Van Hire in the UK
A Luton with a tail lift for the flat move, a Transit for the weekend's furniture collection, a small van for the tip runs, a long-wheelbase for the festival stall, a one-way hire to the new house, or a van for the job that is bigger than the estate car: find local van hire people rate, and know what it costs before you get to the counter.
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Finding good van hire in the UK
Van hire is the answer to the move, the collection and the clear-out: small vans for boxes and tip runs, medium and long-wheelbase Transits for furniture and stock, Lutons with a tail lift for a whole flat or a two-bedroom house, and crew vans, tippers and pickups for work. National rental chains, the DIY sheds and the independent local hire companies all do it, by the hour, the day, the weekend and the week, with one-way hire between depots at the nationals; the independents compete on price, mileage and not being on a retail park at eight on a Saturday.
The counter is where the price changes: a deposit or pre-authorisation of £150 to £500, an insurance excess of £500 to £1,500 unless you pay the daily waiver, mileage limits of 100 to 250 a day with a charge per mile beyond, fuel returned at the level you took it, and an age limit of 21 to 25 with a full licence held for a year or two. A standard car licence covers vans up to 3.5 tonnes, which is nearly everything on the forecourt; Lutons and 3.5-tonne vans are slower, thirstier and taller than you think, and a clearance sign on a car park is not a suggestion.
The listings here show each hire company's fleet and sizes, rates, deposits and mileage, hours and one-way options, reviews and contact details, so you can see who is nearby, who has a Luton for Saturday, and whose vans people in your town say were clean and ready.
What van hire companies offer
Small vans: car-derived vans and short-wheelbase Transits for boxes, tip runs and deliveries, cheap to hire and easy to park.
Medium and large vans: medium and long-wheelbase high-roof vans for furniture, stock and a one-bedroom flat.
Lutons and box vans: 3.5-tonne Lutons with a tail lift for whole flats and small houses, and the box vans and 7.5-tonners that need a C1 licence.
Work vans: crew cabs, tippers, pickups, refrigerated and minibuses, on daily, weekly and long-term hire for trades and businesses.
Extras: one-way hire between depots, trolleys, blankets and straps, additional drivers, sat-nav, and delivery of the van to your door at some companies.
Before you hire a van
- Choose the size for the load: a one-bed flat needs a long-wheelbase, a two-bed a Luton with a tail lift.
- Ask the all-in price: rate, insurance, excess and the waiver, mileage allowance, deposit and fuel policy.
- Check the age and licence rules; most need 21 to 25 and a full licence for one to two years, and a 7.5-tonner needs a C1.
- Bring both parts of your licence, the DVLA share code, ID and proof of address; the counter checks them.
- Photograph every panel and the mileage and fuel before you leave, and again when you return.
- Book Lutons early for the weekend and the end of the month; they go first.
What van hire costs in the UK
As a rough guide, a small van costs £35 to £60 a day and £60 to £100 for a weekend, a medium or long-wheelbase Transit £50 to £90 a day and £90 to £160 for a weekend, and a Luton with a tail lift £70 to £120 a day and £120 to £220 for a weekend, with weekly rates about four days' worth; the excess waiver adds £10 to £25 a day, excess mileage 15p to 30p a mile, additional drivers £5 to £15 a day and one-way hire a premium of £50 to £150. Deposits run £150 to £500 and are released within days. Sheds and independents are often cheapest for a day; the nationals for one-way and long hires.
A Luton for £150 for the weekend and two friends beats a removals firm at £600, provided the friends turn up and the tail lift is on the booking.
How do I find van hire near me?+
Look at the van hire companies listed for your town, which show fleet and sizes, rates, deposits, mileage, hours and one-way options, with reviews. Compare the all-in price including the excess waiver and mileage rather than the headline rate, and book a Luton early for a weekend move.
How much is van hire per day?+
Typically £35 to £60 a day for a small van, £50 to £90 for a medium or long-wheelbase Transit and £70 to £120 for a Luton with a tail lift, with weekends at roughly two days and weeks at four; the excess waiver adds £10 to £25 a day and mileage beyond the allowance 15p to 30p a mile. Deposits are £150 to £500.
What licence do I need to hire a van?+
A full UK or EU car licence covers vans up to 3.5 tonnes, which includes Lutons and nearly every hire van; 7.5-tonne lorries need a C1, which drivers who passed before 1997 have automatically. Most companies require the licence held for one to two years and a minimum age of 21 to 25, with young driver surcharges below that.
What size van do I need to move house?+
A long-wheelbase high-roof van for a studio or one-bedroom flat, a Luton with a tail lift for a two-bedroom flat or a small house, and two Luton loads or a removals firm for anything larger; the tail lift is what makes a sofa and a fridge manageable. Ask the hire company; they size moves all day.
What is the excess on van hire insurance?+
Typically £500 to £1,500, the amount you pay towards any damage, reducible to nil or a few hundred pounds with a daily waiver of £10 to £25; some card and standalone excess policies cover it cheaper. Photograph the van before and after, and check the roof and the corners; Lutons collect damage at height.
Can I hire a van one way?+
From the national chains, yes, between their depots, for a premium of £50 to £150 on the rate and often a minimum of two days; independents rarely offer it. For a long-distance move it beats the return trip, and booking ahead matters at the end of the month.
How do I get my business listed?+
It is free. Add your business in about two minutes to appear on this page and your local town directory. Upgrade to Featured for £2.49 a month to sit above the free listings.