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Moving from Edinburgh to Glasgow

It is the most common move out of the city, and one of the easiest: one motorway, about an hour, and a day that rarely needs to start before breakfast.

The route

From most of Edinburgh the van joins the M8 at Hermiston Gait and stays on it all the way into Glasgow. From Leith or the north side, some drivers prefer the M9 and the M80, which come into Glasgow from the north-east. Either way it is around forty-five miles. The M8 is slow at both ends in the morning and evening rush, so a mid-morning start usually beats an early one.

How long does a man with a van take from Edinburgh to Glasgow?

About an hour of driving on the M8 outside the rush hour, plus the loading and unloading time you book. Most flat moves between the two cities fit comfortably into one day.

Choosing the loading time

The price already includes the driving, so the figure you choose in the form is the time for loading in Edinburgh and unloading in Glasgow, added together. Be honest about both ends. A top-floor flat with no lift takes far longer than a ground-floor one, and if the job runs over, the extra time is charged at the driver's rate, which you see before you book.

Can a removal van go into Glasgow's Low Emission Zone?

Only if it meets the same standard as Edinburgh's zone: Euro 6 for a diesel van and Euro 4 for petrol. Glasgow's zone covers the city centre and has been enforced since 1 June 2023.

Glasgow's zone is about a square mile, bounded by the M8 to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south and Saltmarket and High Street to the east. The M8 itself is not inside it, and it runs all day, every day. If your new address is in the city centre, say so in the notes when you book, and your driver will confirm the van is fine for it when they get in touch. The same applies at the Edinburgh end if you are moving out of the Old Town or the New Town: see the Low Emission Zone and your van.

What to sort out at the Glasgow end

Someone needs to be there with the keys when the van arrives. Check where it can stop: much of the West End, Finnieston and the Southside is tenements with controlled parking, much like Marchmont or Leith. Glasgow City Council runs its own permits and bay suspensions, so ask them, not Edinburgh. If the building has a lift or a loading bay that has to be booked, book it for the time your driver gives you, and put the details in the notes.

Can I travel with the van?

Usually, if there is a free seat in the cab. Ask your driver when they confirm the booking.