If you've searched "cash on delivery UK" hoping for a simple answer, here it is: yes, cash on delivery is still available in the UK. But it doesn't work the way most people think it does.
The old-school version, where you'd hand cash to the postman when a parcel arrived, is essentially dead. Royal Mail quietly dropped it years ago, and none of the major courier companies like DPD, Hermes or DHL offer it either. So if you're expecting to order something online and pay the delivery driver at the door, that's not really an option anymore.
But there's a version of COD that's very much alive, and it's specifically designed for people buying and selling large items on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Gumtree. That's what this article covers.
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A COD driver pays the seller in cash at the point of collection
What Happened to Traditional Cash on Delivery?
Cash on delivery used to be a perfectly normal way to buy things in the UK. You'd order from a catalogue, the parcel would turn up, and you'd pay the delivery driver before they handed it over. Royal Mail ran a proper COD service for decades. It was simple, trusted, and millions of people used it.
Then online payments took over. Card transactions, PayPal, Apple Pay, bank transfers — paying before delivery became the standard. The economics of COD stopped making sense for mainstream couriers. Handling cash slows drivers down, creates security risks, and adds admin that most logistics companies don't want to deal with. So one by one, they dropped it.
Royal Mail's COD service has been gone for years now. If you ring them and ask, they'll confirm they don't offer it. Same story with Evri, DPD, UPS and FedEx in the UK. For standard parcel deliveries, COD is finished.
So How Does Cash on Delivery Still Work in the UK?
Here's where it gets interesting. While mainstream couriers walked away from COD, a gap opened up — particularly for people buying and selling large, expensive items through online marketplaces.
Think about it from a buyer's perspective. You've found a £400 wardrobe on Facebook Marketplace. The seller is 80 miles away. They want cash. You don't fancy transferring hundreds of pounds to a stranger's bank account and hoping for the best. And you definitely don't want to drive 160 miles round trip with a wad of notes in your pocket to meet someone you've never spoken to before.
That's where specialist COD courier services come in. Instead of you going to the seller, a driver goes on your behalf. The driver turns up at the seller's address with cash, pays the agreed amount, collects the item, and delivers it to you. Both sides are protected. The seller gets their cash. The buyer gets the item. Nobody has to meet a stranger or risk sending money into the void.
Good to know: Modern COD courier services aren't limited to cash. Most can also arrange bank transfers to the seller if they prefer not to receive physical cash. The principle is the same — payment only happens when the driver is physically at the seller's address with the item in hand.
Where Is COD Most Commonly Used Now?
The biggest demand for COD in the UK comes from online marketplace transactions. Facebook Marketplace is the main one. Huge volumes of furniture, appliances and other large items change hands on there every day, and the platform has no built-in payment system in the UK. Sellers typically want cash or bank transfer, and buyers are understandably nervous about sending money to people they don't know.
eBay is another common one, especially for "collection only" listings. A buyer finds exactly what they want but it's listed as collection only and the seller is at the other end of the country. An eBay collection service paired with COD solves that problem neatly.
Gumtree, Shpock, and private sales make up the rest. Any situation where a buyer and seller don't know each other, the item is too large to post normally, and one or both parties want the security of payment happening at the same time as collection.
COD vs Cash on Collection — They're Not the Same Thing
This catches a lot of people out. Cash on collection and cash on delivery sound similar but they work differently.
Cash on collection means the buyer goes to the seller's address, inspects the item, pays in person, and takes it away themselves. No courier involved. Both parties meet face to face.
Cash on delivery means a courier driver handles the whole thing on the buyer's behalf. The driver collects the item from the seller, pays them, and delivers it to the buyer. Buyer and seller never need to meet.
Porta's cash on collection service is designed specifically for Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree listings where sellers have marked items as "cash on collection only" but the buyer can't collect in person.
Collection only listings are where COD courier services are most useful
What About the Scams?
If you've spent any time buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace, you've probably come across the courier payment scam. A "buyer" messages you saying they'll send a courier with cash, then asks you to pay an "insurance fee" upfront. It's one of the most common scams on the platform and it's made a lot of people understandably suspicious of anything involving couriers and cash.
A legitimate COD service works completely differently. The seller never pays anything. The buyer books and pays the courier service directly, and the driver turns up at the seller's door with cash in hand — just like a normal buyer would. No insurance fees, no strange payment links, no requests for codes or verification.
Watch out: If anyone asks you to pay a fee before a courier collects your item, it's a scam. Legitimate COD services charge the buyer, not the seller. The seller simply hands over the item and receives payment. That's it.
How Much Does a COD Courier Service Cost?
The cost depends on the same things any delivery would — distance between seller and buyer, size and weight of the item, and how quickly you need it done. On top of the standard delivery charge, there's usually a small COD handling fee that covers the insurance and documentation involved in transporting cash.
The easiest way to find out what it would cost for your specific situation is to get an instant quote. You enter your collection and delivery postcodes, describe the item, and you'll see the price in seconds.
Who Actually Uses COD in the UK Right Now?
More people than you'd think. It's not some niche thing. COD is used daily by:
Furniture buyers who've found something on Marketplace or eBay but don't want to risk sending hundreds of pounds to a stranger's bank account before seeing the item.
Sellers of high-value items who want guaranteed cash rather than dealing with PayPal disputes, chargeback claims, or bounced bank transfers.
People buying "collection only" items that are too far away to collect in person. A marketplace collection and delivery service combined with COD means you can buy from anywhere in the UK without leaving your house.
Antique and vintage buyers who want to inspect through a driver before payment goes through, particularly on items worth several hundred pounds or more.
Small businesses that want to offer COD as a payment option to customers who are wary of paying online or don't have credit cards.
The Short Version
Cash on delivery isn't dead in the UK. The old Royal Mail version is, and mainstream couriers don't offer it. But for anyone buying or selling large items through online marketplaces, specialist COD courier services have filled the gap. The driver collects the item, handles payment on your behalf, and delivers to the buyer. Both sides are protected, and nobody has to send money to a stranger or meet someone they don't know.
If that's what you've been looking for, it exists, it works, and it's available right now across the whole of the UK.
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Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Is cash on delivery still available in the UK?
Yes. Traditional COD through Royal Mail and mainstream couriers has mostly disappeared, but specialist COD courier services are available for large items and marketplace purchases across the whole of the UK.
Why did Royal Mail stop offering cash on delivery?
Online payments became the norm and the logistics of handling cash on every delivery stopped making financial sense. The security risks, slower delivery times, and admin overhead made it unviable for high-volume parcel services.
How does a COD courier service work for marketplace purchases?
The buyer books and pays the courier service. A driver travels to the seller's address with cash, pays the agreed amount, collects the item, and delivers it to the buyer. Both sides receive photo proof of payment and delivery.
Is COD safe on Facebook Marketplace?
A legitimate COD courier service is one of the safest ways to complete a Marketplace transaction. The key difference from scams is that the seller never pays anything — the buyer covers the courier and COD fee, and the driver simply turns up with cash like a normal buyer would.
What's the difference between cash on delivery and cash on collection?
Cash on collection means the buyer goes to the seller in person, pays cash, and takes the item. Cash on delivery means a courier handles it all — collecting the item, paying the seller, and delivering to the buyer. No face-to-face meeting needed.
Can the seller receive a bank transfer instead of cash?
Yes. While cash is the default, most COD courier services can arrange a bank transfer to the seller at the point of collection if they prefer not to handle physical cash.