Sizing a van around what you are moving
List the largest items with rough length, width and height, and give an estimate of total weight, because bulk and payload limit a van in different ways. Mention anything awkward, such as a wardrobe that cannot be dismantled or long timber. Describe loading at both ends, including stairs, lift access, distance from the kerb and whether anyone will help lift.
Fitting the van to your route
Start with the load, then choose the van. A small van works well for boxes, tools and light collections; medium and long-wheelbase vans suit furniture, stock and trade equipment; and a Luton is the better choice for bulkier items on a house move. Subject to dates, driver details and availability, the range includes the Volkswagen Caddy, Ford Transit SWB, VW Transporter Automatic, Ford Transit MWB and Ford Transit LWB. Make, model, transmission, seats, payload and licence position are all confirmed at quote stage, so treat these vehicles as a guide to the kind of hire on offer rather than a guaranteed reservation of a particular model.
Keeping an Inventory of Your Load
An inventory written before the van arrives gives you something to work from on the day, so set aside ten minutes with a notebook. List each item or box, and against it note the room it has come from and the place it is heading to, which keeps a multi-address job organised. Measure the larger pieces of furniture and write down their three dimensions, since a three-seater sofa recorded as approximately two metres wide tells the team far more than the word large. If some belongings are going into storage, note the storage unit reference and its opening arrangements. Keep the inventory with you when you contact the team about dates, and use it to frame any questions you still have about matching the job to a vehicle.
Moving Belongings That Are Already Boxed
If your household goods are packed and waiting, the planning task becomes one of counting and recording. Note how many boxes you have, grouped by size if they differ, and set aside a line for anything that will not fit in a box, such as a bicycle or a rug. Check whether any box is labelled for a particular destination or recipient, and write down that person's name and contact number so they can be reached if timings shift. Where boxes are going to a storage facility, record the unit details you were given. You can also note your preferred hire dates, any flexibility, and the access arrangements at each address involved, then include the whole set of details when you ask the team for a quote.
Explore other van hire areas
What to confirm on the phone
Before the hire is confirmed, go over the key points: whether the vehicle is available, the driver requirements, mileage, insurance, the delivery or collection arrangements and any extras you have asked for. Make sure payload, loading height, tail-lift needs, driver details, deposits and insurance excess are confirmed before you settle on a van size. A clear request gives the date, the length of hire, a rough route, the delivery or pickup address, the passengers or load you expect and any special requirements that might affect which vehicle is suitable.