Renting a van to transport stuff out of Germany

Can someone explain to me why I can not hire a van to transport my stuff from Germany back to London? I rang Europcar and asked how much it would be to hire a van to move my stuff from Germany to London and they told me that I can hire a van but am not able to take the van out of the country!?! I know of people who have done this before so why can't I? Can anyone help? I am only moving about 5 cubic metres worth of stuff-does anyone know of a cheap company to do this? I have searched Toytown already and asked for quotes and they are all hellishly expensive. Please help!

did you ask Europcar why you aren't allowed take the van outside the country? I'm sure they would be happy to tell you why. Also they may tell you if there is a company that does rent for outside the country.

Assuming its not their business policy to rent vans outside the country, just keep phoning and asking around until you find a company that is interested. Or alternatively rent a big car and put the back seats down.

It says on their website that "Certain driving restrictions may apply for driving into certain countries. Details are available from Europcar Reservation Office.". As such I would doubt that anyone has rented a Europcar van for a Munich to London run, not just you as the tone of your post indicates. Have you checked with other car hire firms?

My brother in law is visiting at the moment and rented a car from Europcar. They explicitly told him he cannot travel to any former eastern bloc country nor any of the countries that made up the former Yugoslavia, so it seems they are a bit picky...

Most car hire firms are touchy about you going in that direction because of the high rate of theft.

Sixt won't give you any problems if you're driving west - including IRL and GB.

Sixt specifically allows you to drive a rented van to UK (as long as you return it to Germany yourself afterwards).

Check out their website:
http://www.e-sixt.de/main/extern/autovermi...c/International

I am in Bochum so its closer than Munich to London! Ideally I want to only drive one way. The guy I spoke to at Europcar (who was in London) said that it was something to do with the vans not travelling well on the autobahns! I asked him how then huge trucks seemed to negotiate them and he didn't really respond! I am only moving about 5 cubic metres worth of stuff so wouldn't be needing a lorry!

Elphaba, forget Europcar will you. Two people have already suggested Sixt, but yes, you'd have to bring it back. Have you phoned other rental firms?

5 cubic metres...if it's just you driving would just a really really big car do? dunno if it'd make a difference tho!

I have a small sofa which unfortunately won't fit in a large car. Anybody know of a German equivalent of a man and a van service?

This guy might do it. Someone enquired about a Germany/UK run but there's no response on the thread. Worth giving him a call.

Have you tried calling other car hire firms? I'm running out of ways to ask that question.

Yes I am calling and speaking to other firms.

How much is this sofa actually worth?

It's not worth that much but I would like to keep it.

when I moved from Frankfurt back to London I hired a van in London for the weekend (drove it to FFM and then back) - it was much cheaper, I think the van cost about £100 for the weekend (small hire company in East London) and it had unlimited mileage (I didn't find a company in FFM which did this). On top of the hundred squid was just the petrol cost and ferry crossing, I think all in all the trip cost around £300. (It took around 13 hrs each way).