Freenow
Black cab and private hire jobs through Freenow by Lyft, paid on commission for completed jobs only.
Guides
Driving with Freenow: black cab and private hire
Freenow, now owned by Lyft, sends jobs to London black cabs and to private hire drivers. It charges commission only on completed jobs, rewards drivers who carry its advertising, and will pay for private hire drivers to do the Knowledge. Here is how each of those lands on your tax return.
Getting startedUpdated 29/09/2026
What each platform insures, and what it leaves to you
Several apps give you free accident cover, and some pay out when you are ill or have a baby. None of them insures your car. Here is what each platform provides, when it applies, and the policy you still have to buy yourself.
InsuranceUpdated 29/09/2026
Articles
Uber, Bolt, Freenow and Addison Lee: private hire compared
All four need the same licence, car and insurance. They differ on status, benefits, how you are paid and whether you rent the car from them. Here is how they compare on the things that change what you keep.
Earnings & profitabilityUpdated 29/09/2026
Renting a PCO car: mileage rate or actual costs?
If you rent your private hire car by the week, you cannot claim both the rental and the mileage rate. Which one to claim depends on the rent, your miles and how much of the week the car works. Here is the arithmetic.
Mileage & expensesUpdated 29/09/2026
The 2026 VAT change on private hire, and what it means for drivers
From 2 January 2026 private hire operators can no longer use the Tour Operators' Margin Scheme, so operators that contract as principal pay VAT on the whole fare. It is a tax on the operator, not on you, but it changes fares and what drivers are offered.
HMRC & taxUpdated 29/09/2026
Who owns the delivery apps now, and what changed for drivers
In 2025 most of the big names changed hands: DoorDash bought Deliveroo, Prosus bought Just Eat, Lyft bought Freenow, InPost bought Yodel and Evri merged with DHL eCommerce UK. For drivers and riders, very little changed on day one. Here is what to watch.
Earnings & profitabilityUpdated 29/09/2026
Questions
News
Essential reading for every driver
Not specific to Freenow, but it applies to you.
Self Assessment for delivery drivers: the complete guide
Registering, what counts as income, what you can claim, how much tax you will owe and when it is due - written for UK delivery and courier drivers, correct for the 2026/27 tax year.
HMRC & taxUpdated 19/08/2026
The complete mileage guide for delivery drivers
What counts as a business mile, the 55p and 25p approved rates, the 10,000-mile threshold, and whether mileage or actual costs leaves you better off.
Mileage & expensesUpdated 19/08/2026
Insurance for delivery drivers: what you actually need
Hire and reward, courier cover, goods in transit and public liability - what each one is for, and why your ordinary car policy will not cover you.
InsuranceUpdated 19/08/2026
How to become a delivery driver in the UK
What you need before your first shift: the right licence and insurance, which platform to start with, what it costs to set up, and how to tell HMRC.
Getting startedUpdated 19/08/2026