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Man with a van
A man-with-a-van service moves household items, furniture and small loads for local customers, with bookings arranged directly online or by phone. It suits someone who already has access to a suitable van, can handle and secure loads safely, and is prepared to check the rules and insurance for the place they work.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- You use a van to move furniture and small loads.
- Ask about stairs, parking, and items before you agree.
- Check your licence, insurance, and local rules.
- Use straps and keep loads within the van limit.
- Agree the price before moving anything.
Who it suits
Best for a careful, reliable adult with a suitable van, a valid licence for that vehicle, good customer-service skills and the ability to lift or arrange help with heavy items. The cost estimate assumes you already have access to a suitable van; buying one could add substantially to the cost.
People pay for help moving furniture, collecting purchases, or shifting a small home load. A clear quote, careful handling and reliable communication make it easier for customers to book with confidence.
Step by step
- Choose a small service area and a few job types. Start with jobs such as furniture delivery, single-item moves or small home moves. Write down what you will not take, such as loads that are too heavy, unsafe or outside your area. About 1-2 hours.
- Check what your van can carry and how to secure it. Find the van’s permitted loaded weight and plan how you will secure different loads. The UK guide covers England, Scotland and Wales, not Northern Ireland or Ireland; check the rules that apply where you work. GOV.UK About 1-2 hours.
- Check your licence covers the van you will use. Check your licence details and the rules for your location before accepting work. In England, Scotland and Wales, a standard car licence covers vans up to 3,500kg, with different rules for some heavier vehicles and towing. GOV.UK About 30-60 minutes.
- Arrange business motor insurance before taking bookings. Tell your insurer exactly how you plan to use the vehicle and check that the policy covers that work. UK business guidance says motor insurance is legally required for vehicles used in a business; check local requirements if you are in Ireland. Business.gov.uk About 1-2 days.
- Check cover for customers’ belongings and your work. Ask what goods-in-transit cover protects and what it excludes. You should also consider public liability cover, especially where a customer or venue asks for it. HelloVans Business.gov.uk About 1-2 days.
- Set a clear price before confirming each job. Account for the van size, number of movers, lifting, stairs, parking, carrying distance and travel. Tell the customer what the quote includes and what could change it, such as extra waiting or labour. HelloVans About 1-2 hours to set up.
- Prepare equipment and a safe loading routine. Use suitable straps or netting, distribute the load evenly and do not exceed the van’s permitted weight. The UK guide explains that the loaded weight includes the vehicle, driver, passengers, fuel and load. GOV.UK About Half a day.
- Create a simple way for customers to contact you. Add your service area, contact details, job types and quote process to a simple website or business page. Ask about items, access, parking and stairs before confirming the price, and request genuine reviews after completed jobs. About Half a day to 2 days.
- Keep booking, income and cost records from the start. Record each job, payment and business cost using a notebook or spreadsheet. Check the tax and registration rules for your country and business structure before trading; UK guidance explains the trading allowance and Self Assessment registration. GOV.UK GOV.UK About 15-30 minutes each week.
Your first 15 minutes
This week, list the jobs you can safely handle, then contact a few local households or businesses with a clear description of your service and ask what they need moved.
The money
Set a minimum charge, then consider travel distance, van size, number of movers, lifting, stairs, parking and waiting time. Give the customer a written quote stating what is included and ask them to confirm any changes before you do extra work.
Example only: In one UK week, 4 jobs at £125 each = £500 income; assumed fuel, insurance and other costs total £120; £500 - £120 = £380 before tax. In one Ireland week, 4 jobs at €150 each = €600 income; assumed fuel, insurance and other costs total €150; €600 - €150 = €450 before tax. These are sample figures, not typical prices or earnings.
The rules
You can run a man-with-a-van service in the UK or Ireland if you follow the rules for your vehicle, insurance, tax and work. Rules differ by location, especially for carrying waste. Check with the relevant authority before you take waste or a load you're unsure about.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Tax and Self Assessment. The first £1,000 a year of your UK trading income is covered by the trading allowance. This is your gross income before expenses. If you earn more than this, tell HMRC and register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the end of the relevant tax year. GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK
- Vehicle and motor insurance. Motor insurance is legally required for vehicles you use in a business. Check that your policy clearly covers the work you plan to do. The GOV.UK van-driving guide covers England, Scotland and Wales. Check the guide and your licence for the rules that apply to you. It doesn't cover Northern Ireland, so check the local rules there. Business.gov.uk GOV.UK
- Northern Ireland waste carriage. If your business carries controlled waste in Northern Ireland, including for profit, you must register with NIEA as a carrier. Check which registration tier applies to your work. A new Upper Tier registration costs £180 and lasts three years. NIEA may take up to two months to decide on an application. Renew by the due date or expiry date. Tell NIEA within 28 days if your name, contact details or main business address changes. Carrying controlled waste without registration can lead to a maximum £5,000 fine. Check with NIEA before accepting a waste load. DAERA DAERA DAERA
- Customer information and ICO fee. Use the ICO self-assessment tool to check whether your business must pay a data protection fee. If you keep customer details only for your own accounts and transaction records, you're likely to be exempt. Using a work dashcam is an example of something that requires a fee. ICO
- VAT. Check whether you need to register for VAT if your taxable turnover goes over £90,000. Business.gov.uk
- Advertising. Clearly label adverts and affiliate posts. For example, use “Ad”. ASA
Ireland
- Tax returns. If you're a PAYE worker, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. If your income is below these amounts, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. The deadline for a 2025 Form 11 return is 31 October 2026. The deadline is extended to 18 November 2026 if you use ROS. Revenue Revenue
- VAT. The VAT registration threshold for services is €42,500. Check with Revenue whether your turnover and business circumstances mean you need to register. Revenue
- Waste collection. It's not clear whether a small man-with-a-van service that collects waste needs a permit or qualifies for an exemption. Check with the National Waste Collection Permit Office or EPA before you accept waste for collection. NWCPO EPA
- Business name. If you trade under a name other than your own, register the business name with the CRO. Online registration costs €20. CRO
- Insurance and vehicle rules. Before you use a van for paid work, ask your insurer whether your cover includes the work you plan to do. Check your licence and vehicle requirements with the relevant Irish authorities. There is no general Irish insurance rule for this service stated here.
- Advertising. If you publish commercial content as an influencer, label it clearly. For example, use “Ad”. If you're unsure, label it. CCPC
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Accepting a load before checking its size, weight, stairs and access.
- Using the van for business before checking the insurance covers that work.
- Giving a vague quote that does not explain extra labour, waiting or difficult access.
- Taking a job that needs more lifting or help than you have arranged.
- Mixing personal and business records or leaving tax checks until later.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.