Courier van advice

[Gav45Orchard]

Hi all

I’m looking to boost my income by becoming a part-time courier driver for Amazon. A bit of extra weekend work will help us no end I think and we’ve felt the pinch since having a second child.

It’s so hard to find a forum for courier drivers or those looking to get in the industry isn’t it?

My main concern is finding a vehicle that is economic and cheap to insure. Does anybody have any thoughts or advice?

Cheers

[RazerSauber]

I thought Amazon gave you one of their own snazzy vans to drive around in? If you're doing it yourself, the Ford Transit Courier would probably be the place to go. If you're after something used, avoid Caddy's due to renown injector faults. Perhaps Peugeot Boxers and their counterparts? They seem to be pretty reliable and small. Alternatively, the well known Citroen Berlingo could be a good choice. Known for being reliable and cheap, if not very fast.

[Pica-Pica]

Don’t forget, unless these are ‘car-derived vans’, and not many are, they will be subject to the ‘van’ national speed limits on single and dual carriageways (but not on motorways if less than 7.5 tonne).

There was a big discussion in a SAC whether the original Ford Courier van was a car-derived van, because it was built on a Ford Focus platform, but it is not a car-derived van.

[daydotz]

Or look at amazon flex and use your car as a starter to see if its something you actually want to do before you commit even then you can upgrade to a estate mpv which will be more useful for the family cheaper to insure and your not running a additional vehicle

[A500leroy]

Ex royal mail combo should do you.

[Patch1875]

A decent van is going to cost in the current climate. As said above maybe flex in your own car might be worth considering although last time I looked rates where pretty poor.

[Charlie1986]

Hey

So all vans in amazon who are same day parcels has to be 5mtr cubic capacity and have full bulkhead. So caddy’s and combos are a no go

Amflex can be any 5 door vehicle

[ac.cobra]

Working part time, using your own van, won't be worth it in monetary terms,
Insurance will cost you either side of £2000 alone, mot, tax it adds up.

[Gav45Orchard]

RazerSauber said:

I thought Amazon gave you one of their own snazzy vans to drive around in? If you're doing it yourself, the Ford Transit Courier would probably be the place to go. If you're after something used, avoid Caddy's due to renown injector faults. Perhaps Peugeot Boxers and their counterparts? They seem to be pretty reliable and small. Alternatively, the well known Citroen Berlingo could be a good choice. Known for being reliable and cheap, if not very fast.

Thanks, massively, for this. My mate's got a Berlingo so going to have a go in that over the weekend to see what I think. Cheers.

[Gav45Orchard]

daydotz said:

Or look at amazon flex and use your car as a starter to see if its something you actually want to do before you commit even then you can upgrade to a estate mpv which will be more useful for the family cheaper to insure and your not running a additional vehicle

Yeah good point that

[Gav45Orchard]

Charlie1986 said:

Hey

So all vans in amazon who are same day parcels has to be 5mtr cubic capacity and have full bulkhead. So caddy’s and combos are a no go

Amflex can be any 5 door vehicle

Thanks Charlie

[Gav45Orchard]

ac.cobra said:

Working part time, using your own van, won't be worth it in monetary terms,
Insurance will cost you either side of £2000 alone, mot, tax it adds up.

We've had the spreadsheet out, going to get the father-in-law to double check it all.