For some moves, a man and van is all you need. For others, it's a false economy. The deciding factors are how much you're moving, how far, and how much risk you're happy to take with your belongings.

What's the difference?

A man and van is usually a self-employed driver with a single van, sometimes with a helper. They're typically paid by the hour and are flexible on short notice.

A removal company provides a trained crew, larger vehicles, packing materials and services, written terms and higher levels of insurance. They usually quote a fixed price after a survey.

When a man and van makes sense

  • Studio or one-bed flats with modest furniture
  • Student moves
  • Collecting or delivering a few large items
  • Short local moves where you can help load
  • Last-minute moves when removal companies are booked up

When a removal company is worth it

  • Two-bed homes and larger
  • Long-distance moves
  • Valuable, fragile or antique items
  • Pianos, large wardrobes or difficult access
  • When you need packing, dismantling or storage
  • When you can't do heavy lifting yourself

Compare the costs properly

A man and van might charge a low hourly rate, but a family home can take a long time with one or two people and a single van, sometimes with several trips. A removal company with a bigger crew and lorry often gets the same job done in a fraction of the time, for a fixed price. Our removal costs guide gives typical prices by house size.

Insurance: the big difference

Check any man and van operator's Goods in Transit cover carefully. Some carry limited cover, or none at all. Removal companies in our network carry Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance as standard. Read our removals insurance guide for what to ask.

Not sure which you need?

Request removal quotes for your move and see what local removal companies charge. If the quotes come back close to a man and van price, the extra crew, insurance and fixed price usually make the removal company the better deal.