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.
Weighing One Trip Against Several
One choice worth making early is whether you aim to move everything in a single run or spread the work across several shorter trips. To decide, list every item you plan to carry with its dimensions and total count, then consider how many of those pieces could reasonably share a journey and whether any single item, such as a long wardrobe or a workbench, sets its own limit. Note your hire dates and whether they allow more than one run, plus the opening hours of any collection point or storage site involved. If some goods can wait a week, mark them as flexible. With these figures written down, you can ask the team which van options suit a single trip or whether splitting the load across days changes what to request.
Allowing Room in the Schedule for Packing
A second decision is how much time to set aside on either side of the hire itself. Rather than planning to start at the exact minute the van arrives, work backwards and note when packing needs to finish, when each room or job should be completed, and whether items need wrapping, dismantling or measuring before they travel. Record the dimensions of anything that comes apart, along with screws, fittings and tools in a labelled box, and note a realistic finishing time for each stage. If helpers are joining, write down when each person is available. These notes let you share a clearer timeline with the team when confirming dates, and any questions about how long the schedule allows can be raised before you book.
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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.