- Brits move home five times on average, making 25 trips and shifting the equivalent of 36 carloads of belongings each time, often leading to stress, arguments and broken items.
- Moving is overwhelmingly stressful, with 93% saying it’s one of life’s most stressful experiences and 77% making more trips than expected due to limited vehicle space.
- Pick-ups are seen as a practical solution, with 83% saying moving would be significantly easier with a pick-up, highlighting their growing role as everyday vehicles, not just workhorses.
Moving home may mark a fresh start, but for most Brits it comes with stress, strain and far more car journeys than expected. New research from Isuzu UK reveals just how demanding moving house is on people, relationships and vehicles alike, and why more drivers are realising that a pick-up truck could make one of life’s biggest upheavals far easier.
A new survey of 2,000 UK adults by Isuzu has revealed the sheer scale of Britain’s lifetime house-moving habits, and the pivotal role vehicles play in getting us, and our belongings, from A to B.
According to the findings, the average Brit will move home five times over the course of their life, shifting an astonishing 36 loads’ worth of possessions in an average family car between properties, over 25 trips.
In fact, Brits regularly play Tetris with their boxes and vehicles, trying to squeeze in as many as 36 every time they move, leading to at least three arguments, three bouts of tears and screaming they wished they hadn’t decided to move three times. It also results in an average of three items being broken.
It’s no surprise that 77% say they always end up making more trips to their new home than they thought they would – an average of five per move.
With so much heavy lifting, cramming and numerous round trips, the survey highlights why many drivers wish they had a more capable vehicle during their moves, with eight in ten (83%) of those polled saying that moving day would be “significantly easier” with a pick-up truck, thanks to its ability to transport bulky items like furniture, white goods and garden equipment in fewer journeys.
Isuzu says the findings underline how pick-up trucks are increasingly being seen as practical, everyday solutions rather than purely workhorse vehicles.
Head of Marketing at Isuzu UK, George Wallis, said: “The survey shows that moving remains one of the most stressful things you can do in life, putting pressure on relationships, finances and even your vehicle. It’s probably one of the most demanding loads you’ll ever carry.
“The D-Max is built to shoulder that burden, big loads, awkward items, rough ground, no fuss. It’s why so many people now see pick-ups as everyday tools, the Isuzu D-Max is the smarter move.”
The survey also revealed a growing frustration with the limitations of smaller cars when it comes to transporting personal belongings, with one in six (17%) admitting that trying to get as much as possible in their vehicle, despite it being unable to cope with the volume, is one of the most stressful things about moving.
In addition to trying to get as much as possible in your car, seven in ten (70%) hate packing everything up, 46% feel their blood pressure rise when deciding what to keep and what to throw away, and 42% dislike leaving a home full of memories.
It’s no wonder that one in three (32%) hate trying to move everything themselves, with a WHOPPING 93% going a step further and saying that moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do in life.
With the cost and stress of moving already high, it’s clear that many Brits would love to have access to a pick-up truck to cut time, fuel and hassle, enabling them to haul more in one go and reduce reliance on rentals or professional movers.
MOVING HOME IN A LIFETIME… THE FACTS:
- 5 moves
- 25 trips between your old and new home
- 36 carloads of belongings
- 180 boxes squeezed into the car
- 45 days spent packing everything up
- 20 times spent scratching your head about how you’re going to get everything in the car
- 15 arguments with your partner
- 15 bouts of tears
- 15 broken items
- And 15 times you wish you never bothered to move
The findings presented in this release are based on a nationally representative online survey conducted for Isuzu via research and insights agency Perspectus Global in January 2026.