Enter some textHave you ever tried to hire a van on a Thursday morning, only to find that the size you needed was already booked? This article is for you.


We’ve just analysed 4,800 bookings made via Flexter in France between March 2025 and April 2026. The findings are clear: over a full month, barely 11% of van hire bookings are made on Saturdays. Thursday, the peak day, accounts for nearly 16%. That’s a difference of almost 50%, even though the fleet is exactly the same, parked in the same car parks.


The implication for tradespeople, self-employed workers and micro-businesses: the day everyone avoids is actually the one with the most availability.


The figures, plain and simple


Out of 100 vans hired via Flexter:


  • 16 are hired on Thursdays. Tradespeople, construction, professional removals. It’s the peak of the week.
  • 15 on Wednesdays. The middle of the week.
  • 15 on Mondays. Start-ups of building sites and Monday morning emergencies.
  • 11 on Saturdays. The quietest day. Every week.


And this is no fluke. Over the four weeks of the month, Saturday consistently lags behind, 30 to 40 per cent below peak days.


Why such a gap?


Three reasons, and none of them are very exciting (which is precisely why we don’t talk about them):


  1. Business demand is at its peak during the week. Logistics, construction, fleet renewals: it all happens from Monday to Friday.
  2. Private customers avoid the crowds. Most book on Thursday or Friday, thinking the weekend is fully booked. It isn’t.
  3. Rental companies don’t promote Saturdays. No dedicated promotions, no prominence in search results. The day flies under the radar.


The result: a quiet Saturday, with a full fleet gathering dust in the car park. An opportunity that’s right under everyone’s noses.


What this means for you


Self-employed workers who work at weekends. Tradespeople with a one-off job on a Saturday. Small businesses that need to make a delivery once a month. Here’s how it works:


  • More choice. Less demand, so more categories available. You won’t end up with the 3.5-tonne van just because that’s all that’s left.
  • More flexibility at the branch. Quieter days, shorter queues, staff more available.
  • Insurance included, just like every other day. At Flexter, excess waiver is included in every booking. Saturday isn’t a bargain day.


The bonus: the first week of the month


While we’re on the subject: the first week of the month (from the 1st to the 7th) is also the quietest. Around 23% of bookings, compared to 27% in the third week. If your needs are flexible (a personal move, a one-off job, a delivery that can be postponed by a day), shift your booking to the start of the month. It’s the simplest tip for hiring a van.


In summary


Most French people rent their vans on autopilot. Thursday morning. End of the month. Just like last time.


The 11% who stand out from the crowd have, without fanfare, a better experience: more choice, less hassle, at the same or a better price.


If you need to hire a van this month, look at Saturdays first. Then the first week of the month.


That’s the secret. There isn’t really any other.


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Further reading


Methodological note: the figures presented are based on Flexter booking data for the French market (March 2025 to April 2026, n = 4,800 completed bookings).