared use—especially after an incident—they can refuse to pay out. In serious cases, you could face prosecution for driving without valid insurance.
Most insurers will ask upfront about what kind of work you do. If they don’t, it’s your responsibility to clarify. Don’t assume that listing “hire and reward” is a catch-all. It isn’t. Some policies are limited to food delivery or courier work, and exclude carrying passengers—even though both technically fall under the same legal classification.
If you’re unsure what your policy allows, ask. Better yet, get it in writing. That way, if you ever need to prove it—on the roadside or in court—you’ve got the evidence. The last thing you want is to be mid-claim and realise your cover never matched your actual use.
Drivers using multiple apps—Uber Eats, Uber, Just Eat, Bolt, Deliveroo—are especially vulnerable to this. You can’t just rely on memory. You need your insurance documents to reflect everything you’re doing on the road.
You might find this overlaps with what’s explained in what insurance is needed to deliver food—but this section’s the turning point. This is where a missed detail becomes a major liability.
Can you use your private hire insurance for food delivery?
Only if your policy explicitly states it covers both passenger and goods transport.
Most private hire insurance policies are not designed to include food delivery or courier work by default, even though both fall under “hire and reward” use.
This is where a lot of drivers make costly assumptions. They’ve got a valid private hire policy. It covers commercial use. It’s labelled for “hire and reward.” So surely food delivery is included? Usually, it isn’t.
Private hire insurers price policies based on the assumption that you’ll be carrying people, not burgers. The risks, hours, and usage patterns are different. Delivery work tends to involve more stops, tighter deadlines, longer time behind the wheel, and in some cases, more exposure to high-risk driving zones like fast food strips and retail parks.
Some insurers do allow food delivery under a private hire policy, but only if you’ve declared it upfront and it’s noted on your documentation. Without that written confirmation, the first accident on a delivery shift could see your claim rejected—and your driving record flagged.
If you’re using your private hire insurance to take fares through Uber or Bolt, and then flipping over to Uber Eats or Just Eat without telling your insurer, you may not be covered at all. It doesn’t matter that you’re driving the same car. What matters is how you’re using it at any given moment.
Want to know for sure? Ask your insurer, and ask in writing. Better still, request a revised certificate or cover note that spells it out.
How to choose the right policy for multi-platform work
Start by being completely honest about how you use your vehicle—then find a policy that matches it.
If you drive for both food delivery and private hire platforms, you need a policy that says so, in writing. Anything less is guesswork.
Don’t rely on broad terms like “hire and reward.” That’s not enough on its own. You want to see both carriage of goods and carriage of passengers explicitly listed in your insurance documents. If that’s missing—even from a policy labelled as “dual use”—your insurer can still reject a claim.
When comparing policies, you’re looking for more than price. Look for language. If it’s vague, or if the insurer can’t show you sample documents before you buy, walk away. Some brokers may describe policies as “ideal for Uber and Uber Eats,” or “suited to drivers working across platforms”—but unless the fine print backs it up, marketing means nothing.
If you already have Uber Eats insurance, but are planning to switch on the Uber app a few nights a week, now’s the time to update your policy—not after an incident.
Call your insurer. Don’t email and hope. Ask these exact things:
- Does my policy cover both passenger and goods transport?
- Are both uses listed on the certificate or schedule?
- What proof would I be expected to show if questioned at the roadside?
- Will this cover me if I alternate apps during the same shift?
If they hesitate, you have your answer.
And if you’re not sure who to speak to, a comparison site that focuses on multi-platform gig workers can often point you to the right providers.
Clarity matters here. Because once you’re insured correctly, the pressure lifts. You can focus on the job—not the paperwork.
Final thoughts
If you’re driving for both food delivery and private hire platforms, the insurance conversation isn’t optional—it’s essential. The crossover might feel minor to you, especially if you’re using the same car and same apps, but insurers and the law see two very different use cases.
One policy won’t cover both unless it says so explicitly. Guesswork doesn’t protect you. Vague terms like “hire and reward” aren’t a safety net. If you’re switching between Uber Eats and Uber, or juggling Just Eat runs with Bolt fares, you need to know exactly what you’re covered for—and prove it.
What trips most drivers up isn’t bad intent—it’s silence. Not telling the insurer. Not checking the certificate. Not asking the hard questions. But this isn’t a space where ignorance keeps you safe. It leaves you exposed.
So if there’s one takeaway here, it’s this: dual cover isn’t a luxury—it’s the baseline. And knowing your policy inside out? That’s just part of doing the job right.