Hire a Ford Transit SWB (or similar)
The Ford Transit short wheelbase (SWB) is available from Nationwide Hire with a low roof. The specifications are as follows:

Passengers – 3
Drive – Manual
Internal dimensions (LWH) – 2.30m x 1.70m x 1.53m
External dimensions (LWH) – 4.85m x 2.40m x 2.00m
Payload (how much you can safely carry including passengers and cargo) – 900 - 1200kg
Volume (cubic m) – 8.5
Volume (cubic ft) – 300
Miles per Gallon (MPG) – 30 - 40

Transit vans like this are great for house moves and clearances, transporting smaller pieces of furniture, tradesmen’s tools and equipment and delivery drivers.

SWB Transit van hire starts from £164.98* ex VAT for a two-day period for a driver over the age of 25, including delivery and collection.

Hire a Ford Transit LWB (or similar)
The Ford Transit long-wheelbase (LWB) is available from Nationwide Hire with a high roof. The specifications are as follows:

Passengers – 3
Drive – Manual
Internal dimensions (LWH) – 3.35m x 1.70m x 1.90m
External dimensions (LWH) – 5.70m x 2.40m x 2.55m
Payload – 1200 - 1500kg
Volume (cubic m) – 11.3
Volume (cubic ft) – 400
Miles per Gallon (MPG) – 28 - 35
Towing capacity – 1500kg

Transit vans like this are great for larger house moves and clearances, transporting larger and heavier pieces of furniture, tradesmen’s tools and equipment, delivery drivers and tradesman who need more headroom inside a vehicle.

LWB Transit van hire starts from £233.73* ex VAT for a two-day period for a driver over the age of 25, including delivery and collection.

What do I need to know about hiring and driving a transit van?
When hiring and driving a van there are some factors you need to consider. Most driving licenses allow you to drive a transit van as long as the weight does not exceed 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg). However, you may need to add higher categories to your license if the weight of your van exceeds this, so check before you hire.

If you have driven a van before then you are probably confident behind the wheel, but in many hire situations, the customer may not have previously driven a large vehicle like this. In reality, driving a van is no more difficult than driving a car but it’s perfectly reasonable to feel a little apprehensive, and equally as important you know how to confidently manoeuvre the vehicle for your safety and other road users. Although you are covered by insurance on the road, damage to a hire vehicle can be a costly affair.

Tips for driving
• Before setting off, familiarise yourself with the controls – lights and windscreen wipers being a priority as these are more likely to be used on a journey. If you’re potentially driving in the dark, check out our guide to driving a vehicle at night.

• Sit in the driving seat and get a feel for the position you are in. It may feel very different from sitting in a car and the more upright posture may take some getting used to.

• Take a note of your mirrors. Transit vans don’t generally have a rear-view mirror (although newer models have these with rear cameras to help) so you adjust the two-door mirrors to give you the best view of the road.

• Make sure you are aware of the van dimensions and how this affects your journey and destination. Make a note of any height or width restrictions which may hinder you.

• When loading items into the van make sure they are secured, not only to prevent damage but also ensure the stability of the van is not compromised by moving items. Do not exceed the payload of the van as this is not only dangerous but also carries a fine if you are stopped. Remember if you are carrying anything hazardous to display the relevant warning on the outside of the van. Please do not use stickers on our hire vehicles.

• Check your brakes – this is more to get an idea of how responsive they are as opposed to scrutinising their adequacy. Brakes are designed for a full load so they may seem really sensitive and over-responsive when the van is empty.

• Once behind the wheel, try to drive calmly, take your time and be patient with other road users. Keep a check on your speed and remember stopping distances are longer for larger and heavier vehicles, and accelerating from a stationary position will also take longer, so give yourself plenty of time and space when pulling out.

• Remember to adjust your speed limits when driving a van. On single-carriageway roads displaying the national speed limit sign, vans are limited to 50mph and 60mph on a dual carriageway. A van is typically allowed to run to the 70mph on a motorway, the same as a car.

• Be aware of blind spots. Although the large door mirrors generally have smaller blind spot mirrors integrated into them, remember to position your vehicle carefully to minimise creating blind spots. When manoeuvring your vehicle, double-check you are clear for added safety.