How To Hire A Van

Hiring a van online is quick, affordable and simple. All of the websites we link to from this site offer modern, secure (encrypted) booking facilities, meaning that you don't have to worry about your card details going astray or your booking getting confused.

It's easy to compare information about different types of vans - whether you're after an XLWB Sprinter, a Transit or a small Vauxhall Combo.

Here's our foolproof guide to hiring a van - follow this and you can't go wrong!

  1. Work out how much space you will need in the load compartment - think of the largest object you will be carrying, and measure it if possible.

    After that, think about everything else that will have to fit in around it - can it all be stacked up high and laid on its side, or does it have to be kept a certain way up and not pressed against anything else?


  2. Work out your minimum length and width requirements - if you are transporting some pieces of wood that are 3m long, you need at least a load compartment at least 3m long - which means a LWB, XLWB or Luton van.

    Likewise if you have something like a large wardrobe, measure how wide it is - it needs to fit through the rear entrance of your van, which is usually slightly narrower than the load space - will you need a Luton van for its extra width?

    See our "What Size Van Do I Need" guide for more information on van sizes.


  3. Consider the weight of your load, too - we've included common rental van payloads on our What Size Van? page. A 3.5t van should be enough for most van-sized loads.


  4. Where will you be loading and unloading your hire van? Most underground or private car parks have 2 metre (6' 6") height restrictions - large or high roof vans will not be able to fit in. This leaves you with two choices: make two trips in a smaller van or find somewhere else to unload.

    Hire A Van - Online UK Van Rental



  5. Work out the dates you will need the van for. Remember that not all rental companies allow you to pick up or drop off vans out of regular office hours, so you may need to pick up your hire van the day before, or return it a day later. This may seem expensive but the trick is to work out your pick up and drop off times to make the best use of the 24 hour hire periods offered by rental companies.

    Pick up your van as late in the day as possible so that you don't have to return it until a convenient time on your final day.


  6. When you go to collect your hire van, remember to take your driving license and any other documents the hire company have requested.


  7. Bigger vans have bigger fuel tanks - typically 60-70 litres. A good rule of thumb for long trips is to budget for 30mpg (6.8 miles/litre) - that way you can calculate your fuel costs in advance and work out the total cost of the hire.

    See our What Size Van? page for typical fuel consumption figures for different types of van.

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