When my husband last moved over some of our stuff about a year ago, he rented a van from Europcar and had no issues. However, I've just checked their site now (renting from Loerrach, Germany and returning it there, as my husband did last time) and the price now only includes 1500 kms per rental. That's half as much as we need, and the per km price past 1500 kms will double the rental cost!

I've been having a hard time finding anyone in the Basel or border Germany area which has vans to rent, or has them with an appropriate amount of mileage for the trip.

Suggestions, anyone?

I'd contacted some movers mentioned in other threads, and was quoted roughly 1500 to 2200 pounds to do the move! There's very little furniture (bed, flattened desk, etc.); mostly just boxes.

Barring that, is anyone interested in taking a vanload of stuff over to the UK for me the last weekend in March? Please?

Have you checked out http://www.lukerbros.co.uk/swiss.html they run a regular service UK to switzerland and it's a shared van so you arent paying for the whole van, I used them to move here and they emptied my storage unit in the uk and transferred it all over here.

Thanks, I've got a quote request in with them now, but they're taking their time in answering (we need an emoticon that sighs!)

Hi Evilshell,if you have no joy with theses guys,my Son rented from U.K, drove over and returned to U.K. It was only about £180 plus cost of petrol for a good size van. This was to the north though, so not sure where in U.K your going, but it could be another option.

I have used theses guys before http://www.franceremovals.com/ and they do part loads very often so you might be able to get a deal and they usually reply fast.

At least this option will save you the drive. Good luck!

Thank you - I may try and talk the friend who is supposed to drive a van for me into doing it that way. Even paying for his flight there and back, it would be cheaper than the Swiss options. I'd do it myself, but I'm still not getting my head around the wrong side of the road/car thing yet over there!

What was the company you used?

Great, thank you, I'll contact them! I'll still end up having to do a drive, as we're taking the cats over by road, but it will be easier to just rent a car and not have to worry about a van.

This company actually delivered my house contents the next day form London to CH. They travelled all day & night with just a short sleep stop... so pretty fast even for the cats

Did the contact I gave you for a man with a van not work out?

Word of warning; most UK van hires will only insure you in the UK. Maybe your son got lucky with his hire but for £180 I doubt it.

Fine if you want to take the risk but the consequences could be huge.

Good advice Inkiboo for anyone thinking of doing this, but my Son was fully insured.It was a company in Bolton, will find out the name when next in touch with my Son, who is currently backpacking around Australia....Lucky boy!

Hm, I don't remember you giving me a name, but that doesn't mean you didn't! Virtually everyone I spoke with wanted far too much money to do it, but I seem to have found someone via EF who will do it for a reasonable rate. Whew!

I thought I did ... guy called Paul who moved us out to Geneva for £900. But if you've found someone then great.

Yes, you absolutely did, my mistake! He gave me a quote which compared to virtually everyone else was excellent. Thank you.