Working as a delivery driver can be a great option for anyone looking for flexible work hours, or perhaps a chance at having a little bit of work on the side on top of your full-time employment or education.

Just Eat is one of the few fast food delivery companies that offer their riders at minimum the national living wage, as well as having opportunities to become a contracted rider with a stable weekly income, so it is no wonder that so many people are choosing to become delivery riders for them.

In this blog, we are going to be running down everything you need to know about Just Eat, from average wages to advice on how to increase your income - so without further ado, let’s get into it, shall we?

If you wish to become a delivery rider for Just Eat, according to their website you will need to following:

• To be aged 18 or over
• Smartphone with data 
• Proof of right to work in the UK 
• Valid motorcycle licence
• Proof of delivery rider insurance

Just Eat offers their riders two options in how you can become a delivery driver, these include:

If you happen to be located within one of Just Eat’s ‘scoober’ cities such as Birmingham, Brighton, Cambridge, Liverpool, or London - then you have the chance to work on a contract as a salaried worker with Just Eat.

This includes many benefits, such as holiday and sick pay, a fixed hourly rate, as well as using Just Eat’s own electric bikes and mopeds. It’s an option worth considering if it is available to you.

Working as a salaried employee will also mean you will get paid a fixed rate of £10.20 per hour in London, or £9.30 per hour in other cities, regardless of how many deliveries you make! On top of that, you could earn up to £2.50 on top of each delivery.

If you don’t live in one of these cities, don’t worry! You can work for Just Eat as an independent contractor, allowing you to work around your own schedule. You get to choose what deliveries you make and when you make them - this is a far more flexible option if you are looking to make some extra income without having to commit to the delivery rider lifestyle.

According to research by Indeed, the average salary per hour for a Just Eat self-employed delivery rider works out to around £10.27. However since 2020, Just Eat promised their riders that they will be paid at least the living wage in the UK for their age bracket, as well as holiday or sick pay, and parental leave and pay - regardless of whether you’re a full-time or zero-hour contract rider!

Unlike UberEats or Deliveroo, at the time of writing Just Eat does not offer an in-app tipping service, so whilst you can earn a few extra pounds that way via other delivery apps, this opportunity has not reached Just Eat yet.

However, there are a few other ways you can increase your earnings as a delivery rider such as:

With JustEat you do have to specify when you will be available to work for the next week. According to Just Eat themselves, you must submit your availability every Wednesday evening, as soon as possible to get a chance at being assigned peak times to boost the number of opportunities you may get for orders.

Please note that if you do not submit your availability on time, Just Eat will not assign you runs for the coming week, meaning you will have no income for the following few days.

From time to time, Just Eat offers their couriers incentives and ‘fee boosts’.

Incentives are typically given out to riders via email or text. It is worth keeping an eye on your inbox and Courier App regularly so you don’t miss out on any extra cash opportunities.

Secondly, Just Eat will also give out fee boosts, an additional incentive that can be applied to orders during selected shifts. This means every time you complete an order during this selected shift, you’ll earn a little extra money on top of what you would already be earning!

When orders are slow, it is definitely worth considering having additional apps running such as Deliveroo or UberEats, meaning you will have less time waiting around for orders and more time out on the road earning money. This is also a way to pick and choose which orders will benefit the most. 

So, when exactly is payday for a Just Eat delivery rider?

According to Just Eat, you will be paid once a week via direct deposit every Tuesday. This payment will be made up of your delivery revenue and any incentive bonuses from the previous Monday through to Sunday - as with any direct deposit, give 1 to 3 days for your money to arrive in your bank.

They also provide you with a detailed summary of all the deliveries you completed and how much you made for each.

Before deciding to become a courier rider for Just Eat, there are a few unavoidable outgoing costs you will need to consider such as:

If you choose to become an independent contractor, you are responsible for providing your own mode of transport.

If you intend to become a delivery rider, you will need to find a specialist delivery rider insurance policy to ensure you are properly covered on the roads. Failure to have the correct insurance cover in the event of an accident may mean that you would be responsible for the accident and could be liable for all costs involved whether that be to the person or/and their vehicle.

Again, if you intend to deliver food on your motorcycle or moped, you will (obviously) need to fuel it. Riding about all night will mean that your fuelling costs will start to add up, so it is advisable that you keep a note tracking how much you are spending versus earning.

Another thing that is worth noting is that if you do choose to deliver on an electric bike, you will need to keep your eye out for tactically placed electric charging points to keep yourself topped up throughout a busy night delivering.

Riding your bike around will result in you racking miles up fairly quickly, and the more you use your motorbike, the more maintenance you will need to do to it. Whilst an MOT, servicing, and road tax is needed every single year, again these are costs you need to consider when they’re coming straight out of your take-home wage packet.

If you’re ever unsure as to if your bike is taxed and has a valid MOT, a great way to check is via the GOV.UK website!

When you’re riding about all day, you will need to make sure you have a phone package that will cover you enough to send an unlimited amount of texts and calls, as well as being able to access the internet at all times.

Being able to communicate with your customers and keep them informed will help you to build up your rating and again might even help you get yourself some extra tips!

When you sign up to become a delivery rider for Uber Eats, this will mean you are considered to be self-employed and will need to register yourself to HMRC and submit a tax return form at the end of each year. 

If you do not complete this form or forget to do it at the end of each tax year, you can be charged and even face a prison sentence, so if you know any accountants - you’re best off getting in contact sooner rather than later!

As we mentioned earlier, since 2020 Just Eat has promised their riders that they will be paid at least the living wage in the UK for their age bracket, as well as holiday or sick pay, and parental leave and pay, irrespective of whether you’re a full-time or zero-hour contract rider.

*If you are looking for the National Living Wage rates for your age group, head over to the GOV.UK website!

So there you have it - I hope you enjoyed our full comprehensive guide on everything to do with Just Eat wages…

Before we go however, if you are wanting to become a Just Eat rider, you will need to have the correct insurance - You’ll be pleased to know that we here at Lexham can provide you with a specialist delivery rider insurance quotation!