How to Move Home Using Your Own Car

Whether you are moving into a new place, heading off to university, or back in with family, moving home can be both an exciting and daunting prospect.

Using your own car can be a cost-effective and practical option for many, giving you greater control over how you transport your belongings.

That's why we’ve put together this handy list of tips and key points we think you should consider before moving home, to make the process as seamless as possible.  

Read on and make moving homes a breeze.

 

Can I Move Home Using My Own Car?

Moving home using your own car is a great way to save money and maintain control throughout the process.

Whether you are transporting your belongings or your loved ones, this is a good option for individuals who have hired a removal company to take most of their furniture to their chosen destination.

 

How Should I Pack My Car?

You should remove any items from your vehicle which don’t need to be there, leaving behind the standard car equipment and emergency car kit.

Now would be a great time to clean the interior of your car. You can hoover the seats and lower the backseats to create more space if no one will be sitting there during the drive.

You could even consider purchasing an overhead carrier to transport any fragile items, though these can be costly.

You should use plastic bags for soft and non-breakable objects - rather than cardboard boxes – as they are flexible and will fit almost anywhere in the car.

Utilise the storage spaces under the front seats and in the trunk – avoiding putting any objects in the footwell by the driver’s seat.

 

What Should I Know and Do Before Moving Home in My Car?

There are a few essential checks to do and things you need to know before setting off on your moving journey.

Find out in advance what the parking situation is at your new home. Will you be able to park in a safe and secure location when you arrive?

You should also factor in any charges in the local area that you will have to pay, including toll roads, or the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone if you are moving to London.

Be sure to plan your route ahead of time, factoring in any roadworks or events which could cause delays.

Include breaks in your driving schedule so that you don’t get too tired on the drive, and can give any passengers or children in the vehicle a break too.

Whilst you can do the trip yourself, it may be a good idea to enlist the help of a friend on the day. You can listen to your favourite music and take the edge off of what could be an otherwise emotional moving process.

Is there anything you no longer need? You may want to consider leaving larger items with friends or donating them if you won’t use them regularly at your new place.

It is essential that you make sure that your car is healthy enough to make the journey.

Before setting off on any journey, make sure that you check the fuel, oil, screen wash and coolant levels, topping up these fluids if needed. You don’t want to breakdown in the middle of nowhere with all your belongings in the car!

You should also check your car battery and lights are working as they should.

Make sure that you always keep an emergency car kit in your vehicle, complete with bottles of water, snacks, spare phone chargers, and a first aid kit.

 

Is Using My Own Car a Good Idea?

When thinking about using your own car to move home, consider whether this is the most cost-effective option for you.

Since you know the distance between your old and new homes, you can work out roughly how much fuel you will use for a round trip.

Think about how many trips you think you might need to make back and forth between your old and new homes.

If you are moving locally, then it may be easy enough to make multiple trips. If your new place is a little further away, then you might want to consider hiring a moving van to help you with some aspects of the process.

Multiply the cost of fuel for one round trip by the number of trips you think you will need to get the total fuel cost.

Be sure to consider the wear and tear your vehicle may experience, too – the heavier your vehicle is, the more strain this can put on vital components like the brakes and tyres.

 

 

Make sure that your tyres are properly inflated and have suitable tread to make the journey before you set off.

 

Will Moving Home Affect My Car Insurance?

As soon as you know your new address details and moving date, you should let your insurance provider know so that they can update this information for you.

Moving home can change the terms of your insurance policy and even alter how much your premium is, which is why it is so important that you make your insurance provider aware of the move.

If you don’t let your insurance provider know about the move, you could invalidate your policy and be left without cover when you need it most.

 

Can I Get Temporary Car Insurance?

Temporary car insurance could be a great option for you if you are planning on borrowing a vehicle or letting someone else drive your car during the moving process.

 

Will Moving Homes Affect My Driving Licence?

When you move homes, you should contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and let them know your new address.

If you do not do this, you could face a hefty fine of up to £1000.

All you need to do is visit the DVLA website and update your address details. This service is free, and you can still drive whilst you wait for your new licence to arrive.

The only circumstance in which you won’t need to inform the DVLA is if your move is temporary and you can still be contacted at the address which you have registered on your licence.

 

What About My Breakdown Cover?

Moving homes can also affect your breakdown cover, so you should make sure that you contact your cover provider.

A lot of breakdown cover providers will let you do this online, so it shouldn’t take you long.

 

Will Moving Home Affect My Road Tax?

You must inform the DVLA of any changes to your address which will affect your payment of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), including if you pay by direct debit.

It is illegal to drive a car on the road which hasn’t been taxed and does not have a valid MOT – unless it is one of the few vehicles which is exempt.

 

What About My Car Finance?

You must let your car finance lender know that you have moved.

Contact them and share your new address with them either online or over the phone.

If you aren’t sure who your car finance lender is, you should be able to find these details on your bank statement.

 

Will I Need to Update My Car Logbook When I Move Home?

When you move home, you will need to update your vehicle logbook to change the car’s address.

Your car logbook – also known as a V5C – tracks the registration and tax history of your vehicle.

It proves your ownership, and contains details about the registered address, make, model, chassis number and engine.

You can update your vehicle logbook online through the gov.uk website or by sending you logbook directly to the DVLA with the changes.

To update it online, you will need your new UK address, logbook reference number and vehicle registration.

 

We hope that you have an amazing time moving into your new place. If you are moving to university or college, then you may want to consider whether driving there is the right choice for you before setting off.

 

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