Multi-Drop Route Planner for UK Drivers: Postcodes, Miles and a Real London Route
A multi-drop route planner puts a van's stops for the day in the quickest order. For UK drivers the main things to check are UK postcode support, miles by default, how many stops are free, and HMRC's 55p-a-mile rate for the first 10,000 miles from 6 April 2026. MiliRoute's address search and camera scanner accept UK addresses.
This guide explains what "multi-drop" means, what to look for in an app, one real London route with the numbers, and how the mileage rate works.
Key takeaways
- Check three things: postcodes are recognised, the app starts in miles, and the free plan covers your busiest day.
- One real London run: 40.2 km (25.0 miles) as listed, 23.9 km (14.9 miles) in MiliRoute's order, on a list that was far from the best order.
- HMRC simplified expenses: 55p a mile for the first 10,000 miles from 6 April 2026, then 25p (GOV.UK).
- MiliRoute is free for routes of up to 10 stops; Premium is A$15 a month, charged in Australian dollars.
What does "multi-drop" mean?
A multi-drop driver loads a van, then makes many deliveries in a day from one depot or from home. It is the same job that other countries call a courier round, a delivery run or "last mile". In the UK the term "multi-drop" is the one most people search for, so you will see apps describe themselves as a multi-drop route planner, a courier route planner or a delivery route planner. They are looking at the same problem: what is the quickest order for the stops?
The problem is bigger than it looks. For 10 stops there are 3,628,800 possible orders, and for 12 there are 479,001,600. A driver can plan a good day by experience, but a planner checks far more orders than a person can.
What should a UK driver check in a route planner?
- Postcodes. Typing "SW1A 2AA" should find the place. MiliRoute's camera scanner recognises UK postcodes from a photo of a label, even when the camera runs the letters and digits together.
- Miles. On a phone set to the UK, MiliRoute starts with miles, and you can change it in App Settings.
- The free stop limit. MiliRoute is free for routes of up to 10 stops. Other apps range from 5 to 15; see the free-plan comparison.
- Currency. Premium is charged in Australian dollars (A$15 a month or A$140 a year). Your card provider converts it into pounds. Check the pricing page for the dated comparison with other apps.
- What it does not do. MiliRoute plans one route for one driver. It has no dispatch, live driver tracking or customer text messages, so a team of drivers needs a team tool.
One real London route
MiliRoute's optimizer was given eight well-known London places in no particular order on 24 October 2026. Driving times are Google's estimates for average traffic, not live traffic, and they do not include congestion charge zones.
| Distance | Driving time | |
|---|---|---|
| Order as listed | 40.2 km (25.0 miles) | 2 h 47 min |
| MiliRoute's order | 23.9 km (14.9 miles) | 1 h 33 min |
The order as listed was: Kings Cross Station (start), Harrods, Tower of London, Camden Lock Place, Tate Modern, British Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Victoria Station (finish). MiliRoute's order was: Kings Cross Station, Camden Lock Place, British Museum, Tower of London, Tate Modern, Royal Albert Hall, Harrods, Victoria Station.
That is 16.3 km and 1 hour 14 minutes less. The list was far from the best order, so your gap will be smaller if you already plan carefully. The only fair test is your own stops. The full example with the screenshot is on the London page.
How does the HMRC mileage rate work for a van or car?
For the self-employed, GOV.UK's simplified expenses give flat rates per mile for cars and goods vehicles: 55p for the first 10,000 miles from 6 April 2026 (it was 45p before), and 25p after that. Motorcycles are 24p. You can claim other travel costs and parking on top.
A worked example, using only the published rates: 12,000 business miles in 2026-27 is 10,000 x 55p + 2,000 x 25p = £6,000. The 10,000-mile line matters, because every extra mile after it is paid at 25p. This is not tax advice, and whether simplified expenses suit you depends on your situation. Mileage rates in four countries compares the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
How do you plan a multi-drop day?
- Collect the day's addresses in one list: type them, paste them, or scan the labels.
- Pick each address from the suggestions so the map knows exactly where it is.
- Let the planner order the stops, and pin any stop that must be first or last.
- Load the van in reverse, so the first stop is at the door.
- Drive each stop and record proof of delivery: a signature, a photo or a note.
- Look at the day's analytics to see distance, time per stop and stops per hour.
The step-by-step checklist explains each step, and the stops per hour calculator turns your numbers into a rate you can compare day to day.
What does it cost compared with other apps?
From each company's own pricing page on 24 October 2026, single-driver apps cost about US$9 to US$20 a month, and free plans allow 5 to 15 stops. Team tools start around US$35 to US$50 per driver per month. The prices are in US dollars unless stated, so your price in pounds will differ. The cost guide lists them all.
Questions
What is the best multi-drop route planner in the UK?
The best one handles UK postcodes, starts in miles, and has a free stop limit that covers your busiest day. MiliRoute handles postcodes and miles and is free for up to 10 stops; Geo2 and MyWay allow 15. Compare them in the guide to route planner apps.
Does MiliRoute work in the UK?
Yes. Address search and the camera scanner accept addresses in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia. The Android app and the web app both work.
Does MiliRoute work on an iPhone?
There is no native iPhone app yet. The web app runs in Safari on an iPhone.
Does it avoid congestion charge zones?
No. Driving times are Google's estimates for average traffic. They do not include charge zones, so check those yourself.
What is HMRC's mileage rate for vans?
55p a mile for the first 10,000 miles from 6 April 2026, then 25p a mile. It was 45p for the first 10,000 miles before 6 April 2026.
Sources
- GOV.UK: simplified expenses for vehicles, read 28 October 2026
- MiliRoute optimizer run on 24 October 2026, eight public addresses in London, Google driving-time estimates for average traffic
- Each company's own pricing page, read 24 October 2026
Last updated 28 October 2026. Not tax advice.