Moving house comes with a long list of decisions, and one of the first is which truck to hire. Book something too small and you are back for a second load in evening traffic, while booking something too large means paying for space that travels empty. This guide should make that part of the planning a little easier, with a straightforward comparison of truck sizes and the household each one suits.
What size truck do I need to move house? As a general guide in Auckland, a 1-bedroom flat suits a small truck of around 9 to 12 cubic metres, a 2 to 3 bedroom house suits a medium truck of 14 to 16 cubic metres, and a 4 to 5 bedroom home tends to need an extra-large truck of 20 to 23 cubic metres.
Basic Rentals has trucks in each of those sizes, alongside cargo vans, cars and trailers, all available from our Takanini base in South Auckland. Every truck in the moving range drives on a standard New Zealand car licence, so there is no special licence to sort out first. Booking takes a few minutes online, where you can pick your size, dates and any extras in one go, and our team is happy to talk the sizing through with you.
- Truck Sizes Available at Basic Rentals
- What Size Truck Fits Your Household?
- Do You Need a Special Licence to Hire a Moving Truck in Auckland?
- Moving Truck Hire FAQs
- Book Your Truck Hire in Auckland
Truck Sizes Available at Basic Rentals
Truck sizes are measured in cubic metres, which is the amount of space inside the back of the truck. A small truck holds around 9 to 12 of them and our largest holds up to 23, with each step up in size adding roughly a bedroom’s worth of furniture and boxes. Load capacity is listed too, though on a standard household move you will usually run out of space well before you run out of weight. Here is how the range compares.
| Truck Size | Cargo Space | Load Capacity | Internal Dimensions (L x H x W) | Best Suited To |
| Small Truck | 9 to 12m³ | 1,600kg to 2,000kg | 3.1m x 1.9m x 1.8m | 1 to 2 bedroom homes and furniture pickups |
| Medium Truck | 14 to 16m³ | 2,000kg | 4.4m x 2.1m x 1.8m | 2 to 3 bedroom homes |
| Large Truck | 17 to 20m³ | 2,000kg | 4.5m x 2.1m x 2.1m | 3 to 4 bedroom homes |
| Extra-Large Truck with Lift | 20 to 23m³ | 2,000kg | 5.1m x 2.1m x 2.1m | 4 to 5 bedroom homes |
Our small and medium trucks are automatic, which tends to suit anyone who has not driven a truck before. Both are also narrow enough to handle standard suburban driveways and apartment loading bays without much fuss.
Tail lift versions are available across the range, which is worth considering if you are moving heavy whiteware or shifting a house without much help on the day. Our extra-large trucks come with a 500kg tail lift and a reversing camera, and they seat up to three people, so there is room to bring a hand along with the load.
What Size Truck Fits Your Household?
The number of bedrooms in a home usually tracks fairly closely with the volume of furniture and boxes that need shifting, which makes it a useful starting point. The table below gives the general pairing, and the notes underneath cover when you might want to size up or down.
| Your Home | Recommended Truck | Cargo Space |
| Studio or 1-bedroom flat | Small truck | 9 to 12m³ |
| 2 to 3 bedroom house | Medium truck | 14 to 16m³ |
| 3 to 4 bedroom house | Large truck | 17 to 20m³ |
| 4 to 5 bedroom house | Extra-large truck with lift | 20 to 23m³ |
For a studio or 1-bedroom flat, a small truck usually has it covered. A bed, a sofa, a fridge, a washing machine and several dozen boxes will generally fit inside 9 to 12 cubic metres, and the compact size makes narrow driveways and inner-city streets a good deal easier to manage.
A 2 to 3 bedroom house tends to suit a medium truck. Two or three bedrooms of furniture, whiteware, a dining set and a full kitchen of boxes add up quickly, and 14 to 16 cubic metres will usually cover that in a single trip. If your garage is also full of tools, sports gear or garden equipment, it is worth looking at a large truck instead.
Larger households moving from a 3 to 4 bedroom home are generally best served by a large truck, and a 4 to 5 bedroom home is where an extra-large truck with lift comes into its own. At up to 23 cubic metres, it is the most volume available on a car licence, and the tail lift helps a lot when the fridge and the washing machine are the last things to go on.
Every home is different, so use this as a starting point rather than a final answer. Two houses with the same number of bedrooms can hold very different volumes, so a well-packed 3 bedroom house might sit comfortably in a medium truck while another fills a large one. Where a load includes something out of the ordinary, a piano, a workshop or years of accumulated garage storage, a quick call or online chat will settle the sizing before you book. Our truck hire guide for Auckland covers the rest of the booking process if you want the wider picture.
Do You Need a Special Licence to Hire a Moving Truck in Auckland?
No, a heavy vehicle licence is not needed for any of the moving trucks above. Every truck in our Class 1 range, from a small truck through to an extra-large truck with lift, can be driven on a standard New Zealand Class 1 car licence with no endorsement required.
Our extra-large trucks sit right at the legal ceiling for a car licence, which is why they are the largest vehicles we can hand over without a heavy vehicle class. A full Class 1 licence covers vehicles up to 6,000kg gross laden weight, and lower limits apply on a learner or restricted licence. The NZTA driver licence classes page has the current detail, or you can mention your licence stage when booking and our team will confirm which trucks you are covered for. The full hire requirements sit in the Basic Rentals terms and conditions.
Moving Truck Hire FAQs
How far in advance should I book a moving truck?
Month-end dates and weekends are the busiest slots in the calendar, and the larger trucks are usually the first to go. A week or two of notice gives you the widest choice of size, particularly if you are moving between December and February.
Can I hire a truck for a same-day house move in Auckland?
Same-day and last-minute hires are often possible, subject to availability. It helps to call rather than book online at short notice, since our team can tell you straight away what is available that day. Our guide to flexible moving solutions for last-minute renters has more on moving at short notice.
How do I know my furniture will actually fit?
Measure your largest items before booking, particularly the fridge, the wardrobe and any sofa that was a tight squeeze last time. Checking those measurements against the internal dimensions in the table above takes the guesswork out of the decision.
What should I check about access at each property?
Driveway width, overhanging trees and low garage clearance are the three that catch people out, so it pays to look at both ends of the move before the day. It is also worth working out how far you will be carrying items between the truck and the front door, since that affects how long the move takes more than most people expect.
Where can I park a moving truck on the day?
On-street parking is straightforward in most suburbs, though the central suburbs have time restrictions and residential parking zones to work around. Auckland Transport has the current permit information if your street needs one.
When should I book if I am renting?
Line your truck up with your tenancy dates rather than the other way around. A periodic tenancy needs at least 28 days written notice under the rules published by Tenancy Services, so locking in your final day first will save you changing the booking later.
Do you supply trolleys, straps and blankets?
Yes, a Movers Pack with a hand trolley, heavy-duty straps and furniture blankets can be added to any truck booking, and it will be ready at pickup. Our post on what to do before picking up your rental van or truck runs through the rest of the collection process.
What if my load turns out to be smaller than expected?
A cargo van or a trailer may cover the same job for less, so there is no need to size up out of caution. Our guides to cheap truck rental in Auckland and moving on a budget go into the cost side in more detail.
Book Your Truck Hire in Auckland
Choosing a size does not need to hold up the rest of your planning. Whether you are shifting a 1-bedroom flat or a full family home, there is a truck in the range to match, and our team is here to help you find the right fit for your moving needs.
You can see availability for your moving date, choose your truck and add a Movers Pack in the same booking, and pickup is from our Takanini yard in South Auckland. View truck hire in Auckland to check availability and book your moving truck today.