Do Just Eat Pay Petrol?

When considering a job as a delivery driver, understanding how expenses like fuel are covered is essential. For Just Eat drivers, petrol costs are a common concern since most work as independent contractors, meaning they are responsible for their vehicle-related expenses.

This article explores how petrol costs impact your earnings as a Just Eat driver and offers tips to help you maximise your income despite these costs.

Just Eat’s Petrol Policy

Just Eat does not reimburse drivers for petrol. Unlike some other delivery platforms, Just Eat classifies most of its drivers as independent contractors. This means that drivers must cover all costs associated with their vehicle, including fuel, insurance, maintenance, and road tax.

Whether you’re using a car, moped, or scooter, these costs fall entirely on you as the driver. This structure allows for flexibility but puts the financial burden of operating expenses squarely on the driver.

For cyclists, fuel isn’t a concern, but there are still costs involved in maintaining a bicycle, such as repairs, safety gear, and equipment. Overall, understanding this policy is crucial when calculating how much you’ll take home after expenses.

Managing Fuel Costs as a Just Eat Driver

While Just Eat doesn’t cover petrol, there are ways to manage and reduce your fuel costs:

Fuel-Efficient Routes: Using apps like Google Maps or Waze can help you find the most fuel-efficient routes. By avoiding traffic-heavy areas and planning your deliveries to minimise travel time, you can significantly reduce fuel consumption. Consider sticking to main roads or areas with fewer stops and starts to make your driving more efficient.
Fee Boosts: Just Eat frequently offers fee boosts during busy periods. These boosts allow you to earn extra money per delivery during peak times, such as lunch and dinner hours, weekends, or holidays. Taking advantage of these boosts can help offset your petrol expenses. Many drivers plan their shifts around these promotions to maximise their earnings.

Earnings and Petrol Costs

On average, Just Eat drivers can earn between £7 and £13 per hour, depending on the area and time of day. Hourly employees typically make between £9.30 and £10.20 per hour. However, because petrol isn’t covered, drivers need to calculate how much of their earnings will go toward fuel.

For example, if you spend £10 on petrol during a shift where you earned £50, your net income drops to £40. Monitoring your fuel expenses carefully is critical to understanding your actual earnings.

Factors That Affect Fuel Costs

Several factors can influence how much fuel you use on deliveries:

Vehicle Type: Cars and mopeds use more fuel than bicycles, making them more expensive to operate. Cyclists, of course, don’t need to worry about fuel, but maintaining a bike also comes with costs, such as repairs and safety gear.
Delivery Area: Urban areas with heavy traffic may cause you to use more petrol, but urban deliveries often involve shorter distances between restaurants and customers. On the other hand, deliveries in suburban or rural areas may require longer travel times, increasing fuel consumption but potentially offering quicker routes with fewer stops.

Maximising Your Earnings Despite Fuel Costs

While Just Eat doesn’t cover fuel expenses, there are strategies to ensure you maximise your earnings:

Work Peak Hours: Peak times, such as lunch, dinner, and weekends, are when demand is highest. Working during these periods means you’ll receive more orders in less time, allowing you to complete more deliveries and make more money. Many drivers also focus on holidays or special events when food orders increase significantly.
Multi-Apping: If orders are slow during your shift, using other platforms like Uber Eats or Deliveroo at the same time can help. This practice, known as multi-apping, allows you to maximise your working hours by ensuring you have a constant flow of orders from various sources. By reducing idle time between deliveries, you’ll make the most of your petrol.
Customer Service for Tips: Providing excellent customer service can help you earn tips, which can offset fuel costs. While Just Eat doesn’t offer an in-app tipping feature, many customers still give cash tips for polite and prompt service. Ensuring that food is delivered on time and in good condition can increase your chances of receiving tips from satisfied customers.

Conclusion

Although Just Eat doesn’t directly pay for petrol, Just Eat drivers’ salary can still be decent by working strategically. By utilising fee boosts, working during high-demand periods, and using multi-app strategies, you can effectively offset your petrol costs and maximise your earnings.

Whether you’re a self-employed contractor or an hourly employee, managing your fuel expenses is essential to ensuring profitability as a Just Eat driver.

With careful planning and strategic scheduling, you can increase your overall take-home pay and make the most out of your time on the road.