Taking a Hire Van from Ireland to the UK or Europe

Last updated: August 2026

Planning a house move, business delivery or extended trip from Ireland to the UK or Europe? Vanrentals.ie specialises in providing suitable hire vans and light trucks for overseas travel.

This is a specialist rental service that most conventional van rental companies do not facilitate. Overseas rentals require the correct vehicle, insurance, breakdown cover and travel documentation. Our experienced Ballymount team will help you understand what is required before you leave Ireland.

We have been supplying commercial vehicles for many years, and our fleet is maintained in our own workshop. When you book an overseas rental with us, you are dealing with a team that understands ferry travel, long-distance driving and the practical challenges involved in taking a loaded commercial vehicle abroad.

Why Choose Vanrentals.ie for an Overseas Rental?

Taking a hire van abroad is more involved than an ordinary rental. We can help you with:

• Selecting a vehicle suitable for your load and destination
• Confirming whether the vehicle can travel on a passenger or freight ferry booking
• Arranging the correct UK or European insurance
• Understanding mandatory AA European Assist requirements
• Checking vehicle dimensions, payload and licence requirements
• Preparing the vehicle for long-distance travel
• Understanding the July 2026 tachograph changes
• Planning realistic ferry, fuel and toll costs

Because this is a specialist service, overseas rentals must be discussed and approved in advance. Please do not make a ferry booking until we have confirmed your vehicle.

Where Can Our Vehicles Travel?

Subject to advance approval, suitable vehicles may travel from Ireland to:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• France
• Belgium
• The Netherlands
• Germany
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Spain
• Portugal

Travel to another country must be approved by Vanrentals.ie in writing before departure.

Northern Ireland Rentals

For our rental purposes, travel to Northern Ireland is treated as domestic hire.

However, businesses carrying goods from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland may still have legal obligations relating to customs, operator requirements or tachograph regulations. This is particularly important following the July 2026 tachograph changes.

If the vehicle is being used for business purposes, please tell us exactly what you are carrying and where you are travelling.

Which Vehicles Can Travel Abroad?

The following vehicle classes may be approved for travel to Great Britain or continental Europe:

• Large high-roof vans
• Jumbo vans
• Light trucks fitted with a 750kg tail lift

Approval remains subject to availability, destination, journey purpose, insurance and breakdown-cover requirements.

Vehicles That Cannot Travel Abroad

Low-floor furniture trucks and low-floor box trucks are the same vehicle class within our fleet.

These vehicles are not permitted to travel to Great Britain or continental Europe. They may only be used within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

If you are unsure which vehicle you need, tell us what you are moving and we will recommend the most suitable permitted vehicle.

Vehicles Prepared for Long-Distance Travel

Our vehicles are maintained through our own commercial workshop and undergo regular servicing, inspections and CVRT testing.

Before an approved overseas rental, we check the vehicle’s:

• Tyres and tyre pressures
• Oil and coolant levels
• Brakes and lights
• Battery condition
• Windscreen washer and wipers
• AdBlue level, where applicable
• Load area and securing points
• Spare wheel or puncture equipment
• Required safety equipment

We want you to leave Ireland with a vehicle that is properly prepared for the journey ahead.

Driver Requirements

Drivers will normally need to:

• Be between 27 and 70 years of age
• Hold a full eligible driving licence
• Have held their licence for at least two years
• Be resident in Ireland
• Meet our insurer’s approval requirements
• Provide all requested identification and licence information
• Declare any penalty points, convictions or medical restrictions
• Be named and approved on the rental agreement

The driving licence category required depends on the vehicle’s Maximum Authorised Mass. A Category B licence generally covers vehicles up to 3,500kg, but we will confirm the requirements for your allocated vehicle.

Every person who may drive must be approved and included on the rental agreement.

UK and European Insurance

Standard Irish rental insurance does not automatically provide permission to take a vehicle abroad.

Before departure, your booking must include insurance that is valid for:

• The allocated vehicle
• Every approved driver
• Every country being visited
• The complete period of travel
• The stated purpose of the journey

You must not enter an unapproved country or allow an unnamed person to drive the vehicle.

Any insurance excess, security deposit and special conditions will be explained as part of your quotation.

AA European Assist Is Mandatory

AA European Assist is compulsory for every Vanrentals.ie vehicle travelling to Great Britain or continental Europe.

The policy must remain active for the complete journey, beginning before the vehicle leaves Ireland and continuing until it has returned to our Ballymount depot.

This requirement is not optional. Customers must provide confirmation that the correct policy is in place before the vehicle can be released for overseas travel.

Depending on the policy issued, AA European Assist may provide:

• Roadside assistance following a breakdown
• Towing to a suitable repairer
• Emergency repair assistance
• Help locating replacement parts
• Alternative travel arrangements
• Emergency accommodation
• Vehicle recovery or repatriation to Ireland
• Legal assistance following certain incidents

All benefits are subject to the terms, exclusions and limits of the policy issued.

Some standard online breakdown policies have restrictions relating to vehicle length, height, width or weight. For this reason, please do not purchase a generic policy without checking with us first.

The AA European Assist certificate must cover the exact vehicle supplied, including its registration, vehicle class and dimensions. This is particularly important for jumbo vans and tail-lift trucks.

Ferry Bookings

Ferry companies classify commercial vehicles according to factors including:

• Vehicle length
• Overall height
• Vehicle type
• Whether goods are being carried for business purposes
• Whether the vehicle is commercially taxed
• Whether a trailer is attached

Depending on the vehicle and purpose of travel, you may need to book through the ferry company’s freight department rather than as a standard passenger vehicle.

Please contact us before making your ferry reservation. We can provide the approximate dimensions of the vehicle class, but the final vehicle registration and exact dimensions may not be available until collection.

Estimated Ferry and Fuel Costs

The following examples are intended to help customers prepare a realistic travel budget.

They are approximate return-trip estimates based on travel from our Ballymount depot. They are not fixed quotations. Ferry prices change according to travel dates, vehicle dimensions, passenger numbers, cabin requirements and availability.

The examples exclude:

• Vehicle rental
• Insurance
• AA European Assist
• Road tolls
• Emission-zone charges
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Parking
• Customs or freight fees

Ireland to London

Suggested route: Dublin to Holyhead
Approximate return road distance: 900km

Large high-roof van:

• Estimated return ferry: €300–€450
• Estimated diesel: €210
• Estimated ferry and fuel total: €510–€660

Jumbo van:

• Estimated return ferry: €400–€550
• Estimated diesel: €235
• Estimated ferry and fuel total: €635–€785

Light truck with 750kg tail lift:

• Estimated return ferry or freight booking: €450–€650
• Estimated diesel: €285
• Estimated ferry and fuel total: €735–€935

Remember to include UK road tolls, parking charges and possible London emission-zone charges.

Ireland to Madrid

Suggested route: Rosslare to Bilbao
Approximate return road distance: 1,100km

Large high-roof van:

• Estimated return ferry: €800–€1,200
• Estimated diesel: €220
• Estimated ferry and fuel total: €1,020–€1,420

Jumbo van:

• Estimated return ferry: €1,000–€1,400
• Estimated diesel: €250
• Estimated ferry and fuel total: €1,250–€1,650

Light truck with 750kg tail lift:

• Estimated return ferry or freight booking: €1,300–€1,700
• Estimated diesel: €300
• Estimated ferry and fuel total: €1,600–€2,000

Tolls, accommodation and any additional driving within Spain are not included.

Ireland to Zurich

Suggested route: Dublin to Cherbourg, followed by travel through France
Approximate return road distance: 1,900km

Large high-roof van:

• Estimated return ferry: €650–€950
• Estimated diesel: €460
• Estimated ferry and fuel total: €1,110–€1,410

Jumbo van:

• Estimated return ferry: €800–€1,100
• Estimated diesel: €525
• Estimated ferry and fuel total: €1,325–€1,625

Light truck with 750kg tail lift:

• Estimated return ferry or freight booking: €900–€1,300
• Estimated diesel: €630
• Estimated ferry and fuel total: €1,530–€1,930

French tolls, Swiss road charges, accommodation and local emission-zone charges are not included.

How We Calculated the Fuel Estimates

Our sample budgets use the following approximate consumption figures:

• Large high-roof van: 11 litres per 100km
• Jumbo van: 12.5 litres per 100km
• Light tail-lift truck: 15 litres per 100km

Actual fuel consumption will depend on:

• Load weight
• Driving speed
• Traffic conditions
• Weather
• Road gradients
• Idling time
• Driving style
• Vehicle model

A heavily loaded vehicle driven at motorway speeds will normally use more fuel than an empty vehicle.

Tachograph Rules from 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, certain light commercial vehicles with a Maximum Authorised Mass exceeding 2.5 tonnes must use a Smart Tachograph Version 2 when engaged in international carriage of goods or cabotage.

These rules can apply to journeys between Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain and EU countries.

The rules are particularly relevant where:

• Goods are being carried for hire or reward
• The journey is being made as part of a business activity
• A trailer brings the combined permitted weight above 2.5 tonnes
• The vehicle is involved in international commercial transport

Some private or own-account journeys may qualify for an exemption. However, exemptions depend on the vehicle, load, journey purpose and the driver’s main activity.

A private house move may be treated differently from a business delivering goods for a customer.

You must tell us the true purpose of your journey. The driver or vehicle operator remains responsible for complying with driving-time, rest-period and tachograph regulations.

Customs and Goods Documentation

Customs requirements depend on your destination and what is being carried.

Additional paperwork may be required when travelling to or from:

• Great Britain
• Switzerland
• Northern Ireland for certain business movements
• Other non-EU destinations

Personal belongings, household moves, commercial goods, tools, stock and customer deliveries can all be treated differently.

You may require:

• A detailed inventory
• Proof of ownership
• Commercial invoices
• Customs declarations
• Transfer of Residence documentation
• A Pre-Boarding Notification
• Commodity codes
• Proof that the goods are not being carried for sale

Vanrentals.ie can explain the vehicle-rental requirements, but customers are responsible for obtaining the correct customs advice and completing the necessary declarations.

Documents to Carry

Depending on the journey, drivers should carry:

• A valid driving licence
• Passport or accepted travel identification
• Rental agreement
• Written permission to take the vehicle abroad
• Insurance certificate
• AA European Assist certificate
• Ferry booking confirmation
• Vehicle details and dimensions
• Customs documents, where required
• Tachograph card and records, where required
• Emission-zone registrations
• Emergency contact details

Entry requirements can depend on the driver’s nationality. Customers should check the immigration rules for every country being visited.

Tolls and Low-Emission Zones

Many European cities operate toll roads, low-emission zones or environmental registration schemes.

Examples include:

• London emission and congestion zones
• French Crit’Air zones
• Brussels Low Emission Zone
• Spanish urban emission zones
• Swiss motorway charges

Foreign-registered vehicles may need to be registered before entering certain areas, even when the vehicle meets the required emission standard.

Fines are the customer’s responsibility and may be received several weeks or months after the rental has ended.

Before You Book

Please have the following information ready when contacting us:

• Your destination
• Countries being visited
• Travel dates
• Purpose of the journey
• Details of what you are carrying
• Number of drivers
• Driver ages and licence details
• Approximate load weight
• Whether a tail lift is required
• Proposed ferry route
• Whether a trailer will be used

The more information you give us, the easier it is for us to recommend the correct vehicle and identify any potential issues before your journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a Vanrentals.ie vehicle to Northern Ireland?

Yes. Northern Ireland is treated as domestic hire for our rental purposes. Commercial journeys may still be subject to customs or tachograph requirements.

Can I take a hire van to Belgium?

Yes. Belgium is an approved destination, subject to advance approval, insurance and mandatory AA European Assist.

Can I take a low-floor furniture truck abroad?

No. Low-floor furniture trucks and low-floor box trucks are the same vehicle class and cannot travel to Great Britain or continental Europe.

Which vehicles can travel abroad?

Large high-roof vans, jumbo vans and light trucks with 750kg tail lifts may be approved for overseas travel.

Is AA European Assist optional?

No. AA European Assist is mandatory for travel to Great Britain and continental Europe. It must cover the exact vehicle and the complete period of travel.

Can I book my ferry before reserving the van?

We recommend speaking to us first. Commercial vehicles can be classified differently by ferry operators depending on their dimensions and the purpose of travel.

Do I need a tachograph?

It depends on the vehicle, combined permitted weight, purpose of travel and what you are carrying. New rules apply from 1 July 2026 to certain international journeys involving light commercial vehicles over 2.5 tonnes.

Are the ferry and fuel examples guaranteed prices?

No. They are budgeting examples only. Ferry fares, fuel prices and route costs can change considerably.

Speak to Our Overseas Van Rental Team

Taking a hire van from Ireland to the UK or Europe requires more planning than a normal rental, but it does not need to be complicated.

Vanrentals.ie provides the specialist vehicles, practical experience and personal assistance needed to help you plan your journey properly. It is a unique service that most conventional rental companies are unable or unwilling to facilitate.

Contact our Ballymount team with your destination, travel dates and details of what you are carrying. We will help you select an appropriate vehicle and explain the insurance, AA European Assist, ferry and documentation requirements before you book.