Addison Lee courier work vs passenger work: which pays better?
Compare earnings between Addison Lee courier jobs and passenger trips to see which side of the work brings in more profit for drivers.
Last checked 17/10/2026.
The main differences on the road
Driving for Addison Lee gives you a mix of passenger transport and parcel delivery. Passenger work means carrying people around London in a licensed car. Courier work means moving packages, legal documents, and small freight. Both types of work use the same platform, but they need different setups in your vehicle and demand different things from your day.
Passenger work relies heavily on peak commuting hours, theatre land rushes, and airport runs. Courier work stays steady throughout the middle of the day when corporate offices are open and need urgent documents moved across town. Your earnings depend on how well you match your hours to the right type of job.
Comparing earnings and running costs
Passenger fares often look higher on the screen, but they come with extra costs. Carrying passengers means higher cleaning bills, more wear on your interior, and sometimes dealing with traffic that delays your next booking. You also need to factor in your vehicle licensing standards and insurance costs for carrying fare-paying passengers.
Courier work usually involves less waiting around inside the car. You pick up a parcel, drop it off, and move to the next job. While individual parcel drops can pay less than a long passenger fare, you can often fit more jobs into an hour if traffic is kind. Your car stays cleaner, and you do not have to chat with clients if you prefer peace and quiet.
- Passenger trips: higher ticket prices, but more downtime in central traffic.
- Courier jobs: faster turnaround per drop, steady daytime corporate demand.
- Fuel and mileage: both types of work rack up miles quickly in London.
Tax and mileage records for both types of work
Whether you carry people or parcels, your tax rules with HMRC remain the same. You need to keep a clear log of every business mile you drive. You can use the approved flat rate for cars and vans, which is 55p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles in the tax year, and 25p per mile after that.
If your total income goes over the threshold for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, you will need to keep digital records. This starts on 6 April 2026 for qualifying income over £50,000. Keep your records for 5 years after the filing deadline.
Sources
Common questions
- Can I do both courier work and passenger work on Addison Lee?
- Yes, drivers who meet the licensing requirements can take on both types of work through the platform.
- Do I need a different licence for carrying parcels?
- Passenger transport requires a private hire driver licence, while courier work has different vehicle and insurance requirements depending on what you carry.
- Can I claim mileage for both parcel and passenger trips?
- Yes, all business miles driven for Addison Lee count towards your mileage claims for Self Assessment.
About the author
Issac Davies, Founder of JoltMile
Issac Davies drives for gig apps in the UK and built JoltMile to show drivers what a shift actually pays once fuel, insurance and tax come off. Every guide here is checked against HMRC and gov.uk guidance, and is information rather than tax advice.
Track this automatically
The JoltMile app works this out from your own shifts, and keeps the figures ready for Self Assessment. Free for 12 shifts a month.
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