Moving Home by Hire Van

Moving House Yourself, Hire a Van and Save Money

Is it possible to move house by yourself using just a hire van?

Well the answer is yes, it can potentially save you a lot of money (at a time when you are looking to save anyway you can) and as you are completely in control of the situation peace of mind. However it can also go very wrong, so here’s some advice to help you decide what the best approach is for you:

• Most importantly does you licence allow you to drive the type of van you require?
  • Most UK licences allow vans up to 3500kgs to be driven (B1), which includes most Luton Type Box Vans (those commonly used by small removal firms), older licences may also include a C1 category allowing Box trucks up to 7500kgs to be driven. Check on the  DVLA's Website for the latest information and with the rental company you hire from. There may also be age limitations which can vary between rental companies.
• Next consider the type of van as in what size and capacity best suits you
  • When moving don’t look simply for the cheapest van to hire, rather look for the one which will best suit you. Luton style box vans, are probably the best for most moves with their flat sides and large load space they can easily carry most household items. In addition they often come with either side railings or tie holes in the floor so you can secure your belongings. Some models also come with a hydraulic tail lift making them much easier to load.  As for other van types economy vans (or combo vans) are probably only really suited to very small moves, though they may be ideal for cash strapped students. Whilst medium sized vans such as the transit may be okay for individuals with few possessions or those willing to make a few trips. A long wheel base van may also be worth considering if you feel that a Luton van would be too large to drive. See our Van Type Guide for more details.
    
• When are you moving and how will the house move take place?
  • Are you in a chain and need to move in one go, or can you make repeated trips? What are the distances involved? This will all affect  how long you book your rental van for and the type of van.
• What kind of distance is the move over?
  • What charges will your rental company apply, is there a fixed mileage, with additional charges if you go over?  
  • If you are taking the van abroad to France, Spain, anywhere in Europe or the channel islands make sure your allowed to do this. Also you will often need to return the van to where you rented it from so this will mean that you will have to drive to your destination, drive back and then find a way of returning.
  • Consider your route, the Luton van is quite high, so low bridges should be avoided
• How long will the move take?
  • Multi day rentals may be cheaper than one day rentals, and often van rental centers are closed over the weekend and out of office hours, so keep this in mind when searching.
• How will you manage to pack everything?
  • Secure your belongings and use bedding materials to pad them. In addition there are numerous online suppliers of packaging material for house moves. And some van types come with tie downs or rails.
  • Ask friends to help! It will make it a lot easier.

Make sure your van rental includes breakdown cover, and you have appropriate insurance. So if the worse happens both you and your goods should reach your destination at no extra cost.

Here's Some additional Hints to Help You with you Hire Van Move:

1. Use our van hire price comparison search to find the best deal!
2. Book well in advance to get the best deal and the van type you want.
3. Make sure can stop close enough to your destination at both ends, height, width and length consider.
4. Don’t forget to take into account the weight carrying ability of the van as well as it’s capacity. Generally most standard vans can carry around 800kg while LWB (long wheel base) vans can carry around 1600kgs, but Luton vans actually carry slightly less around 1400kg due to the increased weight of their design.
5. Standard/Transit vans can manage things like wardrobes, a sofa, kitchen appliances etc and averages around 35 miles to the gallon. Whereas look at a Luton if you have complete furniture sets, pianos, etc. or want to move in one go.
6. Load the van carefully and evenly, for a smooth balanced ride. A fully loaded van will handle differently than a partially loaded one, and a baldy loaded van is a recipe for disaster!
7. Check the van over fully before you rent it so that there is no disputed damaged claims later on.

Finally, Enjoy your new Home!