What to Consider When Reserving a U-Haul Rental Truck

U-Haul rental trucks continue to be a popular choice among do-it-yourself movers. With a variety of sizes to choose from, numerous locations nationwide, and a long list of add-on services available, the truck rental company is an especially convenient option for many. Of course, just like anything else, there are a number of things to consider when reserving a U-Haul rental truck. For starters, are you even old enough to drive a U-Haul rental? Will your belongings fit inside? Have you budgeted for fuel costs? These (and the other considerations below) are a few important things to keep in mind when renting a U-Haul truck.

The Age of the Driver

Of course, one very important consideration to make when renting a moving truck or trailer is your age. U-Haul requires that all customers be 16 years of age to rent a moving trailer and 18 years of age to rent a moving truck. All customers must have a valid driver’s license as well. If you do not meet the age requirements, you should arrange to have a qualified friend or parent rent and drive the moving truck for you.

Truck Rental Insurance

While purchasing rental truck insurance isn’t required in order to reserve a U-Haul rental, we highly recommended doing so anyway. Unfortunately, many auto insurance policies don’t cover truck or trailer rentals (although you should check your policy just in case!). This means if you get into an accident while driving a U-Haul rental truck, you may not be covered by your auto insurance. Thankfully, U-Haul offers several protection plans for purchase. These include: 1) Safemove, which includes damage waivers, cargo coverage, as well as medical and life coverage; 2) Safemove Plus, which includes all benefits of the Safemove plan plus an additional $1,000,000 in liability coverage for damages caused to others and their property, as well as exclusion free coverage on the damage waiver for any accidental damage to the rental truck; 3) Collision Damage Waiver, which provides coverage for cargo vans and pickup trucks. This type of protection covers damage after the first $150. For more information about U-Haul’s truck rental insurance options, check here.

Number of Passengers

Moving a long distance? If you and your family are planning to ride along in the U-Haul truck rental during the move, consider renting one that can accommodate all passengers. Unfortunately, most truck rentals are only capable of seating up to three passengers. They are also not considered to be car seat safe for children. U-Haul trucks capable of holding three passengers include its 8 ft. pickup truck, 15 ft. box truck, 17 ft. box truck, 20 ft. box truck and 26 ft. box truck. The truck rental company’s cargo van and 10 ft. box truck are only capable of seating two adults.

Size of the Truck

When reserving a U-Haul rental truck, it’s very important that you consider the size. The last thing you want to do is load up a truck only to realize later that the truck rental is too small to hold all of your belongings. When in doubt, size up. This will save you time and money in the long run. Fortunately, U-Haul offers a variety of sizes capable of holding every kind of move. The truck rental company’s 10 ft. and 15 ft. box truck rentals are a good choice for a one to two-bedroom home. The 17 ft. and 20 ft. box trucks are designed to hold a two to three-bedroom home. Those moving a large household of four-plus bedrooms should opt for the company’s largest truck rental option: the 26 ft. moving truck. For more information about choosing the right size U-Haul truck for your next move, check here.

Gas Mileage

No surprise here: truck rentals don’t get the best gas mileage. For this reason, you’ll need to consider the average cost of gas in your state, as well as the distance you’ll be traveling. Unfortunately, truck rentals tend to be gas guzzlers. U-Haul’s largest rental, the 26 ft. truck, only gets 10 miles per gallon of gas. Even its smaller trucks still require frequent gas station stops. In fact, U-Haul’s 10 ft. box truck only gets 12 miles per gallon. Of course, if you’re moving nearby, this may not be much of a concern. However, if you’re moving a long distance, you’ll need to add the estimated cost of fuel into your overall DIY moving budget. For more information about the gas mileage of a U-Haul truck, check here.

Equipment Rentals

When renting a truck from U-Haul, be sure to consider whether or not you need equipment rentals and/or other various add-on services. These may include trailers, storage options moving labor, boxes, dollies, packing supplies, rope and tie downs, hitches, bike racks, wheelchair carriers, hitch accessories, RV and boat accessories, motorcycle towing and more. The truck rental company offers these in addition to its moving trucks. Customers can reserve or purchase these add-ons when they schedule their truck rental reservation.

Moving Assistance

When renting a U-Haul, you’ll need to consider how exactly you plan to load and unload the rental truck. Handling a DIY move by yourself isn’t the most efficient (or safest) way to go about moving to a new home. Those on a tight budget will need to consider asking friends and family for assistance on moving day. Make sure to ask them well in advance in order to avoid scheduling conflicts. If friends and family aren’t available to help, consider finding moving day labor on Moving.com’s search engine, powered by HireAHelper. This online marketplace allows customers to find, compare and book professionals to assist with all of their moving day labor needs. According to HireAHelper, these packing experts are either labor-only movers or full-service moving companies willing to send out their movers for specialized jobs.

Ready to Rent a Moving Truck?

U-Haul isn’t the only truck rental option available to DIY movers. In fact, there are a number of other moving truck rental companies to choose from when planning your next relocation. Thankfully, Moving.com’s truck rental center makes it easy to find the one that best fits your budget and needs. Best of luck and happy moving!