Hiring a Van: Size & Driving Licence
Van guide
Hiring a van: driving licence, weight, loading space
before you sign
If you want to hire a van for your move, you should first look at your own driving licence and only then choose the vehicle. Class B allows vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum permitted weight – enough for most panel vans and many box vans. Above that you need C1. After that, the loading space counts: too small means driving twice, too large means paying for empty air.
Check the insurance and excess, mileage limit and minimum age with the rental company. If you do not want to drive yourself, you can also hand over the whole move: we take care of carrying, transport and assembly with our own team and give you a fixed price in advance. More on this under private move; you can get advice on 01625978461. If you do drive yourself, you should organise helpers, straps and blankets before the rental day, so that the vehicle is not standing unused outside the door.
Instead of driving yourself: a move at a fixed price
With driver, movers and liability under the HGB
Would you rather save yourself the van hire, the driving and the hauling? Then we will handle the move with our own vehicle and team at a fixed price after an inventory check. For your belongings we are liable under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre. Enquiries on 01625978461.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Hire or have it done?
What you get from us instead of a rental van
If you hire a van, you take on driving, loading, securing and carrying yourself – and you are liable for damage to the rental vehicle. The alternative: we are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and handle the move with our own vehicle, driver and movers. Which driving licence class you hold then makes no difference. We give you the price as a fixed price after the inventory check; for your belongings we are liable under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre. Destinations with their own page can be found in the locations overview.
Packing
Driving and securing
Dismantling and reassembly
Parking restriction
Six points before hiring a van
Before you hire a van, these six points should be clarified. They decide whether you are allowed to drive the vehicle at all and whether it is enough for your move.
Check your driving licence
Old class 3
Watch the payload
Trailer
Insurance
Secure the load
Little to move? Part load!
With a shared load you share the loading space with other moves on the same route. Especially for long-distance moves with few belongings, this is often cheaper than a rental van including the return journey. You do not have to drive or carry anything.
Size,
route, alternatives
Besides the driving licence and size, a move with a rental van also involves securing the load, insurance and the question of who carries. With a long-distance move, driving time, breaks and returning the rental van come on top – more on long routes under long-distance moves. Whether your own van or a shared load is the better deal is compared in the article shared load or your own van.
The right size
Loading and securing
Compare costs
Questions about hiring a van
Driving licence classes for vans at a glance
For most moving vans, a class B driving licence is enough, as long as the maximum permitted weight does not exceed 3.5 tonnes. Anyone who obtained the old class 3 before 1 January 1999 may drive vehicles of up to 7.5 tonnes; when exchanged for a photocard licence, this becomes C1 among others. For vehicles over 3.5 and up to 7.5 tonnes you need class C1, above that class C – both with their own training and test.
Before booking, check which classes are entered on your driving licence, and ask the rental company about the minimum age and minimum period of holding a licence. That way there will be no surprise when you collect the vehicle.
Choosing the right van size for your move
The right van size depends on the size of your household. For a flatshare room or a small flat, a panel van is often enough; for a detached house you need considerably more loading space or several trips. With 3.5 t vehicles, the payload is also a limit: books, a washing machine and solid wood furniture quickly weigh more than expected.
If you are unsure, count your furniture and boxes beforehand or ask for an assessment. For a private move without a rental van of your own, we give you a fixed price after the inventory check.
Transparent prices for every move
Whether a small flat or a large house – with us you pay fairly and transparently. Moving a 1-room flat starts from €365, a 2-room flat costs from €579. For 3 rooms we charge from €909, for 4 rooms from €1,269. A house or a villa always receives an individual quote, as many factors play a role here. For long-distance moves, a price per kilometre from €4.25/km applies. Take advantage of our free survey to get clarity about your individual costs.
Price factors of a move at a glance
The price of your move depends largely on the volume of your household goods, the distance (from €4.25/km) and the floor and whether there is a lift. A required parking restriction zone can also affect the total cost. Extra services such as furniture assembly or a shared load are charged separately.
Our offer for you
Our offer for you
Take a look at our six main services in detail.
- Clearance - Household dissolutions and clearances from a single source.
- Part load - Small moving quantities we transport cost-effectively by part load.
- Home move - From the cellar to the attic, we pack everything professionally.
- Furniture transport - We transport your furniture gently and on schedule.
- Move with assembly - No more screwing and lugging, we take over the assembly.
- Company move - Your company is moving; we ensure a seamless transition.
Long-distance moves from and to Berlin
For longer routes we carry out long-distance moves from and to Berlin with our own vehicle. Details can be found on the long-distance moves page, destinations with their own page in the locations overview.
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