Man and van vs removal company: which do you need for your move?

When a man and van is enough

A van and one or two people works well when:

• You're moving a single item or a few large pieces: a sofa, a bed, a wardrobe
• It's a student move, a studio or a one-bedroom flat
• You've packed everything into boxes already
• You're buying furniture second-hand and need it collected
• You're putting part of your home into storage

When to book a removal company

For a two-bedroom house or bigger, a long-distance move, or when you want packing done for you, a removal firm earns its fee. They'll usually do a survey (in person or by video), give a fixed quote, supply boxes and wrapping, and bring a crew big enough to finish in a day. Look for membership of a trade body such as the British Association of Removers, which sets standards and handles complaints.

How each is priced

Man and van services are usually priced by the hour or by the job, with the van size and number of people setting the rate. Removal companies price the whole move after a survey, based on volume, distance, packing and access. Either way, the details that move the price are the same: stairs and lifts, parking distance, the heaviest item, and how far it's going.

For single items and part loads, DropNPickUp shows a fixed price from two postcodes and the item size, for every day in the next six weeks, with a two-person crew included on heavy items. Our price guide shows typical figures city by city.

Insurance and what to check

Ask any mover what cover they carry for your goods and what it excludes. A reputable man and van has goods-in-transit and public liability insurance; a removal firm usually offers a higher level of cover for an extra fee. Every DropNPickUp job carries goods-in-transit cover of at least £50,000, and the crew photographs your items at collection and at the door.

Quick answers