How to start your own courier business

As an independent courier, you have a lot of freedom. You choose your own route and decide how to deliver your parcels, groceries, or meals to your customer. But there are a lot of laws and regulations for the transport and logistics sector. Are you considering starting an independent courier or delivery business? Here are the rules.

This article is about transporting goods. For passenger transport, such as by taxi or bus, there are different rules. Which rules apply to your work as a courier depends on your vehicle, the items you transport, and the countries you drive to.

The transport market

The number of couriers registered with KVK has increased sharply in recent years: from 7,195 in 2017 to 10,273 in 2022.

When are you a courier?

As an independent courier, you transport goods on behalf of someone else. You get paid for this. By law, you are then a professional goods transporter, even though self-employed people usually call themselves couriers or parcel delivery drivers.

Registering with the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK

Anyone starting a business must register with the KVK. To do this, you make an appointment online at one of the KVK offices. Most couriers register as sole proprietorships. Before making an appointment, check whether you meet the entrepreneurial criteria.

The goods

The rules for couriers differ according to the type of goods:

Food

As a transporter of food and beverages or processed foods, you are required to draft a food safety plan. The system used to prepare such a plan is known as a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). Transport en Logistiek Nederland (trade association for the transport and logistics industry) created the Hygiënecode Transport Opslag en Distributie (Storage and Distribution Hygiene Code, in Dutch) for transporters of food and beverages.

Hazardous substances

If you transport hazardous substances, you need an ADR certificate from the Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen (CBR). As a courier, you are responsible for the transport, loading, unloading and temporary unloading of hazardous substances and must ensure that:

• the shipment complies with the ADR
• the correct documents are supplied
• the vehicle and method of loading comply with the requirements

Fireworks

There are special requirements for the transport of fireworks. You can find a list of these requirements on the website of the Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate, in Dutch).

Rules for delivery with a delivery van

Most couriers drive a van or delivery car. An overview of the rules your van must comply with:

Delivery cars or vans

Delivery cars or vans equipped for goods transport. They have a payload (including that of the trailer or semi-trailer) of up to 750 kilos. You can find the load capacity on your vehicle's registration certificate. The total weight of the vehicle plus load may not exceed 3,500 kilos. You may drive delivery vans if you have a valid B driving licence. You must be able to show your driving licence on request from the police, so make sure you always have it with you.

Electric van

Since October 2023, the rules for electric vans have changed. You are now not allowed to drive an electric van with an ordinary B driving licence if it weighs more than 3,500 kilos (including goods). Because the batteries in these buses soon weigh 400 kilos, you quicky reach that 3,500 kilos. You then need a special truck driving licence (driving licence C).

Payload over 500 kilos

If you drive vehicles with a load capacity exceeding 500 kilograms, you require a Eurovergunning (Euro Permit, in Dutch) issued by the Nationale en Internationale Wegvervoer Organisatie (National and International Road Transport Union/NIWO) for both domestic and international journeys. Do you have a van with a payload under 500 kilos, but with a permissible maximum mass of 2,500 kilos or more? Even then you need the permit.

If you consistently transport less than 500 kilograms, you can reduce the load capacity of the vehicle specified on its number plate. You can do this at the RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority, in Dutch). In this case, you do not require a permit.

APK

The van must have been approved for the Algemene Periodieke Keuring (Periodic motor vehicle test, APK). You must be able to show the APK inspection certificate on request.

Registration certificate and registration

You must show your van’s registration certificate (in Dutch) on request. If this is recognised in the balance sheet of your sole proprietorship or partnership, your registration certificate will display your personal name rather than your business name (in Dutch). If the vehicle is owned by a legal entity (for example, a private limited company) or a leasing company, the vehicle is registered in the name of the legal entity or leasing company.

Liability

Suppose you forget to put your car on the handbrake when getting out of the car. The car collides with another car as a result. In such a case, third-party liability insurance (in Dutch) will compensate you for the damage. This third-party insurance must be in the name of the main driver. The main driver is the one who drives the van the most. If you want to share your van with another courier, you should discuss this with your insurance company beforehand. This may affect the cover and premium.

Motor vehicle tax

If your van has a fuel engine, you will have to pay motor vehicle tax. You can see how much that is for your van on the Tax Administration's website (in Dutch). Fully electric vehicles with no direct carbon emissions are exempt from motor vehicle tax and purchase tax (BPM) until 2025.

If you use your company vehicle for personal purposes for more than 500 kilometres per year, you will pay additional tax in your annual income tax return.

Environmental zones

Environmental zones apply especially in large cities or regions where many people live. There, requirements are imposed on vehicles that emit too many pollutants. These environmental zones make it more interesting to deliver parcels in inner cities and residential areas with an electric delivery van or cargo bike (cargo bike).

Zero-emission zones

From 2025, municipalities will be allowed to introduce zero-emission zones. Only vans and trucks that are zero-emission will be allowed in these areas. Before buying a van, familiarise yourself with these rules and find out whether they apply to the municipalities where you work.

You can find more (specific) laws and regulations on transport at Business.gov.nl.

Rules for bicycle and moped couriers

You do not need a driving licence if you transport goods by (electric) bicycle or cargo bicycle. If you drive a moped, moped, or four-wheeled microcar with a maximum permitted mass of no more than 350 kilos (excluding the mass of batteries in electric vehicles), you need a valid AM driving licence.

Transport abroad

If you are transporting goods to a country outside the European Union, you sometimes need a transport permit (in Dutch) or driving permit. This differs per country. You can find the rules for the United Kingdom on the NIWO website (in Dutch).

If, as a Dutch courier, you want to deliver goods between a starting point and an endpoint in another EU country, this is called cabotage. You may make a maximum of 3 consecutive cabotage trips. After that, you must leave the EU country before you can take on new cabotage trips in that country.

Risks for couriers

Research what your risks are and try to limit them as much as possible. With general terms and conditions, for instance. If you belong to a trade association, you can use their terms and conditions.

There are also insurances for the risks you cannot bear yourself. Some insurances are compulsory, such as third-party insurance for your van. Other insurances you can take out voluntarily, such as disability insurance.

There is a website on road safety especially for meal delivery drivers: Bezorgveilig.nl.

Practical issues

In addition to the above rules, starting your own business involves several other issues, such as:

• taxes
• choosing a company name
• choosing a legal form
• business records
• GDPR and what it means to you