Local vehicle hire

Grays Van Hire

SDVH East Anglia & Essex provides van hire across Grays for house moves, trade work, furniture collections, storage runs and business deliveries. Tell the team what you need to carry, the access arrangements and your hire dates, and they will help match the job to a small van, Transit, Luton, dropside or crew van where available.

Call 01223 912281 View all van hire locations

Talk to our booking team

01223 912281

Vans for journeys around Grays

Common van choices for Grays. Before booking, the team confirms exact availability, transmission, seating, payload and licence requirements.

Volkswagen Caddy

Available

A small van suited to tools, boxes, light deliveries and short local jobs.

Ford Transit SWB

Available

A Transit with a short wheelbase, suited to everyday moves, trade work and business deliveries.

VW Transporter Automatic

Available

An automatic van for local transport, business use and easier driving in the city.

Ford Transit MWB

Available

A medium-wheelbase van suited to furniture, stock, equipment and storage runs.

Ford Transit LWB

Available

A long-wheelbase van for bulkier loads and bigger household or trade jobs.

4 metre Sprinter Van

Available

A large panel van that handles longer items, bulky moves and trade equipment.

4 metre Automatic Van

Available

A large van with automatic transmission, for when you need the space but not a manual gearbox.

Ford Luton Box Tail Lift

Available

A Luton box van fitted with a tail lift, a common choice for furniture and house moves.

Ford Transit Dropside Van

Available

An open dropside body that makes side loading easier for landscaping and trade loads.

3.5 Tonne Tipper Transit

Check terms

A tipper body for site, waste and landscaping jobs, where the hire terms allow.

3.5 Tonne Recovery Van

Check terms

A specialist recovery vehicle for suitable bookings, subject to driver and insurance checks.

12.5m Cherry Picker Van

Check terms

An access vehicle for working at height, where operator and booking terms allow.

VW Camper Van

Check terms

A camper van for leisure trips, where availability and cover allow.

Toyota Hilux Pickup

Available

A pickup suited to site access, rural journeys and practical load carrying.

LWB 6 Seater Crew Van

Available

A crew van that carries both a team and its equipment in one vehicle.

6 seats

SWB 5 Seat Crew Van

Available

A compact crew van for small teams and tools, suited to carrying passengers and load together.

5 seats

Why choose us?

Practical help from quote to collection.

Before you book, our team goes through the key points with you: availability, driver rules, mileage, delivery and any requirements for specialist vehicles.

Free delivery and collection

You can request delivery and collection at a suitable UK mainland address, such as your home, workplace or hotel, or a station, airport or event venue.

We confirm the address, access, timing, ID and driver checks before the booking goes ahead.

Unlimited mileage

Unlimited mileage comes with most rentals, which makes them well suited to long trips, jobs with several stops and travel beyond your immediate area.

Fair-use or pro-rata mileage rules may apply to courier use and truck hire, so please check the mileage terms before you book.

Coverage across the UK mainland

Vehicles can be sourced through a national supplier network for local journeys and longer trips across the UK mainland.

Whether a vehicle is available will depend on its type, the address and the date you need it.

European cover

On eligible hires, we can arrange cover for driving in Europe, provided you declare the journey before you set off.

Extra charges and restrictions may apply, and we do not offer one-way rentals for European trips.

One-way rentals

If the vehicle needs to go back somewhere other than where the hire began, you can ask for a one-way rental.

It applies only to eligible bookings within the UK mainland. We confirm the route, cost and return arrangements with you by phone.

Insurance included

Standard rental insurance comes as part of the hire. We explain the driver requirements, excess, deposit and optional waivers before you book.

The standard vehicle insurance does not cover goods in transit.

Discount for company own insurance

If you are using your company's own approved insurance, ask us whether a lower hire rate is available.

We need to confirm that your own insurance is accepted and that you qualify for the discount before you book.

A wide choice of vehicles

With cars, vans, minibuses and trucks in a variety of sizes, transmissions and layouts, our booking team can find a vehicle that suits your journey.

The exact model, size and transmission depend on what is available locally.

Useful links

Other vehicle hire around Grays

Other services in Grays

Van Hire location links

Planning guides

Short Wheelbase (SWB) Vans: A East Anglia & Essex Van Hire Guide

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.

Picking a suitable van

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.

Planning a Collection With a Seller

If you have agreed to collect furniture from a private seller, several details are worth writing down before the hire begins. Record the collection date and the time window the seller has offered, along with a phone number in case plans change on the day. Ask the seller for the approximate dimensions and quantity of each item, since this helps the team suggest a small van, Transit, Luton, dropside or crew van where available. Note the access arrangements at the seller's address, including any parking restrictions or entry limits they mention, and pass these on when you request a quote. Confirm whether items come apart and whether the seller can assist, and keep a list of your own questions about vehicle groups on hand.

Preparing a Business Delivery Run

When a delivery forms part of your working week, a written plan keeps the booking straightforward. List every item going out, with quantities and dimensions where you have them, and note the delivery date alongside any window the customer has requested. Record a named contact and phone number at the delivery address, and ask them directly about access, parking or opening hours, since these questions belong to the recipient rather than the hire team. Decide whether the itinerary covers one stop or several, and set out the order you expect to follow. When you request a quote, share the load list and schedule so the team can match the job to a suitable van, and raise any remaining questions about vehicle groups before confirming the hire.

Explore other van hire areas

Last checks before booking

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.

Frequently asked questions

Van Hire questions

What size of van do I need?

Choose the van to suit what you are carrying. Small vans work well for tools and boxes, medium and long wheelbase vans for furniture or trade equipment, and Luton vans are better for bulky house-move items. Confirm height, payload and loading access before you book.

Questions about booking, cover and more

Is insurance included in the rental price?

Yes. The vehicle hire includes standard rental insurance. Before the booking is agreed, the team will explain the excess, the driver requirements and any optional collision damage waiver. Goods carried inside the vehicle are not covered by the standard vehicle insurance.

Do you charge extra for mileage?

Unlimited mileage is included on most rentals, subject to the fair-use policy confirmed before booking. Courier work is excluded, and larger commercial vehicles may carry their own monthly or pro-rata mileage limits, so always check the mileage terms for the vehicle you choose.

Can you deliver the vehicle to a location I request?

Yes. Delivery and collection can usually be arranged across the UK mainland. Before the vehicle is dropped off or picked up, the team will confirm the address, timing, access, identification and driver checks.

Can I use the vehicle in Europe?

For eligible hires, European cover can be arranged if you request it before you travel. This is an optional extra and may come with additional charges and restrictions. Vehicles must not leave the approved area unless the booking team has agreed to it.

Is one-way vehicle hire available?

Many UK mainland bookings can be set up as one-way rentals where the route and type of vehicle permit. One-way hire is not available to offshore islands or into Europe, and the cost and return point must be confirmed before you book.

Can I get zero insurance excess?

No. A zero-excess option is not offered as standard. You may be able to reduce your excess liability with a collision damage waiver, and the booking team will explain which options apply to the vehicle you select.

How can I book?

Every hire is arranged over the phone, so ring the booking team during opening hours and have the vehicle type, hire dates, delivery or collection details, driver information and journey requirements to hand.

What deposit will I need to pay?

A deposit is usually taken when the vehicle is delivered or collected, covering items such as fuel, fines, parking tickets and damage costs. You will be told the exact amount and how the refund works before the hire is agreed.

Should the vehicle be refuelled before it is returned or collected?

Yes. The vehicle should normally come back with the agreed level of fuel. Any shortfall can be charged or taken from the deposit, in line with the hire terms confirmed before you book.

Can I pay for a booking by credit card?

Credit cards may be accepted alongside other business payment methods, such as corporate purchasing cards and BACS transfer, where approved. Certain payment methods may need to pass checks before the booking is confirmed.

What information do I need to book a vehicle?

To book, the team needs your preferred vehicle or size, how long you need it, the delivery or collection date and time, details for the driver and any additional drivers, your contact information, address details and the relevant postcodes. If you are not sure which vehicle would suit, they can help you narrow down the choice.

What licence requirements apply?

Every driver must present a valid driving licence. You will usually need to have held it for at least one year, although two years is preferred. Provisional and expired licences are not accepted, and larger minibuses, trucks and specialist vehicles can involve extra entitlement checks.

How up to date are the vehicles?

The fleet is regularly maintained and updated, with the aim of providing modern, reliable vehicles. The exact make, model, age and specification will depend on what is available when you book.

Is a satnav or GPS available to hire?

A satnav may be offered as an optional extra. Mention it to the booking team when you arrange the vehicle so they can confirm whether one is available and what it costs.

Which vehicle sizes am I allowed to drive?

It depends on the vehicle's weight or seating capacity and the categories listed on the back of your driving licence. A standard UK category B entitlement usually covers vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes and up to 9 seats, though larger minibuses, trucks and specialist vehicles may require additional entitlement.

Check local availability

Talk to us about hiring a van in Grays.

Tell us your dates, journey plans, driver details and whether you need delivery or collection. We will confirm suitable vehicle options and the terms before you commit to anything.

Call 01223 912281