Get Started — Delivery Driver DMV

1. Get your personal house in order
Clean driving record, valid license, savings cushion (3–6 months), and a realistic budget for the truck.
2. Choose and inspect your vehicle
Buy based on the work you want, not what’s cheap. Get a pre-purchase inspection from a truck/van specialist.
3. Register the business
LLC, EIN, business bank account. Keep personal and business money separate from day one.
4. Get authority and insurance
USDOT number, MC authority if crossing state lines for-hire, and commercial auto/cargo/general liability insurance.
5. Sign up with platforms and brokers
Amazon Relay, CitizenShipper, uShip, local courier companies, medical courier services, DAT/Truckstop for freight.
6. Track everything
Mileage log, expense receipts, 1099 income tracking, quarterly estimated taxes. Use apps or a simple spreadsheet.

1. Get your personal house in order

Most platforms and insurers run a background check and MVR. Speeding tickets, DUIs, and recent accidents will disqualify you or spike your insurance. Aim for a clean 3-year record.

Have at least $5,000–$10,000 in cash reserves beyond the truck purchase. Tires, a transmission issue, or a slow first month can wipe out a thin budget.

2. Choose and inspect your vehicle

See the Trucks & Vans page for a full comparison. Key DMV-specific rule: if you plan to park overnight in DC or dense NoVa, a cargo van or sprinter is far easier than a 20-ft box truck.

Always inspect: brakes, tires, transmission, rust, A/C, and the rear door seal. If you’re buying from a fleet auction, assume deferred maintenance and price accordingly.

3. Register the business

LLC: File with Maryland, Virginia, or D.C. depending on where you live. Many drivers use their home state.
EIN: Free from IRS.gov. Needed for bank account and 1099s.
Business bank account: Keep all fuel, insurance, and repair money separate.
Business credit card: Useful for fuel rewards and clean bookkeeping.

4. Get authority and insurance

USDOT number: Required for vehicles over 10,001 lb GVWR or interstate commerce. Free through FMCSA.
MC authority: Needed if you haul freight across state lines for hire. Costs ~$300 filing fee and takes 20–25 business days.
BOC-3: Required with MC authority. Process agent filing (~$25–$50).
Insurance: Commercial auto liability ($1M is common), cargo coverage, and general liability. Expect $400–$1,200+/mo depending on vehicle, driving record, and coverage.

5. Sign up with platforms and brokers

Start with one or two, learn their quirks, then layer on more. Chasing every app at once leads to missed pickups and bad ratings.

Amazon Relay: High volume, predictable routes, strict performance metrics.
Local courier/medical services: Search “medical courier [your city]” for direct-hire or contracted driver roles.
Shipper marketplaces: CitizenShipper, uShip for smaller/odd-size loads.
Freight load boards: DAT, Truckstop if you have box-truck capacity and MC authority.

6. Track everything

At minimum, log every mile and every dollar. Use QuickBooks Self-Employed, Stride, a spreadsheet, or whatever you’ll actually stick with. Save receipts for fuel, repairs, insurance, tolls, parking, phone, and any equipment.