GUIDE · VANS AND MINIBUSES
Van hire pages by size: small, medium, large and Luton
Van renters search by size because size tells them whether the job will fit. Give small, medium, large and Luton vans a page each, with load length, width, height, payload, seats and licence needed, plus a plain example of what fits. Those pages catch size searches that a single fleet page never ranks for.
What to put on the page
- One page per size class
- Load length, width and height in metres
- Payload in kilograms
- Seats in the cab
- Licence needed
- What fits: a plain example such as a one bed flat
Why size pages work
Renters do not search for "van hire" and then read about every van. They search for "Luton van hire", "small van hire" or "long wheelbase van hire". A page for each size matches those searches directly.
The four classes most firms need
Small vans such as the Ford Transit Connect or VW Caddy suit small deliveries, tradespeople and single items.
Medium vans such as the Ford Transit Custom suit studio moves, trade work and courier jobs.
Large vans, often called long wheelbase, such as the Ford Transit LWB or Mercedes Sprinter, suit one bed flat moves and bigger trade loads.
Luton vans suit two and three bed house moves, with a box body and often a tail lift.
What every size page needs
Load dimensions, payload, seats, licence needed, fuel type, a from-price and a plain example of what fits. Add photos of the load space with the doors open and a tape measure in shot.
A worked example: the medium van page
A medium van page could open: "Medium van hire in Leicester, Ford Transit Custom, from £59 a day". The intro: "Load length 2.5 metres, payload 1,000kg, three seats. Fits a studio flat or a week of trade work."
Then a load space photo, a spec table, licence rules, a short "what fits" section and links up and down the range to the small and large van pages.
Link the sizes together
Each page should link to the next size up and down. Renters often realise they need a bigger or smaller van once they see the dimensions.
Licence rules on every size page
Most van renters drive on a standard category B car licence, which covers vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass. That includes most small, medium and large vans, and many Lutons. Some larger Lutons and specialist vans are heavier and need a different licence, and alternatively fuelled vans have their own allowance under a category B licence. Say on each page which licence the van needs. If you are unsure for a specific vehicle, check the plate on the van rather than guessing.
Add the minimum age and how long the renter must have held their licence. These are the questions your staff answer most on the phone, and putting them on the page saves time for everyone.
Describing what fits, honestly
The "what fits" section is the most useful part of a size page, and the easiest to get wrong. Be honest and a little conservative. "A one bed flat in one trip, if the furniture is flat packed" is better than claiming more and having a renter make two trips.
Give two or three examples per size:
- Small van: a single sofa, a dozen boxes, or a tradesperson's tools and materials
- Medium van: a studio flat, a market stall, or a week of courier work
- Large van: a one bed flat, or long items such as timber and pipe
- Luton: a two or three bed house, with a tail lift for heavy items
Payload explained simply
Payload is how much weight the van can carry, and it is easy to exceed with heavy loads such as tiles, books or building materials. Give the payload in kilograms and a plain example: "about 1,000kg, roughly the weight of a pallet of paving slabs". Remind renters that overloading is unsafe and can invalidate insurance.
Tail lifts and loading
If a Luton has a tail lift, give its rated lifting limit from the plate and mention whether a pump truck or sack truck is available. These details matter to removals customers and to businesses moving stock, and they are often what decides which firm gets the booking.
Photos that answer questions
For every size, photograph the load space with the doors open and a tape measure in shot, the cab showing the number of seats, and the van parked next to something familiar, such as a car, so renters can judge the size. Avoid manufacturer images; renters want to see your vans.
Mistakes we see on van size pages
- Dimensions in feet on one page and metres on another
- A Luton page with no mention of the tail lift limit
- No licence information until the booking form
- "What fits" examples that are too optimistic
- One page for all sizes, which ranks for none of them
How to tell if the pages are working
Look at which searches bring visitors to each size page. If renters searching "Luton van hire" land on your large van page, the Luton page is not strong enough. Strengthen the links between sizes and make sure each page title names the size clearly. Track calls and bookings by page so you can see which sizes earn their keep.
Where to start this week
Measure the load space of every van you rent, with the doors open, and write the figures down in metres. Check the plate on each van for its payload and maximum authorised mass. Those numbers are the backbone of every size page, and most firms find at least one figure on their current site is wrong.
Then build the page for the size you hire most. Use the measurements, three photos and two or three honest "what fits" examples. Once that page is live, copy its structure for the other sizes so renters see the same layout on every page and can compare quickly.
Questions about this
Should we use model names or size names?
Lead with size names, which renters search for, and mention typical models on each page.
Do we need exact dimensions?
Yes. Renters measure their furniture and check. Approximate figures lead to wrong bookings.
Is a Luton page worth it if we only have one?
Yes. Luton is a very common search, and a single van can still earn a page.
Should dimensions be in metres or feet?
Metres, with feet in brackets if your customers ask for it. Use the same units on every page so renters can compare sizes without converting.
Do we need a page for tail lift vans?
If you have more than one, yes. 'Luton with tail lift' is a common search for house moves and business deliveries, and a dedicated page can rank for it.
Should the size pages show prices?
Yes, a from-price per day and per week on each page. Renters compare sizes partly on cost, and seeing the step up in price helps them choose the right van.
Should we include internal height for each van?
Yes. Height decides whether tall items such as wardrobes, fridge freezers and mattresses stand upright, and it is one of the first things removals customers check. Give the internal load height in metres, and the height of the door opening too, because the opening is often lower than the load space.