Renting a van for a move: prices, van size and a category B licence

01Which van to choose

Rental vans fall roughly into three sizes. Small vans (e.g. Renault Kangoo, Citroën Berlingo) take a few boxes and small furniture, which is enough for moving out of a student dorm room. Medium vans (e.g. Ford Transit Custom, Opel Vivaro) will carry the contents of a studio flat without large furniture.

Large vans (e.g. Mercedes Sprinter, Fiat Ducato, Renault Master) have a cargo area about 3–4 m long and fit a wardrobe, a sofa or a washing machine. For moving a flat they are the most common choice: one trip in a large van is usually cheaper than two trips in a smaller one.

Before you book, measure your largest furniture and compare it with the cargo area and door dimensions given by the rental company.

02Is a category B licence enough?

A category B driving licence (prawo jazdy) lets you drive a vehicle with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tonnes, and almost all rental vans fall within that. Remember that the load and passengers count towards this weight, so do not overload the van.

Rental companies often have their own requirements: a minimum driver age (usually 21–25) and a minimum time holding a licence (1–3 years). Check them before booking.

03How much it costs to rent a van

We found a price per day in 72 offers. The cheapest van costs 170 zł per day, the most expensive 750 zł, and half of the offers are cheaper than 254 zł.

The price depends on the size of the van, the rental length (a week is usually cheaper per day), the season and the mileage limit. When moving to another city, pay attention to the daily limit and the fee for each extra kilometre: on a long route it can cost more than the rental itself.

Many rental companies also have weekend packages: pick up on Friday, return on Monday, for the price of two days.

04Deposit

We found deposit information in 54 offers: from 500 to 2 000 zł, most often around 1 000 zł. The deposit (kaucja) is usually blocked on a payment card. Some companies only accept a credit card, so ask in advance if you have a debit card.

05Picking up and returning the van

At pick-up, walk around the van with a staff member and take photos of all scratches and dents, including in the cargo area. Make sure the damage is recorded in the handover report (protokół).

Check the fuel policy (most often full-to-full, „pełny–pełny”) and the height of the van: a large van may not fit into an underground garage or a car park with a height restriction. Secure the load with straps so you do not damage your things or the inside of the van.

06What to check before signing the contract

• the daily mileage limit and the price per kilometre over the limit
• the excess (udział własny) in case of damage and the cost of reducing it
• whether you can return the van in another city and how much it costs
• pick-up and return hours and the late return fee
• whether straps, a blanket or a hand truck are included in the price
• the form of the deposit and when it is returned

07How to compare vans on NajemAuto

In the Vans & minibuses category you can filter offers by city, price and number of seats, and compare selected vans side by side. We check prices daily, but always confirm the terms on the rental company's website before booking.