Using an ordinary car for delivery work is possible for small parcels and it has limits that are worth understanding before starting. The car was not designed for the load, the mileage or the stopping, and it will show.
This page covers what a car used for delivery requires and where the limits are, so the decision is made knowingly.
Driver or Vehicle Requirements at a Glance
What a car used for delivery generally requires.
- A valid vehicle licence and roadworthy condition
- The applicable operating licence or authorisation for goods transport, where required
- A valid driver’s licence for the vehicle
- A professional driving permit, where the service and vehicle class require one
- Insurance covering commercial delivery use — a personal policy generally excludes it
- Boot or load space adequate for the parcels carried
- 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 requirements and the goods transport position with the platform, your provincial regulatory entity and your licensing authority before starting.
Insurance is the immediate issue. A personal motor policy generally excludes commercial delivery use, which means an accident while working is likely to be rejected — and that is the whole value of the car. Declare the use and obtain a policy that covers it before the first delivery.
The car’s limits are real. Boot space caps the round size, which caps deliveries per shift and therefore earnings. A car suits small parcels and light rounds; it does not suit volume.
Weight matters more than people think. A boot loaded to the roof exceeds what the suspension was designed for, affects braking and handling, and accelerates wear. Do not load beyond what the vehicle can carry safely, and remember the payload includes passengers.
Do not obstruct visibility. Parcels stacked above the rear seat backs block the rear view and become projectiles in a stop. Load low and secure.
Vehicle, Inspection and Safety Requirements
City delivery is the hardest use a car sees. Constant stopping, short trips that never bring the engine to temperature, low-speed running and a full load together accelerate wear on the clutch, brakes, suspension and exhaust. Service intervals should be treated as maximums.
Budget maintenance per kilometre, not per year, and set the money aside from every shift. A car doing delivery mileage reaches service intervals several times faster than a private one.
Depreciation is faster and resale is discounted. A car used commercially loses value more quickly and buyers discount it. Factor that into whether the work pays.
Parcels in a car are visible. Use the boot, cover what is on seats, lock the vehicle every time and never leave it running. Delivery vehicles are targeted.
Keep the car clean and presentable. Customers see it, and platform standards may apply.
Roadworthiness is continuous and a heavily used car needs checking weekly rather than at service intervals — tyres, brakes, lights and wipers especially.
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, where required
- An insurance schedule showing commercial delivery cover
- Goods-in-transit cover details, where held or required
- 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 car is not yours
Registration or Application Process
Confirm the licence, permit and insurance position before the first delivery, and confirm the platform’s vehicle requirements with the platform.
Trial the work before committing the car. Measure actual deliveries per shift, actual fuel use and the wear you can see, and calculate the net after a maintenance provision. That number tells you whether the car is the right vehicle or whether a van is needed.
Do not use a financed car commercially without checking. Many finance agreements restrict or prohibit commercial use, and breaching one can constitute a default. Ask the finance house in writing.
Keep records of trips, earnings and expenses. The income is taxable and must be declared to SARS, and expenses actually incurred are deductible — but only with records.
- Declare commercial delivery use to your insurer before starting
- Confirm the goods transport authorisation position
- Understand that boot space caps deliveries and therefore earnings
- Never load beyond the vehicle’s permissible payload
- Load low and secure — never obstruct the rear view
- Treat service intervals as maximums, not targets
- Set a maintenance provision aside from every shift
- Factor faster depreciation and discounted resale into the decision
- Ask the finance house in writing about commercial use
- Keep records — the income is taxable and expenses are deductible
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own car for deliveries?
For small parcels, yes, with commercial insurance and the applicable authorisation. Boot space caps the round size, which caps earnings, and the wear is substantial.
Will my normal insurance cover me?
Generally no. Personal policies exclude commercial delivery use, so an accident while working is likely to be rejected — and that is the whole value of the car.
How much extra wear does it cause?
Substantial. Constant stopping, short trips and a full load accelerate clutch, brake, suspension and exhaust wear. Treat service intervals as maximums and budget per kilometre.
Should I use a financed car?
Check the agreement and ask the finance house in writing. Many restrict or prohibit commercial use, and breaching one can constitute a default.
Vehicle requirements, goods transport authorisations, insurance terms and finance conditions are set by the platforms, the regulatory entities, insurers and finance houses, and are revised. Confirm current requirements with each before starting.