Moving Van Hire

Looking to move house or office on a budget? The cheapest option is to hire a moving van and do it yourself.

Advantages of doing your own house or office move:

  • You set the schedule without having to worry about an hourly charge. 
  • You can do as many trips as you like in the day, it won't cost you any more.
  • You can do a one-way van hire if you don't want to have to return the van to the branch where you picked it up.

Tips for Doing Your Own House Move

What You Need

  • Boxes, boxes and more boxes! Estimate how many boxes you are going to need, then double that number.
  • Heavy duty bin liners - these are great for soft furnishings, but also for clothes on hangers. Just poke the heads of the hangers through the bottom of the bag and wrap packing tape around them to keep them in place.
  • Bubble wrap, newspaper or tissue paper for fragile items.
  • Packing tape, you may also find it easier to use a packing tape dispenser gun so you don't need scissors.
  • Thick black and red marker pens for  writing on the boxes.

Save Yourself Time

  • Write the room the box is going to on it so it can be put directly in that room when you are unloading, ready for unpacking in its new home.
  • Take advantage of moving to declutter and get rid of things you don't need. Make a pile for rubbish and another to donate or sell. There's no point moving things you don't want or need.
  • If you have pets or small children get a friend or relative to take them for the day, they'll be safer and happier out of the way and it will be easier for you to focus on the job.
  • Borrow or buy a hand truck/trolley, this will make moving heavy items such as kitchen appliances and boxes easier and quicker.

Hiring a Moving Van

  • If you are moving elsewhere in Europe a one-way rental may be the best option. You will pay a bit more but it will save you the return journey.
  • If you are doing your move in one day, make sure you return the van within the 24 hour rental period, otherwise it will roll into another day and double the cost.
  • Choose your van carefully, consider one with a tail lift if you have a lot of big or heavy items to move. If in doubt, go bigger, you always have more stuff than you think and you don't want to have to do multiple trips if you can avoid it.
  • Check the driver meets the age requirement for the van you hire. Most vans require you to be 25+ , but larger vans, such as Lutons, have a minimum driver age of 30.

Choosing the Right Van for Your House Move

You don't need any special licence to drive a van but you must be 25+.

Small 

Total seats: 2
Capacity:
2.3-3.3m3
Will fit a washing machine or dishwasher, armchair or up to 13 medium boxes.

Medium 

Total seats: 3
Capacity:
5-6.5m3
Move a small room or up to 26 boxes. Perfect for moving a student to/from Uni.

Large 

Total seats: 3
Capacity:
up to 11.3m3
A good choice for moving a 1-bed flat or bedsit, or up to 45 medium boxes.

XL 

Total seats: 3
Capacity:
up to 15m3
Will handle moving a 2-bed flat or house, or up to 60 medium boxes.

Luton 

Total seats: 3
Capacity:
up to 20m3
Moving a 2/3-bed flat or house, or up to 70 medium boxes.

Luton Lift

Total seats: 3
Capacity:
up to 17.3m3
The tail-lift makes this van perfect for moving heavy items of furniture.