Moving Guides
How Our Van and Crew Pricing Works: Why Every Job Has a Two-Hour Minimum
A guided explanation of our van and crew rates, why every job has a two-hour minimum, and how to work out the cost of your own move.
Published 23 October 2026 · Updated 23 October 2026
Every price on our website, in the calculator, in the booking form and in Alfie’s quotes comes from one rate card. Once you understand three numbers on that card, you can work out the cost of almost any move in Central London.
This guide explains the rate card line by line, why there is a two-hour minimum, how time after two hours is billed, and what changes the total.
Key takeaways
- Small van and driver: £90 for the first two hours, then £45 an hour.
- Small van and one helper: £110 for the first two hours, then £65 an hour.
- Luton van and two helpers: £150 for the first two hours, then £75 an hour.
- After two hours, time is billed in 30-minute steps. There is no stair fee, no weekend premium and no ULEZ charge.
- Choosing the right van for the job often saves time, so the total can be lower than you expect.
Step 1: Read the rate card
There are three options on the card. Read the one that matches your move. The figures are the same on the calculator, the booking form and Alfie.
| Van and crew | First 2 hours | Each hour after |
|---|---|---|
| Small van, driver only | £90 | £45 |
| Small van + 1 helper | £110 | £65 |
| Luton van + 2 helpers | £150 | £75 |
Use a small van and driver for a studio, a few items, or a load you can help carry yourself. For flats in the centre, see flat removals across Central London. Use a small van and one helper for a one-bedroom flat, a student move or a single heavy item. Use a Luton van and two helpers for two and three bedroom homes, appliances, and anything that needs a tail lift.
Step 2: Understand the two-hour minimum
Every job is charged for at least two hours. That first block covers the work you do not see in the drive: the van arriving, the crew loading at the first address, the journey, the unloading, and parking at both ends.
In Central London, parking takes time. A loading bay can be a few streets away, and carrying a sofa 100 metres takes longer than the drive itself. Two hours is the least time a van and crew need to do the job properly.
Step 3: How time after two hours is billed
After the first two hours, you pay the hourly rate for the time used. Time is counted in 30-minute steps, so a job that runs for two and a half hours costs the base rate plus one half-hour step at the hourly rate.
Worked example
A small van and one helper, and the job runs for three hours. The base rate is £110 for the first two hours. The third hour is £65. The total is £175 before any extras such as packing or parking suspension.
Step 4: Know what changes the total
Four things decide how long a job takes. Knowing them helps you choose the hours to book.
- Distance: longer journeys across London take more time, especially at peak traffic.
- Access: stairs with no lift, long carries and tight parking add time at each address.
- Items: heavy, fragile or bulky items take longer to load, wrap and unload.
- Hours: you choose the block when you book. The quick-pick chips in the booking form set two to six hours.
Step 5: Work out your own cost
Open the moving cost calculator on our website. Choose the van, then the number of hours. The total shows straight away, using the same rate card.
When the number looks right, book at alphamovers.co.uk/book/. The price carries through to your review step, so you see the same figure again before you confirm.
Frequently asked questions
A van and crew need time to arrive, load, travel, unload and park. A job shorter than two hours does not cover that work, so the first two hours are charged as one block.
No. Alpha Movers is not VAT registered, so the price you see is the price you pay.
No. The same rates apply seven days a week, 8am to 10pm, including bank holidays.
Travel within Greater London is included. Longer journeys across London take more time, and that time is counted in the hours you book.
Packing materials, dismantling and reassembly, furniture hoisting, storage, and any council parking suspension. Each is quoted separately and agreed before the day.
