How Much do Deliveroo Drivers Make in the UK?
Working as a Deliveroo driver can be a great way to make money. But before you dive in, it’s important to know how much do Deliveroo drivers make in the UK so you can determine whether it’s actually something you really want to start doing.
[lwptoc]How much do Deliveroo drivers make in the UK?
When they first launched, Deliveroo gave their drivers two different options as to how they wanted to get paid. Riders could either opt for an hourly wage of £7 per hour plus a bonus of £1-£2 per delivery, or they could choose to be paid a set amount per delivery. This meant that riders could choose depending on the area they worked. So, a Deliveroo rider in a busy area may be able to earn more by being paid per drop whereas a rider in a smaller town may have benefitted more from the guaranteed minimum hourly rate.
In 2021, Deliveroo changed the way their riders got paid and there was no longer the option to choose. Since then, all Deliveroo riders get paid per drop. This might work really well during peak times, but on quieter days it may be difficult for Delivery riders to earn even the minimum wage. It’s definitely something to bear in mind before you get started.
What is Deliveroo?
Deliveroo was founded by Will Shu. Born in Connecticut, USA, Will moved to London to work in investment banking. He loved that the city was so full of different restaurants and different cuisines, but he couldn’t understand why hardly any of them delivered.
In 2013, Will Shu, along with his friend and colleague Greg Orlowski launched Deliveroo. The company charge restaurants and other outlets a fee in order to make deliveries for them.
Deliveroo has grown rapidly as a food delivery company and now delivers food in 200 cities across the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.
Do Deliveroo have employment contracts?
Although Deliveroo do employ some of their staff, all of their drivers and riders are self-employed, meaning they don’t have employment contracts and are solely responsible for paying their taxes and all of the other expenses involved in being a Deliveroo rider or driver.
How much do Deliveroo riders make in London?
A self-employed Deliveroo rider in London can expect to make around £12 per hour or more during the busiest times. It all depends on how many orders come through and how quickly they can deliver them.
How to make more money on Deliveroo
The best way to make more money as a Deliveroo rider is to work in busy areas at busy times. This usually means working quite anti-social hours such as evenings and weekends when people are most likely to order a takeaway for delivery. A scooter may also help as you can cut through traffic a little easier than you can if you’re driving a car. You can also keep any tips you receive too.
How to become a Deliveroo rider
If you like the appeal of the flexible hours, or you just need to get out there and start earning, there are a few procedures you will need to follow in order to become a Deliveroo rider.
What kind of vehicle do you need to become a Deliveroo rider?
Although Deliveroo refers to all of their delivery people as riders, you can deliver for them with a car, scooter, or even a bicycle!
What do you need in order to become a Deliveroo rider in the UK?
As you’re going to be self-employed, you will need a few things in order to start work as a Deliveroo rider.
- Car, scooter or bicycle
- Relevant driving license
- Insurance
- Smartphone with iOS 13.6 or Android 6 or above
- Proof of your right to work in the UK
- ID (you must be aged 18 or over)
Make sure you meet the requirements
As with most jobs, you will need to meet a few requirements before you can get started.
- Proof of your right to self-employed work in the UK
- You will need a smartphone with iOS 13.6 or Android 6 or above
- Your own vehicle and helmet if relevant
- A UK bank account
- You must be over 18
- You mustn’t have any unspent convictions
- You will need relevant insurance. For cars and scooters, you must have food delivery insurance as well as the usual vehicle insurance.
- Proof of address
Fill in your application and wait for approval
Fill in the online application on the Deliveroo website and wait to hear whether you’ve been approved. This will depend on the area you want to work in.
Get your Deliveroo kit
Once you’ve been approved, you will be able to order your kit. This will include different items depending on the type of vehicle you’ll be using. You don’t have to use their kit, you can use your own if you prefer, but these initial items of the core kit are sent out free of charge. Any extra items or replacement items will need to be paid for.
Bicycle Riders:
- Insulated backpack
- Optional helmet
- Optional phone mount
- Jacket (sent once you have delivered your first 50 orders).
Scooter Riders:
- Insulated backpack
- Small thermal bag
- Optional phone mount
- Jacket (sent once you have delivered your first 50 orders).
Car Drivers
- Large thermal bag
- Small thermal bag
- Optional phone mount
Download the app
You will need to download the Deliveroo Rider app in order to start work. When you’re online, you will be offered deliveries in your area which you will then need to accept. You will then travel to the restaurant and show a member of staff the order on the app. The app will then give you a suggested route to your customer. Once you’ve marked the order as delivered, you will then be free to accept the next order.
The pros and cons of working on Deliveroo
As with any job, there are lots of pros and cons to becoming a self-employed Deliveroo rider.
Pros of being a Deliveroo driver
- Flexible hours – you can pick and choose when you work
- Weekly pay
- Unlimited tips
- No need to take work home with you
- Low levels of stress
- Can work around your existing job as a side hustle
- Be your own boss
Cons of being a Deliveroo driver
- No holiday pay
- No sick pay
- Earning potential may be low in quieter areas and during quieter periods
- Traffic
- No guaranteed income
- You are responsible for paying your own tax and National Insurance
How are Deliveroo drivers paid?
Deliveroo riders are paid weekly on Tuesdays direct into their bank account. You can cash out earlier if you need to, but this will incur a 50p transaction fee.
Do Deliveroo drivers get holiday pay?
Delivery drivers working for Deliveroo are self-employed so are not entitled to holiday pay. If working as a Deliveroo rider is your only source of income, then try to put away a little of your weekly pay to cover your holidays.
Do Deliveroo drivers get sick pay?
As a self-employed driver, you aren’t entitled to sick pay in the way that you would be if you were employed. However, Deliveroo do offer earnings support if you are off sick, but there are certain conditions you will need to meet in order to be eligible. You can’t claim for the first 7 days, and you will need a doctor’s note in order to be eligible. After the initial 7 days is up, you can then claim up to £35 per day for the following 7 days. You can only do this twice a year and you must have completed at least 30 deliveries in the 8 weeks leading up to the illness.
Do Deliveroo riders get maternity or paternity pay?
No. However, Deliveroo riders can claim a one-off payment of £1,000 to help with the costs associated with having a new baby. There are a few criteria you need to meet in order to be eligible:
- You must have completed your first order at least 6 months prior to the birth date or adoption date
- The child must have been born or adopted on or after 27th September 2021
- Non-birthing parent making a claim must have completed at least 30 orders in the previous 8 weeks
- Birthing parent making a claim must have completed at least 60 orders in the previous 6 months
- Only one claim in any twelve month period
What are the costs of being a Deliveroo driver?
Just like Uber drivers, Deliveroo riders will need to pay for various things themselves:
Fuel
The cost of fuel is one of the biggest outgoings for delivery drivers, particularly at the moment when the price of fuel is quite high. You will need to factor this in when working out if becoming a Deliveroo rider is worth it.
Parking fees
Parking fees may be an issue if you plan to work in inner-city areas where there are very limited free parking spaces, particularly if you plan to make your deliveries in a car.
Maintenance
Vehicle maintenance can be another big expense. As well as making sure your vehicle is roadworthy with an annual MOT where relevant, you need to be prepared for any replacement parts you may need due to wear and tear, or any repair work that may need to be completed due to accidental damage.
Taxes
You will need to pay for vehicle tax as well as paying your personal tax bill through your self-assessment.
Insurance
You will need to have regular vehicle insurance as well as food delivery insurance. Deliveroo offer free rider insurance cover which will cover you for an accident whilst you’re working.
How many hours do Deliveroo drivers work a week?
Deliveroo drivers can work as many or as few hours per week as they like. Obviously, the more hours you work, the higher your income is likely to be. You can be a little savvy here though and make sure you work during busy periods so that you achieve more deliveries.
Do Deliveroo drivers get paid tips?
Deliveroo riders can be paid tips. But as people pay online for their orders, tips aren’t given as often as they once were. When people had to pay in cash, they would often say “keep the change”, but tips are still sometimes given and Deliveroo drivers can keep any tips they receive. Any tips paid online by the customer will be paid to riders along with their weekly pay.
If you’ve decided that working as a Deliveroo driver is for you, then great! Let me know how you get on. You can also take a look at some of my other ideas for different ways to make extra money through side hustles.
