Renting a moving truck is an excellent way to save money on a move.  By personally transporting your belongings, you avoid the extravagant costs of moving companies, and you don’t have to worry about loading your bedroom on the top of your car’s roof.  Of course, you better be prepared to load it and drive it yourself!

Renting a moving truck is easy compared to hiring a full-service company, but there are still some basic things you need to know.

Making a Reservation

You should reserve you moving truck at least two weeks prior to your move to ensure availability.

You’ll need to have some basic information on hand when you make your reservation.  Be prepared with your destination, date of your move and type of cargo you’ll be transporting (furniture, boxes, etc.).

You may need to put down an initial deposit, though not all rental companies require this.

If you’d like help finding a moving truck company, you can use MovingGuru’s free moving quotes page.

Truck Considerations

When making a reservation, you’ll have two major consideration: the rate and the type of truck.

Rates: The cost of your truck will depend on the size you need and the distance you intend to travel. The cost of gas, which is not included in the rental price, is another expense you’ll need to account for.

Features: You’ll be driving it, so do you need a radio?  A CD player?  Also, how big will you need your truck to be?  Most rental companies have websites that can assist you in determining which size truck will work for you.  Finally, does it come with tools like doollies or furniture pads?

Moving Day

Bring documentation – When going to pick up your rental truck, make sure you have your driver’s license and a major credit card.

Inspect the truck – Before driving away, inspect the truck with an employee, and be sure any scratches or dents are noted on your contract. Have your contract and any relevant documents in the truck with you at all times.

Drive safely – Moving trucks are unfamiliar for most drivers.  Before getting behind the wheel, you should know how to drive the moving truck and what to watch out for.

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