Uber Eats Driver Requirements (UK)

MyCarTracks_support · May 21, 2026, 8:10am

Starting with Uber Eats looks simple, but the requirements change depending on how you want to deliver. A bicycle courier, scooter courier, and car courier do not need the same paperwork, insurance, or vehicle records.

Before you sign up, choose the delivery mode you actually plan to use: bicycle, motorbike or scooter, or car. Then gather the right documents for that mode so your application does not get stuck on a missing bank statement, unclear licence photo, insurance wording, or background-check step.

The short version: every UK Uber Eats courier needs to be at least 18, prove their right to work, pass background and identity checks, upload a recent bank statement, and keep their National Insurance number ready if based in the UK. Car, motorbike, and scooter couriers also need a driving licence, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) check code if using a UK licence, and motor insurance that covers food delivery or hire and reward without excluding food delivery.

Quick answer

Prepare these items before you rely on Uber Eats for delivery income:

delivery mode: car, motorbike or scooter, or bicycle
right-to-work evidence
accepted photo identification (ID), or a UK or European Union (EU) driving licence if you deliver by motor vehicle
DVLA electronic counterpart check code if you use a UK driving licence
bank statement dated within the last three months for the payout account
National Insurance number if you are based in the UK
food delivery insurance or hire and reward cover for car, motorbike, or scooter delivery
Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate if you use a provisional licence for motorbike or scooter delivery
clear document photos showing all four corners
background-check and identity-verification instructions from the email or app flow
mileage records, weekly earnings, insurance renewals, and delivery expense records from the first week

Do not treat Uber Eats delivery as the same as passenger rideshare. If you also drive passengers with Uber, see Uber Driver Requirements (UK) because private-hire licensing and private-hire insurance are a different workflow.

Uber Eats driver requirements UK by delivery mode

The upload list changes by transport method. Choose the mode you actually plan to use before you start collecting documents.

Delivery mode	Main document checks
Car	Age 18+, right-to-work proof, UK or EU driving licence, DVLA electronic counterpart check code if using a UK licence, bank statement dated within the last three months, car insurance certificate that covers food delivery or hire and reward without excluding food delivery, and National Insurance number if based in the UK.
Motorbike or scooter	Age 18+, right-to-work proof, UK or EU driving licence, CBT certificate if using a provisional licence, DVLA electronic counterpart check code if using a UK licence, bank statement dated within the last three months, insurance certificate that covers food delivery or hire and reward without excluding food delivery, and National Insurance number if based in the UK.
Bicycle	Age 18+, right-to-work proof, Bicycle selected as the transportation method, accepted photo ID, DVLA electronic counterpart check code if the photo ID is a UK driving licence, bank statement dated within the last three months, and National Insurance number if based in the UK.

Bicycle couriers should not buy motor insurance just because a car or motorbike checklist mentions insurance. Motor insurance applies to motorised delivery. Bicycle couriers still need identity, right-to-work, bank, account, and safety steps.

Car delivery requirements

Car delivery has the most insurance risk because paid food delivery is not ordinary personal driving. Car couriers need a Certificate of Motor Insurance covering food delivery or hire and reward that does not exclude food delivery; see the delivery insurance page before buying or uploading cover.

Before your first delivery, ask your insurer to confirm the policy covers app-based food delivery for the exact vehicle and driver. Keep the certificate, policy schedule, renewal notice, and any written confirmation from the insurer. If the insurer or Uber rejects the wording, fix that before going online.

Your car file should also include the driving licence, DVLA check code confirmation, bank statement used for payouts, National Insurance number, and account approval messages. Car and motorbike couriers may need to upload vehicle registration and insurance documents when changing modes.

Motorbike and scooter requirements

Motorbike and scooter couriers use the same core account checks as car couriers: right to work, UK or EU driving licence, DVLA check code if using a UK licence, recent bank statement, National Insurance number if based in the UK, and insurance for food delivery or hire and reward.

If you use a provisional licence, keep your CBT certificate ready. Keep front-and-back images of the licence, CBT evidence where relevant, insurance certificate, and renewal dates together so you can respond quickly if a document expires or is rejected.

Motorbike couriers may be told to order and receive free safety gear when that step appears in the flow. Treat that as an onboarding instruction, not proof that every optional bag or accessory is supplied.

Bicycle delivery requirements

Bicycle delivery avoids motor insurance, fuel, Ministry of Transport (MOT) test, and vehicle-registration paperwork, but it is still an Uber Eats account with identity, right-to-work, bank, and background checks.

For bicycle delivery, select Bicycle as the transportation method during sign-up. Prepare an accepted photo ID, a DVLA electronic counterpart check code if the ID you use is a UK driving licence, a bank statement dated within the last three months, right-to-work proof, and National Insurance number if based in the UK.

If bicycle delivery is available in your area and you choose it, the sign-up steps can include a bicycle safety test and an instruction to order and receive free safety gear. Keep gear receipts and replacement costs in your own records if you buy extra bags, lights, locks, phone mounts, clothing, or maintenance items for delivery work.

How to sign up for Uber Eats delivery in the UK

The sign-up steps are simple, but the approval timing depends on document quality, background checks, right-to-work checks, mode choice, and local demand.

Sign up on Uber’s UK delivery page or in the Uber Driver app.
Choose Bicycle, Motorbike or Scooter, or Car.
Upload the documents for that mode in the app or at partners.uber.com.
Complete any bicycle safety test if that step appears for your area and mode.
Follow the email or SMS instructions for background, identity, right-to-work, or basic disclosure checks.
Order and receive free safety gear if Uber requires that step for your motorbike or bicycle account.
Wait for final review and activation before accepting deliveries.

Getting started can take a few weeks. Uploaded documents may take up to 72 hours to process, and an account can be activated within 24 hours after final review if all requirements are met. Do not plan income around the shortest timing, because one unclear upload or missing check can slow the account down.

If you already have an active Uber driver account, look for the delivery option in the Driver app rather than assuming it is available in every city or account state. Delivery terms, documents, insurance, and vehicle-mode approval still need to match your actual work.

Upload documents without avoidable delays

Most onboarding delays are preventable. Upload images should be clear, readable, and show all four corners of the original document.

Before uploading, check that:

the document is valid and not expired
the name and address match where the upload flow asks for a match
the payout bank statement is dated within the last three months
the driving licence image shows the front and back where required
the insurance wording covers food delivery or hire and reward without excluding food delivery
the bank account is the account you want Uber Eats to pay
the DVLA check code is current when it is requested
the file is not blurry, cropped, glared, black-and-white, or a screenshot of a copy where an original image is needed

Use view or share your driving licence information to get a licence check code for a UK driving licence. Use prove your right to work if Uber or its checking partner asks for a share code or eligible document.

Background check, right to work, and Post Office verification

After sign-up, watch for an email to complete a background check. The checking partner may ask for separate right-to-work and basic disclosure documents. Follow the named provider and instructions in the email you receive, because provider names, country steps, and in-person verification can change.

If the email tells you to verify documents in person, use the official Post Office branch finder and take the barcode, original documents, and any instructions from the email. Do not visit a branch before the app or email asks for that step.

For criminal-record evidence in England and Wales, the basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check page explains the basic check route. Scotland and Northern Ireland can use different disclosure processes, so use the provider instructions from Uber’s flow rather than copying a process from another part of the UK.

Switching between car, motorbike, and bicycle delivery

If you change between Bicycle, Motorbike, and Car delivery modes later, expect fresh document prompts.

For car or motorbike delivery, that can mean uploading a vehicle registration certificate and insurance certificate, not just changing a setting in the app. For bicycle delivery, it can mean selecting Bicycle as the method and completing any safety or equipment step shown in the flow.

The practical rule is simple: only go online with the mode Uber has approved and your insurance or equipment actually supports. A delivery account approved for bicycle work does not prove your car is insured for food delivery. A motor insurance document does not remove the need to choose the correct mode in the app.

Tax, insurance, and mileage records

Uber Eats couriers should keep business records even before the first payout arrives. Self Assessment is the system HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uses to collect Income Tax, and self-employed people need records to complete their return correctly.

For delivery work, keep:

weekly Uber Eats earnings statements and payout records
tips, incentives, adjustments, refunds, and fee records
delivery mileage records for car, motorbike, scooter, or bicycle use
fuel, charging, insurance, maintenance, phone, bags, safety gear, parking, toll, and repair receipts where relevant
bank statements for the delivery account
right-to-work, background-check, and account activation messages
insurance certificates and renewal dates
National Insurance and tax registration details

Keep sales, income, expense, and business records for your delivery work. The self-employed travel expenses guidance covers costs such as vehicle, travel, and parking expenses.

For more UK mileage detail, use Uber Eats Mileage Guide, Uber Eats Pay Guide, Uber Eats Tax Guide, and Self-Employed Mileage Allowance (UK).

MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking can help separate Uber Eats delivery miles from private travel, other apps, passenger trips, errands, and vehicle checks. Use it for mileage logs and reports, not as a substitute for tax, insurance, right-to-work, or Uber account approval.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does Uber Eats provide delivery gear in the UK?

Motorbike and bicycle couriers may be required to order and receive free safety gear during onboarding. Treat optional bags, clothing, phone mounts, lights, and replacement equipment as your own delivery-work costs unless Uber specifically supplies them in your account flow.

Do I need my own vehicle for Uber Eats?

You need access to the mode you choose: car, motorbike or scooter, or bicycle. If you use a car, motorbike, or scooter, check that the vehicle documents and insurance support paid food delivery before going online.

How long does Uber Eats sign-up take in the UK?

Getting started can take a few weeks. Document processing can take up to 72 hours, and final review can be quick if all requirements are met, but background checks, right-to-work checks, in-person verification, unclear uploads, or insurance wording can add time.

Is the Uber Eats application process free?

Do not assume it is always free or always paid. Follow the current app, email, checking-provider, and Post Office instructions. Possible costs can include insurance, documents, replacement ID, travel to verification, extra equipment, and any fee shown in your own onboarding flow.

Do I need private-hire insurance for Uber Eats?

Not for delivery-only work in the same sense as passenger rideshare. Car, motorbike, and scooter couriers need motor insurance that covers food delivery or hire and reward without excluding food delivery. Passenger private-hire insurance is a separate product for carrying paying passengers.

Can I deliver by bicycle without a driving licence?

Bicycle couriers need accepted photo ID, and a DVLA check code is needed if you use a UK driving licence as the identity document. Bicycle couriers still need to select Bicycle as the transportation method and complete the right-to-work, background, bank, and account checks.