If you are planning a move and the quotes you have received are making you wince, you are not alone. Removal costs have risen steadily, and a full-service move with a dedicated van can easily run into four figures for a family home. The good news is that there is a middle ground between hiring a man-and-van outfit and paying for a full removal company. It is called a part-load service, and for the right move it can trim a serious amount off your bill.

What exactly is a part-load service?

A part-load service — sometimes called a shared load or groupage — is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of your belongings travelling alone in a van dedicated to you, they share space with the contents of one or two other households heading in a similar direction.

The removal firm plans a route that collects from several addresses and delivers to several others, much like a courier network. Your goods are carefully loaded, secured and often stored overnight in the van or a depot until the next collection or delivery slot fits the schedule. You are essentially buying a seat on a bus rather than hiring a private car.

The trade-off is straightforward: you save money, but you sacrifice control over exact timings. If that sounds acceptable, a part-load could be the single biggest saving in your moving budget.

How much can you actually save?

Savings vary by distance, volume and season, but as a rough guide, part-load customers typically pay somewhere between 30% and 50% less than they would for a dedicated van doing the same journey. On a long-distance move from, say, Manchester to Bristol, that difference can be several hundred pounds.

• You only pay for the space you use. A full van costs the same whether it is half empty or packed to the roof. With a part load, you are charged for your share of the cubic metreage.
• Shared fuel and driver time. The cost of getting the vehicle from A to B is split between households.
• Off-peak flexibility is rewarded. If you can move midweek or mid-month, you will often be quoted a lower rate than someone demanding a Saturday at the end of the month.

Get at least three quotes and ask each firm to price both a full load and a part load for your inventory. Seeing the two figures side by side usually makes the decision much easier.

When a part load makes sense — and when it does not

Part loads suit some moves far better than others. Be honest with yourself about which category you fall into.

Good candidates for a part load:

• You have flexible dates and can wait a few days — or occasionally a week or two — for delivery.
• You are moving a one or two-bedroom flat, a house-share, or a student room.
• You are moving a long distance where a dedicated van would be expensive.
• You have already sold or donated bulky furniture and are mainly moving boxes.
• You have somewhere to stay in the meantime, such as with family or in temporary accommodation.

Poor candidates for a part load:

• You have a hard deadline, such as a fixed completion date or a rental contract ending on a specific day.
• You are moving a large four-bedroom house with fragile antiques, a piano or a lot of heavy gym equipment.
• You need your belongings delivered the same day they are collected.
• You cannot cope with any uncertainty about when your items will arrive.

Preparing your belongings for a shared load

Because your goods will be handled more than once and share space with other people's possessions, good preparation matters more than it would on a dedicated move.

• Pack in strong, uniform boxes. Uniform sizes stack better in a shared van, which reduces the risk of damage and makes the most of the space you are paying for.
• Label every box clearly with your surname, the destination room and a brief description of the contents.
• Keep an inventory. A simple numbered list matching each box to its contents is invaluable if anything goes astray.
• Dismantle furniture where you can. Flat-packed beds, wardrobes and tables take up far less room and are easier to protect.
• Use the essentials box. Pack a separate box with kettle, mugs, bedding, toiletries, chargers and a change of clothes, and take it with you rather than sending it on the van.

Ask the removal firm whether they will pack for you or whether you are expected to have everything boxed and ready before collection. Many part-load services assume you have done the packing yourself, and turning up to an unpacked house can lead to extra charges or a cancelled slot.

Insurance, access and other practicalities

Check the insurance cover carefully. Because part loads involve more handling and shared vehicle space, some policies are more restrictive than those for dedicated loads. Ask specifically:

• What level of cover is included, and is it based on weight or on value?
• Does the cover change if you packed the boxes yourself?
• Is there an excess, and does it apply per item or per claim?

Also flag any access issues in advance. Narrow lanes, permit-only parking, flights of stairs and long carries from the van to the door all take time, and a shared load runs to a tight schedule. If the driver cannot park close by, your collection may be delayed or surcharged.

Finally, plan the gap. With a part load, your belongings may arrive a few days after you do. Budget for a short stay in temporary accommodation, or arrange for essentials to travel with you in the car. Factor that cost into your sums — even with a night or two in a budget hotel, a part load often still works out cheaper than a dedicated van.

For the right move, done with a bit of forward planning, a part-load service is one of the most effective ways to keep your removal costs under control without cutting corners on care.