Skip permits cost a fortune, grab lorries can’t get down half the streets in Hackney and normal Transit vans fill up after one trip to the tip. Enter the cage van hire london (or caged tipper). It’s a 3.5-tonne Transit with a big metal cage on the back that tips straight into the skip at the recycling centre. You drive it yourself, load as much as you like, no weight tickets, no waiting for a grab driver. Perfect for builders clearing sites in Islington, landscapers in Dulwich or homeowners gutting a kitchen in Brixton. Cheaper than grab hire, more flexible than a skip and you control the day.
What a Proper Cage Van Actually Looks Like
Standard cage van is a Ford Transit or VW Crafter chassis with an aluminium or steel cage bolted on the back. Cage is usually 2–2.4 metres high, so you can pile rubbish sky-high. Payload around 1,000–1,200 kg. Dropside or tail-lift versions exist too. You need a normal car licence (pre-1997 licence holders can even take the 7.5-tonne ones). Inside London the 3.5-tonne ones dodge the congestion charge if they’re Euro 6 diesel or electric.
Real Prices for Cage Van Hire London This Year
Daily hire (24 hours) – £90–£140 Half day (4–5 hours) – £60–£90 Weekend (Fri pm – Mon am) – £180–£250 Week – £450–£650
Insurance excess usually £1,000 but you can buy it down to £250 for a tenner. Fuel is extra – budget £30–£40 for a busy day tipping. Cheaper than most places outside London because the hire firms are fighting for trade.
Best Places to Pick Up a Cage Van in London
North London – North London Van Hire (Edmonton), A10 Van Hire (Enfield) East London – Practical Car & Van Rental (Stratford), Yelo Hire (Bow) South London – SJ Grab Hire (Croydon), FlexiVan (Battersea) West London – Kenhire (Park Royal), Heathrow Van Hire Central – City Van Hire near Old Street has a couple of electric ones
All these places have 9–10 ft cages, open 7 am–7 pm weekdays and half-day Saturday. Book online or just walk in.
Where You Can Actually Tip a Cage Van in London
Best tips that take cage vans without booking:
- Powerday in Willesden (NW10) – £30–£40 a load
- Brewsters in Romford – cheap and quick
- Lathams in Walthamstow – pay by card
- Mitcham Transfer Station (CR4) – council one, £25-ish
- Croydon Reuse Centre if it’s clean wood/metal
Avoid the big commercial tips like Rainham on Saturday mornings unless you love queuing for two hours.
What You Can and Cannot Chuck In
Yes – soil, rubble, wood, plasterboard, green waste, old kitchen units, bathroom suites No – asbestos, fridges, freezers, tyres, paint tins, gas bottles
Most tips charge extra for plasterboard now (£10–£15 per bag) so bag it separate.
How to Load It Like a Pro and Save Trips
Lower the sides, put heavy stuff at the front over the axle. Stack bricks flat, not on end. Fill the cage to the top – you paid for the space. Tie a net or ratchet straps over the top if it’s light and fluffy. One properly loaded cage van equals three normal Transit loads. Saves you two hours and another hire day.
Quick Checklist Before You Drive Off
Check tyre pressures – they run flat if the last bloke overloaded Take a couple of ratchet straps and a tarp Bring a shovel and broom – tips love a clean van back Fill the tank – most firms charge £2 a litre if you bring it back empty Take photos of any existing damage or they’ll try it on
Same-Day Cage Van Hire When You’re in the Brown Stuff
Rang at 7 am because the landlord is coming at 4 pm? North London Van Hire and Practical Stratford usually have one spare if you’re lucky. Ring round – someone always has a cancellation. Worst case, Yelo in Bow keeps two on standby for panic merchants.
Final Word – Just Hire the Bloody Cage Van
Cage van hire London is the cheapest, fastest, least stressful way to clear any site under three tonnes. Drive it yourself, tip where you want, no waiting for anyone else. £120 for the day and your rubbish is history. Stop faffing about with skips and grab quotes – book a cage van tomorrow and get your life back.
