Van hire questions

toasterman

Hello,

I'm going to be moving house shortly, and have been looking into hiring a van for all my stuff.
Does anyone have any good tips to save money here?

I've looked into a man with van thing, but they're £25 an hour and £15 for subsequent hours, so even at around £50 a day for van rental, it'd make more sense to hire a van I think.
There is two of us moving, and although we could spend a few days going backwards and forwards with car loads, there are some big items (bookcases, and large garden furniture) which will neither come apart, nor fit in an estate car.

Also, while looking at vans, they're all described in size of payloads or cubic metres of space. What does this equate to?
The biggest items we have are a bookcase (just over 6ft long, but about 1.5 ft deep), and a double mattress (which doesn't fold very well, as it's a very solid pocket sprung one).
Any advice on whether these items might fit into a Vauxhall Vivaro (one of National's rental options) for example?

Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

Davidboy

We moved my daughter last Oct she is at uni and was easier to hire a van, we found Thrifty the cheapest. But bear in mind that when you hire a van they then want more money for ins to reduce your excess in event of a claim, then want extra for tyre and windscreen cover etc etc. We took the risk and did not buy any "extra ins" and we were fine, but thats up to you! The hire rate is for a 24 hour period, with Thrifty anyway.

As for size of van, most website will show you size of van and price against it, so what you probably need is a transit size van, that will take a double mattress plus most of your bits and bobs all together.

Like in all things, it pays to shop around and just take a little time to google van hire and see if any have offers etc.

http://www.thrifty.co.uk/

HTH

D

mark5

I've found a Luton type van very good for house moves in the past. My previous house was only a 2 bedroom so we didnt have loads to move but 2 trips was all it took. Something like a transit would probably have taken a lot more trips.

toasterman

It's actually me and my girlfriend moving from separate shared houses, into one place together. So, we only have furniture from one room each, plus a bit of kitchen stuff really.
The majority of it we could move via our cars, but as there are some pieces of furniture (we bought and had delivered to our respective houses) which don't fit in either car, we figured if it's £25 for man with van to move 4-5 things, or £50 for a day to self-drive move everything, in an easier and quicker manner - then it makes sense to do that.
We're only moving a mile down the road (if that), but it's too far to carry big bits of furniture really.

Have found loads of van hire companies, but think on this occasion, as the prices are all fairly similar, we'll stick with one we've heard of, and try one of: Enterprise, Thrifty, National, Hertz, Europcar..etc.

Thanks to mark5 and Davidboy for your advice.

pitkin2020

OP you just need a transit/vivaro sized van for the type of stuff your moving and can be rented from loads of places. Most places require you to be over the age 25 as its a commercial vehicle.

The cheapest way is to find a mate with a van and bung him a few quid, but if thats not an option just find the cheapest one you can hire.

catflea

Davidboy wrote: »

so what you probably need is a transit size van

Short wheelbase? Normal? Long wheelbase? What about a high top?:rotfl: Transits come in many flavours....

Vaux Vivaro would prob have the payload to meet your requirements, but I would echo the luton van mob - they are very useful beasties indeed (I did a bit of delivery driving for a while - we could get anything into that thing!)

Smick100

I am moving house this weekend and am hiring a van through holidayautos.co.uk.

It's an LDV Maxus and it is costing £86 and £10 Quidco will bring it down to £76. That is for picking up on Saturday and dropping back on Monday.

One day would cost £21 for a Kangoo, £27 for a VW Transporter £33 for a Maxus and £65 for a Luton.

catflea

Be prepared for a horrific drive.... The inside of a Maxxus is not a nice place to be in my experience. Three hours sat inside one, and I was relieved to hand it back at the end of the day....

pitkin2020

There is absoulty no point in the OP hiring a luton, he has stated its only to move a few large items that would fit in a medium sized van very easily.

A luton will only be of benefit if your moving a lot of furniture or if you are moving a fair distance away so you can do it in one load rather than two. The extra expense for a matress and some bookcases isn't really justified.....MSE

Idiophreak

pitkin2020 wrote: »

Most places require you to be over the age 25 as its a commercial vehicle.

Normally need to provide both parts of your drivers' licence, too - caught me out

toasterman

Just a general query.. we don't really want the van overnight.

If I booked it from say 10am one day, to 10am the next, can I take it back at the end of the first day before they close, if we've finished with it? Or do I get charged extra for storage? Or will they just not accept it early?