Choosing a vehicle for parcel delivery is a business decision. Load space, running cost, reliability and the cost of being off the road all matter more than what the vehicle is like to drive.
This page covers what a delivery vehicle needs to satisfy and how to choose one that earns rather than costs.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
What a delivery vehicle generally requires.
- A valid vehicle licence and roadworthy condition
- The applicable operating licence or authorisation for goods transport, where the National Land Transport Act 5 of 2009 requires it
- Adequate and secure load space for the parcel volume carried
- Insurance covering commercial goods delivery use, and clarity on cover for the goods
- A driver with the correct licence code for the vehicle class
- A professional driving permit in the goods category, where required
- Registration in the operator’s name, or documented authority to use the vehicle
- Compliance with the platform’s vehicle requirements
Licence and Eligibility Requirements
Confirm the platform’s vehicle requirements directly and the goods transport position with your provincial regulatory entity and licensing authority. What authorisation and permit category apply depend on the vehicle and the service.
Load space is the first constraint. A vehicle that cannot carry a full round of parcels means more trips, more fuel and fewer deliveries per shift. Measure the space against realistic parcel volumes rather than estimating.
Enclosed and lockable beats open. Parcels in an open load bay are visible, weather-exposed and easy to take. A panel van or a canopied bakkie protects the goods and reduces the liability you carry.
Running cost decides profitability. Fuel consumption, tyre life, service intervals and cost, and the price of common failure parts. Calculate cost per kilometre on realistic figures and compare candidates on that rather than on purchase price.
Reliability is the whole business. A vehicle off the road earns nothing while its costs continue. A common model with cheap, widely available parts and a large independent service network is worth more than a nominally better vehicle that waits a week for a part.
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
Payload matters and is checked. A vehicle’s permissible maximum is on the registration certificate, and exceeding it is an offence, voids the insurance position and makes the vehicle dangerous. Payload includes the driver, passengers and everything in the load area.
Restrain the load. Parcels that shift damage themselves and obstruct the driver. Tie-down points, load bars or a bulkhead are worth fitting.
Vehicle security is an operational risk. Delivery vehicles are targeted. Fit a tracker and an alarm, lock the vehicle every time, keep parcels out of sight, and never leave it running.
City delivery is the hardest use a vehicle sees — constant stopping, short trips, low speeds and a full load. Service intervals should be treated as maximums rather than targets.
Insurance must cover commercial delivery, and goods-in-transit cover for the parcels is a separate product from motor insurance. Confirm both.
Roadworthiness is continuous. A vehicle used commercially and driven hard needs checking weekly, not at service intervals.
Documents, PrDP or Supporting Evidence
What is needed to register the vehicle.
- The vehicle registration certificate and current licence disc
- A current roadworthy certificate, where required
- The applicable operating licence or authorisation for goods transport
- An insurance schedule showing commercial delivery cover
- Goods-in-transit cover details, where held
- A valid driver’s licence and professional driving permit, where required
- Proof of the vehicle’s permissible payload
- A letter of authority from the owner, where the driver is not the owner
Registration or Application Process
Confirm the licence and permit position before starting, and confirm the platform’s vehicle requirements with the platform.
Calculate the numbers before buying. Instalment or rental, insurance, fuel at realistic consumption, a maintenance provision per kilometre, and licensing, against deliveries per day at the rate paid. That is what tells you whether the vehicle works.
Buy for reliability and cheap parts rather than for load space alone. The vehicle that never stops earns more than the larger one that does.
Verify any vehicle before buying — registration certificate, VIN and engine numbers, titleholder and outstanding finance — and have an independent inspection done.
Check the finance agreement if the vehicle is financed, since many agreements restrict or prohibit commercial use. Ask the finance house in writing.
- Confirm the goods transport authorisation and permit category
- Measure load space against realistic parcel volumes
- Prefer an enclosed, lockable load area
- Calculate cost per kilometre and compare candidates on it
- Buy for reliability and cheap, available parts
- Never exceed the permissible payload
- Restrain the load and consider a bulkhead
- Fit a tracker and lock the vehicle every time
- Confirm both commercial motor cover and goods-in-transit cover
- Ask the finance house in writing about commercial use
Frequently Asked Questions
What matters most in choosing a delivery vehicle?
Reliability and running cost. A vehicle off the road earns nothing while its costs continue, so cheap available parts and a wide service network beat nominal quality.
Open bakkie or panel van?
Enclosed and lockable is better. Parcels in an open bay are visible, weather-exposed and easy to take, and you carry the liability for them.
Do I need goods-in-transit cover?
It is a separate product from motor insurance and it covers the parcels rather than the vehicle. Confirm what the platform requires and what you carry.
Can I use a financed vehicle?
Check the agreement and ask the finance house in writing. Many finance agreements restrict or prohibit commercial use, and breaching one can constitute a default.
Vehicle requirements, goods transport authorisations, permit categories and insurance products are set by the platforms, the provincial regulatory entities, the licensing authorities and insurers, and are revised. Confirm current requirements with each.