If you earn money using your vehicle, whether you’re delivering food, dropping off parcels or driving passengers, you need hire and reward insurance. Standard car insurance won’t cover you for this kind of work, and getting behind the wheel without the right policy is against the law.
This guide covers everything you need to know about hire and reward insurance in 2026: what it is, who needs it, what it covers, how it differs from standard car insurance, and how to get the right policy for your work.
Hire and reward insurance is a type of commercial vehicle insurance that covers you when you use your vehicle to transport passengers or goods in exchange for payment. It’s the use class required by law under the Road Traffic Act 1988 for any driver earning money from their vehicle.
It’s sometimes referred to as:
You need hire and reward insurance if you use your vehicle to earn money in any of the following ways:
This applies whether you work full-time, part-time, or occasionally. Even a single delivery without the correct insurance means you are technically driving uninsured.
Yes! Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is a criminal offence to drive without insurance that covers the use you’re making of your vehicle. If you’re being paid to transport goods or passengers, your standard car insurance policy will not meet this legal requirement.
The penalties for driving without the correct insurance include:
Delivery platforms also require hire and reward insurance as a condition of signing up. Before you can start delivering, you’ll need to provide a copy of your insurance certificate to the platform.
Many new delivery drivers assume their existing car insurance covers them for work. It doesn’t. Here’s how the two compare:
Even a comprehensive car insurance policy with business use added will not cover you for hire and reward work unless hire and reward is specifically declared on the policy.
INSHUR offers five hire and reward insurance policies, each designed for a specific type of gig economy work:
Each policy is available on a 30-day or annual basis, with monthly payment options available. Most INSHUR policies let you work across multiple apps and services under one policy, so you’re not locked into a single platform.
INSHUR hire and reward insurance covers a wide range of gig economy platforms, including:
Coverage can typically span multiple platforms, so you’re not locked into working for just one app.
What does hire and reward insurance cover?
The exact cover included depends on the level of policy you choose, either Third Party or Comprehensive. As a general guide:
Both Third Party and Comprehensive include:
Comprehensive cover also includes:
There is no single fixed price for hire and reward insurance. Your quote is calculated based on your individual circumstances, including:
Because of this, the most reliable way to find out what you’ll pay is to get a personalised quote online. INSHUR quotes take just a few minutes and give you an instant price.
When comparing hire and reward insurance providers, here are the key things to consider:
It’s also worth checking review platforms such as Trustpilot for real feedback from other gig economy drivers.
INSHUR is trusted by over one million on-demand drivers across the UK. Getting a quote is quick, simple, and entirely online:
Courier insurance is a type of hire and reward insurance specifically for drivers who deliver goods or parcels. Both terms describe commercial use cover for paid vehicle work. Hire and reward is the broader term that also covers passenger transport (such as private hire and taxis).
Yes, provided your vehicle meets the insurer’s requirements. You’ll need hire and reward insurance in place before you start any paid delivery or passenger work. Your standard personal car insurance will not be sufficient.
No. INSHUR hire and reward insurance is designed to cover multiple platforms under one policy. You don’t need a separate policy for each app you deliver or drive for.
Yes. INSHUR offers both 30-day and annual hire and reward insurance policies. A 30-day policy gives you flexibility if you’re new to delivery work or prefer to manage your cover month by month. You can switch to an annual policy at any time.
Yes. INSHUR hire and reward policies include Social, Domestic and Pleasure (SD&P) cover as standard. This means you’re also covered for everyday personal driving when you’re not on a delivery or shift.
Yes. INSHUR is a trading name of Inshur UK Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). FCA firm reference number: 916800.
Road Traffic Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)
INSHUR product pages and policy documentation (inshur.com)
Financial Conduct Authority (fca.org.uk)
Motor Insurers’ Bureau (mib.org.uk)