By the Porta team · Updated 15 July 2026 · 6 min read
Booking a man with a van takes about ten seconds and roughly two minutes of thinking beforehand. The two minutes are the important part, because almost every moving-day argument in this country starts with something that was not mentioned at the quote.
Not a vague sense of it. An actual list. "Some furniture and a few boxes" is how a job gets underpriced, and an underpriced job is one where a driver arrives with the wrong van and everybody has a bad morning.
Walk the rooms and name the big things: sofa, bed, wardrobe, fridge, bike. Count the boxes and be honest, because there are always more than you think. If anything comes apart, decide now whether you want it rebuilt at the other end. Two minutes of this is worth more than any amount of browsing.
02Get your price, and understand what it is
Put your postcodes and your list in and see what comes back. The critical question is not "how much" but "how much for what". An hourly rate is a starting figure that grows with traffic, stairs and the lift in your building. A fixed price is a number for the whole job.
Compare like with like. If one quote is £45 an hour with a two-hour minimum and another is a flat number, they are not the same product, and the flat one is the only one you can budget around. Real figures by item and distance are in how much a man with a van costs.
03Check who you are actually booking
This is the step people skip, and it is the one that matters when something goes wrong. A van and a phone number is not a company. Before you pay, know three things: whether the driver is checked, whether your things are covered, and whether other people have had a good time. There is a whole guide on this: how to find a reliable man with a van.
Vetting. Porta checks identity, licence, insurance and bank details before a driver joins the network. Ask any platform what theirs actually verifies.
Cover. Find out what is included and what is not, and flag anything high-value or antique before it goes in the van.
Reviews. Read the recent ones on an independent platform, not the testimonials on the website.
A waste licence, if it is a clearance. Moving your things and disposing of them are different legal activities. Say the word rubbish up front.
04Book it, and say the awkward stuff now
Third floor, no lift. Nowhere to park. A gate you cannot get a fridge through. A neighbour who will complain. None of it is a problem on the day if it is a known quantity at the quote, and all of it is a problem if the driver finds out on arrival.
Say it now and the right van, the right number of people and the right amount of time turn up. This is also the moment to book two people if anything is genuinely heavy, rather than watching one person eye up a wardrobe and a staircase.
05Be ready for the slot
A booked job runs on how ready you are. Boxed, sealed, stacked near the door. Drawers emptied. Fridge defrosted the night before. A parking spot as close as you can manage, and a clear hallway. The driver's job is lifting and driving, not waiting while you finish the kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book a man with a van?
A single item locally can often be done same-day or next-day. A studio or small move is happier with two or three days. A one or two-bed flat wants about a week, and a Saturday or a month-end wants two, because that is when everyone else is moving too. More detail on timings is in our same-day guide.
Do I have to be there when they collect?
Someone does, at both ends, and it does not have to be you. A neighbour, a flatmate, a family member or the seller is fine, as long as whoever it is can point at the right things and let the driver in. Give the driver their name and number when you book, not on the morning.
Do I pay a deposit?
Most platforms take payment or a deposit at booking to hold the slot, which is normal and is what stops drivers being stood up. What matters is that the number you agree is the number you pay. Be wary of anyone who wants cash on the day with nothing written down.
What happens if something gets damaged?
Report it straight away, ideally before the driver leaves, with photos. Porta connects you with vetted independent drivers, and Standard and Premium bookings can include Porta-arranged goods-in-transit cover, with the level set by the option you choose at checkout. Photograph anything valuable before it is loaded; it takes a minute and settles most questions instantly.
Can I book a man with a van for the same day?
Often, where a driver is free nearby, and single items are the easiest thing to place at short notice. It is never a guarantee, and mornings are better than afternoons because slots fill as the day goes on. Ask rather than assume it is too late.
Is it cheaper to book online or phone up?
Online, generally, and not because of a discount code. Typing your items and postcodes into a form gives you a written price against a written description, which is the thing that protects you later. A number agreed verbally on a call is the one that mysteriously changes when the van is loaded.
