How to choose the best removals company
Hiring a removals company vs moving house yourself
Unless you live in a small house or flat, it's always worth hiring a professional removals company to help you move. Although shifting your stuff may not sound that difficult, there's an art to packing fragile items so that they're properly protected.
Removal workers will also know how much weight they can carry and do it safely.
How to choose the best removals company near you
Which? Trusted Traders can help you find a reliable removals company near you. All firms granted Which? Trusted Trader status have passed our rigorous assessment process, which involves credit, reference and administrative checks, as well as an interview from a trained assessor.
An extra benefit of using a Which? Trusted Trader is that we have ombudsman services on hand to provide independent dispute resolution if things go wrong.
How much does it cost to use a removals company?
A number of factors will determine costs. The amount of goods being transported is a key consideration, but the distance travelled, size of crew and speed of packing will also play a part.
A good firm will explain its charges and how you might be able to lower costs. Many will offer a discount if you source your own packing materials and help, for example.
The table below estimates the cost of hiring a van to move yourself (which we don't recommend you do for a house with more than two bedrooms), using a removals company for different property sizes and getting a company to pack for you as well.
Estimated moving costs
| One bedroom | Two bedrooms | Three bedrooms | Four-plus bedrooms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring a van | £100 | £200 | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Removals company | £470 | £620 | £870 | £1,150 |
| Add packing by a removals company | £240 | £400 | £630 | £900 |
Prices for van hire based on quotes from Hertz. Removals company quotes sourced from AnyVan.com in February 2023 for a move to an equal-sized property within 10 miles.
- Find out more: moving checklist
Getting quotes from removals companies
Get at least three quotes, preferably from firms that will visit your property rather than just estimating the cost over the phone.
This is particularly important when there are factors such as restricted access or tight stairways that will affect the job.
If you do get a quote from a firm that isn't able to visit your home in person, be as accurate as you can when listing your possessions – and don't forget the contents of a loft or garage.
If you're relocating to a different part of the country, it may be worth getting an estimate from a firm based in the area you're moving to, as prices there could be more competitive.
Ask for the estimate to be broken down so you can see how much you'd be paying for insurance, packing, hourly rate, mileage and any storage costs. This will help you compare quotes more accurately. Find out whether overtime rates apply and, if so, what time they start.
Heavy or tall lorries can't always cope with steep gradients, tight bends, tunnel/bridge height or width restrictions, or uneven roads. Check whether there are access or parking problems at the other end: you may need to contact the police or council to get permission to unload, or to have a parking meter suspended.
- Find out more:packing and preparing to move
Briefing a removals company
Click the button below to download our free briefing document, which you can fill out and give to your chosen removals company on the day.
pdf (42 KB)
There is a file available for download. (pdf — 42 KB). This file is available for download at .
Once you've chosen a firm, it's helpful to send them a briefing sheet, including:
- Any items needing special packing, such as pictures, antiques and valuable objects
- Difficult-to-move items, such as pianos, that require specialist removal companies to make sure valuable instruments aren't damaged (these are likely to cost more, though)
- Wardrobes or other large furniture that may need to be dismantled
- Any carpets and curtains that are going with you
- Items that you're moving yourself
- A floor plan of the new property so that they can put boxes in the correct rooms when unloading.
Removals insurance
Be sure to ask what would happen if the move is delayed and you can't get into the new property in the afternoon or the next day.
It's also worth checking if your removals company has adequate insurance cover for your possessions and also what the time limit is on claiming on insurance after the move.
If you have any high-value possessions, check whether they need special packing and also whether they will be covered by the removal company's insurance in the T&Cs (some policies set a limit per item or box). A removal company may restrict their liability for your items up to a certain amount per box, unless you tell them the value of what's inside, although this may raise your quote.
You can choose to do some of the packing yourself, which will save on costs, but steer clear of packing breakables and remember the firm's insurance won't cover items that you've packed.