Student Van Hire for Moves to Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, Stirling and Beyond

Which van for a student move

Every van in the table drives on a standard category B car licence. Figures are typical for the group; the exact vehicle is confirmed when you book.

For most students the small van or the SWB is right; the bigger vans on the table are for families and full houses.

Universities and campuses we cover

• Heriot-Watt, Riccarton: fifteen minutes up the A71 from our depot.
• University of Edinburgh, Napier and Queen Margaret: twenty-five to forty minutes; see our Edinburgh page for the routes and areas.
• University of Stirling: thirty-five minutes down the M9; see Stirling.
• Glasgow, Strathclyde and Caledonian: forty minutes along the M8; see Glasgow.
• Dundee and Abertay: an hour and a quarter; delivery for longer hires, see Dundee.
• Fife College and St Andrews: via Dunfermline and the Queensferry Crossing.

Making a student move easy

1. Book early. The first two weekends of September and the last two of May and June go first. Book as soon as you have the tenancy dates.
2. Share the van. A SWB Transit Custom takes two rooms comfortably; split it with a flatmate heading the same way.
3. Check who can drive. Our minimum age is 23 with at least two years’ driving experience, so for most first and second years the driver is a parent, an older friend or a flatmate who is 23 or over.
4. Pack for one trip. Boxes of the same size, heavy at the bottom, soft things on top, the bike last.
5. Plan the parking. A small van fits in a halls car park; a SWB usually does too. Check with the accommodation office for move-in slots.

What to bring

• The driver’s photocard licence and a DVLA check code generated within the last 21 days.
• Proof of address, which can be the tenancy or a bank statement.
• A card for the refundable security deposit, released after the van is returned and checked.

Student van hire questions

Can a 19-year-old hire a van?

No. Our minimum age is 23 for cars and vans, with at least two years’ driving experience, so the driver is usually a parent, an older friend or a flatmate who is 23 or over.

Can my parents hire it and I load it?

Yes. The named driver hires and drives; who loads the van is up to you.

Can we return the van the next morning?

Yes. A two-day hire covers a move that starts in the afternoon. Tell us your times when you book.

Do you deliver to halls?

For hires of a week or more we can deliver to campuses across the central belt. For a single day, collection from Livingston is the practical option.

Is there a deposit?

Yes. A refundable security deposit is held on a card at collection and released after the van is returned and checked. We confirm the amount when you enquire.