Written by Michael Foote, Insurance Expert
Michael Foote is the founder of Quote Goat and has over 20 years experience working in finance & insurance. Since launching Quote Goat he has appeared on TV as well as many of the largest online publications including Forbes, The Telegraph and The Metro. Prior to Quote Goat, he worked in finance in the city.
What Insurance Do You Need for Amazon Flex?
If you’re driving for Amazon Flex with a van, you must have hire and reward insurance before you start. This is the legal minimum that allows you to carry goods for payment.
However, hire and reward cover only protects your vehicle and your liability to other road users. It doesn’t cover the parcels themselves. If those parcels are lost, stolen or damaged while in your care, you could be personally liable unless you have goods in transit insurance.
Whether Amazon explicitly requires goods in transit cover depends on your contract and depot. Many experienced drivers add it regardless because the financial risk of going without can be considerable.
Does Amazon Flex Cover Your Insurance?
Amazon does not provide insurance for Flex drivers. You are classed as a self-employed contractor, which means arranging appropriate cover is entirely your responsibility.
Your standard personal van insurance will not cover courier work. Using it for Amazon Flex deliveries could invalidate your policy completely, leaving you uninsured if something goes wrong.
You need commercial courier insurance that includes hire and reward as a minimum. For more detail on this distinction, read our guide on whether you can use personal van insurance for courier work.
What Does Goods in Transit Insurance Cover?
Goods in transit insurance protects the parcels you’re responsible for while they’re in your van or temporarily in your custody during delivery.
It typically covers:
- Theft of parcels from your vehicle
- Damage caused during transit
- Loss of items while in your care
- Fire or accident damage to goods inside the van
This is separate from your vehicle insurance. Your van policy covers the vehicle itself. Goods in transit covers what’s inside it.
When You Actually Need Goods in Transit Cover
Consider these scenarios Amazon Flex drivers face regularly:
Your van is broken into overnight. You collected your delivery block the evening before an early start. Someone smashes your window and takes 30 parcels. Without goods in transit cover, you’re liable for the full replacement cost.
Parcels are damaged during transit. A sudden stop causes boxes to shift and several fragile items are crushed. The customer complains and Amazon holds you responsible.
Items go missing from your vehicle. After a long multi-drop day, you realise several parcels are unaccounted for. You signed for them at the depot, so the liability falls on you.
In all these situations, your van insurance won’t pay out. Only goods in transit insurance covers the value of the parcels themselves.
What Happens If Parcels Are Lost or Damaged?
Amazon reimburses customers when parcels go missing or arrive damaged. But that doesn’t necessarily protect you.
If Amazon determines the loss was due to driver negligence or inadequate insurance, they may:
- Deactivate your Flex account
- Seek reimbursement from you for the lost items
- Refuse to offer you further delivery blocks
Having the right insurance shows you’re operating professionally and significantly reduces your personal financial exposure.
How Much Does Goods in Transit Insurance Cost?
Goods in transit cover is usually added to your courier insurance policy for a relatively modest additional premium.
The cost depends on:
- The level of cover you choose (typically £1,000 to £10,000)
- Your claims history
- Your vehicle type and security measures
- Where you’re based and where you deliver
Many drivers find that adding goods in transit insurance costs far less than the potential liability of a single stolen delivery load.
Combining Hire and Reward with Goods in Transit
The simplest approach is to arrange a courier insurance policy that bundles hire and reward cover and goods in transit together.
This ensures:
- You meet Amazon Flex’s minimum legal requirements
- Your van is insured for commercial use
- The parcels you carry are protected
- You have one policy and one renewal date to manage
For a complete breakdown of courier insurance requirements, see our guide on what insurance you need to deliver parcels with a van.
What Happens If You Deliver Without the Right Cover?
Delivering parcels without appropriate insurance is a serious matter. If you’re stopped by police or involved in an accident, driving without valid business use cover can result in:
- Six to eight penalty points on your licence
- Your vehicle being seized
- A substantial fine
- Prosecution for driving without insurance
Beyond the legal consequences, Amazon may terminate your contract if they discover you don’t hold the correct insurance.
Additional Cover to Consider
While hire and reward and goods in transit are the essentials, many Amazon Flex drivers also add:
Public liability insurance to cover injury or damage claims from customers or the public. This is often included in courier policies.
Tools and equipment cover if you carry a trolley, phone holder or other equipment that could be stolen from your van.
If you’re working part-time alongside another job, check whether part-time parcel couriers still need full cover.
Setting Up Your Amazon Flex Van Insurance Correctly
Before you accept your first delivery block, make sure you have:
- Hire and reward insurance covering your van for paid courier work
- Goods in transit cover protecting the parcels you deliver
- Public liability insurance (often included in courier policies)
- Proof of cover ready to show Amazon if requested
Keep digital and printed copies of your insurance documents in your van. Amazon can ask to see them at any time, and some depots check before allowing you to collect parcels.
For more on Amazon Flex insurance requirements, read our full guide on Amazon courier insurance for UK drivers.
Get the Right Cover Before You Start Delivering
If you’re serious about working as an Amazon Flex van driver, having the correct insurance isn’t optional. Hire and reward cover is the legal minimum, but goods in transit insurance protects you from significant financial risk if anything goes wrong with the parcels in your care.
Don’t leave yourself exposed. Use the button on screen to compare courier insurance policies that include both hire and reward and goods in transit cover, tailored specifically to Amazon Flex drivers.