How To Become a Self Employed Driver | Start A Courier Career

Here are some of our top tips to help you get where you’d like to be:

1. Obtain a Vehicle

As a Crown SDS driver, there will be a variety of different work available depending upon which van size you have – so whether you have a small or large capacity van, we have work available to you.  If you were hoping to use a car – whilst we occasionally have work that can be carried out in a car, the majority of our work will require you to have a van. Having a van will enable you to take on more deliveries and therefore provide you with better income opportunities.

When you apply to become a courier with Crown SDS, we will ask to see images of your vehicle, including the front, back, right and left side, as well as an image of the current mileage.

If you’re considering applying to become a courier but don’t yet have a vehicle, read our poll of the best vehicles for self-employed courier work. This will give you some handy hints and tips to look for when choosing a vehicle, as recommended by drivers already working in the industry.

2. Vehicle Maintenance & Insurance

However, having your own van does mean that it will need to be fully serviced and insured, just some of the additional costs that you will need to consider. Being a self-employed courier does require you to think carefully about the upfront and ongoing costs involved.

While we provide Goods in Transit Insurance and Public Liability Insurance, you will need to arrange Hire and Reward insurance to cover your vehicle.

3. Documentation

In order for your application to be processed smoothly and without issues or delays, we do recommend having all documentation ready in advance when applying for a courier role with Crown SDS. 

• DBS Check

Due to the professional nature of the work we carry out, we ensure every Crown SDS driver is security cleared and are safe to handle every delivery. This does mean that we will require a DBS certificate from you, dated no older than six months. A DBS check ensures you have no criminal convictions in your name. You can apply for a DBS check online.

• Passport or Birth Certificate

In order to prove you are a UK resident and able to work in the UK, a passport or birth certificate will be needed,

• Driver’s License Card

As a courier, you will need to share a copy of your driver’s licence card to prove you have a valid UK driving licence and are eligible to drive on UK roads.

• Proof of Address 

Proof of address will also be required in the form of a utility bill or bank statement, providing they are dated within the last three months.

• National Insurance Letter

Your national insurance letter can prove your right to work in the UK, if you are unable to show this, then a copy of your payslip will be required instead.

• V5 Logbook

We will need to see evidence that you own your vehicle and have the right to drive it, so a copy of your V5 logbook will be needed. Alternatively, if you are hiring your vehicle, we will just need to see the hire/rental agreement.

4. Accepting Jobs

After you have joined Crown SDS, accepting courier jobs is extremely easy. We have a driver app which you can use to show your availability and accept work, making your job super flexible – keeping you in the driving seat!

We have a dedicated control team who handle all driver communications and in some circumstances,  will either contact you by phone or send a message directly to your phone to offer work.

One thing to be aware of is that the more flexible you are, the better the earning potential. Being responsive when accepting work (as well as throughout the initial application process) is really useful in increasing your earning potential too.