UK Delivery Driver Requirements: Licence, Age and Insurance (2026)

Step 2 of 3: Requirements

To drive a delivery van in the UK you usually need a full category B car licence, which covers vans up to 3,500kg, plus the right to work in the UK. Self-employed couriers also need the right insurance. The next page walks you through the application step by step.

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🪪 Licence rules

GOV.UK says that if you passed your car test on or after 1 January 1997, a category B licence lets you drive vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass with up to 8 passenger seats. For zero-emission electric or hydrogen vans, the limit is 4,250kg.

Most parcel vans fall within category B. Bigger vehicles such as 7.5 tonne lorries need a C1 licence, and HGVs need a category C licence.

• Full licence: a provisional licence won't do. Many adverts also ask how long you've held it.
• Penalty points: many adverts set a limit, often 6 points, and some prefer a clean licence.
• Manual or automatic: if your licence is automatic only, check the van type before applying.

🎂 Age rules

There's no single legal minimum age for van delivery work, so each company and its insurer set their own rules.

• Amazon Flex: Amazon says you must be 18 or older.
• Employed and contractor van roles: many adverts ask for drivers aged 21 or over, and some ask for older, usually because of insurance rules. Check the exact age in the advert.
• Insurance cost: insurers often charge younger drivers more, which matters if you're self-employed and buying your own cover.

Got your licence sorted? The next page shows the order of the application, from finding a route to your first day.

🛡️ Insurance: the part people miss

If you're employed, the company normally provides and insures the van. If you're self-employed and use your own vehicle, insurance becomes your job.

• Hire and reward cover: standard car or van insurance doesn't usually cover paid delivery work. Courier insurers say you'll need hire and reward cover.
• Goods in transit: some contracts also ask for cover for the parcels you carry.
• Evri: says you need access to a car or van with a licence and insurance, and offers a third-party cover top-up charged at £1.35 a day, only on days you work for Evri.
• National Careers Service: advises checking what insurance is needed for your vehicle and the goods you carry, especially if self-employed.

Ready for the next part? The application steps are short, but the order matters.

🔍 Right to work and background checks

Every UK employer must check your right to work. British and Irish citizens usually show a passport. Other nationalities can use an online share code or eligible immigration documents.

Self-employed couriers need proof of the right to work self-employed. Evri lists this as one of the three things you need to apply.

Some delivery roles also ask for a DBS (criminal record) check or a licence check through the DVLA. Employers usually explain these during the application.

📱 Other things you'll need

Beyond the licence and paperwork, a few practical basics come up in almost every driving advert.

• A smartphone: Evri asks for an iOS or Android phone, and Amazon Flex runs entirely through its app. Employed drivers often get a handheld scanner instead.
• Good fitness: the National Careers Service says delivery drivers need a good level of fitness, because you'll lift, carry and climb in and out of the van all day.
• Local knowledge: knowing the roads helps you finish routes on time, although sat navs and apps do much of the planning.
• Customer service skills: you'll deal with customers at the door, handle missed deliveries and record any issues politely and accurately.
• A National Insurance number: you need one to be paid, whether you're employed or self-employed.

If you're going self-employed, GOV.UK explains how to register as a sole trader with HMRC. Do this early, so you're ready to file a tax return.

⚠️ Common mistakes that cost people the job

• Applying with too many points. Check the points limit in the advert before applying.
• Driving for pay on ordinary insurance. This can leave you uninsured. Get the right cover first.
• Forgetting about costs. Fuel, insurance and tax come out of self-employed earnings.
• Not registering as self-employed. Evri points couriers to GOV.UK to register as a sole trader and file a Self Assessment tax return.
• Paying for a 'route'. Real companies don't charge you for a job. Walk away from anyone who asks for an upfront fee.

Want to avoid all of these? The next page puts each step in the right order.

❓ Quick FAQ

On the next page: the 6 application steps in order, where to find official adverts, what happens after you apply and how to spot fake recruiters.

🔥 Other jobs hiring now

Want to keep your options open? These UK jobs need no driving licence at all.

Disclaimer: This is an independent information website. We are not Amazon, Royal Mail, Evri, DPD or any delivery company, we are not an employer, and we do not hire anyone or collect job applications. Pay, insurance and hiring rules change often and vary by location, so always check the details on the official careers site or job advert before you apply. Never pay anyone to get a job.