TL;DR — To deliver food on a moped or scooter in the UK, you need a UK provisional or full driving licence, a valid CBT certificate (DL196), motorcycle insurance with hire-and-reward cover, and the right-to-work documents for the platform. A CBT is a one-day course from £225 — you can be ready to deliver within a week of your first phone call.
We train a lot of delivery riders at our motorcycle training school in Warrington. The questions are always the same: do I need a full licence, what bike should I buy, what insurance covers me, and how fast can I start earning? Here’s the proper answer.
Do I need a full motorcycle licence to deliver food?
No. A valid CBT certificate is enough for Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat, provided you’re on a 125cc or smaller scooter or moped.
You’ll need:
- A UK provisional or full driving licence (you cannot do a CBT on an EU or international licence).
- A passed CBT giving you a DL196 certificate valid for two years.
- A 125cc or smaller scooter or motorcycle.
- Motorcycle insurance with hire-and-reward cover (a normal personal policy is not enough — more on this below).
- L-plates front and back of the bike, until you upgrade to a full licence.
- Right-to-work documents for whichever platform you sign up with.
That’s it. No theory test. No Module 1. No Module 2. A CBT is the legal minimum and the practical maximum for most delivery work.
What’s the difference between a CBT and a full licence — for delivery work?
| CBT only | Full A1 / A2 / A licence | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £225 (one day) | £600–£1,500+ |
| Time to get | 1 day | 3–6 weeks |
| Carry pillion | No | Yes (A1+) |
| L-plates | Required | Not required |
| Motorway use | No | Yes (A1+) |
| Renewals | Every 2 years | Never |
| Bike size | Up to 125cc | A1 = 125cc, A2 = 35kW, Full = unrestricted |
For pure city delivery, a CBT on a 125cc scooter is plenty. Most delivery riders never go beyond it. Some progress to a full A1 or A2 after a year or two so they don’t have to renew, and to lose the L-plate restriction — but it’s not required.
What scooter or motorcycle do I need for delivery?
The big three platforms all accept any 125cc or smaller scooter or motorcycle that’s road-legal and insured for hire-and-reward.
The popular choices for delivery riders in 2026:
- Honda PCX 125 — bulletproof reliability, around 130mpg, the industry default.
- Yamaha NMAX 125 — slightly sportier feel, similar economy.
- Honda SH125i — bigger wheels, better in potholes, popular with longer-distance riders.
- Sym Symphony / Lexmoto — budget options under £2,500 new. Fine for getting started.
- Electric scooters (NIU, Super Soco) — increasingly popular, especially in city centres with low-emission zones.
For training, we provide the bike — you don’t need to own one to do your CBT. Most riders do their CBT first, then buy a scooter once they know they’re committed.
What’s hire-and-reward insurance and do I really need it?
Yes — and a standard motorcycle policy will not cover you. This is the single most important thing in this guide.
A normal “social, domestic and pleasure plus commuting” insurance policy explicitly excludes you the moment you accept a paid delivery. If you have an accident, insurance refuses the claim, the platform deactivates you, and you could face uninsured-rider penalties.
You need a policy that explicitly includes hire-and-reward (sometimes called “courier insurance” or “food delivery insurance”). Insurers who currently offer it for moped/scooter delivery riders include Zego, Insure2Ride, KeyChoice, Hastings Direct (some products), Bennetts (some products), and Quotezone-listed brokers.
Many delivery insurance policies are monthly, on-demand or hourly — Zego is the best-known here — which is useful if you only deliver occasionally. Cost varies hugely by postcode and age but expect £30–£80/month for monthly hire-and-reward cover on a 125cc scooter.
How does the CBT actually work for a delivery rider?
A CBT is the same one-day course whether you intend to deliver food, commute, or just ride for fun. Five elements set by the DVSA:
- Introduction and eye check — you confirm your licence, read a number plate at 20 metres.
- Off-road controls — starting, stopping, braking, steering on the training site.
- Off-road manoeuvres — slow-speed control, U-turns, figure of eight, emergency stop.
- Road safety briefing — hazards, road positioning, what to expect from traffic.
- On-road riding — at least two hours of riding on real roads under instructor supervision with radio guidance.
At the end of the day, if you and your instructor are both happy, you get your DL196 certificate — your licence to learn. Valid for two years. With it, you can ride a 125cc on L-plates, sign up to any of the delivery platforms, and start earning the same week.
Can I do my CBT on an automatic scooter only?
Yes — and most delivery riders do exactly this. If you don’t need to ride a geared motorcycle, train on an automatic scooter and your DL196 will be issued. The CBT certificate doesn’t restrict you to autos — but if you later go for a full A1, A2 or Full A licence and you take that test on an automatic, your full licence will carry a “78” auto-only restriction.
For delivery work, this restriction is almost never a problem.
How quickly can I start delivering after my CBT?
For most riders, the timeline looks like this:
- Day 0: Phone call. Book CBT.
- Day 1–7: CBT (same-week bookings are usually possible).
- Day 8: Set up hire-and-reward insurance (most policies activate within hours of purchase).
- Day 8–9: Sign up to your chosen platform, upload your CBT certificate and right-to-work docs.
- Day 10: First delivery.
Many of our delivery rider learners are out earning within a week of their first call to us.
What do the platforms actually require?
Each platform has slightly different paperwork, but the core requirements are similar:
- Uber Eats: UK provisional/full licence, CBT certificate, scooter logbook (V5), hire-and-reward insurance, MOT (if applicable), valid right-to-work, bank account, smartphone.
- Deliveroo: As above, plus a UK address and a “fit-to-work” check. They also accept bicycle and e-bike riders if you’d rather pedal.
- Just Eat: As above, with a slightly slower onboarding process and a vehicle inspection on some accounts.
All three platforms will check your CBT certificate is valid (in date and matches your licence). Have a digital copy ready when you sign up.
Tax and self-employment — the bit nobody warns you about
Delivery work is self-employed contracting, not employment. You’re responsible for:
- Registering as self-employed with HMRC (free, online, takes 10 minutes).
- Submitting a Self Assessment tax return each year.
- Paying income tax and Class 2/4 National Insurance on your earnings.
- Keeping records of mileage, fuel, insurance, MOT, repairs, phone bills — all tax-deductible.
The HMRC simplified expenses scheme lets you claim a flat 24p per mile for motorcycle business mileage, which is usually more generous than tracking actual costs.
Most delivery riders use an app like FreshBooks, QuickBooks Self-Employed or a simple spreadsheet. Talk to an accountant once a year — it’s usually £150-£250 and saves you more than that in time and missed deductions.
Ready to get on the road in Warrington?
If you’re in Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes, Wigan, St Helens or anywhere across Cheshire and you want to deliver for Uber Eats, Deliveroo or Just Eat, On Your Bike can have you road-ready in a week. We’re a family-run, DVSA-approved motorcycle training school based at Thelwall Parish Hall, WA4 2SX.
- CBT from £225 with bike, helmet and jacket included → Book online
- Automatic scooter training available — just ask when you book.
- 📞 Call or WhatsApp 01925 551 555 — same-day and next-day CBT spaces are often available.
Frequently asked questions
Can I deliver for Uber Eats on a CBT?
Yes. A valid CBT certificate (DL196) plus a 125cc-or-smaller scooter or motorcycle, hire-and-reward insurance and the right-to-work documents are all you need to sign up to Uber Eats as a delivery partner.
Do I need a full motorbike licence to deliver food?
No. A CBT is enough for delivery work on a 125cc or smaller scooter or moped. Most delivery riders never go beyond CBT.
How long does a CBT take?
One day, typically 8:30am to 4:00pm with breaks. If you and your instructor agree you need more time, you book a follow-up half-day — there’s no pass or fail, just a standard you need to meet before the certificate is issued.
Will my normal motorcycle insurance cover delivery work?
No. Standard “social, domestic and pleasure plus commuting” policies explicitly exclude paid delivery. You need a hire-and-reward (also called “courier” or “food delivery”) policy. Zego, Insure2Ride and several other insurers specialise in this — many offer monthly or on-demand cover.
How old do I have to be to deliver food?
17 for a 125cc scooter or motorcycle. 16 for a 50cc moped — but most platforms require you to be at least 18 to sign up as a delivery partner.
Can I deliver food on an automatic scooter?
Yes — and most delivery riders do. Train on an automatic, get your DL196, sign up and start earning. No restriction on the certificate.
What if my CBT expires?
A CBT certificate is valid for two years. After that, you take a refresher CBT (one day, same price). Riders who deliver regularly often choose to take a full A1 licence within those two years so they don’t have to renew.
How much can I earn as a food delivery rider?
Earnings vary hugely by city, time of day, and how many platforms you run simultaneously. Most full-time delivery riders in the UK report £10-£18/hour gross before fuel, insurance and tax. Part-time evenings-and-weekends riders typically earn £80-£150 per shift. Speak to existing riders in your area for a realistic local picture.
Written by Angela and the team at On Your Bike, a family-run, DVSA-approved motorcycle training school in Warrington. Last updated May 2026.