This is the full walkthrough — everything between “I want to try delivery driving” and actually earning your first payout. Work through it in order; each step links to a deeper guide if you want more detail on that specific part.
Step 1: Decide which platform(s) suit you
The main options in the UK are Amazon Flex, Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat, plus independent courier work if you want more control over your own hours and rates. They differ in vehicle requirements, how you get work (booked blocks vs. always-on availability), and typical pay structure. Most drivers end up running two platforms at once to fill gaps in availability — read our Amazon Flex UK guide for how one of the most popular options actually works day to day.
Step 2: Register as self-employed with HMRC
As soon as you start earning through any of these platforms, you’re self-employed in the eyes of HMRC — none of them treat you as an employee or deduct tax for you. You need to register for Self Assessment, which you can do directly on gov.uk. There’s a registration deadline (currently the 5th of October following the end of the tax year you started trading in), so don’t leave it until your first tax return is due.
Once registered, keep a simple record from day one: mileage, fuel, phone costs, any equipment you buy (bags, mounts, dash cams), and vehicle running costs are all things you can typically offset against your tax bill — a basic spreadsheet or a driver-focused app is enough to start with.
Step 3: Sort your vehicle
Each platform has its own vehicle rules — car age/condition limits, whether bikes/mopeds qualify, and sometimes specific requirements by area. Check the specific platform’s current requirements before assuming your vehicle qualifies. If you’re buying or servicing a vehicle specifically for this, our MOT prep guide covers the checks worth doing before every test, which matters more when your car is your income.
Step 4: Get the right insurance
This is the step people skip and regret. Standard car insurance does not cover being paid to deliver — you need hire and reward cover, full stop. Read our insurance guide before you go any further; driving without proper cover can leave you personally liable for accidents and can invalidate your entire policy, not just the delivery-related claim.
Step 5: Sign up with your chosen platform
Each platform’s sign-up flow is broadly similar: create an account, submit ID and right-to-work documents, add your vehicle details, and pass a background check. Timelines vary — some approve within a day, others take over a week, particularly around identity verification. Have your documents (driving licence, proof of address, insurance certificate) ready as photos/scans before you start so you’re not scrambling partway through.
Step 6: Get your kit
A proper insulated delivery bag, a phone mount that won’t fail mid-shift, and a dash cam (genuinely useful for disputing liability in any incident) are the three things worth buying before your first shift rather than after. See our delivery bag guide for what actually matters when choosing one, and check the Shop for specific picks.
Step 7: Your first week — what to actually expect
- You’ll be slower than experienced drivers for the first few shifts — that’s normal, not a sign you’re doing it wrong.
- Parking, building access, and knowing your local area’s shortcuts affect your earnings more than almost anything else early on.
- Availability of work is genuinely inconsistent — don’t judge the job on your first two or three sessions alone.
- Track your actual hourly earnings (not just per-job pay) for your first couple of weeks — it’s the only way to know if a platform is really working for you in your area.
Step 8: Keep learning
Once you’re up and running, the ongoing things worth staying on top of are: keeping your vehicle properly maintained (see MOT prep), reviewing your insurance annually rather than auto-renewing blind, and keeping tax records tidy through the year rather than scrambling every January. Grab our free Self-Employment Starter Checklist to keep all of this in one place.
This guide gives general information to help you get started — always check the current, specific requirements directly with HMRC, your insurer, and whichever platform(s) you’re joining, as these details do change.