Should You Become a Trade Plate Driver? Hours and Pay

Hi, I’m Chris and I’m a part-time (and sometimes full-time!) Trade Plate Driver for a Hampshire commercial vehicle dealer! Today I try to answer some popular questions about Trade Plate Driving, such as: What’s it like being a Trade Plate Driver? What’s the money like? Is it long hours? Should you become a Trade Plate Driver?
There’s a lot more to it than you might think, so if you’re thinking of becoming a Trade Plater, I hope the information I give you in this video helps you decide whether or not this would be the right decision for you.
In the meantime, come along for the journey with me to get an idea of a typical day in the life of a Trade Plate Driver. Today I deliver a vehicle in for servicing under recall, and then travel by train to Weston-super-Mare to inspect and collect a used van, before having a look at the seafront. Actually that “looking-at-the-seafront” bit is perhaps not quite so typical…
Information given is correct to the best of my knowledge at time of recording in May 2024.
#tradeplatedriving #tradeplatedriver #roadtrip #uk #tradeplatetravels #tradeplating #traintravel #railtravel #advice

[@tradeplatetravels]

A lot of people are asking questions like “ *exactly how much do you earn?* ” or “ *please provide more detail on pay* ”. Also, looks like some people have had very bad experiences trade plating, sadly. *Here are my answers:* PAY - My video was intended to give you a general idea on pay. So exactly what I earn is probably irrelevant to you, because you’ll be working for a different firm, different hours, different journeys - pay will vary widely. But if it helps to know, I earned £114 from going to Weston-super-Mare. If you have an hourly rate, my educated *guess* is you might expect in the region of £11.40-£15 per hour for trade plating. If you’re paid by the mile, I’d estimate you COULD sometimes earn around £500 or more in a high-mileage week (full time), BUT earn much less in other weeks. It’s harder for me to guess on mileage-based pay because I don’t work for a company that does that. Some people have already commented below with what they earned. But like I said in the video, the key thing is you need to be flexible with what you might earn each week. If you’re looking for a useful second income, or some flexible part time work, then Trade Plate Driving could be for you. As a main job, you’ll need to think much more carefully about whether or not it’s financially possible. My apologies, but I don’t want to share any more personal details about exactly what I earn - I’m just not happy sharing that kind of detail with the entire internet! BAD EXPERIENCES - So much of this is down to choosing a good place to work, and thinking about whether this lifestyle would suit you. But one thing I wish I’d mentioned in my video is to be careful who you work for. If you’re interested in trade plate driving, my advice is 1) Find a good place with people you trust to look after you. 2) Make sure you’re going to get your expenses repaid, and 3) Work out how much you’re likely to earn from driving, before you start. I’m very lucky to work with a relatively small, tight-knit and friendly team who know each other and respect their colleagues. All my expenses are repaid and I get an hourly rate, which is much better because it means ultra-long days (10-12 hours plus) are still worthwhile. Whereas mileage-based pay can easily end up being very long days for very little money, if you’re unlucky. On the flip-side, when things go according to plan it’s a really nice job in my opinion. You need to take the rough with the smooth. And DON’T work for a place who won’t refund your travel - I tried that in 2009 and lasted about a week, it’s just not worth it! I have tried my best to give an accurate and honest idea of trade plating and what you can expect from it, but please feel free to leave comments on your own experiences if you would like to help others make their own decisions on trade plate driving. I wish you very safe travels when you’re out and about. Drive safely.

[@ruhulamin1771]

PERFECT explanation, thats enough information for me to make a indicative understanding. Many Thanx Chris

[@bigcahoonaburger8550]

What you don’t put is how do you get from train station to pick up. Assuming they meet you at the stations?

[@Sweetlyfe]

Thanks for the interesting information, I would have enjoyed this if still lived in the UK, but I’m now back home in Australia and I live 2hrs from a major city, and 40mins from a train station, so that’s a shame, I already work casually so my income is always changing and I often take people to appointments or out for the day, so that can involve 2-6hrs of driving plus 60km each way to get to and from work, but it’s country driving to get to work and home, so there is no traffic,only Kangaroos to watch out for. I don’t understand why people think they’re entitled to know exactly how much you get paid because you wouldn’t walk up to a stranger on the street and ask exactly how much they get paid every week/fortnight or month. Even if you were chatting to someone in the pub (I don’t drink so an unlikely scenario for me 😂) and you’re both talking about your work you don’t ask that question. Cheers mate for the interesting information.

[@Sweetlyfe]

@@bigcahoonaburger8550He has to make his own way there and to and from stations, if it’s un walkable I’m sure it’s covered in his expenses, like an Uber or a taxi or a bus.

[@Sweetlyfe]

Ps I I subbed to your channel for the interesting content and as thanks for your video.

[@person.X.]

Maybe I am wrong but this strikes me as one of the many jobs in the UK that basically pay you next to nothing and so are rarely worth doing. Seems like a great idea at first sight but the more you delve in to it the more you see that there is no viable money in it.

[@uk_prepper6775]

I'm one and I earn anywhere between £900 and £1200 per week. I do drive hgvs though as well as cars and I do a lot of hours for that

[@Elmwood-ze3cr]

@@uk_prepper6775 Ive been thinking of HGV Trade Plate work myself , could you give me any info ie typical day , wages ie Hour Rate or Mileage etc etc Thanks

[@person.X.]

@@uk_prepper6775 That's pretty good. I imagine HGVs makes all the difference vs just cars.

[@darrencollings]

You don’t sound very self employed lol 😂

[@TheVicar]

@@uk_prepper6775 How many hours for that?

[@chrisfuller4699]

I worked as a trade plater for two and a half years, between 1999 and 2001, for a firm called United Fleet Distribution. I typically worked 70 hours per week. (It wasn't unusual for me to start work at 5am and not finish until well into the evening, often with no food or drink at all during the whole day). On a good week my pay averaged out at 60% of the National Minimum Wage but more usually averaged out at only 40% of the NMW. The longest day I worked was 23½ hours. On another day I worked for 20 hours (without even a glass of water to keep me going) and realised, when I got home, that (after deducting my expenses) I'd earned exactly £1 for the entire day. I hope that things have improved a bit since then!

[@dreamcrusher112]

slavery

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

Parking tickets and speeding fines are an occupational hazard that must be considered too.

[@garydavis1528]

Not really, everyone should avoid so the parasites in the industry provide a reasonable salary over offering peanuts.

[@michaelgreene8257]

I also worked for United Fleet Distribution as a trade plate driver. I personally wouldn’t recommend it, but personally I enjoyed it. That may seem a stupid contradiction to say, but financially it was very low pay, however it tests your emotions to the extreme, and you have to be a complete opportunist throughout the day as to how you manage your route. I had a fuel card to buy diesel or petrol, and I was paid 16p per mile. And your mileage was calculated at the time by UFD, by drawing a straight line on a map then adding 10% to take account of the “wiggly bits”. You get to see parts of the country that you would never otherwise see in a lifetime, you meet and interact with no end of kind people who stop to pick you up, and you end up eating a wide variety of fast foods, and benefit from walking far more than you would normally walk. Overall I enjoyed it, you have a lot of time to think, and it’s like the sun has just come out when someone stops to pick you up, but it is not the best way to earn money.

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

@@michaelgreene8257 Great reply. A lot of responsibility with this job yet the pay sucks. This is why the government of the day likes to have lots of minimum wage workers on standby. If you don't want to work hard for ten pounds an hour some other poor person will.

[@garycowan7445]

Your vlog just popped up on my feed. So I thought why not. Enjoyed it thank you. I'd always wondered how the system works. Good luck

[@tradeplatetravels]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!

[@stevenmccolm1531]

Back in 2010 I became a Trade Plate Driver for an agency, I was paid per drop-off and a third of my travel expenses. They provided a fuel card and overnight accommodation. The driving was great but you do need to have savings for when you get stranded usually in the middle of nowhere and missed the last train home. I ran out of money and got a job as a security officer.

[@leonwilks4114]

My mate uses a recovery truck to deliver vehicle's all over for different companies, he earns upto £250 per delivery, and sometimes gets to fetch another vehicle close to the one he's delivered so can get a couple done in a day, he enjoys the pay and flexibility. Great insight and good luck for the future you

[@vmax42dave]

Been there done that, cars and trucks - hitchhiked everywhere on T Plates- 3 pound an hour early 90's... Happy days. 😊

[@zanteboy]

I did some trade plate driving many moons ago, before the days of sat nav’s and mobile phones, it certainly was character building. Am considering doing again when I semi-retire, I loved driving all day and now the tech is available I can even listen to podcasts whilst the miles pass by! Great video by the way, loved it.

[@thomasm1964]

If you work exclusively for someone, have to work the hours given and cannot work for anyone else, HMRC considers you to be an employee regardless of whatever your contract says.

[@tradeplatetravels]

Only the first one applies to me, but I will look into this as I've had similar comments. I'm not an expert on tax as you can probably tell...

[@tommarshall1660]

Used to see trade plate drivers standing by the roadside with the plates in view so lorry drivers would pick them up as they knew they were trusted passengers. I assume that will all be stopped now. Very enjoyable video Chris.

[@tradeplatetravels]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Yes I think hitch-hiking is very much a thing of the past, and it's not something I'd want to do.

[@josephdaly3327]

You should try it for the content alone, show every perspective. For starters, just write "Train Station" or "Bus Station" on a piece of paper and hold out you plate (whilst walking if necessary). And as they like to say on T'internet: you'll be amazed at the results.... it's known as a good walk spoiled!

[@josephdaly3327]

...... you'll probably get a lot of abuse initially, but you'll find that most people in general are decent....especially foreigners, they have the greatest empathy. But don't expect HGV's to stop, as the insurance companies won't cover passengers anymore.

[@774Rob]

I did it once from Haydock on the M6. It didn't take long to get picked up by a lorry.

[@r1273m]

Back in the 1960's when I was a student I hitched all over England. Later, when I had a spell as a driver I would always pick up Trade Plate hitchers, I met so many interesting people. I wouldn't fancy it today though, giving a lift or accepting one!

[@oggie1967]

Hmmm, food for thought! Might be a good side hustle for when I retire in 4 years! Cheers!👍😊

[@whatchannel3679]

Very informative and maybe a good hustle this channel to get you some even extra income. Well done mate and good luck. I hope this channel works out for you

[@granthostheflatulent]

When I was 17 (early '80's), 2 weeks after my test I did a run as a trade plate driver - 2 of my mates (also 17 and just passed their driving tests) were friends of a local dodgy Italian garage owner and the three of us were hired to drop off one car and collect 3 for the return - mine wouldn't start - it was a heap - so only 2 of us got paid and made the run. One in a V8 Rover SD1 and the other in a powerful Cavalier. Can't remember what my car was but I remember some crappy silver Ford. My 2 mates drove for them for a while - the fast one (had the V8 Rover) is now a traffic cop and the other is a breakdown tow driver/travelling mechanic. I got the chance to do some flying sponsored by a major aerospace company and didn't drive for them again.

[@richardgiles2484]

I looked at doing this part-time when I retired for something to do. The more I found out, the more I didn't like the idea so didn't bother 😂😂

[@tradeplatetravels]

It's definitely not for everyone but I genuinely enjoy it. It depends so much on who you're working for.

[@FireBlade9773]

Me too. What aspects made you decide not to?

[@richardgiles2484]

@FireBlade9773 they just expected way too much for min pay 🤣🤣 happy pottering around the house now and more time on my motorcycle trips 🤣🤣🤣

[@uk_prepper6775]

im a trade plate driver. i just got back from scotland, after working a 19 hour shift, getting soaked to the bone and having to camp out in scotland the previous night because the all the accommodation was either sold out or to expensive, yes i carry a bivi bag, blow up mattress and a sleeping bag.

[@tradeplatetravels]

That sounds rough going. Sorry to hear that.

[@1gerard47]

Funny story,with trade plates i left Glasgow on a bus to Manchester to pick up a ford fiesta that i as a mot inspector had passed it the week before, after i had failed it 4 times,the people that bought it at auction in Manchester threatened us with the ministry of transport saying the car shouldn't have passed,said he bought for his wife, so i was sent to bring it back to Glasgow, when the bus stopped at Manchester a guy ahead of me on the bus also had trade plates,he was picked up by the people that where waiting for me,one hour later they returned realizing the mistake ,any get to the house,the wife was sitting on couch watching tv with a boxof milk tray size of a house,she wouldn't havethey fitted in the fiesta,i asked for the mot failure certificate that was carried out in Manchester, the name of the mot station was the name on the peoples front door,yes the guy failed the car himself had his own garage, tyres where all bald,on the drive back up to glasgow the brakes failed,wipers failed, its dark now only one dipped beam headlight working sat for over an hour as it was raining bloody heavy,drove the last 100 miles using the hand brake,what a shit day,we had to get the car legal to mot it again,at our cost then deliver the car back to Manchester a week later, we reported this story to bishopbriggs testing station as that is the ministry of transports main place in Glasgow,,turns out this guy had scammed a few people this way,buying scrap at auctions then doing the exact thing to many others,scumbag englishman,with a 25 stone wife and the house was a tip ,close to vomiting when i walked in their front door,tyres,engine block old starters in the front garden you get the picture,on returning the car i stuck frozen fish in the headlining,😂😂they probably wouldn't have noticed the smell weaks later, scumbags,this would have made a good short story for tv 😂

[@reddeviluk]

I recently stopped working on a Friday, would love to do this as a second job. Thanks for the information, will see what's available locally.

[@steveporter45]

Hi, just found your channel. What a great video on your life as a trade plate driver. As others have said see trade plate drivers hitching a lift and also on the the road with plates displayed driving along. When I’ve been looking for work I’ve often seen adverts for drivers and had wondered how it works and you answered all that , now I know thankyou.

[@tradeplatetravels]

Thank you!

[@RickieMcleary]

just a small point you may want to check ???, the trade plates only cover the area between them , they should be on the outside front and rear not on the dash as in the first ranger in the video , if you had had a front damage accident you would be paying for any damage to the front since the plates were behind the damage??? . just checked dvla regs for this info .

[@rogertempleman-ed2xv]

Problem is you loose your trade plate on the motorway and you can't complete your job ,can't win !!!

[@alex_the_balding_fat_man]

I did trade plating one summer between "proper jobs" over 2 decades ago and loved it. Not sure I'd have enjoyed it so much in the rain in winter though!

[@MrTrooper31]

I was a Trade Plater for many Years after leaving the Army Starting with HGVs Then i worked for a few months for a company who were basically CROOKS and there customer service to the dealerships in my area was shocking.I started then as a sole trader with my own plates and thats were the Money is 4k a month clear wasn't un common and built a good reputation in my area but not all roses as some customers are not to be trusted,but the good ones are who appreciate you are well worth keeping.Cutting overheads i was always with my Plates out and got some unbelievable Lifts and gathered a lot of like minded trade platers as contacts and what we call the buddy system to help each other out.I retired due to health reasons in 2019 but never regret doing it

[@EppingForest304]

Sounds like an exhausting job for low pay. Catching the train connections could be a nightmare if there’s a cancellation or delay!

[@holteenderavfc375]

I did it for a short while (4 days) for BCA. Worst work experience of my life. Was paid by the car. £15. Had to argue to get train fares refunded and was sent from 1 end of England to the other in one day only to get a none starter in Portsmouth. Refused to pay my train fare home. Had to walk 5 miles to the station. No public transport nearby at that time. On the penultimate day, I picked up a car from Bristol that was due to go to Newcastle. I went home to Birmingham and was due to take it the following day. I was messed around so much and ended up out of pocket overall due to train fares. That next morning I drove the car to BCA in Birmingham and told them where to stick the job. Awful experience. How they get away with what they do and don’t pay beggars belief. Only little benefit I did get from it were a couple of pre signed cheques for £20 fuel each. They didn’t get them back.

[@dan19752008]

I went on a course last year but left after an hour. I would have enjoyed it but they wanted me to be a semi skilled mechanic. I just wanted to get in the vehicle & go.

[@DryUrEyesMate]

My friend does the same but uses a trailer instead earns about £300-£400 a day

[@sidneydawe9937]

I used to deliver new cars from Wales to London and pick up old rep cars to drive back. I got paid a total of £5 per return trip. This was in 1975 before we had Sat/navs or mobile phones.

[@MarcusMitchell-m5q]

I was a Plater for a few years, after 2002..! I delivered cars,vans and trucks the length and breath of the country... Ialways described the job as a New Age Cowboy.. No two days were the same..! Looking back an enjoyable job on the whole..!

[@keefnbailz]

I worked for IT Fleet and my allocator in the head office was the very best. Makes such a difference to your day when you have a good allocator. Do I miss it ..... not a bit now. Work is a 4 letter word in retirement! 😂

[@daweshorizon]

Don't become a Trade Plate Driver! Six and a half years with BCA Logistics. BCA pay £20 per job for moving a vehicle up to 60 miles. If the delivery is more than 60 miles, you get 20 pence (yes, really!) for each mile over and above that. A trip to Scotland, or anywhere that's a long way from you, therefore does pay OK. But the pay overall is pretty crap. BCA will cover your travel costs, railways and bus fares. However, you need to ring Control to get an authorisation code for your travel expenses. That can take a while. If you need a taxi to get to some remote place which is is devoid of public transport links, you need to ring Control to explain the situation. Then you need to find a local taxi company which is prepared to collect you. (Uber doesn't do collections in the middle of nowhere by the way!). Then you need to get an estimated cost for that journey, then phone Control AGAIN to get it authorised, then ring the Taxi firm AGAIN to actually book your transport! Time-consuming and frustrating doesn't even cover it! BCA are currently taking anything between 45 minutes to an hour and a half to answer the phone to its own workers. (Contractors and Employed drivers). Yes, most of us are 'self-employed contractors', the 'gig economy', you might say. Many of us are in receipt of pensions or have other income streams. I think it would be impossible to live on wages paid by BCA if you had a young family and you have rent and household bills to pay along with the general cost of living issues. BCA work, as a contractor, will definitely pay below the legal minimum wage for a forty hour week; usually that week is much longer. BCA does not support its contractors. If you can get a job with hourly pay, great! BCA. B****rds, C***s and A***h***es. I actually liked the job, but no support whatever from BCA. Avoid! Love and peace.

[@Battismore-Blue]

Just pressing the delete button on my job application .... now

[@alansmith1268]

😂 couldn’t agree more with your comments on BCA👍. I used to work self employed on a casual basis for 2 different self drive hire companies on minimum wage paid by the hour chose your own hours never got left any where unless sat in a cafe waiting to get picked up by another driver, a few of us went to a BCA recruitment seminar the guy started he’s talk saying this is a crap industry but claimed to be the best of the pack anyway after listening to him for the 1st half we all left in disbelief of what he was offering and realised what a good job we already had….unless your really desperate for work stay clear as BCA are a joke 👎

[@rogertempleman-ed2xv]

Never ever work for BCA ,OK you have been warned

[@mrpeace7708]

lol thanks for this

[@Markycarandbikestuff]

7am to 1:30am, my longest day with a trade plate job was 4am to 2am, a brand new Transit Tipper from Central Scotland to Nottingham (Beeston van hire if it's still around ?), it kept breaking down, was an absolute nightmare, eventually chucked it completely on the M1, RAC guy eventually found it was a dodgy connection underneath the battery, was working for a company though and was paid by the hour, this was about 20 odd years ago (1998 i think ?). Shortly after the trade plates i went onto Car Transporters and been driving HGV's ever since.

[@tradeplatetravels]

That sounds like a nightmare day for sure

[@andrewwetherhill9339]

Ended up being a hobby more than a job due to £5 before travel expenses paid and the odd coffee all out of £20 per car pick up! BCA back in covid times.

[@oddities-whatnot]

I used to collect a lot from BCA for a prestige dealer up north. Sometimes it would be a nice Audi S5 or VW Golf R but then another day it would be a Vauxhall Astra.

[@terencesaunders1357]

I did this job for a car showroom in Bournemouth for many years. They would phone me up to tell me were to go, the furthest I went was Aberdeen to drop off a car and pick one up. Like you I have seen the country. I really enjoyed doing it, can’t do it anymore due to arthritis in my leg.

[@tradeplatetravels]

I'm glad you enjoyed your driving, and sorry to hear about your arthritis.

[@robinjones6999]

My boss would fly me up to Scotland from Gatwick and pre buy all the rail tickets. He also provided loads of detailed maps and bus stops - the whole trip was meticulously planned, so I guess I was lucky. The downside was the garage guys were rather unpleasant and garages I visited would look down on you as some sort of second class citizen

[@yonmons]

Did it for a short while when I retired from the cops, absolute donkey work, long days/ hours could go on ages about it I’ll leave it to someone else thanks.

[@TerryG7wrs]

I worked on plates in the 90s for PVDS in Stoke-on-Trent I enjoyed it no money but some lovey cars at home every day

[@paulconnolly5792]

I used to do this on and off 18 years it's good to see and travel, paid by the mile but it's better by the hour and all expenses paid, I used to hitch on the plates as well that's now a thing of the past

[@Ken_oh545]

Why has the hitching stopped? Too dangerous or has it been made illegal?

[@oddities-whatnot]

I was paid by the hour when I did it, and never had to hitch or even use public transport except in extreme circumstances. Another driver picked me up or I had a hire car at my drop off point. Good system.

[@williamfence566]

Looked at this before and after talking to an agency realized that I'm not prepared to work for less than minimum wage per hour. ( It was with BCA who paid a rate per job ). You are fortunate to get per hour

[@Telecaster4959]

Bca usually pay per hour so I don't know where you were based

[@AI-Records24]

@@Telecaster4959they also farm out to agencies though, who then pay per job

[@AI-Records24]

Worked for IT FLEET AUTOMOTIVE. Absolutely horrendous “job”. I’d be out at 4am back for 11pm and be earning £80 odd quid. Auctions treat you like dirt, customers treat you like dirt, company treats you like dirt, everybody does to be fair. Minibus drivers were sound most the time though. Didn’t do it for long, I’m worth a lot more than that and refuse to be taken advantage of. I see you’re on hourly, I would consider that if I needed a side hustle but thankfully life has led me down the path of being a business owner myself now.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Your are so right about the treatment. Trade platers get treated like shit, like you’re nothing. No idea why this is. Hated collecting from IT Fleet, used to take ages to get the cars.

[@davesav1]

Great Video. I was a trade plate driver for BCA for 3 years and the pay was rubbish. We were paid a flat fee per job plus mileage above 50miles so quick local jobs worked out a just flat rate. A fuel card was provided but travel expenses were not refunded (but sometimes could be offered or negotiated) but jobs were planned for us so the travel was minimised, you collections were close to your drop offs. (eg. 3 local jobs per day would be about £60 per day less your travel)

[@rogertempleman-ed2xv]

Never ever work for BCA treat u like shit

[@Leightonk]

I'll 2nd both these comments, BCA are the worst by far

[@oddities-whatnot]

Not paying you travel expenses if you have no choice but to use public transport is a disgraceful practice.

[@oddities-whatnot]

@@rogertempleman-ed2xvI collected a lot from them, probably went to most of their branches around the UK. The staff at some of them treated trade platers like worthless scum. Soul destroying having such little respect. I got out after two years.

[@andywhiteley4341]

Just tried this for 2 months and realised just how badly paid it is. So many hours spent on public transport that you don't get paid for. I was leaving the house at 5:30am some days and not getting home till 9pm, averaging less than £7 per hour.

[@roberttajeb9570]

I tried similar things in Finland. The difference with your situation is we are classified as gig worker (light entrepreneur in Finnish term). So the app gives us a pool of gigs let’s say Helsinki to Tampere for 40 Euros, 1,5 hr journey. We paid our own expenses (bus ticket home or anything), then it will be deducted from our taxable income. For work over 6 hr you will get 1/2 day of day payment or something. It is all about Finnish tax rules. I did several journeys during my summer holiday from my main work. It was nice to be able to go sightseeing to somewhere new. And sometimes feeling different cars and can give advices for colleagues who are looking for car. Funny story my wife actually fell in love with Volvo because on one of my longer drive I asked her if she would like to accompany me delivering the car to the dealership, for the 6 hr journey she said that the seat on the Volvo is more comfortable than our Mercedes.

[@mjp34]

I did this when I was a student around 1991-1994. Of course the old August number plate change worked well with the student holidays. The pay wasn’t fantastic but it was easy money and I got to travel around the country. One of the regular jobs was to drop cars at Hull for export to members of the armed forces. I was also asked to do the same at Dover one New Year’s Eve. The set up was very different at Dover and the customs people were not happy. I ended up in the ‘cells’ for the night whilst my story was checked out. Not the best New Years Eve but all part of life’s rich tapestry. Not sure it would be as good these days due to the greater volume of traffic and large numbers of bell ends that don’t seem to have ever taken a test.

[@Sonya_Makepeace]

My Dad's mate used to do this, it was a pain in his backside. The pay was rubbish for the hours and he only got paid, one way.

[@romac9516]

Great video thanks, always interesting to hear alternative ways of earning a crust and you do a great job here.

[@SirHackaL0t.]

One of my longest days was Swindon to Camarthen with a new car, then onto Leeds with the customers old car and then train back to Swindon. I left at 5am and got home 11pm. I’m paid by the hour.

[@robinjones6999]

I flew to Aberdeen and drove a Golf back - I was knackered

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Were you paid while on the train !!!!!!!!?

[@SirHackaL0t.]

@@Sam_Green____4114 yup, until I get back to the office

[@robinjones6999]

@@Sam_Green____4114 Yes I was actually - I was paid from the moment I left home till I got back - min wage mind, and the big boss/ owner was mad as a box of frogs (passed away a few months ago)

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

Blame Beeching

[@LukaFontain]

Half way through, when you stay that the first pro of trade plate driving is that you love trade plate driving...that's the main thing. There are many people earning much more than you are who hate what they're doing.

[@PNH63]

Surely with all ridiculous train ticket prices and long delays and wasted time it’s more efficient to use a low loader?

[@oddities-whatnot]

I worked for a company for over two years as a trade plate driver. Some drivers worked all week, others just a few days as they were retired and topping up their pensions. Decent job to start with but the cracks started to appear due to poor management. I left after being totally disrespected by one of the directors. I actually felt victimised and should have taken it further after I left but I never got round to it, I was just happy to leave. Ended up an ADR courier for a fantastic company, really great people, great working conditions, great money but poor health meant I reluctantly had to give it up. Not sure what I’m going to do next, depends on my health I suppose. Life too short, you never know whats round the corner.

[@RogersRamblings]

I did a couple of years as a trade plate driver in the early 90s. This before sat navs were readily available and mobile phones were in their infancy. Smartphones were still in the realms of science fiction. A couple of jobs stand out. Starting from West London (where I lived at the time) I had to take a car to Paisley (south west of Glasgow) for 9am. The next collection was from Cumbernauld to go to a village near Nantwich. This was now late afternoon. When I phoned the office, I could make my way home (hitch-hiking) and take potluck for the following day, or there's this... "This" was travel back up to Glasgow (I was the nearest driver) and pick up the following (Friday) morning in the centre of the city, drive to Dyce (near Aberdeen) swap cars and return to the same place in Glasgow to pick up another car to be in Surrey for Monday morning. OK, I'll do that. Hitching to Glasgow I arrived at Hamilton services in the late evening. It was Edinburgh Festival week and all the B&Bs/hotels were full so I ended up spending the night in the coffee shop. In the morning, I hitched into Glasgow and was dropped within walking distance from my pickup point. Heading to Dyce I stopped for a meal and sleep. Returning to Glasgow I collected the car to go to Surrey and set off south. I stopped for fuel and was several miles down the road when I realised I hadn't got a receipt so I could claim back the fuel. After going back I set off again and stopped at the Carlisle BP Truckstop for the night. The following morning (Saturday) I set off south on the A6, I was in no rush so decided to take the senic route. I was at Preston when the skies opened and since I couldn't see the scenery I saw no point in staying on the scenic route and joined the motorway. From then on, direct to London. Another job was to collect from a house the address for which was South Hill, Callington, Cornwall. Looking at that one might think South Hill is the name of a street. It's not, it's a loose collection of houses about three miles away on single track roads.

[@tradeplatetravels]

This makes me realise how lucky I am with the comparatively easy jobs I have!

[@RogersRamblings]

@@tradeplatetravels The people I worked for was a TP company with a number of clients.

[@rogertempleman-ed2xv]

Next time try Ecomotive Leicester all expenses paid ,fuel card ,occasional taxi ,weekly pay

[@RogersRamblings]

@@rogertempleman-ed2xv The only driving I do now is for my own pleasure. 😁😁

[@davidwatson4966]

Hi you need to bo careful saying you work for one company as hmrc may tell you are an employee and have to go on the books at TMC. This was due to a high court ruling if you work for a soul source income.

[@enforcer9381]

Very informative video. I have done trade plating mainly HGV's back in the late nineties then again in the mid noughties. I did some work for a Car delivery company in Worcester who deliver for a major vehicle manufacturer in Ellesmere port that was a much better experience and very little hitch hiking as they supplied a Chase car still long hours but never got stuck out or abandoned which most of these trade plate companies have a habit of doing! Your experiences are as you know are very common to this industry. You appear to have found a decent employer and good luck to you.

[@ianburnley6873]

Trade Plate Driving or Delivery Driver (Same as a Trade Plate Driver but for jobs where you don't need plates) is OK as a retirement job or part time, but as a full time career I wouldn't recommend it, mostly long hours for low pay.

[@cmg7960]

So OK question ???? TRADE PLATE, FOOD APPS, TOP UP INSURANCE. Is it worth doing ?? I was a motorcycle courier 20 years ago and have worked in the taxi industry since. I want to be back alone by myself on the road.

[@rororp]

Thanks nice video. Often wondered how you you guys earned your pay and got paid. Interesting to watch and learn. Thank you.

[@robbielad]

Hi Chris. Im not a plater, but i worked for BCA & Hudson Kepel as a vehicle inspector for about 13 years. Seeing how BCA treated their platers always made me cringe.

[@PS5SPIDER]

As if I'm watching this to see what it's like as I want to do it and you've got the exact same backpack as me

[@SamMontgomery-d2c]

Thanks for the video Chris!

[@deano3580]

Very interesting. There may be scope to put all the petrol and train tickets onto a credit card that gives you air miles or a discount. You may then get paid back just before the CC bill is due the next month.

[@J1M1F]

And land yourself a large benefit in kind tax charge from HMRC doing that 👍

[@travelcampervansandmore]

Hi, I suggest anyone desiring to be a trade plate driver to avoid companies recruiting only self-employed drivers (unless that’s what you want to be). These companies are known within the industry as “slave merchants”.

[@davidbarlow350]

Spent many years as a plater,but i wouldn't want to do it now considering the standard of driving on British roads. Used to hitch nearly everywhere and never waited more than 15/20 minutes for a lift.(always dress smartly and have a clear destination sign). Collected all over the Country ,also went to France and Spain to collect vehicles. Gave up about 4 years ago.I noticed then that lifts weren't so easy as people become more selfish. it can involve very long days,but ,by hitching,you do meet a lot of interesting people. I always thought that the fact they stopped for you meant they couldn't be that bad a character. Only ever had one lift that was uncomfortable as the bloke didn't seem to know how to drive!

[@Robdoesguitar]

I got picked up by a chap near Telford who had a sheep in the back of car!

[@davidbarlow350]

@@Robdoesguitar I had the same thing happened while hitching in Wales(funnily enough). Although he was a farmer and the sheep was in the back of his small van

[@josephdaly3327]

It's mostly the interesting people that pick you up, and they are usually good conversationalists, which makes the journey much more enjoyable! If you think about it, us hitchhikers are probably the original influencers. No one would even think of giving you a lift if you weren't standing there with your thumb out, or trade plate in hand... It's the idiots who just pap, holler and pass you by that have the real e-motion-al issues!

[@davidhall3131]

Great video, thanks for sharing, very informative. Wishing you good luck for the future 🍀

[@dashingwomble]

I’ve just subscribed mate. Great to see the old country, and to see the motor trade is doing well. Great video. I’m looking forward to seeing more. Cheers 🥂 👍

[@tradeplatetravels]

Thank you for your support!

[@garyrawson7549]

Chris another cracking video. It was good to find out about you and your other work. And fascinating to find out what trade plating involves. Already waiting for your next one 👍

[@tradeplatetravels]

Thank you for your support Gary

[@norfolkngood8960]

For those self employed and only working for one employer, HMRC tends to take a dim view of this as they can look at itas the employer dodging paying NI etc. I'm sure most of the time it's fine but HMRC can start investigating. When my wife went self employed that was the advice given by HMRC staff at one of their training and Q and A sessions.

[@theWildWests]

However as he clearly states "I have more than one job..." . Therefore genuinely self employed.

[@sassasins031]

@@theWildWests Doesn't work like that unfortunately but with such a low amount of pay HMRC won't chase it.

[@AI-Records24]

I wish they would chase it, unfortunately they aren’t interested in anything other than what you haven’t declared.

[@williamkerr2304]

You seem very enthusiastic about your job I am glad you get paid by the hour otherwise its not worth doing there are a lot of companies in your game kick the arsenal out of it paye

[@oddities-whatnot]

I was paid by the hour so on a 17 hour day you make a few quid just for driving a nice car or two.

[@mallyredfearn6834]

I used to always want to do this, but with no off street parking I couldn't.

[@jbuckley2546]

I'd put up with a lot of travel disruption to visit glamorous WSM on a wet and grey afternoon.

[@col_EFC]

I worked for a firm called uniloads in Warrington back in 2000, when I went out on a Monday morning and if lucky back home by friday afternoon. most of my deliveries where post office vans from LDV in birmingham so I would hich hike and most times sleep in the vehicles that I was delivering plus would deliver HGV's from Immingham Docks, done this for a couple of months but gave it up.

[@Makemineawhiskey]

The absolutely worst company I have ever worked for.

[@Makemineawhiskey]

Just thought of a couple of instances of when I worked for them. I was told to pick up a vehicle in a lay by in Hull. I asked if they meant Anlaby? Next was pick up from the Royal Ecclesiastical Court in Aldershot. 'Do you mean the Royal Logistical Corp?' Then, mission impossible. I had got home about 7.00 p.m. after being out for three days. I got a phone call from them, go down to Southampton,(I lived near B'Ham), pick up a road sweeper and be in Newcastle Upon Tyne by 6.00 a.m. the next morning! The last I heard they were employing lots of Eastern European drivers. I had (Uni)loads of bad experiences with them.

[@ibs5080]

Hello Chris. Ibrahim in Canterbury here. Dual Brit-Canadian who's other home is Vancouver. Just came across your channel and see you've got a lot of very interesting content for a petrolhead like me. I'm now subscribed to your channel and playing catch up with your many videos. Just even a quick look at all your video titles and thumb nails, I can tell I'm in for quite a viewing treat. Well done Sir!

[@tradeplatetravels]

What a very nice comment. Thank you Ibrahim, really appreciated!

[@ibs5080]

@@tradeplatetravels You are very welcome Chris. It will take me a while to work through all your videos but I will most certainly do so. I just had another scroll through your video titles and it truly does look very interesting indeed. I've also had a quick look at your presentation style. Very agreeable. Btw on a side note, I attend many car shows throughout the year and after the event, I often come to YT to see who's made a video of the event. On several occasions I've been most surprised to see myself in the background. Then there was one car show where I actually got interviewed for a YT video, purely as an attendee. Obviously none of this applies for your channel but just thought you might find it amusing.

[@Alan_GA]

Glad your video popped up on my feed. There was a time I considered doing this job.

[@darrenjones3681]

For your information trade plates need to be on to extremities of the vehicle front and back, as the vehicle is only insured within the extremity of the trade plate placement ie if in the windscreen the area in front of the trade plate is not insured

[@julianowens4071]

Seems like you really enjoy your work,you certainly get to travel and I’ll bet you drive some nice cars

[@tradeplatetravels]

Mainly vans and pick-up trucks!

[@paulstanley4103]

You should display your trade plates on the outside of the vehicle. My workshop was fined £1000 - reduced to £400 when I appealed

[@oddities-whatnot]

When I was in this game few years ago, the company said we had to display the plates in the windows as they didn’t want paintwork being scratched. Most police don’t bother about it although one in Norfolk is keen, got one of the drivers I worked with a fine although the company paid it.

[@paulstanley4103]

@@oddities-whatnot wasnt stopped by the Police - picked up on ANPR camera

[@ShadyCrackers]

Thank you for this very informative video. Glad you enjoy your travels! I can definitely see the appeal of it.

[@paulbennett8516]

Hi Chris excellent video i was a trade plate driver with BCA for a year enjoyed the job but the organisation of the work was pretty crap & they would be reluctant to pay my expenses after telling me to take taxies & buses to jobs

[@oddities-whatnot]

Yes, and no idea how they can do that. Id refuse to use public transport and say if you want me to use it, you pay for it.

[@Conflictofinterest902]

I delivered a car once and once only. Worked for a company and the boss had bought a second hand car that he wanted me to collect from Audi in Bolton. Left home at 5 am. Plane from Heathrow to Manchester. All uneventful, arrived at Audi place by 10.30. Asked for the keys and they said they’ve just gotta finish doing something to the car.. take a seat and they’ll call me when it’s done. FIVE HOURS later I’m pulling out of Bolton at 3.30 pm. Used the private race track also known as the m6 toll road and got back to the yard just for Knock off. The sweetener of the jib was I could knock off when I got back…. Should have been a half day for me. Ended up 2 hours longer than a normal day lol Never again

[@cmg7960]

Honestly This would be perfect for me, I am based In Kent, but have my own house in Stoke on Trent. My mother still is in Stoke and she is now 73 years old. I have a full motorbike license since 1993 and passed my Auto car license last September this job looks fun.

[@TheVicar]

Only being able to drive auto cars is going to restrict you massively

[@cmg7960]

@@TheVicar yeah I can drive manual and understand the bite point of a clutch prolly going do that test soon

[@cmg7960]

@@TheVicar Yeah I know, but I also have a full Motorbike license and a base in Kent and Stoke On Trent I can sleep at ?

[@rogertempleman-ed2xv]

Best company to work for is ECO motive Blaby by far !!!

[@staceyismine]

Think you would be best to show a weekly wage break down then a monthly breakdown

[@waynelenney40]

Ah self employed..... I used to be self employed, Simular thing had to pay all myself and then wait to be re-inbursed and then tax return at the end of the year. Im Employed now working for a Company and Honestly im earning roughly the same as i did when self employed but im working half the hours. The only thing ive lost is the flexibility but thats it, everything else is a plus. I really think its not worth being self employed unless you own your own buisness etc. Per car you drop off/Deliver you will get paid more than if you was on an hourly rate but once you take your tax, NI out of your earning at end of the year plus when you take holidays no pay etc if you unlucky to fall ill and cant work for a few days, no pay etc. at the end are you actually better off?? All the best anyway.

[@CHUKDEPHATTE]

The weirdest thing, I have been thinking about trade plating, because i love driving, and this popped up on my feed. that said, i think i may have been romanticising what is actually involved. Thanks for the insight.

[@TheVicar]

Its all about walking around in the rain, planning and using public transport and then not getting paid enough to bother with the hassle

[@AI-Records24]

@@TheVicarexactly. Please do not do it (OP) it’s not worth your health or sanity go and work in Aldi or something and get paid a lot more. Even mcds pay more and you can advance too.

[@garyoneill7694]

Do the same job delivering hi end cars all around the UK. Zero hours minimum wage holiday pay and all expenses plus a fuel card. Good part time job.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Sounds like Hippo Motor Group

[@tombristowe846]

Interesting video. Would a Brompton be a good idea?

[@andrewkimber6183]

great video. back in 1990,I spent 4 months with 'Car Carrying' of East london. The plus was some great cars to kick the bollox out of,(almost no cameras,humps etc),so it could be a lot of fun.The minus was terrible pay ( a rate per job) and many overnight stays away from home. For their customers,it was 'dead money',hence tight margins and low pay

[@00L000]

Why don’t you just get a HGV license?.. you get to drive all over the UK. You get good facilities in your truck.. eg bed, fridge etc. and you can earn 17-20ph average.

[@AndrewBishop1971]

even more for ADR

[@bigbrother5777]

As a HGV driver of 40 years, I'll say you are wrong @00L000. You get minimum time with family, get treated most sites like an inconvienient problem, little chance of decent food, stress through the roof with meeting schedules, pay that rarely meets expectations outside of M25, an with newest regs are automatically at fault in any collision

[@00L000]

@@bigbrother5777 well this is false from a driver of 2 years. Working 4 on 4 off for a high street retail shop in the NW paying £24 per hour.

[@robertdey9492]

Shit job done it. Hitching lifts getting soaked walking for miles without lifts.

[@robertdey9492]

Had an HGV 1 and PSV so could move anything. Also if you lost a plate like most do you had to pay for replacement.

[@carlharris2808]

Time to do my story of this job back in 1978 (T Reg) just after the winter of discontent walked in to my job center in Hull on the board were trade plate drivers wanted at king George dock to deliver new Ford cars Belgium + Germany Ford plants were making them and shipping them to us but they were piling up in any dock on the east coast so the customers wanted them badly asap this was the best job I ever did pay for the platers was 300 pound a week we got the a good basic and our train fares paid for each journey automatic even if we hitched a lift which most of us did and gave a few pound to the driver best job I ever got was a deliver to Bala in mid Wales and only 2 lifts back from the 1st driver second one was the first drivers boss going to a meeting in Hull and he drove a Rolls Royce amazing after a year the backlog was cleared and the job finished they had to prise my fingers off the plates I loved it so much the company was called Tolemans the lads driving the transporters were on 500 pound a week in 1978 this was fantastic wages happy days .we drove capris,escorts,granada's,

[@tradeplatetravels]

Sounds great, wow that's amazing money for back in 1978. When I was born!

[@carlharris2808]

@@tradeplatetravels those were the halcyon days alright one further story i forgot was this = Volvo use to ship their coach chassis' into Immingham docks near Grimsby and the lads use to sit on the chassis behind a piece of plyboard wearing a crash helmet and a visor and deliver them to Wakefield one day in the winter one lad arrived and he was that cold + frozen they had to lift him off the chassis and they stopped the practice after that and took them by lorry instead haha your videos bring it all back to me thanks.

[@AI-Records24]

I see they didn’t teach you how to use punctuation though, was a right headache to read that mate 😅

[@willswheels283]

This is a job I like the sound of, you’r your own boss, you plan your work days and you get to see places you wouldn’t otherwise get to see. I used to do a vehicle delivery driver job for a logistics firm and I loved the long trips to Scotland and to Portsmouth but most of my days were spent driving fairly “local” trips to Birmingham, Manchester or up to Newcastle upon Tyne and that area. I have off street parking, ie a communal private car park so I guess that wouldn’t prevent me from doing it, and my local station is about 2 miles away so that’s a sort of plus. Do they expect you to use a computer system on an iPad to take pics before and after collection and a questionnaire to fill in on the condition of the vehicle? I found this sort of thing can slow your progress down, especially if it’s raining heavily. How do you get to places that don’t have a local railway station? Interesting vid by the way, thanks.👍

[@redkevful]

Back in the mid 80s I worked on trade plates for a couple of friends vehicle delivery company. Didn't do many cars , it was mainly Mercedes Benz wagons from the Mercedes yard near Wakefield and later just outside Barnsley to anywhere in the UK. Most of the time I was using my thumb to get lifts, a time when wagon drivers would give lifts anywhere, the odd occasion I would get the train. There is no way I would do the job these days, not many wagon drivers are allowed to pick up passengers

[@SteveN-pw4dj]

I used to pick quite a few trade plate hitchers up 20-25 years ago on my travels to and from London. I don't see any now, i guess it is too dangerous to do that now.

[@danielhopwood5985]

I like the idea of doing this as a job, but i have nowhere to park at home, maybe that is why i recently got rejected from one i applied for, i have no points and have never had an accident in 29 years, so i thought i would have a good chance of getting the job. , , Anyway, thanks for posting this video 👍

[@kkiwi54]

I did a similar job - delivering and/or collecting demonstrator cars to firms or individuals all around the UK. We didn't use trade-plates, and were always provided with either a lift or a train ticket - so no hitchhiking involved. I loved the job but the pay was miserable 😆

[@redballoonstickers]

Autoplate in Middlesbrough pay u £80 a day and u could do anywhere from 12 to 15 hours that day

[@johngriffith5231]

slave labour

[@yessanknow302]

That's terrible.

[@taxi134-y1q]

Good luck to you fella.

[@trendingnewsnow007]

Nice videos. Still sorting out my full drivers licence, i'll surely try TP Driving

[@oddities-whatnot]

It’s a good job if you find a decent company. I worked for a prestige car dealer delivering and collecting cars around the UK. Just make sure you don’t get forced into driving cars that are not roadworthy, illegal tread or no MOT etc this is a bit of a grey area as unless its pre-booked into a LOCAL garage to get the work done, you cant drive it 200 miles to get the MOT, its supposed to be a reasonable distance and not simply passing loads of test centres on the way. This is important as in the rate event of an accident, the insurance provided by your company will not be valid, simply because it has no MOT. I know a company that worked like this. Thats why I got out of that game. It’s my license at the end of the day and I wont risk it for any company that likes to turn a blind eye to the rules.

[@yellowsocks-ok8br]

Very informative.. thanks Chris

[@alanhayward6719]

Very useful and informative video.

[@thetraveller869]

Used to go to Weston regularly when we Lived in Swindon. Go and watch the annual Beach Race. That is a real sight for sore eyes! Motocross bikes and trikes race from just beside the pier to a point about a mile south along the beach, and then return over various man-made sand obstacles to the start point. Usual entry list is around 1000 bikes. Hearing them start is a noisy affair. The race is not a task for the faint of heart either...

[@andrewmulvaney5283]

I did the job from 08-18 and if I didn't earn £100 a day it was a poor day. Wouldn't do it now because it's self employed and per job which makes it pointless with the travel between jobs.

[@ConnorTCmT]

How come you didn’t get the train to Weston? Would’ve made more sense to get to the seafront rather than the 40 min walk from worle

[@andrewpreston4127]

Those new design electricity pylons are the ones being set up to carry the electricity from the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

[@4vepvik781]

Ace car deliveries,I operated for them during rona.The abandonment at delivery n finding one's own way home or missing trains was a pain..But the worst was their poor rates of pay and stinginess with expenses..A rubbish internet minimalist firm and and crooks to boot.🤬🤬🤬

[@justluke8836]

I used to do it for about 60 quid per trip cash in hand, I loved driving though so I didn’t mind, this was about 18 years ago.