Choose a hire van using the actual load, the driver's entitlement and the rental agreement. Space alone is not enough: payload, access, height and the ability to secure belongings matter too. Check the provider's vehicle specifications rather than assuming every van with the same label has identical capacity.
Before booking
- Confirm who may drive and which documents the hire company requires.
- Check mileage allowance, fuel policy, deposit or card hold and return deadlines.
- Read damage, excess and breakdown arrangements.
- Ask about equipment such as securing points, ramps or a tail lift where needed.
Use the official driving licence vehicle-category guidance to check entitlement, then confirm the hire company's requirements. Do not exceed vehicle or equipment limits.
Inspect and photograph the vehicle at collection, recording existing damage through the supplier's process. Plan a loading order that keeps weight distributed and belongings secured using suitable methods. Check route restrictions and the return location. Leave enough time to unload, refuel as agreed and complete the return inspection without rushing the drive.
Put it into practice
Use the moving van load planner to organise your own figures or next steps. Keep its assumptions alongside your plan.