44 direct answers for people planning a small move or furniture collection in the UK, so you can check the right things before you book.
Last updated
General guidance, not booking terms. These answers are general information. Your actual price, inclusions, vehicle, crew, insurance, cancellation rules and availability are set out in your booking and the applicable terms, and are confirmed per job.
Booking & availability
Choose the right service and know what to check before you book.
Man With Van at manwithvanapp.co.uk is a UK moving and delivery booking platform. Start with your collection and delivery addresses, preferred date, item list, vehicle needs and loading help. Review the available driver offers and customer total before confirming. Check that the collection time and included tasks match your job. This website should not be confused with unrelated businesses that use similar man-and-van names.
A man and van can suit a small flat move, student belongings or a furniture collection when the load and access are manageable. A full removals service may be more suitable for a large household, packing support or complex handling. Self-drive hire supplies a vehicle rather than a moving team: you arrange the driving, loading, insurance arrangements and return. Compare the complete job, not just the vehicle price.
Check the provider's identity, relevant experience, recent independent feedback and written insurance details. Goods in transit cover and public liability cover address different risks; ask about limits, excesses, exclusions and any declared-value requirements. Explain fragile or unusually valuable items before accepting a quote. Do not assume that a platform name or a badge guarantees a particular level of cover for your belongings.
You can request a same-day, next-day or last-minute move or delivery, but availability depends on the route, collection deadline, load, vehicle and crew. Provide a complete item list and access details immediately so a suitable driver can assess the job. A request or an unaccepted quote is not a guaranteed collection. Confirm both collection and delivery windows before arranging a seller handover, leaving your property or relying on a next-day arrival.
Request your preferred evening or weekend collection time when describing the move. The driver, crew and any building or storage-facility access must all be available for that window. For an office move, also check security access and unloading arrangements outside business hours. Do not assume that a website accepting requests means a moving team or support service operates around the clock.
Enter both full addresses and postcodes, including any additional stops, to check your actual route. A city or area guide is useful for planning, but it does not guarantee a driver for every postcode or date. For a job outside London or between UK cities, confirm the route, suitable vehicle and collection window before treating the move as booked.
Use your account and booking messages, then check the cancellation information and the terms that apply to your booking. Refunds or fees depend on those terms.
Apply to the local council that controls the road, usually online and with advance notice. Notice periods and fees vary by borough, so check the council's current instructions early. The driver does not automatically arrange a suspension.
A van entering the charging zone during charging hours may be liable. Check the current rules and charges with Transport for London, and confirm in your quote who pays.
The ULEZ covers all London boroughs, and a non-compliant vehicle may incur a daily charge. Ask the driver about the vehicle and check TfL for current standards and charges.
On Man With Van, driver bids start from £15/hour only when you choose Bidding. Instant quote hourly guidance starts from £35/hour and varies by van size; the estimate uses a two-hour minimum base. These are starting guidance, not guaranteed offers or a complete job total. Your actual price depends on the route, load, access, time and agreed work, so compare the customer total shown before confirming.
A fixed quote prices an agreed job with a defined scope; an hourly arrangement charges for time under its stated rules. Check whether loading, unloading, travel and any minimum booking time are included. For a fixed offer, verify the inventory, route and crew before confirming. Extra items, changed access or another stop may require a revised agreement rather than automatically keeping the original price.
Reduce the load before requesting quotes, pack loose belongings in advance and give accurate access information. If your dates are flexible, compare suitable collection windows. Match the van and crew to the actual inventory so you do not pay for unnecessary capacity or risk an extra trip. Compare quotes for the same tasks and keep enough help for safe handling of heavy items.
Check the written inclusions of your particular quote; providers do not all use the same pricing rules. Ask about fuel and mileage, parking or road charges, waiting time, minimum time, stairs, carrying distance and loading or unloading help. Clarify anything missing before accepting. A cheap headline price is not directly comparable with a quote that includes more of the work.
Use the payment method displayed in your booking and check the total and applicable terms before authorising it. Keep the booking confirmation and payment record. Do not send card numbers, passwords or email verification codes in messages or general contact forms. If a payment request looks different from the agreed booking, check it through the website's contact channel before paying.
Agree a collection window with the seller, then share both addresses, contact details, item measurements and access information with the driver. Send photos of the furniture and explain whether it is assembled. Check doorways, stair turns and the help needed at both ends. Confirm transport before committing to a handover time; paying the seller for the furniture is separate from booking its delivery.
Ask the retailer whether a third-party driver may collect your order and what receipt, order reference or authorisation is required. Share the package dimensions, weight, collection window and number of boxes before requesting transport. A flat-pack wardrobe can still include heavy or long packages. Confirm that the order is ready and that both loading and delivery help are agreed; do not assume assembly is included.
Dismantling depends on the item's construction, doorways, stairs and available van space. Check the route out of the property and into the destination before deciding to move furniture assembled. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and keep labelled fittings together. Ask whether dismantling and reassembly are included in the quote. Protect mattresses with a suitable cover and do not assume every mattress can safely be folded.
Give the appliance's dimensions and weight, the floor at each address and any tight doorways or stairs. Follow the manufacturer's transport instructions, including orientation and any preparation needed, and arrange qualified disconnection or reconnection where appropriate. Confirm suitable lifting help and equipment rather than assuming a single driver can carry a heavy appliance. Declare leaks, damage or unusual handling requirements before collection.
A piano needs an assessment by a team with suitable piano-moving experience, equipment and insurance. Share its type, dimensions, approximate weight and the complete access route, including every step and stair turn. Even a ground-floor move can be difficult. Do not assume that booking a large van or two helpers makes the job suitable; get explicit confirmation of the specialist handling arrangements.
Explain the item's materials, condition and value before requesting a quote, and provide clear photos. Agree suitable wrapping, protection and securing methods with a provider experienced in that type of item. Check the relevant insurance terms and any exclusions or declared-value conditions. Photograph the condition before collection. Standard transport arrangements should not be assumed to cover specialist packing or every high-value item.
Motorbike transport needs a provider who explicitly accepts motorcycles and has suitable loading, securing and insurance arrangements. Give the bike's dimensions, weight and condition, including whether it can roll, and describe access at each end. Ask about a suitable ramp or lift and motorcycle securing equipment. An enclosed moving van alone does not establish that the service is appropriate for a motorbike.
Provide the assembled dimensions, weight, photographs, collection deadline and delivery access restrictions. Explain fragile sections and whether the item can be safely dismantled. The carrier must confirm sufficient vehicle space and payload, appropriate loading equipment and enough people for handling. For a time-critical job, agree the collection and delivery windows explicitly rather than relying on a general same-day description.
Request transport for the actual chair and monitor, with both addresses, their dimensions, photographs and the required delivery window. This is a collection-and-delivery request, not a promise that we sell or supply office equipment. Use suitable protective packaging for the monitor, ideally its original box and fitted padding; protect the screen from pressure and pack cables separately. Explain whether the chair is assembled and who can help carry the items at each address. Agree handling, insurance and collection arrangements with the driver, and treat next-day delivery as confirmed only when a suitable driver has accepted the job and timing.
The inventory and access matter more than the number of bedrooms. A lightly furnished flat may need much less vehicle space than another property of the same size. List furniture, appliances and boxes, including the largest and heaviest items. Confirm the van, crew and whether the quote covers one trip or more. Larger or complex loads may need a removals assessment.
A small-load moving service can suit boxes, luggage, a desk and selected furniture when the vehicle and help match your belongings. Check hall access times, parking, lifts and key collection at both addresses. For summer storage, also confirm the storage facility's opening hours, access arrangements and who will receive the belongings; a transport booking does not include storage rental. Pack before the driver arrives and identify any heavy items such as a mini-fridge. If considering a student offer, read its current eligibility and booking terms rather than assuming a discount applies.
Check the storage facility's opening hours, loading bay, lift access, trolley arrangements and any appointment requirement. Share the unit location, inventory and contact details with the driver. Agree who will carry items between the van and the unit, including any long corridors or upper floors. Confirm that you have the access code, keys or authorisation needed on the moving day.
A suitable van and moving team may be enough for a smaller office inventory, but list every desk, chair, cabinet and device first. Arrange building access and consider a confirmed out-of-hours slot if you need to reduce disruption. Back up business data, shut down equipment safely and label cables and workstations. Agree any dismantling, protective packing and handling responsibilities before collection.
Give the complete collection and destination addresses, inventory, loading access and preferred schedule. Confirm that the driver accepts the route and that the quote includes the agreed journey, loading help and any additional stops. Ask whether the load travels directly or through another arrangement and clarify collection and delivery windows. A local moving price does not establish the cost or availability of an intercity journey.
You can request transport for boxes and luggage to an agreed station handover point, subject to a suitable driver accepting the route and time. Give the station entrance, a recipient contact, the item list and the latest useful arrival time, allowing a buffer before your train departs. Check loading restrictions and agree who will receive and carry the belongings beyond the van; station storage or delivery to a platform is not automatically included. Do not leave luggage unattended. This is an item-transport request, not a passenger transfer, so arrange your own travel separately and confirm the evening collection window before relying on it.
Choose from the actual item list, largest measurements and total load weight, not property size alone. A long-wheelbase van and a Luton van have different loading layouts, and usable space varies by vehicle. Ask the driver to check both capacity and payload. Photos help explain awkward shapes. Confirm the vehicle offered for your booking rather than relying on a generic van category.
A tail lift can assist with loading some heavy items at vehicle level, provided the item's size, weight and handling method are suitable. It does not remove the need for safe carrying inside a property or up stairs. Ask the carrier to confirm the actual vehicle, lift capacity, loading space and trained operators. A tail-lift category is not a guarantee that every heavy item can be moved.
The right crew depends on item weight, size, grip, carrying distance and access. Boxes and manageable furniture may need different help from a large sofa, piano or appliance on stairs. Explain what help you can safely provide, but do not substitute an unassessed heavy lift for a suitable moving team. Agree the number of people and their loading and unloading responsibilities in the quote.
Give the floor number at both addresses, number of steps, stair width, tight turns and the distance from parking to the entrance. If there is a lift, check its dimensions and booking rules rather than just noting that it exists. Include photos of difficult access and measurements of bulky items. The driver needs this information to assess handling, crew and time before quoting.
Ask the individual provider which protective equipment and materials are included; do not assume every van carries the same kit. Explain fragile surfaces, unusual shapes and heavy items so appropriate equipment can be confirmed. Transport blankets and securing straps are not a substitute for suitable packing. If you need boxes, wrapping or a packing service, agree those separately before the move.
Moving day & support
Prepare the handover, follow the move and deal with changes.
Check where the van can legally stop at both addresses and whether the building or council requires a loading reservation or parking suspension. Tell the driver about restricted roads, gates and long carries. For London routes, check current TfL road-charge rules and ask how any applicable costs are handled in the quote. Rules vary by street and vehicle, so use official guidance rather than assuming an exemption.
Pack loose belongings in secure boxes, label destinations and protect fragile items appropriately. Keep the agreed inventory ready, clear access routes and arrange collection and delivery contacts. Prepare furniture according to the handling arrangements and keep labelled fittings together. Carry essential documents, medicines and valuables yourself where practical. Tell the driver promptly if the load or access differs from the agreed job.
Request every stop before accepting a quote, including shop or seller collection windows and the items at each location. The driver needs the full route to assess vehicle space, loading order and total time. Check that all stops are included in the agreed customer price. Adding a pickup after confirmation can change the job and requires the provider's agreement.
Do not assume a passenger ride is included in a goods-transport booking. Ask the driver in advance whether an appropriate passenger seat, seat belt, permission and insurance arrangements are available. Never travel in the cargo area. If passenger travel is not explicitly agreed, arrange your own transport between the collection and delivery addresses.
For an active booking, you can see the assigned driver's actual location when they choose to share it. The driver can start sharing from one hour before the scheduled pickup after accepting the job and granting location permissions. The app requests background access so updates can continue when the driver switches apps or locks their phone; this depends on the phone's permissions and settings. The current location appears in the booking's Track or My Jobs view. If the driver has not started sharing, or the last GPS update is more than two minutes old, no location is shown. Sharing ends when the job is completed or cancelled. A last-minute booking does not guarantee live tracking: rely on it only when a recent location is visible.
Contact the provider or booking support promptly with your reference and revised requirements. A different date, inventory, address or crew can affect availability and price. Cancellation charges, deposits and refunds depend on the applicable booking terms; read these before confirming and do not assume a universal free-cancellation period. Get any revised arrangements confirmed before relying on them.
Contact the assigned driver using your booking details and ask for an updated collection estimate. Keep the seller, building manager or destination contact informed if their access window may be affected. If you cannot resolve the issue, contact booking support with the reference and agreed timing. Confirm any replacement arrangement explicitly rather than assuming an urgent request has reserved another van.
Record the item's condition and packaging with photos, note what happened and keep the inventory and booking documents. Notify the provider and booking support as soon as possible with your reference and evidence. Follow the applicable reporting and claims procedure, including any stated deadlines. Insurance terms and liability depend on the actual policy and agreement; compensation should not be assumed automatically.
No. Delivering belongings to another address is different from collecting items for disposal. For unwanted furniture, confirm whether it will be donated, reused or treated as waste, and use a provider with the required authorisation for that activity. Check the relevant waste-carrier register and agree the destination and charges. A standard moving quote should not be assumed to include disposal.
