AnyVan is one of the easiest ways to get a moving price in the UK ā you put in your details and get a number back quickly. But that number is built from several things, not all of them obvious. Here is what actually goes into an AnyVan quote and what to check before you accept one.
How do you get an AnyVan quote?
Getting an AnyVan quote takes a couple of minutes: you enter what you are moving, the pickup and drop-off, and your preferred dates, and AnyVan returns an estimated price on screen. It is quick because the figure is calculated for you rather than waiting on individual drivers to bid.
The catch is that a single up-front quote gives you nothing to compare it against. If you want to know whether an AnyVan quote is actually fair, the simplest check is to get a second, competing quote for the same job ā posting the move free on We Got The Move lets vetted drivers quote you directly, with no commission baked into their price, so you can see how the AnyVan number stacks up before you commit.
How AnyVan pricing works
AnyVan gives you an estimated price up front, and jobs are matched to partner drivers who carry out the work. Unlike a pure auction, you are not usually waiting for a string of bids to come in ā the convenience is the point.
The trade-off is what sits inside the price. AnyVan takes a commission from the driver on the job. It does not publish the rate, and driver reports vary ā most commonly putting it in the region of 20ā25% of the value. That cut is not itemised for you; it is already inside the figure you are quoted.
What drives an AnyVan quote up or down
- Distance ā the single biggest factor, and it is not linear. Long routes cost disproportionately more if the driver returns empty.
- Volume ā how much you are moving and what size van it needs.
- Access ā stairs, no lift, narrow doorways, long carries from the van to the door.
- Date and time ā Fridays, Saturdays and month-end in summer are the expensive slots. Midweek is almost always cheaper.
- Flexibility ā if you can accept a wider collection window, drivers can pair your job with another and the price drops.
- Labour ā whether you need help carrying and loading, or just the transport.
How much does an AnyVan move cost? Typical UK prices
Before judging any quote, it helps to know the going rate. These are typical 2026 UK figures for a standard man-and-van or small removal team, based on jobs posted on We Got The Move:
| Move size | Local (under 20 miles) | Long distance (150+ miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / single room | Ā£120 ā Ā£250 | Ā£300 ā Ā£500 |
| 1-bed flat | Ā£180 ā Ā£350 | Ā£400 ā Ā£700 |
| 2-bed home | Ā£280 ā Ā£500 | Ā£550 ā Ā£900 |
| 3-bed home | Ā£400 ā Ā£700 | Ā£750 ā Ā£1,300 |
| 4-bed+ home | Ā£600 ā Ā£1,000+ | Ā£1,000 ā Ā£1,800+ |
For a fuller breakdown see our average removal costs guide and man with a van cost guide.
What the commission adds to your bill
The clearest way to see the effect is to work backwards from what the driver needs to earn. Say their genuine rate for your job is Ā£400:
- At the reported 20ā25% commission, they would need to quote roughly Ā£500 ā Ā£533 to still clear Ā£400.
- At zero commission, they quote Ā£400 and keep it.
That is Ā£100āĀ£133 of your money paying for the platform rather than the move ā on one job. It is why the same driver can often quote noticeably less on a marketplace that doesn't take a cut.
Extra charges worth asking about
Whichever platform you use, these are the items that most often turn a quote into a bigger final bill. Ask before you book, not on the day:
- Waiting time ā what happens if keys aren't ready or the previous occupant hasn't left? Ask how long is included and what applies after that.
- Access and long carries ā confirm stairs and distance from the van are covered in the quoted figure.
- Parking, congestion charge and ULEZ ā particularly for London moves, check whether these sit on top.
- Cancellation and rescheduling ā what you lose if your completion date slips, which happens constantly.
- Insurance limits ā what goods-in-transit cover applies, and the maximum per item.
How to pay less, on any platform
- Move midweek and avoid month-end if you possibly can.
- Give a flexible collection window so drivers can pair your job with another.
- Add photos and full details ā vague listings get padded quotes because drivers price the risk.
- Declutter first. You are paying to move volume.
- Post the same job on more than one platform and compare. It is free, and it is the only way to see the real spread.
AnyVan prices: your questions answered
How much does AnyVan cost? It depends on distance, volume, access and date. Use the table above as a sanity check ā if a quote sits well above those ranges for a standard job, it is worth getting comparison quotes before accepting.
Why is my AnyVan quote higher than I expected? Two common reasons: the platform's commission is built into the figure, and the driver may be pricing a dedicated trip rather than pairing your job with another load. Flexible dates often bring the number down.
Does AnyVan charge for waiting time? Waiting time policies vary by job and driver, so check what is included in your specific quote before booking. It is one of the most common sources of an unexpected final bill on any platform.
Is AnyVan cheaper than Shiply? Generally not ā AnyVan's commission is usually higher, so drivers need to quote more for the same earnings. See our Shiply vs AnyVan comparison.
Is there a cheaper alternative to AnyVan? A zero-commission marketplace removes the platform cut entirely. On We Got The Move drivers keep 100% of their quote and you pay a single Ā£9.99 booking deposit when you accept a bid. See our AnyVan alternative guide.
The bottom line
AnyVan's quote is quick and convenient, and for some people that is worth paying for. Just be aware that a fifth to a quarter of it may be the platform's cut rather than the cost of moving your things ā and that posting the same job elsewhere costs you nothing but a few minutes.
Ready to get removal quotes?
Post your job free. Drivers compete. You pick the best price.
Post Your Job Free