Hiring a removal van: finding the right vehicle
Hiring a private moving van: where can I hire a van for my move? How big does it need to be, and what will it cost? Comparis shares some tips.
26.03.2024
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1. Should I use my car or rent a van?
Are you moving not too far from where you live now? If so, you can transport a lot with just your own car. You will generally need a van for any large and bulky furniture, however. This could be your sofa, cupboards and bed.
Are you moving further away? In this case, it may be worth arranging one-way van hire to save time and fuel.
Good to know: vans get booked up quickly around official moving dates, so make sure you reserve one ahead of time.
2. How much does it cost to hire a van?
You can rent a small van for 100 francs per day or a van with a lifting platform from around 130 francs per day.
Alongside the cost of renting the vehicle, there are also additional costs. These can include:
Insurance: insurance is already included with most rentals. Depending on the company, however, only liability insurance is included. Some rental companies have a high deductible despite offering casco insurance. Check before making a reservation.
Fuel: depending on your agreement with the rental company, you must return the rental van with a full tank of fuel. If you don’t refuel, you will have to pay a flat-rate fee for the rental company to refuel.
Additional mileage: most rentals include some mileage in their offer. If you exceed this, you’ll have to pay an additional fee per kilometre.
One-way rental: returning the rental vehicle to a location other than the pick-up location usually costs an additional fee.
3. What are some providers I can rent a van from cheaply?
The available providers vary depending on the region. Some rent out vans throughout all of Switzerland, whereas others only offer their services regionally.
It’s best to hire a van online, as this will allow you to compare the deals available. The table below provides an overview of companies providing vans in Switzerland. This list is not exhaustive.
| Vehicle provider | Prices for daily rental | Mileage included in the cheapest rental | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avis |
|
150 km. CHF 0.50 to CHF 1.01 for each additional kilometre, depending on the van. | There are discounts for reservations made in advance. Cheaper half-day hire possible. |
| Europcar |
|
150 km. CHF 0.65 to CHF 1.30 for each additional kilometre, depending on the van. | |
| Hertz |
|
150 km. CHF 0.15 to CHF 0.39 for each additional kilometre, depending on the van. | Price depends on the length of the rental. |
| miet-transporter.ch |
|
100 km. CHF 0.50 to CHF 0.80 for each additional kilometre, depending on the van. | Cheaper half-day hire possible. |
| Mobility | Small van:
|
100 km for daily rental. Each additional kilometre CHF 0.85. | You need to register with Mobility. Price with free “Mobility Easy” subscription. Prices are cheaper with a paid subscription. |
| Ottos | Medium van:
|
25 km, each additional kilometre CHF 0.50 | Deposit: CHF 300 Mandatory insurance: CHF 25 |
| Quick Rent |
|
200 km, each additional kilometre CHF 0.50 | Cheaper three-hour rental possible. Saturday surcharge. |
| Sixt |
|
100 km. CHF 0.61 to CHF 1.10 for each additional kilometre, depending on the van. | Price when paid in advance. Flat-rate surcharge possible for more mileage. |
| Ubeequo | Small van:
|
You need to register with Ubeequo and the app. Price with a free “Flirt” subscription. Prices are cheaper with a paid subscription. |
Last updated: 26 March 2024.
Prices shown are rounded.
Prices shown for 10 hours each on 15 July 2024 without any additional services from a depot in Zurich. The collection and return point is always a depot in Zurich. These prices may varie due to availability.
Still looking for a vehicle for your move? With our partner Kayak you’ll find rental cars in different sizes.
4. Hiring a removal van: picking a suitable van size
The following criteria can help you pick the right size for a moving van.
Size of your home.
Number of people moving.
Size and quantity of items to be transported: can you disassemble your furniture?
Distance between your old and new home: if your old and new home are nearby each other, you can make multiple trips.
Your driving licence: you cannot drive all vans with a class B driving licence.
If you live in a larger apartment with multiple people, you’ll need more moving boxes. The same is true if you’ve lived in an apartment for a long time. You’ll therefore need a larger van to transport your boxes.
Generally speaking, an 80 m² 3.5-room apartment usually requires a truck. Otherwise, you won’t be able to make the move in one trip.
How many moving boxes can you fit in a van?
That depends on the size of the van and the moving boxes. Approximately 40 large cardboard boxes will fit into a Mercedes Benz Vito.
Not sure which van to choose? Measure your largest piece of furniture. Then calculate roughly how many boxes the van will hold based on its size.
What different types of van are there?
| Features | Small van | Medium van | Large van/truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of rooms | 1–2 | 2–3 | More than 3 |
| Apartment size in m² | 10–25 | 25–50 | 50–90 |
| Vehicle examples | Mercedes Benz Vito, Ford Transit, Renault Trafic, Opel Vivaro, Citroën Jumpy | Renault Master, Fiat Ducato, Mercedes Sprinter, VW Crafter | Mercedes-Benz Atego, Iveco Eurocargo, MAN TGL 8T, Renault Midlum |
| Licence category | B | B | Depending on the maximum weight B or C1 |
| Seats | 3 | 3 | 3 |
5. How long will I need the removal van for?
For moving home, you'll need to reserve the van for at least one day. Renting it over the weekend is also a good idea. This way, the move is less stressful. However, some providers charge a higher rate at weekends.
6. How do I load the removal van properly?
Have a system for loading your removal van.
Stack the moving boxes on the wall against the driver’s cab.
Place the heavy items at the bottom and the lighter items at the top.
Lean flat objects against the van’s inner wall. Secure them with securing straps. Put moving boxes in front of them.
Put bulky furniture in the middle of the van.
Place heavy objects close to the door. Proper loading lets you avoid additional, unnecessary trips.
Protect delicate furniture with plastic sheeting or blankets.
Remove cupboard handles to save space.
Secure everything with securing straps so that nothing is damaged while driving. Fill any empty spaces with soft items such as blankets or pillows.
7. Is it worth using a professional moving company?
Moving on your own is cheaper than moving with a moving company. However, moving house alone take a lot of time and energy. A moving company will handle much of the work for you.
Any items damaged by the moving company during the moving process are insured. This does not apply to the contents of self-packed moving boxes.
8. Tips for moving with a moving van
Work out how you are going to pack the van and plan your route.
Do you want to get rid of some furniture? You can do this on the moving day. To do this, place the furniture to be disposed of at the very back or at the very front. Adjust your route plan.
Take a test drive. Check the tyre pressure and familiarize yourself with functions such as the lifting platform.
Vans usually only have space for three people. You may therefore need to arrange additional transport for any extra helpers.
Get hold of enough moving boxes. Label the moving boxes as “heavy”, “medium” or “light” as well as “fragile”. Make a note of where your boxes should go, such as “bathroom”, “living room” or “cellar”.
Valuable items such as piano or other bulky furniture can also be individually moved by the moving company.
Reserve parking spaces in good time.
This article was first published on 30.10.2020
