Livingston moves have their own shape: a lot of them are within the town, between the older estates and the new-builds at Calderwood and Eliburn, and most of them happen on a Saturday at the end of the month. This guide is the local version of our moving house van hire page: which van fits which Livingston home, where parking a big van is easy and where it is not, and when to book so the van is there.
Which van for which Livingston home
A one-bedroom flat around Almondvale or the town centre goes in a Transit Custom in one careful load. A two or three bedroom house in Dedridge, Ladywell, Carmondean or Murieston wants a long-wheelbase Crafter or Sprinter. A four-bed at Eliburn or Calderwood, or anything with a piano or an American fridge, is a Luton with a tail lift. If you are unsure, the van size guide has the numbers, and a phone call to 01506 444455 with a description of the house gets you a straight answer.
Where a big van parks, and where it does not
The newer estates were built with driveways and wide roads, so a Luton outside a Calderwood or Eliburn house is no trouble. The 1970s and 80s estates around Craigshill, Ladywell and Dedridge have narrower cul-de-sacs and shared parking courts; a long-wheelbase van fits, a Luton usually does, but leave it on the road rather than trying a court. Flats around Almondvale and the town centre often have height barriers on the car parks, which rules out a Luton and sometimes a high-roof van; a Transit Custom at 2.0 metres is the safe choice, and two trips across town costs less time than one wedged van.
The recycling centre and the retail parks
West Lothian’s household recycling centres treat vans as commercial vehicles and ask for a booking or a permit for anything van-sized, so check the council’s rules the week before rather than at the gate. The retail parks at Almondvale are five minutes from our depot on Houstoun Industrial Estate, which is why plenty of movers collect the van, collect the new furniture, and are home before lunch.
When to book
The last Saturday of the month is the busiest day of the year for house moves in West Lothian, and the first weekend of September adds student moves on top. Book those a week or two ahead. A midweek move can often be booked the day before, and Livingston’s roads are quieter on a Tuesday than a Saturday, which matters when you are reversing a Luton.
The day itself
- Collect from 5A Grange Road, Houstoun Industrial Estate, with your photocard licence, a DVLA check code, two proofs of address and the card in the driver’s name. Leave your car with us.
- Load heavy and square first, tall items against the sides, boxes in tight rows, sofas last. A Luton’s tail lift does the washing machine.
- Drive the A899 and the M8 rather than through the town centre with a full van.
- Return within opening hours, thirty minutes before the end of the hire, at the fuel level agreed at collection.
Need a van this week?Panel, Luton and crew cab vans up to 3.5 tonne, hired by the day, week or month across Scotland.
Get a quoteMoving house in Livingston: questions
Do I need a special licence?
No. Every van we hire is under 3.5 tonnes, so a standard category B licence covers it, including the Luton. Drivers must be 23 or over with two years’ experience.
Can I hire the van for the weekend?
Yes. Weekend hire runs from Friday afternoon to Monday morning, which lets you load on Friday evening and move on Saturday.
What if the move runs over?
Call the depot on 01506 444455 before the hire ends and we can usually extend it over the phone.
Can you deliver the van to my door in Livingston?
Yes. Delivery and collection anywhere in Livingston can be arranged when you book; see delivery and collection.
