For couriers & multi-drop
Van leasing for couriers
Yes — courier firms that are limited companies or LLPs lease vans from FleetMe on business contract hire, with the annual mileage set to what you drive. Multi-drop work regularly passes 20,000 miles a year. Self-employed drivers hire short-term instead.
Get my van quote →Updated September 2026 · your agreement is with FleetMe
Courier work breaks the assumptions behind a standard van lease. Advertised rates are usually built on a low annual mileage, and multi-drop drivers can pass that inside six months. Getting the mileage right at the start is not administrative detail — it is the difference between a contract that works and an excess-mileage bill at the end that wipes out a year of margin.
How should a courier set the annual mileage?
A lease rental is mostly the vehicle's loss in value over your term, and mileage is the biggest single driver of that. Choosing a low band makes the monthly look better and simply moves the cost to the end, where excess mileage is charged at a pence-per-mile rate set out in your agreement. Multi-drop and same-day work commonly runs 20,000 to 30,000 miles a year or more, so quote for that. Work out your realistic weekly mileage, multiply by the weeks you actually work, add a margin, and give us that number — our mileage guide shows the method. If your work changes mid-contract, tell us early; adjusting a mileage band is easier than settling a large excess.
Which van suits multi-drop loading?
On a hundred-drop day, seconds per stop matter more than cubic metres. A low load lip saves your back and your knees; a nearside sliding door means you load from the pavement rather than the road; a decent internal height means you are not crouching all day. Slam locks are worth specifying for multi-drop — the door locks itself the moment it shuts, which is the only lock that survives a driver in a hurry. A high-cube medium van is the usual sweet spot: enough volume for a full round, small enough to park in a terraced street.
Why does courier use have to be declared up front?
Carrying goods for payment is a different use from a builder carrying his own tools, and it affects the insurance you need — courier work generally requires hire and reward cover plus goods in transit, and it is a use that some vehicle agreements exclude. So say so at quote stage. We would far rather write the agreement correctly for what you actually do than have you discover a problem after a claim. If you run several drivers, our fleet leasing page covers multi-vehicle arrangements.
Not a limited company?
Business contract hire is for limited companies and LLPs. If you trade as a sole trader, or you want the vehicle in your own name, what we can supply is short-term vehicle rental of up to 89 days instead. Incorporating is the step that opens up business contract hire over 24 to 60 months, which is why plenty of tradespeople do it before taking on a van.
Get a written quote
Tell us the vehicle, the mileage and how long you need it for. We come back with a written quote — usually the same working day — and we confirm which agreement applies before anything is signed.
- ✓ Your agreement is with FleetMe
- ✓ We confirm your quote in writing
- ✓ Business rentals quoted ex VAT, with VAT shown
Thanks — your enquiry is in.
We’ll go through what you need and come back with a written quote, usually the same working day. Your agreement would be with FleetMe — we supply the vehicle, and we confirm it in writing before anything is agreed.
What happens next
- 1 We read what you sent us. We check the vehicle, the length and the mileage you asked for, and work out what we can do at that specification.
- 2 We come back with a written quote. Usually the same working day. It sets out the vehicle, how long you have it, the mileage, the initial rental and the monthly figure — ex VAT with the VAT-inclusive figure alongside.
- 3 You decide. Nothing is committed until you have that in writing and you are happy to go ahead. If we can’t help, we’ll tell you honestly and say why.
Nothing is committed at this stage, and if we can’t help we’ll tell you honestly rather than leave you waiting.
Browse vans →Facts & figures
The bigger picture
Source: SMMT, 2025
Source: SMMT, 2025
Source: BVRLA Leasing Outlook, 2026
UK market figures from the sources named on each card — not FleetMe's own results.
Common questions
Can I lease a van for 30,000 miles a year?
Yes — high mileage contracts are normal for courier work. The rental will be higher than a low-mileage headline rate because mileage drives the vehicle's loss in value, but it is far cheaper than paying excess mileage at the end.
What happens if I go over my mileage?
Excess mileage is charged at a pence-per-mile rate that is stated in your agreement before you sign. Tell us as soon as you know your driving has changed — adjusting the contract early is usually better than settling a large excess.
Do I need special insurance for courier work?
Courier work generally needs hire and reward cover and goods in transit insurance. That is arranged by you, but tell us it is courier use at quote stage so the agreement reflects how the van will actually be used.
Which van suits multi-drop work?
Most multi-drop drivers land on a high-cube medium van: a low load lip, a nearside sliding door, useful internal height, and a footprint that still parks in residential streets. Slam locks are worth specifying.
I drive self-employed for a parcel network — can I lease?
Not on contract hire, which is for limited companies and LLPs. Self-employed drivers hire on short-term rental of up to 89 days. If you want a van on a multi-year contract with the mileage set high, incorporating is the step that opens it up.
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