5 Things You Should Know When Renting a Moving Truck

by Judy Cooper 07/28/2019

Packing for a move is fun, and at the same time challenging. The fun side is you are moving to a new home, on the other hand, there is the task of making sure you do not forget anything. Homeowners with an eye to saving on costs prefer a DIY move, and for most of them, their go-to rental truck company is U-Haul. U-Haul trucks are cheap and are available across many cities. Although they may look inviting, there are some specific things many people do not know about U-Haul rentals. Knowing these things might help you make a more informed decision:

1. Reserve Special Vehicles for local moves

Are you going on a long-distance move? If yes, then you need to have a second thought before visiting the nearest U-Haul because you may not get the kind of vehicles you want to rent. Special vehicles like a cargo van, open trailer or pickup truck are not available for a long distance move so if you are going on a long journey and you were thinking of renting a cargo van then you have to consider another truck rental company.

2. You may not be able to speed or Use Cruise Control

Still, on the long-distance move, you might be hoping of stepping on the gas and zooming off to your new home before nightfall. However, not all U-Haul vehicles have the cruise control option. Also, the weight of the equipment on the vehicle and a possible speed governor system might play a significant role in how fast you will drive.

3. You are not guaranteed the truck that you reserve

How would you feel if you requested for particular kind of vehicle and upon arrival, it wasn't available? Angry, right? That is what happens most times at U-Haul. Customers are not guaranteed the ruck they reserve, and when they get there, they are sent to another location or in a worst-case scenario given a bigger truck that might use more gas, which costs more money.

4. U-Haul doesn't add fuel to their prices

Depending on how far your trip might be, fuel has a significant impact on the total cost of a U-Haul rental. When you rent a truck from U-Haul, you will have two options; fuel the truck yourself or use the U-Haul's EZ-fuel service which is separate from the cost of renting the truck.

5. U-Haul is a franchise business.

Lastly, before you rent a truck from U-Haul, get your mind ready to deal with different procedures, regulations, and management. These may determine how long you spend the office since each office will have completely different management and practices.

When moving to a new home, you will need to rent a truck that can carry all your belongings. If you don't like the option of doing it yourself, there are many professional moving companies that you can use to make your move as smooth as possible.

About the Author
Author

Judy Cooper

Hi, I'm Judy Cooper and I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.