Hiring A Snowplow Vs Clearing Your Own Driveway: Which Is Best For You?

Waking up to a snowy landscape is peaceful and calming — until you realize that you need to leave the house, and your way out is covered in snow. Sure, there are tools that make snow removal easier, but after a few mornings out in the cold, you will probably find yourself wondering if it is better to just hire a plow. As nice as it sounds for a snowplow to just turn into your driveway while clearing the roads, hiring a plow doesn't quite work that way. It is important to assess the pros and cons of hiring a plow versus clearing snow yourself to determine what's best for your driveway. Your budget, your risk of injury, the urgency of snow clearing, and the size of your driveway are four of the main factors in this decision.

The first thing to consider when deciding whether hiring a plow is right for you is your budget. Hiring a snowplow for a driveway costs between about $45 and $160 for a single clearing, depending on the size and complexity of the driveway. For extremely long or steep driveways, prices can jump to a few hundred dollars. You may be able to save some money by hiring a plow to come every time it snows for a flat rate between about $300 and $1,000 through a seasonal contract. If these numbers are out of budget, it may be time to grab the snow shovel or snowblower. High-quality snow shovels can cost around $20, while new snowblowers start at around $300, but a decent one often costs closer to $1,000. Even if hiring a plow is in your budget, there is still more to think about.

Small driveways give plows minimal space to maneuver, which may make you concerned about what to do if a snowplow damages your property. If you have a small or complex driveway, a plow may not be able to maneuver at all, so you will have no choice but to shovel. Longer driveways that fit a plow, though, can benefit from quick, efficient plowing with less risk.

Time is another factor to consider. DIY clearing takes longer than plowing, and thousands of people are injured as a result of shoveling snow each year. Even if you ditch the shovel for better ways to remove snow, you will still be working outside in the cold, which is often not viable for those who are sick, elderly, or injured. This is especially true when you have many inches of dense, heavy snow rather than a couple of inches of light and powdery snow that can be shoveled more easily. If you are unable to shovel in the conditions and a neighbor can't help you out, then hiring a plow is a good idea. For healthy, able-bodied homeowners, clearing your own driveway, especially a small one, is often doable, though.

Finally, although hiring a plow means the job will be done efficiently and without risk of injury, you may be snowed in longer. Plows need to traverse snowy roads to get to your home, and they may have other jobs along the way, leaving you stuck indoors for somewhat unpredictable durations. On a tight schedule, building in snow shoveling time will be more reliable. Overall, with the right budget, a large driveway, lots of snow, and no strict schedule, hiring a plow is worth it.