Becoming a self-employed delivery driver in the UK is quicker than most people expect. You need the right licence, the right to work, a few documents, and a way to find shifts. Here's the whole path, step by step.
General guidance to help you get started — not legal, tax or insurance advice. Always check the current rules on gov.uk, or with a professional, for your own situation.
Step 1: Check you have the right licence
For most van and multi-drop work, a full UK category B driving licence (cars and vans up to 3.5t) is all you need. If you want higher-paid 7.5-tonne work, you'll need category C1 and a Driver CPC — see do you need a CPC?
Step 2: Confirm your right to work
You'll need to prove your right to work in the UK — a passport or a gov.uk share code. Platforms verify this before you can pick up shifts, so have it ready.
Step 3: Register as self-employed with HMRC
Register as a sole trader so HMRC can issue your UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference). This is the foundation of working for yourself — it's what you'll use for Self Assessment. The full detail is in self-employed driver tax.
Step 4: Gather your documents
Most platforms verify a standard set before your first shift:
- Full UK driving licence (both sides)
- Right to Work (passport or share code)
- DVLA licence check code (free from gov.uk via "View or share your driving licence" — confirms any endorsements; valid 21 days)
- Proof of address from the last 3 months
- A CPC card, if you'll drive 7.5t
With FlexiDriver, each one is verified — usually within a working day.
Step 5: Sort your vehicle and insurance
You can use your own van or one you lease. Either way, make sure you're insured for the work: that means hire and reward insurance (and often goods-in-transit), not standard social/domestic cover. Driving for delivery without the right policy can invalidate a claim.
Step 6: Open a business-ready bank account
You don't legally need a separate account as a sole trader, but a dedicated UK account makes your bookkeeping far simpler — and you'll need a sort code and account number for weekly Bacs payments. Keep your UTR and National Insurance number handy too.
Step 7: Join a platform and start picking up shifts
Now you find the work. With FlexiDriver you set your base postcode, travel radius, vehicle types and availability, then get matched to shifts that fit — tap to accept, drive, and get paid the following Friday by Bacs with self-billing invoices issued for you.
You're ready
That's it — licence, right to work, UTR, documents, insurance, and a platform. Explore self-employed driver jobs or create your driver account with FlexiDriver and we'll help you get set up.