15 minute read
MAKING MONEY
DELIVERING THE FOODS Making your scooter pay for itself is possible if you take on a delivery job. Here’s what you need to know.
GETTING PAID TO RIDE YOUR MOPED OR SCOOTER SOUNDS LIKE THE DREAM JOB. Choose a gig with a food delivery company and this could become reality, and you get to pick the working hours that suit you.
With the huge increase in the home food and takeaway delivery market since Covid, there’s been an increasing need for delivery riders. In the UK, this market grew by a quarter in 2021, and it’s estimated an extra 10,000 delivery riders are needed to keep pace with demand.
For anyone with a moped or scooter, and their CBT completed, it can be a way to make your machine pay for itself. Some riders can earn up to £1000 per week, though £40 per daily shift is more common.
The big players in the home food delivery market are Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats. Each works in a similar way where you sign up and agree to their terms, download the work app to your phone, and start delivering food orders. Then the money starts rolling in!
HOW IT WORKS
The phone app will send through delivery orders, and you decide whether to take the job or not. If you do, the companies expect you to collect the food from the restaurant and deliver it promptly and safely. The more orders you deliver, the more you earn. To help with this, the app will always try to bundle together orders from the same restaurant that are being delivered to homes near each other. This saves you making multiple journeys back and forth to collect food and deliver it.
DELIVERING
However, you should remember that there will be slow periods, with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday reckoned to be the quietest days. Weekends are always busiest, especially around lunchtime and the evenings. Many riders choose to work only at busy times, though it also means there’s more competition for work.
PROS AND CONS
You have to bear in mind that big cities are where most of the work for food delivery riders will be. If you live in a small rural town, it could be difficult to earn enough to justify the effort. You should also think about how long it will take to deliver an order. A scooter is ideal for short and medium distance orders, but anything over five miles can make it uneconomic to accept the job through the app.
Many delivery riders sign up to more than one company, maximising the number of orders they can choose to accept. However, you cannot deliver orders from different apps at the same time. Doing this can have you banned from the companies and leave you out of work.
CASE STUDY
GETTING PAID TO RIDE
Dom Junec is a 19-yearold student living in London. He’s been riding a scooter for two years and has worked as a food delivery rider since he turned 18. He says: “There are good and bad sides. The best bit is that I can fit delivering around my university work and social life. If I’m busy with one or the other, I don’t sign on to the app.
“Another upside is if I need a quick boost to my bank account, I can put in a long weekend of delivering and use the instant pay option to have the money straight away. This is really useful if my rent is due or a big bill crops up.
“I love riding my scooter around London, so this is a great job. It takes me to loads of places I would never know about, though I sometimes have to keep an eye on the scooter when I’m delivering, especially at night.
“As a part-time job, delivering food by scooter is good for a student, but it would be hard to earn a proper living. Even working seven days a week, there are slow times, and you have to factor in scooter running costs.”
WHAT YOU CAN EARN
It’s easy to be lured in by offers of earning up to £1000 per week as a food delivery rider. However, most riders will earn around £40 for a five-hour shift on a weekend evening. The more you work, the more you earn, so it is your decision how many hours to put in. Most food delivery apps pay per delivery, so it can be hard to earn much in quiet periods. Deliveroo, for example, pays between £2.90 and £6 per delivery, and this is worked out on the distance you travel to deliver the food and if you can deliver multiple orders in a single journey. Many riders sign up to several apps to keep themselves as busy as possible.
You must remember that you are self-employed, so you will have to take care of paying any National Insurance. This is on top of paying for courier insurance for your moped or scooter, as well as maintenance and safety kit.
The good news is the delivery apps pay on a weekly basis, so you are not waiting for a long period for your money. You can also use an instant pay feature on most of the apps, where any money you have earned is paid immediately into your bank account. However, there is usually a fee for this and you can only do it a maximum of five times in a single week.
LEGAL STUFF
As a self-employed courier rider, you will have to inform your insurer that you are using your scooter or moped for delivery work. They may offer an additional insurance for this, though it will be expensive. Or you can take out third-party cover with companies such as Zego, which works out at a around
NEED TO KNOW
£5 per working day. However, not all insurance companies recognise Zego’s cover, which could leave you liable to paying the costs of another driver if you cause a crash.
To work as a delivery rider, you must be at least 18 years old and have a provisional licence and a CBT certificate, or a full UK licence. Companies will also ask to see valid insurance.
In return, the delivery companies provide liability insurance. They also provide a high-vis vest, an insulated backpack for the food, and a phone mount for your scooter’s handlebars.
OTHER WAYS TO EARN ON TWO WHEELS
If you don’t want to use your own scooter or moped to deliver food, there is still the more traditional option of working for a single restaurant. Many large pizza chains, such as Dominos, employ moped riders to deliver food in an area surrounding each restaurant.
The main advantages of working for this sort of company is they provide the moped, insurance and fuel, and you get a guaranteed wage per shift. For some, the downside is you have less flexibility about when you work and for how long.
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Motorbike Insurance?
Everyone remembers the day they could finally start riding on their own two wheels. Specialist motorcycle insurer Bikesure answers common questions new riders ask when taking out their first policy.
WHY SHOULD I GET MY INSURANCE WITH BIKESURE?
We find appropriate policies on your behalf. We have access to a wide variety of specialist moped and scooter insurance providers with extra special rates for new riders like you. And the cover can be tailored to your exact needs.
HOW CAN I SAVE MORE MONEY ON MY YOUNG RIDER MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE?
You can save money by following a few simple steps. The first, and most important tip, is to remember that our cheapest rates are only available over the phone on 0800 032 5350. You can secure further discounts by joining an owners’ club, agreeing a limited mileage policy, having extra security measures fitted and garaging your bike when it’s not in use.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS OF THESE POLICIES?
All Bikesure policies come with £100,000 legal expenses cover free of charge. You will also have access to a 24-hour claims hotline, a suitable replacement vehicle (where eligible) in the event of a non-fault claim, and access to a panel of legal experts to help you through any litigation. Other brokers and insurers charge up to £32 or more for similar cover. Although they are too young to take out a loan agreement 16-year-olds do not need to pay the premium in full. We can arrange for the premium to be paid by way of a loan agreement by a parent or guardian.
ARE THERE ANY OPTIONAL EXTRAS I CAN GET WITH MY COVER?
There are lots of great value optional extras. These include: helmet and leathers cover from £29.99 a year, breakdown cover from £62 a year, excess protection from £34.99 a year, keycare for £19 a year and personal accident cover for £17 a year.
Bikesure can offer young rider cover tailored to your exact needs, call for a quote on 0800 032 5350
CALL & GET A FREE QUOTE TODAY. 0800 032 5350
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Louis, 19, lives near Worcester and is a bank clerk. He has just got his Category A2 licence and is thrilled to be hitting the road on his £750 1995 Honda. He’s an experienced rider, having acquired his licence via staged access, and he has a one year No Claims Discount. Louis’ rate is just £447.85 for comprehensive protection, or £392.43 for third party only cover.*
*Quote taken from February 2022 for postcode WR9 8AE.
KAWASAKI EL250
Mo, 19, is an engineer and lives near Banbury in Oxfordshire. He has taken his Category A2 test. He has a 2005 Kawasaki, which he has just bought for £2,500 and will be using it as a general runaround. He doesn’t have any No Claims Bonus. Mo’s rate is £861.18 for fully comprehensive or £501.26 third party fire and theft.
*Quote taken from February 2022 for postcode OX15 0YY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT BIKESURE.CO.UK
Paying for insurance is one of the least fun things about riding a bike. But you’ll be glad you sorted cover if you need to make a claim Never choose a bike before checking the cost of insurance: it is a big chunk of what you spend to get on the road. Do not ‘forget’ to tell insurers about any changes or modifications to the machine either. TOP TIP INSURANCE GET COVERED If you’re riding a moped or motorbike, it needs to be insured. It’s not just the smart thing to do – it’s a legal requirement. Get caught without insurance and you could be landed with six penalty points and a fine. You could even end up in court.
The good news is cover for a moped or small-capacity motorbike is usually cheaper than car insurance. According to Comparethemarket. com, the average price of motorbike insurance is £403 per year, compared with £640 for a car. It’s one of the many ways that choosing two wheels rather than four can save you money. doesn’t cover any damage to your bike and won’t pay out if your bike is stolen.
Third party, fire and theft.
If your bike is nicked, or gets damaged by fire, this type of insurance should pay out. Otherwise it offers the same cover as a basic third-party policy.
Fully comprehensive.
Unless you are on the tightest of tight budgets, this is the type of insurance you want. Not only does it pay out if your bike is stolen or burnt in a fire, it also covers you and your bike if you have a crash or collision, even if it turns out to have been your fault.
WHAT IF I’M COMMUTING BY BIKE?
If you are going to work on your bike, make sure the policy covers ‘social, domestic, pleasure and commuting’ rather than ‘social, domestic and pleasure’. It gets a bit more complicated if you are at college or uni. Does heading onto campus for a lecture count as commuting? Different insurers treat this differently, so your best bet is to give them a call.
WHAT TYPES OF INSURANCE ARE THERE?
Third party. The most basic kind of cover, and the minimum legal requirement. Third party covers the cost of damage or injury to another person and their property. It
HOW DO I CUT THE COST OF INSURANCE?
If you’re not going to ride far each year, think about a limited mileage policy. You should also consider increasing the voluntary excess (the amount you pay out yourself if you make a claim), but only if you can afford it. Adding security kit to your bike, keeping it in a garage rather than on the road, and avoiding any modifications will also help keep the cost down.
Price comparison sites are time-savers, but for the best deal, we’d recommended going direct to specialists too. Try Bikesure (Bikesure.co.uk), Lexham Insurance (Lexhaminsurance. co.uk) and Motorcycle Direct (motorcycledirect. co.uk).
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
AFFORDABLE COVER
Nobody likes paying for insurance, so clearly when comparing quotes the lowest price is going to be appealing. But price isn’t everything.
VALUE
When looking at different quotes, don’t just focus on the premium. Think about what you are getting for your money. Are legal services included in the price? Are there other extras, such as membership of motorcycle groups, that might be worth paying a little more for?And if you plan to carry a pillion passenger on the back (and have a licence that allows this), make sure pillion cover is included.
STRONG CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
Most big insurers will have ratings from real customers on their websites. What do other riders make of them? How helpful are they when a rider needs to make a claim?
WHAT TO DO IF YOU CRASH
If the worst happens, be prepared. Here’s our guide to making the right decisions after a collision
Safe riding, great kit and a well-maintained motorcycle are great ways to avoid collisions.
However, mistakes do happen, so you need to know what to do when the worst occurs.
The most vital check is to make sure you’re not injured. Immediately after a collision, adrenaline can mask serious wounds, so take the time to assess how you feel. Any pain at all, call an ambulance as it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Then check anyone else involved.
Even if you’re at fault, it’s best not to admit liability. Stay calm and gather the details. Use your phone to photograph any damage, the surrounding road and area, and video it too. It’s all very helpful when making an insurance claim and if the police become involved.
If you don’t swap details with the other party at the scene, you must give your details to the police within 24 hours. You should contact your insurer as quickly as possible, too.
Afterwards, take the time to talk with family and friends. Being in a collision is stressful, so don’t let it build up.
ACCIDENT CHECKLIST
✓
ARE YOU OR ANYONE ELSE INJURED? IF SO, CALL AN AMBULANCE SWITCH OFF ENGINE & TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS STAY CALM AND MOVE SOMEWHERE SAFE DON’T ADMIT LIABILITY RECORD ANY INJURIES STORE ANY HELMET-CAM FOOTAGE TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS & VIDEO IF AN ANIMAL IS INVOLVED, CALL THE POLICE GET OTHER PARTY’S INSURANCE AND VEHICLE DETAILS GET WITNESSES’ DETAILS CONTACT YOUR INSURER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
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