Depending on how much you have to move (and how many willing helpers you can round up) you might decide that hiring a van to organise your own house move is the best solution for you.
Here at McCarthy’s we have two options for van hire – the first is to hire a self drive Luton Transit van for a day or two and the second is to use our man and van service (you can opt for more than one man if you’ve struggled to convince family and friends that they want to give up their day to help you shift your furniture from A to B!)
So how do you decide if hiring a van is the right move for you?
How much do you have to move?
We offer the Luton Transit van, which is ideal for moving furniture and belongings, as it has a separate box at the back, maximising the space. It will typically fit the contents of a one bedroom home (depending on how much of a hoarder you are!), so if you have more than that, you may need to make multiple trips. If you have to be out of your home at a certain time, or if you’re travelling some distance, going back and forward may not be practical or possible, so make sure you’re confident you can fit in what you need.
Are you allowed to drive the van?
As long as you have a standard manual driving licence with less than six points, and you are aged over 25, you will be able to hire a self drive van from us. The rules from other providers may vary so make sure you check. Once you start considering larger vehicles a special licence may be required.
Remember to take your driving licence when you go to pick up the van – and you will usually also need some further proof of ID/address.
If you are driving overseas, make sure the van hire company is happy for you to do so.
Lifting and Carrying
Our vans have a tail lift, which makes it much easier to get heavy items onto the van, but not all vans do. Moving a house is hard physical work, so it’s worth considering if you think you might need some extra assistance
The cost
Make sure you are clear what the van hire company is charging and what that covers. Is there a mileage limit? Are the costs the same on different days of the week? What happens if you are late bringing back the van?
You will be expected to pay for your own fuel, so remember to calculate how much that will add onto your costs.
Insurance
Make sure your van hire includes full insurance, and clarify exactly what that covers. Is there an excess? Does it include breakdown cover? What should you do if the van breaks down?
Driving carefully
Although most vans are easy to drive, remember they’re much larger and higher than an ordinary car so watch out for low bridges.
A loaded van is heavy and will take longer to stop than your usual car – so be cautious and leave lots of space between you and the car in front.
Bear in mind that blindspots will be bigger and it may be more difficult to see obstacles. Always be extra alert.
Packing the van
Load the heaviest items first, and put them around the outside edges, working your way inwards. Pack items tightly so they don’t move around, but secure them if necessary to keep them in place. Wrap delicate items, or items that may dint or scratch, in blankets.
For more information about our van hire services contact us.