A house move is one of the most common reasons people come to Abacus Self Drive, and over the years we have seen what separates a smooth move from a stressful one. It is rarely about strength or speed. It is about choosing the right vehicle, loading it in a sensible order, and knowing how to use the equipment. This guide takes you through all three.
Choosing the right van for your home
Start with the size of the property you are moving out of. The table below is a reliable starting point.
| Your home | Recommended vehicle | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| A single room or studio flat | Small van | Standard car |
| A one or two bedroom flat | Transit | Standard car |
| A larger flat or small house | Long wheelbase Transit | Standard car |
| A bigger move with plenty of furniture | Extra long wheelbase van | Standard car |
| A house of three bedrooms or more | Luton with tail lift | Standard car |
| A large house with a full household of belongings | 7.5 tonne lorry | Category C1 |
Then think about what makes your move bigger than average. A garage, shed or loft full of belongings, large items that cannot be taken apart, garden furniture and bikes all add up quickly. If you find yourself between two sizes, we would always suggest the larger one. A van with room to spare is easier to load and avoids a second journey.
The 7.5 tonne lorry needs category C1 on your licence, which not every driver has. Please read our guide to the licence you need for a 7.5 tonne lorry before choosing it. Our van size guide describes each vehicle in more detail, and you will find the load space measurements on each van’s own page.
Planning your hire
Book in good time
Fridays, weekends and the last few days of the month are the busiest times for house moves. Our Luton vans in particular are booked up early for those dates, so it is worth reserving yours as soon as your moving date is confirmed.
If your date changes, a booking can be changed free of charge up to 48 hours before collection, as long as we have the van available.
Decide how many days you need
A day’s hire runs from your collection time until 8:00am the next morning. For a local move with everything already packed, one day is often enough. If you are also packing, cleaning or travelling some distance, an extra day makes the whole thing far less rushed. The daily rate is lower for hires of 3 to 6 days, and lower again for 7 days or more.
Remember the return journey
The van must be returned to the depot you collected it from. All of our hires include unlimited mileage, so moving further afield is not a problem, but do allow time to bring the van back. If you return outside opening hours, both of our depots have a 24-hour key drop.
Add your drivers
Anyone who will drive must be named on the hire agreement, as only named drivers are insured. Each driver needs their own licence and DVLA check code. Our collection checklist lists everything to bring on the day.
Think about access
Check the parking outside both properties. You may need a visitor permit or a bay suspended by the council, and it helps to know in advance how close the van can get to each front door.
How to load the van
Good loading means more fits in, nothing gets damaged, and the van is safer to drive. Work from the front of the load area towards the doors.
- Heaviest items first. Place washing machines, fridge freezers and solid furniture against the bulkhead behind the cab. Keep the weight low and spread evenly across the width of the van.
- Flat items along the sides. Mattresses, bed frames, table tops, mirrors and pictures should stand on their edges against the walls of the van, secured so they cannot tip.
- Sofas on end where height allows. This frees a surprising amount of floor space in a Luton.
- Boxes in solid stacks. Use boxes of similar sizes where you can. Put the heaviest at the bottom and the lightest at the top.
- Soft items in the gaps. Bedding, cushions and bags of clothes are ideal for filling spaces and stopping things from moving.
- Secure each section. Bring ratchet straps or rope and tie the load to the lashing points as you go, not only at the end.
- Essentials last. Keep the kettle, a few tools, cleaning materials and anything you will need straight away near the doors.
A few more things are worth bearing in mind:
- Protect your furniture. Blankets, old duvets and cardboard between items prevent scratches and dents.
- Take furniture apart where you can. Bed frames, table legs and wardrobe doors travel better separately.
- Do not overload the van. Every vehicle has a maximum weight it can carry, and boxes of books, tools and garden materials are heavier than they appear. The van must not carry more than it is rated for.
How to use a tail lift
The tail lift fitted to our Luton vans is a powered platform at the rear of the vehicle. It lowers to the ground so that you can move an item onto it, then raises the item to the level of the van floor. For heavy furniture and appliances it removes almost all of the lifting, which is why the Luton is the vehicle most people choose for a house move.
To use it safely:
- Park on firm, level ground and make sure there is clear space behind the van.
- Lower the platform completely before you put anything on it.
- Place the load in the centre of the platform, away from the edges.
- Stay within the weight limit, which is marked on the lift.
- Keep hands and feet clear of the edges and moving parts.
- Keep children and pets at a distance whenever the lift is in use.
- Stow the lift fully before you move the vehicle.
If you have not used a tail lift before, please ask a member of our team when you collect the van. We will be glad to show you how the controls work.
Driving a loaded van
A fully loaded van behaves differently from a car. It takes longer to stop, it is wider on corners, and it is affected more by side winds. Leave more space than usual and allow extra time for the journey.
Please pay particular attention to height. A Luton van is over 3 metres tall, and the exact height is displayed in the cab. Check it before you approach low bridges, car parks with height barriers, petrol station canopies, drive-throughs and low branches. Damage to the roof, or caused by hitting anything overhead, is not covered by our insurance, and you would be responsible for the full cost.
Returning the van
When the move is done:
- empty the load area and the cab
- return the van with the same amount of fuel it had when you collected it
- bring it back by 8:00am on your return date
- if you use the key drop, take a few photographs of the van and the fuel gauge before you leave
We are happy to help
If you would like advice on which van is right for your move, please call us at either depot. We know our fleet well and would much rather help you choose correctly than have you book the wrong size. Our phone numbers are on the contact page, and you can book online at any time.