Digger Hire With a Driver or Self-Drive? How to Choose

By Staff4dshire Group · Staff4dshire Plant Hire · Published 27 October 2026

When you hire a digger, the first decision is not the size of the machine. It is who will be sitting in it. Staff4dshire Plant Hire offers both self-drive hire and digger hire with a driver from our yard in Rugeley, and the right choice depends on the job, the site and your own experience. This guide sets out the differences so you can choose with confidence.

Mini excavator available for self-drive or operated hire

What is the difference?

Self-drive hire (sometimes called dry hire or non-operated hire) means the machine is delivered to you and you, or someone you appoint, operate it. Operated hire, also called digger hire with driver or "man and machine", means the machine arrives with a trained operator who runs it for you. You still decide what needs doing and where; the operator handles the machine itself.

Both have their place. Plenty of experienced builders and landscapers hire self-drive every week. Equally, many homeowners and small contractors find an operated hire gets the job done faster, with less stress and less risk.

When self-drive hire makes sense

Self-drive hire can work well when:

You have real experience on similar machines and feel confident using one
The job is straightforward, such as a dig-out for a patio, a shallow trench or levelling a garden
There are no buried services, buildings or boundaries close to the dig
You want the machine for several days and plan to work at your own pace
You are working on your own private land rather than a managed construction site

A micro or mini digger is usually the most suitable machine for self-drive on domestic jobs. If you are unsure which size you need, our mini digger hire guide explains the main sizes and what each one is good for.

When a digger with driver is the better choice

Hiring a digger with a driver is usually worth it when:

The dig is close to the house, a neighbour's wall, a garage or a boundary
There may be gas, water, electric or telecoms services in the ground
Trenches will be deep, for example for foundations or drainage
Levels matter, such as a driveway or patio sub-base that must fall the right way
The site is tight, sloping or has soft ground
You need a larger machine, such as one of our 8t or 9.5t excavators
Time is short and you need the work done in as few days as possible

An experienced operator knows how the machine behaves on a slope, how close it can safely work to a structure and how to grade a surface to level. That experience often means fewer hire days, less reinstatement afterwards and much less chance of damaging something expensive.

Do you need a licence to drive a digger?

This is one of the questions we are asked most. There is no driving licence needed to operate a digger on private land, but the law still expects anyone using work equipment to be competent and properly trained. On most construction sites, the principal contractor will also ask to see a recognised plant operator card, such as NPORS or CPCS, before anyone gets on a machine.

Driving plant on a public road brings separate licence and vehicle rules, which is why diggers are normally delivered to site and stay there for the hire. If you do not hold an operator card and the site needs one, operated hire solves the problem straight away. Our operators are NPORS-qualified.

Safety and underground services

Whoever operates the machine, the biggest risk on most domestic and small commercial jobs is hitting a buried service. Before any digging starts:

Get utility plans for the area where possible
Scan the ground with a cable locator and mark what you find
Hand dig trial holes to confirm the position of services near the line of the dig
Keep people out of the machine's working area at all times
Never work close to the edge of a deep, unsupported trench

The Health and Safety Executive's guidance on avoiding danger from underground services (HSG47) is a good starting point. If any of this feels unfamiliar, that alone is a strong sign that a digger with driver is the right option.

Insurance and responsibility

With self-drive hire, you are responsible for how the machine is used and for looking after it while it is on your site, including keeping it secure overnight. Before you book, ask how insurance and damage cover work for the hire, and check whether your own policy covers hired-in plant.

With operated hire, the operator is responsible for running the machine safely, but you are still responsible for your site: telling us about access, ground conditions, known services and anything else the operator needs to know. Clear information at booking makes for a smooth day.

Plan the whole job, not just the digger

Digging is only one part of most jobs. Spoil has to go somewhere and new bases need compacting. Think about whether you also need:

A tracked micro dumper or site dumper to move spoil (see our dumper hire guide)
A roller or plate compactor for sub-bases
A breaker or auger attachment for concrete or post holes
A grab for loading on the larger machines
A skip or muck-away so spoil does not pile up around the work area

If the job is bigger than a digger hire, such as foundations, drainage, a new driveway or utility connections, our Staff4dshire Groundworks & Utilities team can take on the whole package.

Plant hire across Staffordshire

We hire diggers from micro to 9.5t, self-drive or with a driver, along with dumpers, rollers, skidsteers, scissor lifts, lighting towers and small plant. Our yard is at Kimberley Business Park, Rugeley, and we supply sites across Rugeley, Cannock, Hednesford, Lichfield, Stafford, Burntwood and the wider West Midlands. Tell us about the job, the access and your postcode, and we will help you choose the right machine and the right type of hire.

Quick checklist

Be honest about your experience with similar machines
Check whether the site needs an operator card
Locate and mark buried services before digging
Measure access and note slopes and soft ground
Decide whether you also need a dumper, roller or attachments
Choose operated hire for deep, tight or time-critical work

Frequently asked questions

Can I hire a digger with a driver near Rugeley?

Yes. Staff4dshire Plant Hire supplies diggers with NPORS-qualified operators from our yard at Kimberley Business Park, Rugeley, serving Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

Do I need a licence to drive a hired digger?

No driving licence is needed to operate a digger on private land, but you must be competent to use it safely. Many construction sites require a recognised operator card such as NPORS or CPCS. If you do not have one, hire the digger with a driver.

Can I hire attachments with an operated digger?

Yes. Breakers and augers are available for every digger size, and grabs for the 8t and 9.5t machines, whether you hire self-drive or with a driver.

About Staff4dshire Group. Staff4dshire Group is based at Unit 7 & 8 Kimberley Business Park, Rugeley, Staffordshire. Our companies cover building and landscaping (Staff4dshire Properties), roofing (Staff4dshire Roofing Specialists), scaffolding (Staff4dshire Scaffolding), groundworks, drainage and utilities (Staff4dshire Groundworks & Utilities), plant hire (Staff4dshire Plant Hire) and renewables (Margav Energy). We work for homeowners, developers, principal contractors and local authorities across Staffordshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, and we are a registered supplier with Walsall, Tamworth, Sandwell, Dudley, Birmingham, Telford & Wrekin, Wakefield and Bradford councils.

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