Van Hire: Choose the Vehicle, Then the Location
Start with the body style that fits your load, or jump straight to your town. Every van hire page we publish is listed below.
Picking the right body style
Van size is decided by shape, not by how much you own. A transit van has the floor space for a lot of boxes but not the height for a wardrobe standing up. A Luton body adds that height and squares off the load area, which is why it handles most one and two bedroom moves in a single trip. A tail lift only matters when something is too heavy to lift by hand, and it changes how long the job takes more than it changes what fits.
Quick way to narrow it down
- A transit van suits a studio or a few rooms of boxes without large furniture
- A Luton body adds standing height, which is what wardrobes and sofas need
- A tail lift saves a lift-and-carry on anything heavy enough to need two people
- Hiring with a driver removes the loading, the route and the parking from your day
Van hire by vehicle type
Each page describes what the vehicle carries and how it is booked.
Van hire in your area
3 towns and cities have a van hire page of their own, covering local availability and access.
Van hire: frequently asked questions
Which van size do I actually need?
Count the large items rather than the boxes. Boxes stack and fill gaps; wardrobes, sofas, mattresses and appliances set the size you need because they cannot be folded. If two or more of those are coming, start at a Luton body rather than a transit van. Each vehicle page lists what fits so you can check before booking.
What is the difference between hiring a van and hiring one with a driver?
Hiring the van alone means you drive, load and unload. Hiring with a driver means the vehicle arrives with someone who does the driving and helps with the load, so you are not responsible for the route, the reversing or the parking. The pages for both options set out how each is booked.
Do I need a special licence for a Luton or tail lift van?
A standard UK car licence covers vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, which includes the Luton and tail lift vans on these pages. Anything heavier needs a category C1 or C entitlement. If you passed your test before 1997 you may already hold C1; check the categories printed on the back of your licence.
Can I hire a van for a one-way move to another city?
A long one-way move usually works out simpler with a driver, because a self-drive hire has to end where the vehicle is due back. Tell us both addresses when you ask for a price and the quote will show which option makes sense for the distance.