When planning a move, one of the first questions people ask is whether it’s cheaper to hire a van and do it yourself or pay for a man and van service. The answer depends on more than just the headline price—hidden costs, physical demands, and practical risks all play a part in the true cost of each option.
This guide breaks down the real costs of both approaches so you can make an informed decision based on your specific circumstances.
What Does Van Hire Actually Cost?
Self-drive van hire prices vary depending on vehicle size, hire duration, and location. As a rough guide for 2025 UK rates, you can expect to pay around £40 to £60 per day for a long-wheelbase Transit-type panel van, or £70 to £130 per day for a Luton box van with tail lift. Weekend rates are often higher, and prices in London and the South East tend to sit at the upper end of these ranges.
However, the daily hire rate is only the starting point. Several additional costs apply to most self-drive rentals.
Fuel
You’ll need to return the van with a full tank. A Luton van doing a local move might use £20 to £40 in fuel. For longer distances, fuel costs climb quickly—larger vans are not known for their economy, and you’re likely looking at 20 to 25 miles per gallon at best.
Insurance and Excess
Basic insurance is usually included in the hire price, but the excess—the amount you’d pay if the van is damaged—can be substantial, often £500 to £1,000 or more. Many hire companies offer excess reduction products for an additional daily fee, typically £10 to £20 per day. Without this, you’re taking on significant financial risk if anything goes wrong.
Deposits
Most van hire companies require a deposit, either as a card pre-authorisation or an actual charge. This can range from £100 to £500 depending on the vehicle and company. While you get this back if the van is returned undamaged, it ties up funds during your move.
Mileage Limits
Some hire agreements include unlimited mileage, but others cap the distance at 100 to 250 miles per day. Exceeding this limit incurs per-mile charges, typically 15p to 30p per mile. For longer moves, these charges can add up significantly.
Late Return Fees
If your move takes longer than expected and you return the van late, you’ll likely face additional charges. Some companies charge a full extra day; others have hourly late fees. Moving days rarely go exactly to plan, so this is a real risk.
Congestion and Emission Zones
If you’re moving in or through London, the Congestion Charge (£15 per day) and Ultra Low Emission Zone charge (£12.50 per day for most older vans) apply. Many hire vans are ULEZ-compliant, but it’s worth checking before you book.
What Does a Man and Van Cost?
Man and van services typically charge by the hour, with rates varying based on van size, number of helpers, and location. Current UK rates generally fall between £30 and £60 per hour for a single driver with a medium to large van. Adding a helper increases the rate to around £50 to £90 per hour. Extra-large Luton vans with two people might cost £70 to £120 per hour.
Most services have a minimum booking, usually two hours. This covers the operator’s travel time to your location and ensures even short jobs are economically viable for them.
The key difference from van hire is that man and van pricing is typically all-inclusive. Fuel, insurance, and the driver’s labour are all covered in the hourly rate. There’s no excess to worry about, no deposit to tie up your money, and no risk of late return fees.
Comparing the True Costs
Let’s look at some realistic scenarios to see how the costs actually compare.
Scenario 1: Small Local Move (Studio Flat, 5-Mile Journey)
For a studio flat move across town, you might need around three hours of loading, driving, and unloading time.
Self-drive option: Van hire for a day (£50) plus fuel (£15) plus insurance excess waiver (£15) comes to around £80. You’ll also need to collect and return the van, adding perhaps an hour of your time at each end.
Man and van option: Three hours at £40 per hour equals £120.
On paper, self-drive looks cheaper by about £40. But you’re doing all the physical work yourself, and you need to factor in the time spent collecting and returning the van. If you value your time or would struggle with heavy lifting, the man and van option may be worth the premium.
Scenario 2: One-Bedroom Flat, 15-Mile Journey
A furnished one-bedroom flat typically needs four to five hours with professional help, or potentially longer if you’re doing it yourself.
Self-drive option: Luton van hire (£90) plus fuel (£25) plus excess waiver (£15) equals approximately £130. You’ll need at least one friend to help with lifting, and the job might take six to eight hours given inexperience with loading efficiently.
Man and van option: Five hours at £45 per hour with one helper equals £225, or four hours with an experienced two-person team at £70 per hour equals £280.
Self-drive is significantly cheaper here—but only if you have willing helpers and can manage the physical demands. If you’d need to pay friends or family for their time, or if the day drags on due to inexperience, the gap narrows.
Scenario 3: Two-Bedroom House, 40-Mile Journey
A furnished two-bedroom house is a substantial move requiring either a large Luton van or multiple trips.
Self-drive option: Luton van hire (£110) plus fuel (£50) plus excess waiver (£15) comes to around £175. You’ll need two or three helpers for the heavy lifting, and the job could easily take eight to ten hours. If you need to make two trips, double the fuel cost and add significant time.
Man and van option: Six hours with two people at £80 per hour equals £480.
The cost gap is now substantial—around £300. However, a professional two-person team with experience will likely complete the job faster and with less risk of damage to your belongings or the property. They’ll also handle the heavy lifting, reducing the risk of injury.
The Hidden Costs of DIY
The headline comparison often favours self-drive van hire, but several factors don’t show up in the basic maths.
Physical Demands
Moving furniture is hard work. Sofas, washing machines, and mattresses are heavy and awkward. Without experience, you risk injury to yourself or damage to your belongings. Professional movers handle these items daily and know how to do so safely and efficiently.
Time and Efficiency
Experienced movers load vans far more efficiently than most people can manage. They know how to stack items safely, maximise space, and secure loads properly. A job that takes a professional team four hours might take inexperienced movers six or seven hours—time that has real value even if you don’t put a number on it.
Risk of Damage
If you damage the hire van, you’re liable for the excess. If you damage your belongings, you have no recourse. If you damage the property—scraping walls while manoeuvring a wardrobe, for example—you may lose part of your deposit or face repair costs. Man and van services carry goods-in-transit insurance that covers your belongings, and public liability insurance that covers property damage.
Stress and Hassle
Coordinating helpers, navigating an unfamiliar large vehicle, worrying about parking restrictions and return deadlines—these all add stress to an already demanding day. Handing the logistics to someone else has real value, even if it’s hard to quantify.
When Van Hire Makes Sense
Self-drive van hire is the more economical choice in certain situations. If you have reliable friends or family who are willing and able to help with heavy lifting, the labour cost disappears. If you’re comfortable driving larger vehicles and have experience loading efficiently, you’ll complete the job faster and with less stress. For moves with flexible timing where you can take your time over a full day without pressure, the fixed daily rate works in your favour.
Van hire also makes sense for situations where you’re moving items gradually over several days, perhaps clearing a property or moving into a new place before your official move date. The daily rate becomes very cost-effective when spread across multiple trips.
When Man and Van Makes Sense
A man and van service typically offers better value when you’re moving alone without reliable helpers, when you have heavy or awkward items that require experience to handle safely, or when time is limited and you need the job done efficiently. It’s also the sensible choice if you’re not confident driving a large van, particularly in urban areas with tight streets and limited parking.
For single-item moves—collecting a sofa from a seller, moving a piano, or transporting a large appliance—a man and van service is almost always the practical choice. The minimum booking fee is likely similar to what you’d pay for van hire, but you get professional handling and no physical effort on your part.
Man and van services are also worth considering for long-distance moves where the time and fuel costs of multiple trips would quickly erode any savings from self-drive hire.
The Break-Even Point
As a general rule, the larger and more complex the move, the more the cost gap between self-drive and man and van widens in favour of DIY—but so do the physical demands, time requirements, and risks. For smaller moves (studios, one-bed flats, single items), the convenience of a man and van service often justifies the modest premium. For larger moves, you’re trading significant physical effort and time for meaningful cost savings.
There’s no universal answer. The right choice depends on your budget, your physical capabilities, your available help, and how much you value your time and peace of mind.
Making Your Decision
Before deciding, consider these questions. Do you have reliable helpers who will definitely turn up and stay for the whole job? Are you comfortable driving a large van, potentially in unfamiliar areas? Do you have the physical capability to lift heavy furniture repeatedly? Is there flexibility in your timeline if things take longer than expected? And honestly, what is your time worth?
If you’re uncertain, getting quotes for both options provides concrete numbers to compare. The man and van quote gives you certainty about what you’ll pay for a completed job. The van hire quote is a starting point that will grow with fuel, insurance, and other additions.
If you’d like to see what a man and van service would cost for your specific move, you can get an instant quote online and compare it against self-drive options.
