Blog / Parcels
How much does it cost to send a parcel across the city?
A local parcel under 8 km costs least by bicycle — roughly 60% below a car for the same trip. Across a larger city, a motorcycle is about 38% below a car and usually the fastest. A parcel is cheaper than a passenger ride over the same distance because the driver carries no passenger and can combine it with other work. On imcomingg the driver sets the final figure with you in chat, so the estimate on screen is a starting point rather than a fixed price.
Courier pricing is usually deliberately opaque. A quote appears, you accept or you do not, and there is no way to tell whether it is fair. On a platform where you agree the price directly with the person doing the work, it helps to understand what actually drives that number.
What you are really paying for
Three things: the distance, the driver's time, and whether the vehicle can carry anything else while doing your job. That last one is why the vehicle choice matters so much more than people expect.
| Vehicle | Relative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bicycle | About 62% below a car | Under 8 km, dense areas, documents and light parcels |
| Motorcycle | About 38% below a car | Across a city, urgent items, small to medium parcels |
| Car | Baseline | Heavy, bulky or fragile items, or bad weather |
What pushes the price up
- Waiting. The single most under-discussed cost. Agree a free window — ten or fifteen minutes — and a rate after it.
- Extra stops. Each one adds time and distance. Say upfront if there is more than one.
- Size and weight. A parcel that fills a boot stops the driver taking anything else.
- Time of day. Peak-hour traffic means the same distance takes longer.
What pushes it down
- Being on a route the driver is already taking. Always worth asking.
- Flexibility on timing. "Any time this afternoon" is worth less to you and more to them.
- Regular volume. A monthly plan for repeat deliveries saves 20–30%.
- Choosing the smallest vehicle that fits. Most people over-specify.
The estimate on screen exists so the conversation starts from a sensible number. The figure you agree in chat is the one that counts.
A message that gets a fast, fair quote
Copy this and fill in the gaps:
Hi — one sealed box, about 3 kg, roughly shoebox size. From [pickup] to [drop-off], about [X] km. Any time before [time]. Receiver is [name] on [number]. What is your all-in price, and what is your waiting rate if they are slow to come down?
That answers everything a driver needs, which is why it usually gets a firm number back rather than a series of questions.
Paying
You pay the driver directly, in cash or by transfer, as the two of you agree. imcomingg does not take a commission on the fare and does not process the payment. For deliveries, the driver cannot mark the job complete until the receiver reads out a four-digit handover PIN, so there is a record that it actually arrived.
Frequently asked questions
Is a parcel cheaper than a taxi ride the same distance?
Yes. Expect roughly a third less than the equivalent short ride, because the driver is not carrying a passenger and can stack the job with other work along the route.
What makes a parcel cost more?
Waiting for the receiver, multiple drop-offs, and anything heavy or bulky enough to block a paying passenger seat. Agree a free waiting window and a rate after it before the driver sets off.
Can I send a parcel by bicycle?
Yes, for local deliveries under 8 kilometres. It is the cheapest option on the platform and often the fastest in a dense city centre, because there is no parking and no one-way system to negotiate.
Do I pay imcomingg anything?
No. Rides, parcels and tiffin are free to arrange. You pay the driver directly, and the only paid service on the platform is the premium vehicle tier.
Send something now
Choose Parcel, pick a bicycle for local or a motorcycle for across town, and agree the price in chat.
Send a parcel