When you’ve just purchased some bulky appliances or heavy furniture, or you’re a tradie looking to move heaps of equipment, you have a choice to either pay the store for delivery charges or hire a commercial vehicle and move the load yourself.

While at first, it seems logical to simply pay stores, such as IKEA or Bunnings their delivery charges so you’re just transacting with one company, it’s actually more economical and practical to turn to a third-party commercial vehicle rental company. The latter will not only save you money but will offer more flexibility, in terms of time constraints and last-minute changes of plans, as well as the capacity to move your stuff across multiple locations.

In this article, we’ll talk about how much does it cost to hire a ute compared to paying off delivery charges, along with the benefits the former has.

Ute Delivery Charges

These big home improvement and furniture stores offer their customers the added convenience of having a delivery service for an additional cost, and for the sake of comparison, let’s take a look at their rates. At the time of writing, IKEA can charge up to $109 to Maroochydore addresses for hauls above 150 kg. The Bunnings ute hire currently starts at $50 and can fluctuate depending on the distance. And aside from these delivery charges, it’s not often that you get to receive the items the same day you bought them. According to IKEA, “fast delivery is subject to availability” and Bunnings van hire or ute hire states that some products may take anywhere from 7 to 14 days.

Not everyone will have the liberty to wait for a couple of days for their furniture, appliances or equipment to arrive, especially when you’re looking at something essential, like a fridge, a bed frame, construction supplies and the like.

The practical move, then, is to turn to a third-party vehicle rental company so you can move the stuff yourself faster and—perhaps—cheaper.

How Much is it to Hire a Ute?

For the sake of comparison, let’s take a look at the ute hire cost of some of the most recognisable names in the industry. As of writing, Europcar rents out their half-ton delivery van at $129.60, a Move Yourself Ute with 800kg. capacity is pegged at $108, and a Budget ute hire costs around $105 per day.

With a third-party commercial vehicle, not only will you be sure of the cost of the ute hire cost, you’ll also have the benefit of getting the haul to where it needs to be when it needs to be.

But what if can get even better?

Cheap Ute Hire from Alpha

When you rent a ute from Alpha Car Hire, prices can go as low as $45 per day. And while the cost of hiring a ute can fluctuate between companies, you’d be pleased to know that we offer a price match guarantee for our vehicles—we’ll match the competition’s price. But don’t let the cheap rates get you thinking that you’re getting a substandard vehicle. Our heavy-duty ute hire has a 1-tonne carrying capacity and comes with 24-hour free roadside assistance and standard liability protection. The 2.5×1.8-metre tray gives unparalleled access from each side and the cab can comfortably sit two passengers in the front.

Handy Ute Hire

Transporting cumbersome cargo will always be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. If you can afford to pay for a store’s delivery charges and wait for several days for the stuff to arrive, it’s a valid option.

However, a third-party hire will be your better option if you want to make the most of your budget. And it can be your best option when you turn to Alpha Car Hire and our car rental deals and discounts.

 

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and has been updated for freshness, comprehensiveness and accuracy.