Renting a van instead of working with furniture movers seems like the obvious money-smart choice.
You reserve a truck, round up some buddies, do all the work yourself, and pocket the difference. That’s how the thought process works anyway.
And honestly, sometimes it does work out that way. If you’re living in a studio apartment with almost no furniture and aren’t moving far, renting a van is totally reasonable.
But here’s the thing about moving…it has a tendency to become a lot more difficult on moving day itself.
Suddenly your couch won’t fit down the stairs. Parking is nonexistent. The “hour-long job” suddenly becomes an all-day affair. Someone has a back spasm from lifting a washer/dryer. Or the rental company charges you a late fee because you got stuck on the highway.
That’s when folks normally begin to question if working with professional movers might have actually been better.
Renting a van vs furniture movers isn’t simply about dollars and cents. That decision also comes down to a lot of work. Risk. Time. Stress. Convenience. And honestly…those factors mean a lot more than most people consider before they get to moving day.
A Van Rental Has You Driving. Professional Movers Do Everything Else
This might be the simplest way to look at it. Renting a van usually means you’re paying for the vehicle and nothing else. You’re on your own with:
- Boxing up items
- Loading the truck
- Lifting heavy objects
- Padding furniture
- Driving somewhere
- Finding parking
- Fueling up
- Unloading everything
- Dropping the vehicle back off
- Professional movers will physically do nearly all of the moving work for you.
Like:
- Lifting heavy furniture
- Padding Fragile Items
- Loading in a way that maximizes space
- Managing stairs
- Driving the moving truck
- (Un)loading in the fastest way possible
Move comparison sites note that professional movers also provide equipment such as dollies, straps, moving blankets, and padding to protect your furniture that many DIY movers will not have.
DIY Moves Are Never as Cheap as They Seem
It shocks people every day. That published price for renting a van isn’t what your move will end up costing.
When all is said and done, DIY moving can entail:
- Petrol/Gas
- Mileage fees
- Insurance
- Boxes
- Moving blankets
- Trolley rental fees
- Additional rental charges
- Parking fees
- Tolls
- Coffee and lunch
Oh…and stress. Everyone forgets to factor in stress.
Many breakdowns of moving expenses have highlighted how DIY moves can wind up being almost identical to hiring movers when you factor in all the miscellaneous expenses.
And typically if the move takes longer than you planned. Which it usually does.
Professional Movers Will Usually Be Much Quicker
Professional movers move differently than DIY enthusiasts moving occasionally.
Pros know:
- How to efficiently load trucks
- Safe lifting techniques
- How to navigate bulky items through tight spaces
- How to box fragile items
- How to not waste steps
and so much more. All that knowledge allows crews to move quicker.
Tasks that may take friends and family an entire weekend can be completed in half a day by professionals. The topic of speed constantly comes up when talking to moving professionals. Crews are trained to work efficiently by implementing systems and using the right equipment vs. making do with what they have while moving.
Plus, as soon as you start getting tired, time becomes a lot more valuable.
When you’re moving your house by yourself, those long days can become very unpleasant, FAST.
Example: How the “Less Expensive” Choice Ended Up More Expensive
My friend’s family recently moved from their apartment on the second floor. After initially declining the moving company’s offer because they provided a quote to rent a van that was much cheaper.
They thought they could handle the move.
Until things started to go wrong:
- Moving truck was too small
- Had to make two trips
- Paid more for gas
- Didn’t realize parking would be so inconvenient
- Damaged their couch trying to fit it in the truck
- Friends canceled on them mid-move
By the time they finished:
- They owed mileage fees.
- I had to pay for another day on the truck.
- Bought some new furniture to replace the damaged items.
- Wasted almost an entire weekend.
…and wouldn’t you know it, came out to about the same price as the moving company’s quote that they declined.
Oh and the fun part? They told me the move itself wasn’t their biggest regret. It was how stressed and tired they were the whole time trying to save money. You hear stories like this all the time.
Professional movers minimize damage risks
…particularly when transporting :
- Appliances
- Televisions
- Solid wood furniture
- Glass tables
- Mattresses
- Antiques
- Office furniture
Professional movers know how to balance weight distribution, load a truck properly, wrap furniture and place items in a truck in ways that protect your belongings. Most amateurs do not.
Improper loading allows for shifting during transport which can result in:
- Scratches
- Broken glass
- Torn upholstery
- Crushed boxes
- Damaged electronics
Professional movers also generally provide some form of liability insurance. DIY movers do not. When you move yourself, if something breaks it’s probably your problem.
That changes the risk vs. reward significantly.
Driving a Moving Van Can Be Tough AF
Trust us, people tend to gloss over this step. Driving around in a huge rental van feels NOTHING like driving your average car. All of a sudden you’re confronted with:
- Big blind spots
- Small turning radius
- Parking anxiety
- Height limits
- Long braking distance
- Slim streets
Which is all incredibly inconvenient when you have to do it in:
- Crowded downtown areas
- Apartment buildings
- Basement garage lots
- Busy neighborhoods
Just go drive behind a rental moving truck sometime. You’ll see what we mean.
NerdWallet even points out in their moving comparison guide that novice drivers may have trouble with big rental trucks in high traffic areas or places they aren’t familiar with.
Needless to say, trying to back-up your loaded moving truck into a confined parking spot after 8 hours of lifting heavy boxes isn’t fun.
Renting a Van Makes Sense Sometimes
No, seriously. Van rentals absolutely have their time and place.
Renting can make sense when:
- It’s a local move
- You don’t have that much furniture
- You have friends to help you
- You don’t have to deal with stairs
- You have flexible timing
- You value price over convenience
Moving out of a small apartment? Especially one with mainly boxes and lightweight furniture? Renting a van can really save you money.
If you’re also:
- Young and strong
- Comfortable driving bigger vehicles
- Don’t hate physical labour
- That’s awesome! Move yourself and spend the money you saved on tacos.
- But that’s not everyone’s situation. People often don’t realize their move goes from “easy” to “oh man.”
Professional Movers Are Worth It When Moves Get Complex
Moving companies are suddenly a lot more appealing when you have:
- Stairs
- Ovens & Refrigerators
- Sectional Sofas
- Multi-unit complexes
- Parking restrictions
- Elevator reservations
- Rushed schedules
- Long distance trips
- Delicate items
Just trying to move fast can get overwhelming. In fact, many moving resources agree that hiring full-service movers makes sense for larger or more complicated moves due to less physical exertion, risk of injury, and overall stress.
Frankly, there’s a big jump between packing up some boxes and moving your whole life.
Stress Can Play a Much Bigger Role Than People Realize
We understand this section gets skipped all the time.
Picking up a moving van sounds like a lot of work when you’re researching moving companies from your couch.
Picking up a moving van is DIFFERENT when you’re actually picking up a moving van.
- Now you have workers
- Deadlines
- Parking logistics
- Boxes
- Loading logistics
- Returning the van
- Gas stops
- Traffic
- Cleaning
Plus, you’re tired. Bunches of comments on Reddit about DIY moving detail the process as much more stressful than people anticipate. When your moving truck is already half an hour late, it doesn’t take long for things to feel frustrating.
Professional movers also alleviate a lot of that anxiety by default just because they already know how to do everything correctly.
That’s something to consider.
..Some people split the difference.
A lot of moving companies offer “hybrid” options these days.
Such as:
- Labor-Only Movers with self van rental
- Renting a truck for yourself and hiring movers to only help with the heavy furniture
- Full-Service Movers but renting your own truck for long-distance moves
If done right, splitting the cost and responsibilities can allow you to enjoy:
- Cheaper costs than full-service movers.
- Less physical strain than DIY moves.
- Quicker loading than a DIY trip.
- Less stress driving back than a full-service move where you watch movers drive away with all of your belongings.
Believe us, for certain types of moves the hybrid option can be ideal.
Van rentals vs Professional Movers: Summary
- When you rent a van, you’re only renting transportation.
- When you hire movers, you get professionals to load and transport your items.
- Doing a move yourself can end up costing you for gas, mileage, insurance, etc.
- Movers typically will pack and move everything quicker.
- Professional movers have the equipment and training to keep your furniture safe.
- Maneuvering a rental van in congested areas can be a pain.
- Think local and minimal furniture when choosing to DIY.
- Movers are great for apartments, heavy furniture, and shorter timelines.
- Some companies allow you to do a half and half approach.
- Don’t forget about stress and physical exertion.
FAQs
1. Should I rent a moving van or hire furniture movers?
Renting a truck can be less expensive at first. But gas, mileage, insurance costs, rental equipment, and man-hours can eat into your savings.
2. How do I know when it’s time to hire movers?
Long story short, if you have a big house or apartment with stairs, very heavy furniture, or extremely fragile items. It’s usually best to hire professionals. The same goes for long distance moves.
3. Is there any downside to moving by myself?
Again, not necessarily. But you do run the risk of damaged furniture, injuring yourself, going over budget, or your move taking a lot longer than anticipated.
4. Will moving companies break my furniture?
Moving companies have equipment and experience to properly pack and load your belongings. But they will get damaged if you insist on movers bringing your furniture through a window.
5. Do furniture movers offer insurance?
Like any insurance, it depends on the company you hire. But many moving companies offer at least some insurance coverage in case of an accident. Additional insurance can typically be purchased as well.
6. Will I struggle driving a rental moving van?
If you aren’t used to driving bigger vehicles, it can be a stressful experience (at least for us normal people). Just remember that they drive differently and can be tough to park in busy areas.
7. Can I rent a van AND hire movers?
Of course! Many households rent their own moving vehicle but hire local movers to load/unload or deal with bulky furniture.
Van Rentals vs Hiring Professional Movers: Conclusion
Renting furniture moving vans versus hiring professional movers isn’t black and white. If you have a small local move with minimal furniture, hiring professionals is probably overkill. And could cost you more money. But if you’re moving into an apartment with oversized furniture, on a tight schedule, or you simply don’t have the patience for moving..
It might be best to leave this job to the professionals.
Yes, you’re paying to move your furniture away from you. But you’re also paying for them to know how to move efficiently, reduce your risk, and ensure your furniture isn’t damaged during the process. A lot of people don’t realize how much they value that until they’re halfway through moving a couch by themselves. Sticking it through a doorway. Praying it doesn’t scrape the wall. Assuming it doesn’t fall apart. Not wanting to drop it. And questioning why your spouse wanted to move in the first place.