How to Rent a Moving Truck

Renting a moving truck is an integral part of the moving process. Many first time, and even mildly experienced movers make mistakes that end up costing a lot of time and money. Here is what you need to do to rent a moving truck successfully.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Determine How Big Your Moving Truck Should Be

1. Consider the typical guide for the size of a moving truck. The rental company will have a written guide. Basically, a cargo van should be used when you are moving a studio apartment, a 12- to 15-foot truck should be used for three rooms or less, a 20-foot truck is needed for four or five rooms, and a 24-foot truck is needed for six, seven, or eight rooms.

2. Consider the exceptions to the basic rental truck size guide. If you have large, overstuffed furniture, have fragile items that need lots of padding, or have many large pieces, consider getting a bigger truck. If your home is furnished sparsely, or you have small, or collapsible pieces, you may want a smaller truck.

3. If you are pressed for time to do the move, such as only having one morning to move, consider renting two medium trucks instead of one large one. It will help you to load faster as you don't have to fit pieces together as in a puzzle.

Renting the Moving Truck

4. Call the moving truck companies to shop for prices. As you speak to the representatives, write down their names, prices for each size, confirmation numbers if you decide to have them hold a truck for you. Keep this information where you will not lose it, and hold on to it until after your credit card has been charged for the move.

5. On the day of your move, you will need to go to the rental company with your credit card, and driver’s license in hand. If you are not the one driving the truck, you will need to bring them with their driver’s license as well.

6. The moving truck rental company will write your contract, and without a doubt, add many fees and insurances to the price. Check these numbers against what you were told on the phone to check for inconsistencies. If you are renting a small truck that you feel comfortable driving, you can turn down the insurance policy, as it is likely that your own policy (which you have brought with you) will cover any accidents in the rental truck.

7. Before leaving the grounds in the rental truck, be sure a representative inspects the truck with you. Look for any and all signs of existing damages and be sure they mark them on the inspection sheet of which you will receive a copy. No matter how busy the company is on this day, do not let them skip this step. If you do not check for damages, you could end up being charged for damages from the previous customer, or you may end up in a truck that is unsafe.

Returning the Rented Moving Truck

8. Return the moving truck on time. If you are going to be late, call the company to let them know. This way you will know if there will be additional charges.

9. If you can, return the truck during business hours so another inspection of the truck can be completed. This way you will not be charged for damage that happened after the truck was dropped of.

10. Fill the rental truck with gas (according to the contract) unless you have made another agreement. Moving truck rental companies will charge you two or three times the actual cost of gas if they have to fill it for you.

Tips & Warnings

• When in doubt, go a size larger.
• Obey all the rules of the rental truck company.
• Do not rent a moving truck for someone else to use unless you are driving the truck and helping them move. Rental trucks are hard to drive, and you don’t want to be charged for someone else’s damages, or get sued by the company for renting the truck for someone not on the contract.

[isatoy]

on 2/16/2009 It is best to call and reserve a truck and dolly 6-8 weeks before your move.