Choosing a Moving Van Service?

In the UK we have a huge number of removal companies who do a fine job of moving your possessions from one place to the next, and if you’re a family or living in a three or four bed home, there’s just no way you could conceive of moving all your equipment yourself. However, for smaller households or even students moving between home and university, it’s not always cost-effective to use a removals company, nor is it convenient to lug your possessions around on the train!

However, there is another option: the DIY removal but which vehicle do you choose?

There are a number of companies around the UK who will allow you to hire a commercial vehicle for a day or two. A normal UK driving license will allow you to drive smaller vans without any extra training, and it can be a very cost effective way of getting your things from one location to another.

Unfortunately hire companies aren’t often keen to let to younger drivers, and many impose an age restriction of 23 or 25 years on their rentals. It’s also likely that you’ll be charged a one-way fee if you don’t return your van to the same location. Next you need to choose which vehicle will be the most suitable.

Depending on whether you are a first time buyer or you are moving for the fifth time to an even bigger home you need to consider which vehicle you will need. It is often a lot cheaper to hire the vehicle yourself and it means not waiting around for the removal men if they get lost on the way!

Consider your needs, are you moving home for the first time and have no furniture? If this is you then you might want to consider hiring a Citroen Berlingo. These vans come with different body lengths and you will be able to choose which one is most appropriate for you. If you are only transporting a wardrobe full clothes, this vehicle is perfect. It also has two seats in the front so you can take a passenger with you, or use the floor space to move more belongings! If you want to ensure that your journey is as eco-friendly as possible, you will be pleased to know that the Berlingo is available in an electric model. Depending on what you are after it comes with two different engine types, the 1.6litre with 75bhp or the 90bhp 1.6 litre. You also can be safe in the knowledge that you won’t get lost because as standard it is fitted with a satnav. It also has vehicle tracking just in case you want to borrow it for longer than agreed!

The next obvious option for van hire is opting for a Ford Transit or the Nissan NV2500. This is more practical for those that have more furniture to move as it is bigger! The Transit has been a faithful friend for fleet managers and tradesman over the years so it is definitely a good choice for transporting your possessions, and the NV2500 is the new kid on the block. You have got to consider that it is likely to be a lot bigger than any car you are used to driving so it is advisable to take a test drive around the block before heading straight for the motorway.

Again there is an eco-friendly model to reduce your carbon emissions which is important if you will be making a couple of journeys. The vehicle was also designed to reduce the impact of any accident and reduce the cost of repair if it were to be damaged. This should bring you comfort as it is a hire van after all. The hire company will be covered by their van insurance, however it is likely that you would have to pay the excess.

Another option available to you is to borrow a van from a generous friend. The problem here is usually insurance, but at VanQuoteDirect they might have the answer. They frequently offer short-term van insurance to drivers who are just going to be driving a vehicle for a day or two: perfect for your removal.

You need to be over 18 years of age and to have a full UK driving license, but short-term van insurance won’t affect your no-claims policy on your existing car insurance. You can also add multiple drivers to help you share the load of the driving. It might be cheaper than you think!

There are many more ways to get a removal done than simply bringing in a removals company, so if you’re looking to save a few pennies then why not try a DIY removal?