Van Hire in Bristol

06/03/25
by Robin Stent (Founder/Big Cheese)

While we'd obviously prefer you to use Van OD for all your transport needs, there are some situations where hiring a van is either more appropriate, cheaper, or both. The most obvious examples are where you are moving a long distance (say Bristol to Edinburgh), where you don't need help loading/unloading, or where you need access to a vehicle for a whole day or several days.

So for the times when van hire is the answer we thought we'd compile a list of some of the companies offering van hire in Bristol.

Bristol Car & Van Hire

290-294 Southmead Rd, Bristol, BS10 5EN
Website: bristolcar-vanhire.co.uk

The imaginatively named Bristol Car & Van Hire (we SEO what you did there) in Southmead is another single site local business, founded in 1994. They rent everything from small cars, to, well...large vans. I love the fact that, like us, all their prices are clearly displayed on their website, and amazingly they don't ask for a deposit! If you're looking for a good price for Luton van hire, these guys are your best bet.

U-Drive

Petherbridge Way, Horfield, Bristol BS7 9NZ
Website: u-drive.co.uk

We've used U-Drive ourselves several times. They ask for a lower deposit than some of their corporate rivals and were the first company in Bristol to offer electric vans. They offer everything from small cars to 7.5 tonne lorries and tipper trucks. U-Drive have several branches across the South/South West as well as Cardiff and Manchester. The Bristol branch traces it's roots back to a company called Hareclive who our founder used to move house way back in 2009 before Van OD was even an idea! Since it opened in 2024 they also have the advantage of being a short walk from Ashley Down train station.

Tollgate

The Old Bus Depot, High Street, Hanham, Bristol BS15 3HF
Website: tollgatehire.co.uk

Tollgate in Hanham rent everything from medium cars to 18ton trucks. Very much a local business, with just the one location, they've been in business since the 1970s so they must be doing something right!

Martin's Luton Van Hire

St George

I wanted to give an honourable mention to Martin's who are sadly no longer with us. I think they closed down around 2019. I used them a few times and they were my favourite hire company in Bristol. They were a proper old school business, that apparently had been handed down from the owner's father. Not the newest shiniest vans but reasonable prices and good service. You paid your deposit in cash, and the owner's house was right next to the yard, so when you returned the van you put the keys though his letterbox.

Other options

I've not listed the most well known corporate players in the van hire business, because let's be honest, they probably don't need my help. But if you need the option of hiring a van in Bristol and dropping it off at some far flung location, then that might be the option you need. You can find them by Googling van hire bristol. Other search engines are available.