Can You Put a Car Seat in a Rental Truck?

Can you put a car seat in a U-Haul truck? If you’re a parent, this question may be top of mind when planning a DIY move – and for good reason. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, over 1,600 children under the age of 15 die every year in a car crash. To keep your child safe on the road during an upcoming move, it’s important that you adhere to certain car seat safety guidelines. Keep reading for more information on these guidelines and how they pertain to truck rentals.

Where can I find important car seat safety guidelines?

If you are parent, we recommend following the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) car seat safety guidelines when transporting your child in any type of fast moving (or slow moving!) vehicle.

Using the correct car seat for a baby or small child ages one to 12 is an absolute must. All car seats should be placed in the back seat of the car – never in the front passenger seat. Car seats for newborns and young toddlers should also be placed in the rear-facing position. The NHTSA recommends that children stay in the rear-facing position for as long as possible. Once they outgrow the rear-facing car seat, they should be placed in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. The child should outgrow their forward-facing car seat by the ages of four to seven years old. Around this time, they can transition to a booster seat.

However, the NHTSA points out that even a booster seat should always be placed in the back seat of a car. Children should stay in a booster seat until they are big enough for a seat belt to fit properly. This means that “the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face,” per the NHTSA. Regardless of whether the child is in a car seat, booster seat or seat belt, they should always sit in the back seat of the car.

Are there laws requiring car seats for children?

Yes. All states require car seats and booster seats for babies and young children. However, requirements based on age, weight and height vary from state to state, according to the Governors Highway Safety Administration. For this reason, it’s important that you look into your state’s specific laws and requirements regarding child passenger safety.

So can you put a car seat in a U-Haul truck rental?

Unfortunately, U-Haul truck rentals aren’t equipped with back seats. Due to the lack of rear seating, many parents do not consider truck rentals to be safe modes of transportation for babies and small children. However, many truck rentals are equipped with air bags and seatbelts, making them safe for adults.

As for seating capacity, U-Haul claims that its larger trucks (15 ft., 17 ft., 20 ft. and 26 ft.) are capable of seating up to three adults. However, the key word here is “adults.” U-Haul points out that most of their trucks “are equipped with air bags and may not satisfy local requirements for car seats.” The company recommends driving the baby in a separate vehicle from the truck rental.

What about other rental truck companies?

Budget – Budget Truck Rental offers three different size moving trucks (12 ft., 16 ft. and 26 ft.). Only the largest truck can seat up to three people. The other two sizes only seat two adults. The truck rental company does not offer infant safety seats and points out that none of the trucks have back seats. Customers are responsible for providing car seats and following federal/state regulations regarding children in car seats.
Penske – Penske Truck Rental offers four different size moving trucks (12 ft., 16 ft., 22 ft. and 26 ft.). These trucks seat up to two or three adults. However, they do not have a back seat, making these vehicles less than ideal for transporting babies and young children.

Are there safer options for moving with a baby or small child?

Even if you can’t put a car or booster seat in the truck rental, you can still move your child through other means. Here are a few solutions:

Drive a second car – You can always ask a friend or family member to drive the truck rental, while you drive the child in a separate vehicle.
Rent a moving container –Renting a moving container is one of the best DIY alternatives to driving a truck rental. It’s cheaper than hiring full service movers and can double as a storage solution for complicated moves. If you decide to rent a moving container, you’ll have three days to load and unload. The container company will take care of all transportation, so you don’t have to worry about hauling your belongings to the new home.
Ship your items – If you’re only moving a handful of items long distance, try shipping them to their destination via USPS.
Use a freight trailer – Moving a household of belongings long distance is no easy feat. Fortunately, freight trailers provide customers with an affordable and DIY hybrid moving service. Customers load and unload the trailer themselves, while the freight moving company handles the transportation.

All of these options allow you to drive your own car during a move. This way you can place the baby or small child in a back seat with a proper car seat, keeping them sound and safe during a move.

Other tips for moving with a baby or toddler

Hire a babysitter
Pack a moving day essentials bag specifically for your child
Provide entertainment
Bring a pack ‘n play
Unpack the nursery or child’s bedroom first
Enlist help with packing and unpacking
Baby-proof the new home

For more tips on moving with a baby or small child check here and here.

Ready to move?

Moving with babies and young children can certainly be a challenge. To streamline your next family move, try using Moving.com’s helpful Move Planner tool. Our customizable moving checklists, personal tasks list, email reminders and coupons make planning your move easier than ever.