Compare Self employed Courier Insurance

Why you need self-employed courier insurance
Working for the major delivery services in the UK like Hermes and Amazon today during the surge in online shopping can be an avenue for establishing a revenue stream for you and your family. If you are delivering multiple items on a multi-drop basis, you will need courier insurance, if you work for yourself it will be your responsibly to make sure you have the correct insurance for the service being provided. If you are providing a delivery service, then you will need self-employed courier insurance. This should not be confused with haulage insurance, which is normally associated with a single drop over a long distance. Being a courier working long hours and at peak traffic hours comes with risks
MultiQuoteTime is here to help by providing you with access to a free online comparison tool to provide you with multiple quotes fast. Quickly compare courier insurance options and find one that is best suited to your business needs. We have access to insurance for both, full-time and part-time drivers.
Standard Car Insurance is Not Sufficient
Driving a car without the proper insurance is the same as driving without insurance and can result in an unwanted IN10 conviction. Which will make it both difficult and more expensive to get future insurance. The insurance that you need is often referred to as hire and reward insurance. First step is to ask your current broker if they provide self-employed courier insurance as a top-up to your standard policy or failing that as a stand-alone policy. Self employed courier insurance and hire and reward are one and the same.
Standard Van Business insurance is Not Sufficient
Getting the right cover is just as important if you’re using a van, rather than your own car, to deliver parcels. Van policies themselves are intended for commercial purposes, but not necessarily for couriers. They’re a general policy, covering people who use their vans for work, such as plumbers, gardeners and builders, and don’t cover risks specific to those using their van to deliver parcels.
If you have a work van, you will most likely have a form of van commercial insurance to cover using your van for your business or trade, plumber for example. Again, this will not cover you for the delivery of items, example food or parcels. If you use a van, then you will need to take out a hire and reward van insurance if you intend providing delivery service
What does Hermes provide a courier?
For the part time courier, Hermes provides a wage that can be £10 to £15 an hour. They hire both full-time couriers who are their employees and self-employed couriers. The courier can provide their own delivery driver insurance policy, or Hermes will issue a policy of their own to the courier. The policy issued by Hermes is the minimum requirement of Third Party Only commercial hire and reward insurance. This does not come with the optional add-on of Goods In Transit. Because of that, the parcels being transported are not protected against being stolen, damaged or lost while being transported.
Employed and self-employed delivery drivers both need the same insurance
Regardless of being self-employed or employed, you will need courier insurance. If employed, your employer should provide the required insurance, but do check. If you are self-employed, contact your current insurance provider, as you may have an option of top up insurance to provide the required cover for delivery of goods on a multi-drop basis.
What type of cover is available
You can choose from three different levels of courier cover depending on your needs;
Third-party (TPO)
Third-party fire and theft (TPFT)
Fully comprehensive
Which factors influence the cost?
Whilst most insurance use the same factors to determine the final price. Each insurance provider can apply different weights to these. We have listed the key factors below. Because each insurance company applies a different weight, it is always advised to get multiple quotes from a range of insurers to find the cheapest insurance for your individual needs and circumstances.
Which types of vehicles are covered?
Self-employed courier insurance in the UK covers various vehicles used for delivery services, including personal vehicles listed below.
How to compare Self-Employed courier insurance with MultiQuoteTime.co.uk
Comparing courier insurance for the self-employed with MultiQuoteTime is quick and hassle-free:
Multiquotetime works in partnership with Quote Zone who provide a simple form which once completed is submitted to a specialist panel of brokers. These specialist brokers will provide you with a range of self-employed courier insurance quotes for your specific business requirements.
FAQ’s
- Updated: 24 Feb 2025
- Reviewed by Eamonn Turley Insurance Expert