Need a modern vehicle to help you forge connections and reach a wide audience? With an exhibition van, you’ll have an engagement piece that can cover long distances – the ideal choice for month-long tours and extended roadshows! But is it right for you?
Here, we look at why exhibition vans are so popular, what you need to consider when you hire, and how they’ve helped brands to teach, spread awareness, and gain new fans.
Why should I hire an exhibition van?
This roadshow vehicle is beloved by people of all ages. Here’s why…
A spacious blank canvas
Exhibition van hire gives you a branded showcase, featuring high vertical walls and plenty of space for decorating. Its shape encourages high-impact visuals, from logos and imagery to straplines and information. This will naturally attract an audience, so your activation can hit the ground running. And with a large, modular interior, every inch can be used effectively.
Big visuals at a cost-effective price
Buying and customising an exhibition vehicle can cost up to £100,000, especially if you need something very specific and ambitious. With a hire, you’ll pay just a fraction of this cost. In fact, we very often have something that’s partially fitted out, saving on the cost of your internal changes. All external branding is included in the price of hire, helping to maximise your campaign’s ROI.
Perfect for outreach, education and more!
An exhibition vehicle offers plenty of space to bring people on board, so it’s great for product demos, sampling, consultations, or blending fun and education into one package. While it’s often the van of choice for trades and health organisations, it’s also popular with the likes of Kellogg’s, Premier Foods and Weetabix – so it’s very versatile!
A reliable driving experience
Many promotional vehicles are built for style, especially if they’re vintage. Exhibition vans, on the other hand, are built for the road. More than just a mobile exhibition unit, your van will provide an enjoyable drive, whether you’re visiting a few cities or running a nationwide tour.
This reliability means that while we normally drive your hire vehicle for you, you can drive it yourself if it's for a month or more. We can also offer dry hire if you need the vehicle for at least 6 months. We suggest following these 8 steps to get your campaign started.
What do I need to consider?
Think about the following to get the most from exhibition van hire…
Building an engaging space
An exhibition vehicle can be fully transformed into meeting rooms, reception areas, and engagement spaces.
The Beattie & Pets at Home van was furnished with a seating area, display shelf and treat station to raise awareness for animal anxiety. Ministry of Fun, on the other hand, wanted a library inside a roadshow vehicle to highlight the importance of reading.
See the case studies below for more examples or visit our bespoke design and build guide to learn more about this transformative service.
Finding the right venues
An exhibition van is highly mobile, but you’ll still need a place to stop and bring guests on board. Depending on your target audience, this could be outside a shopping centre or supermarket, in a car park, close to a busy train station, or even at a school or university. While some places will be receptive to this, you can still face restrictions.
We recommend asking these 7 questions before you book a venue, and if you need help, ask us to consult with site owners or recommend locations that fit the brief.
How to power your campaign
As a fully mobile exhibition unit and engagement piece, your van will need reliable power to ensure guests receive the best experience possible. And while most roadshow vehicles need lighting, you may have something specific in mind like fridges, laptop stations or TV screens.
See the power options available and let us know what you need. We can even build an eco-friendly setup with lithium power and sustainable materials for a green campaign.
Which exhibition vehicles can I hire?
With several models available, we offer a more flexible exhibition van hire service.
The electric Ford E-Transit
Want an electric van with a small footprint and zero carbon emissions? Look no further than this versatile vehicle, designed for everyday use. Its battery can be quickly powered using a DC fast charger, while the spacious loading area can be transformed into a unique guest experience. Compact enough for busy streets but large enough for all kinds of activations!
We customised this vehicle for Switchee to create an eco-friendly demo and meeting room. It also featured solar panels, a digital screen and dedicated storage space.
The modern exhibition low-loader custom
The mid-sized option, this multi-purpose vehicle can be configured to meet your requirements. Either use the sampling hatch for easy serving and engagement or open the doors for public access. More space inside means more space to decorate, making it a solid choice for engagement and guest immersion.
Weetabix, Kellogg’s, ARA, the NICEIC, Premier Foods and English Heritage all decided this was the perfect vehicle for their needs.
The large exhibition vehicle
With a floorplan more than 7 metres long, it’s the ultimate roadshow vehicle and easy to recommend for long-term use. The outside offers enough space for multiple designs, or you can simply go bigger with your slogans or messaging. A great bet for the most ambitious ideas, when you need a fully mobile exhibition unit that can engage people like never before.
Curaleaf, Beattie, Ministry of Fun and Debt Free London all used this to vehicle to create immersive environments.
How exhibition vans helped brands succeed
Learn how an exhibition vehicle can take your event or roadshow to the next level.
Tesco – To celebrate its centenary, the supermarket wanted a reliable exhibition vehicle that could travel to 19 locations over 3 weeks. The outside was fully branded, while the inside was kitted out with standees and a drinks station. The vehicle was complemented with a spin-the-wheel game, brand ambassadors, and even Mr. Blobby himself!
See the ‘Tesco on tour’ exhibition van
BiOrbic – An institute of researchers working on renewable materials, BiOrbic wanted to educate children and adults across Ireland. We produced a modular display to look like an Irish home, using FSC-approved wood to support their message. Exhibition vehicle hire had to align with their values, so we also ensured the van ran entirely on biofuel.
Discover how BiOrbic spread the word
Kinetik Wellbeing – Specialising in blood pressure monitors, Kinetik wanted to advertise what they do by providing free health checks. The doors were adorned with information, stats and a QR code, while the vehicle’s exterior displayed bold messaging. Inside, the van was fitted with furniture and plants to create a comfortable space.
How much does exhibition van hire cost?
Using our budget calculator, you can see the cost of an exhibition vehicle starts from just £8,900 for a 7-day activation, including the full external branding. This is just an estimate, with the final figure depending on the scope of the project. It also depends on the services you need, as outlined in our campaign costs and services guide.
Get started with the calculator to see if one of our exhibition vans is right for you!
