Man and van vs removal company: the right choice depends on the size of the move and how much of the work you want handed over. A man and van suits studios, one-bedroom flats, single items and short-notice jobs. Checkatrade's August 2026 guide puts average rates at about £64 an hour for one mover and £78 for two, and you usually pack yourself. A full removal company suits homes of two or three bedrooms and above, moves with packing and dismantling, and long distances. HomeOwners Alliance figures from August 2026 put a local three-bedroom removal at around £792 on average, priced as a fixed job after a survey.
The practical differences are planning, crew size, insurance and accountability. Before booking either option, ask for Goods in Transit cover in writing, check the mover on the Environment Agency's public register of waste carriers, and confirm who arranges the parking suspension, since the EUROBR team finds unarranged parking is the single biggest cause of moving-day delay.
EUROBR runs both formats across Greater London and the M25, fully insured with Goods in Transit and CMR cover. The guide includes 2026 costs, a decision table by move type and the questions to ask before you book. Read the full guide on the EUROBR blog.
