How to Become a Courier in the UK
Becoming a self-employed courier in the UK is one of the most accessible ways to start earning quickly. You need a suitable vehicle, the right insurance, and a platform to work with — and you can be delivering within days.
Step 1: Choose Your Vehicle
Most courier work requires at least a medium-sized car. Parcel networks like Amazon Flex and Evri accept standard cars for smaller routes, while DPD and Royal Mail contract work usually requires a small or medium van.
Step 2: Get Hire & Reward Insurance
Standard car or van insurance does not cover you for courier work. You need hire-and-reward (H&R) insurance, also called courier insurance, which typically costs £1,500–£3,000 per year. Day-rate policies are available if you only deliver occasionally.
Step 3: Pick a Platform
Popular platforms include Amazon Flex (£14–18/hr, block-based), Evri (per-parcel, from £0.50), DPD (owner-driver contracts), and Uber Eats or Just Eat for food delivery. Many couriers work across multiple platforms.
Step 4: Register as Self-Employed
Most courier platforms treat you as an independent contractor. You must register with HMRC, file a Self Assessment tax return, and pay Class 4 National Insurance. Keep records of all income and expenses.
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