What To Check Before You Book A Cheap Advertising Van
A full-size advertising van costs from £999 a day in the UK: that is our Digital AdVan with its 35sqm full-motion LED screen, and the rate includes the driver, route planning, GPS tracking and photo and video proof, ex VAT. If a quote comes in far below £999, something on that list is smaller, missing or sold separately, and this page shows you how to find out which.
There is also an honest way to pay less. We are launching three single-sided fully electric AdVans in autumn 2026, from £499 a day, and you can register interest now. Until then, run these seven checks on any advertising van quote before you book.
Updated August 2026. All prices ex VAT.
Why Are Some Advertising Vans So Cheap?
Because "advertising van" covers a very wide market. A £999 day and a much cheaper day are usually not the same product: the screen can be a fraction of the size, the quote can be brokered by someone who has never seen the vehicle, and the day rate can cover the van and nothing else, with the driver brief, the tracking and the proof sold back to you as extras.
Our own position is simple: with vans, we are the operator. The Digital AdVans and AdBikes are our vehicles with our drivers and riders, and every format we plan beyond them runs at rates we publish openly. Whoever you buy a van from, you should always know who actually operates it, and the checklist below is exactly what we would ask anyone else.
Our flagship AdVan: 35sqm of broadcast quality P3 LED, drawn to scale.
Screen area is where cheap quotes hide the difference. Whatever van you are offered, ask for the exact sqm per side and compare it with this.
What Should You Ask Before Booking An Advertising Van?
Seven questions. Each one takes an operator seconds to answer if the answer is good, and the pauses tell you as much as the replies.
1. How big is the screen, exactly?
Ask: For the screen size in square metres, per side and in total, in writing. Screen size is the single biggest difference between advertising vans, and it is the number most often missing from a cheap quote.
Good looks like: A specific sqm figure for every side, plus confirmation the screen runs full-motion video and holds up in daylight. Many vans on the market run far smaller screens than their photos suggest, so ask for the exact sqm before you compare prices.
At £999 a day we include: 35sqm of broadcast quality P3 LED across three screens, two 15sqm sides and a 5sqm rear, full-motion and 3D ready, on a van 4 metres tall.
2. Who employs and briefs the driver?
Ask: Who the driver works for, who briefs them on your campaign, and who you call while the van is out.
Good looks like: The company quoting you also operates the vehicle and briefs the driver, and you get a named contact on the day, not a forwarding inbox.
At £999 a day we include: Our own drivers, briefed by the same in-house team that plans your route, with a dedicated operations manager on every campaign.
3. Are GPS tracking and proof included, or extra?
Ask: Whether GPS route tracking and photo and video proof sit inside the day rate, and when you receive them.
Good looks like: Both included and delivered without chasing, so you can show exactly where the van went and what it looked like on the street.
At £999 a day we include: GPS route tracking plus professional photography and video on every campaign, included at £999. Optional AI analytics add estimated audience exposure on top.
4. Who plans the route, and around what?
Ask: Who builds the route, what it is based on, and whether you approve it before the day.
Good looks like: A route planned around your audience and agreed in advance, with the flexibility to keep moving or to hold a static position at a hotspot.
At £999 a day we include: Route planning is included: every route is planned to hit high footfall areas and event hotspots, agreed with you first, and the van can run mobile or park where the crowd is.
5. Is the campaign insured, and can they prove it?
Ask: For written confirmation of public liability insurance and for RAMS documentation.
Good looks like: A fast yes on both. An operator who cannot produce the paperwork is a risk you inherit on the street.
At £999 a day we include: Every campaign is fully insured with public liability cover, and complete RAMS documentation is available on request.
6. What happens if the van breaks down?
Ask: Who owns the vehicle, who maintains it, and what the plan is if it goes off the road mid-campaign.
Good looks like: A straight answer from the people who own the van. "We will check with our supplier" means your campaign is waiting on someone you have no contract with.
At £999 a day we include: We own, build and maintain our fleet in-house, so the problem and the fix sit with the same team you booked, and you hear the plan from us directly.
7. What exactly does the day rate include?
Ask: For the full list in writing: van, driver, route planning, tracking, proof, and every possible extra with a price against it.
Good looks like: One number that covers the campaign, with any add-ons priced before you book, not discovered on the invoice.
At £999 a day we include: £999 a day covers the van, the driver, route planning, GPS tracking and photo and video proof. Multi-day campaigns drop the day rate by around 10 to 15%, major event weeks run about 25% higher, and we tell you both up front.
What Should An Advertising Van Quote Include?
The same seven checks as one table. Put any two quotes side by side on these lines and the real price difference shows itself.
| Check | The question to ask | Our £999 day rate |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | Exact sqm per side and in total, in writing | 35sqm full-motion LED: two 15sqm sides plus a 5sqm rear |
| Driver | Who employs them and who briefs them | Our own driver, briefed in-house, ops manager on call |
| Route planning | Who plans it, and is it approved by you | Included, planned around your audience, agreed in advance |
| GPS tracking | Included or extra | Included |
| Photo and video proof | Included or extra, and when it arrives | Included on every campaign |
| Insurance and RAMS | Written confirmation available | Fully insured, RAMS documentation on request |
| Breakdown | Who owns the van and who fixes it | Our fleet, maintained in-house, one team start to finish |
| The price | Total ex VAT with every extra listed | From £999 a day ex VAT, nothing extra needed to run |
All prices ex VAT. Full screen specs, campaign photography and the complete FAQ are on our AdVan advertising page.
What If £999 Is More Than The Budget?
From autumn 2026 the answer changes. We are launching three single-sided fully electric AdVans from £499 a day: a genuinely lower price that comes from a smaller single-sided format, not from quietly removing the driver brief, the tracking or the proof. Register interest through the contact page and we will confirm launch dates and availability. The current 35sqm Digital AdVan stays bookable now from £999 a day.
Today, the published budget route into mobile advertising is the Digital AdBike, from £400 a day in Central London with the rider, GPS tracking and photo proof included. For what £500, £1,000 or £2,500 books across every format we sell, see the outdoor advertising budget guide.
Single-Sided Electric AdVans
Three fully electric vans join the fleet in autumn 2026. Register interest now and we will contact you before launch.
This checklist is how we run our own AdVan campaigns, including Icelandair, Velo x McLaren F1 and Carers Trust. See the work in our case studies.
Advertising Van Costs, Answered
How much does an advertising van cost in the UK?
Why are some advertising vans so cheap?
What should an advertising van quote include?
How do I compare advertising van hire quotes?
What is the £499 advertising van?
How quickly can an advertising van campaign launch?
Is a cheap advertising van ever the right choice?
Ready To Price A Van Properly?
The free mobile billboard cost calculator prices AdVan days, AdBike days and combined packages from the same published rates, no email required. Or send the brief and we come back with routes, availability and an exact quote within one working day.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 020 3961 7058.