What happens if you’re caught without courier insurance?
If you’re caught driving without courier insurance in the UK, you could face a £300 fixed penalty, six points on your licence, and have your vehicle seized on the spot. In more serious cases, you risk an unlimited fine and even a driving ban.
That’s because courier insurance isn’t optional—it’s a legal requirement if you’re transporting goods for payment. A standard car or van policy won’t cover you for hire and reward work. So, if you’re delivering food, parcels, or furniture without the right cover, you’re technically uninsured. And the consequences are immediate.
Police can identify uninsured drivers in real-time using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, which link directly to the Motor Insurance Database (MID). You don’t need to be pulled over for a check—they’ll know before you’ve even stopped.
Getting caught doesn’t just mean losing money. You could lose your job, your licence, and your vehicle—and the IN10 conviction that comes with it stays on your record for five years, making future insurance more expensive or difficult to get.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what happens if you’re caught, what the law says, how it affects your work, and why cutting corners on courier insurance is rarely worth the risk.
Is courier insurance a legal requirement in the UK?
Yes—courier insurance is a legal requirement in the UK if you’re transporting goods in exchange for payment.
This falls under what’s known as “hire and reward” use, and without it, you’re not insured to operate as a courier—even if you already have a personal van or car policy.
Many new couriers assume their standard comprehensive insurance will cover them for deliveries. It won’t. Personal vehicle policies specifically exclude commercial use unless you’ve told your insurer and upgraded to the correct type of cover.
The relevant law is the Road Traffic Act 1988, which makes it an offence to drive without valid insurance for the work you’re doing. If you’re using your vehicle to earn money—whether for Amazon Flex, Uber Eats, Evri, or any other platform—you must be insured for hire and reward.
This requirement applies whether you’re delivering parcels, hot food, furniture, or flowers. If you’re making money from the trip, you’re on the hook legally.
And it doesn’t matter if you only do it part time, or even just one shift a week. The law doesn’t care how often you drive—it only cares whether you’re properly insured when you do.
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Get QuotesWhat are the penalties for driving without courier insurance?
If you’re caught driving without valid courier insurance, you’ll face a £300 fixed penalty and six points on your licence—but that’s just the start.
If the case goes to court, the fine can be unlimited, and you could be disqualified from driving altogether.
Here’s what’s typically on the table:
- Fixed Penalty Notice: The standard fine is £300, and you’ll receive six points on your driving licence. For many drivers, that alone is enough to affect job eligibility or push them dangerously close to a ban.
- Court Prosecution: If the offence is more serious—or if you contest the penalty and lose—you could face an unlimited fine, a temporary or full disqualification, and increased scrutiny on any future insurance applications.
- Vehicle Seizure: Police can impound your vehicle immediately if they suspect you’re uninsured. If you can’t prove valid cover (with hire and reward use), they can destroy the vehicle after 14 days. You’ll also be liable for storage and recovery fees.
- IN10 Conviction Code: You’ll likely receive an IN10 conviction on your licence. This stays on your record for five years and must be declared to insurers—often leading to higher premiums or outright policy refusals.
Driving without the correct insurance isn’t treated as a minor mistake—it’s a criminal offence. And unlike speeding or parking fines, the long-term financial and career consequences are significantly more severe.
Will the police seize my vehicle if I’m uninsured?
Yes—if you’re caught driving without valid courier insurance, the police can seize your vehicle on the spot.
In many cases, they’ll tow it immediately, and if you fail to prove insurance within 14 days, they may destroy it.
This power comes from Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which allows officers to impound any vehicle suspected of being driven without insurance. You don’t even need to be in an accident—being stopped at a routine traffic check or flagged by ANPR is enough.
Here’s how it typically unfolds:
- Your vehicle is stopped or scanned by ANPR.
- If it doesn’t show up on the Motor Insurance Database (or the policy doesn’t include hire and reward), it’s considered uninsured.
- Police may issue a fixed penalty and impound your vehicle immediately.
- You’ll need to pay recovery and storage fees (often £150+ plus £20–£30 per day).
- If you can’t provide valid courier insurance within two weeks, they can scrap it.
For many couriers, this doesn’t just mean a fine—it means the loss of their livelihood. If your van is leased, financed, or still under payments, the damage to your credit and working income can snowball fast.
And if you’re delivering someone else’s goods when the vehicle is seized, you could also be liable for undelivered items or damage to your reputation with platforms and clients.
Can you be sued if you don’t have courier insurance?
Yes—if you cause injury or damage while working without courier insurance, you could be personally sued and held financially responsible for all losses.
That includes vehicle damage, legal costs, and compensation payouts—often reaching tens of thousands of pounds.
Courier insurance doesn’t just protect you from the police—it protects you from civil claims too. If you’re uninsured, and you rear-end another car while delivering food, or accidentally injure someone during a drop-off, you’re fully liable. There’s no insurer to defend or pay on your behalf.
Here’s what you could face:
- Repair bills for other vehicles or property
- Medical costs and injury compensation
- Loss-of-income payouts for affected third parties
- Solicitor fees and court costs
- Ongoing debt collection or bankruptcy proceedings
In one case referenced by insurers, an uninsured self-employed driver was taken to court for over £16,000 after injuring a cyclist. Without a policy in place, he was forced to agree to long-term repayment terms—plus interest and legal fees.
If you’re thinking, “But I’m a careful driver,” remember: even small mistakes can lead to big costs. A dropped parcel on a footpath, a dented gate, or a misjudged reverse in a tight driveway could become a financial nightmare—especially when there’s no insurer to step in.
How does a courier IN10 conviction affect future work?
An IN10 conviction—driving without insurance—can seriously damage your career as a courier.
It stays on your driving record for five years, and during that time, most insurers will either refuse cover or charge significantly higher premiums.
The IN10 code tells insurers and employers one thing: you were caught driving uninsured. In a job where insurance is non-negotiable, that’s a red flag.
Here’s how it can affect your work:
- Difficulty Getting Hired – Many courier companies—especially larger platforms—require a clean licence. An IN10 often disqualifies you from onboarding, even if your driving record is otherwise good.
- Fewer Insurance Options – Not all providers will insure drivers with IN10s. If they do, expect quotes to be 2x–4x higher than standard rates, particularly if you’re under 25.
- Loss of Platform Accounts – If you’re delivering for a company like Amazon Flex, Uber Eats, or Just Eat, being caught without insurance can result in immediate account suspension or permanent removal.
- Higher Excess and Limited Cover – Some insurers may only offer restrictive cover—with higher excesses, lower claim limits, and no option for extras like breakdown or goods in transit.
In short: an IN10 can price you out of the market, block you from jobs, and make recovery slow—even if you’re ready to do things properly next time.
How do police know if you’re uninsured while driving?
Police use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras linked to the Motor Insurance Database (MID) to identify uninsured vehicles in real time.
You can be flagged as uninsured without even speaking to an officer.
Here’s how it works:
- ANPR systems are mounted on police vehicles and roadside cameras.
- As you drive past, your number plate is scanned and instantly checked against the MID, which records active insurance policies.
- If your vehicle isn’t listed, or if the policy doesn’t include hire and reward, an alert is triggered.
- Officers can pull you over, seize the vehicle, and issue fines—all without a traditional insurance check.
The technology is fast, accurate, and widespread. In fact, most major cities and motorways are blanketed with ANPR coverage. You won’t get a warning—you’ll just get caught.
And even if you’ve just started a new courier job or policy, it’s your responsibility to ensure your insurer has updated the MID. If there’s a delay and you’re pulled over in the meantime, you could still be penalised.
Think you can slip under the radar doing a few evening shifts? ANPR doesn’t care whether you’re full-time or part-time. It doesn’t check if the boot’s empty. It checks the database—and if you’re not listed correctly, you’re driving uninsured.
Final thoughts
Driving without courier insurance isn’t just risky—it’s reckless. You’re not only breaking the law, but putting your livelihood, finances, and future at serious risk. One moment of bad luck—a traffic stop, a fender bender, a delivery gone wrong—could spiral into fines, lost income, or a permanent stain on your driving record.
And for what? To save a few pounds on a monthly premium?
Courier insurance isn’t expensive compared to the alternative. A £300 fine might seem manageable—until you factor in six points on your licence, a seized vehicle, a court summons, and five years of higher insurance costs. Or worse, personal liability for an injury claim you can’t afford to fight.
Whether you’re delivering full time, working weekends on Amazon Flex, or doing the odd takeaway shift—it’s your responsibility to get properly covered. Not just legally, but practically.
Don’t wait to get caught. Don’t rely on hope. Get the right insurance before your next shift. It’s not just the law—it’s basic self-preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. If you’re delivering goods for payment—even just once—you need courier insurance with hire and reward cover. It’s a legal requirement, regardless of hours worked.
Yes. You’re responsible for making sure your details are up to date. If your vehicle doesn’t appear on the database, you’re at risk—even if you paid.
No. Standard policies don’t cover hire and reward. You need specific courier or food delivery insurance, or you’re driving uninsured.
An IN10 conviction—driving without insurance—remains on your licence for five years. You must declare it to insurers during that period.
Only if you provide valid insurance within 14 days and pay recovery/storage fees. If not, the police can scrap or sell it.
Absolutely. Most platforms will suspend or permanently remove drivers caught working without valid courier insurance.
They check for any valid insurance, but if your policy doesn’t include hire and reward, you’re legally uninsured for courier work.
Yes. Driving without the correct insurance is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. It can lead to fines, points, and prosecution.