How Much Does a U-Haul Really Cost? We Found Out.

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Updated for 2023

 

We’ve all seen it: that $19.95 per day deal that’s advertised on the side of seemingly every U-Haul truck and van across the country. And that price looks mighty nice.

But just like renting a truck is only one small part of your move, that $19.95 U-Haul rate is likely to end up being just a fraction of your final bill. We know, because we went out to rent a U-Haul with one question in mind: how much does a U-Haul really cost? 

Here’s absolutely everything we learned.


The Big U-Haul Cost Breakdown

How much does a U-Haul truck rental cost?

After trying to rent a truck on their website, we found out the $19.95 price point refers to local moves only, not a “one-way” move, where you drop off at a different location – aka a long-distance move. (More on those prices later.)

The famous $19.95 price point is also exclusive to any one of their three smallest options:

  • 8’ U-Haul pickup truck
  • 9’ U-Haul cargo van
  • 10’ U-Haul Rental truck (what we rented)
How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

“To get your actual U-Haul cost, you need to add up all of their other fees that come with renting a U-Haul.”

And most importantly, the $19.95 only accounts for U-Haul’s “rental truck fee”. (And while this price is consistent for local moves, mileage rate and taxes can vary based on location.)

Here are the U-Haul fees that make up one (1) U-Haul bill

  • Rental truck fee ($19.95/day — subject to availability)
  • Mileage fee: rate varies by regional location/distance driven (Doesn’t apply to trailers)
  • Damage protection fees (aka insurance)
  • Fuel costs (Doesn’t apply to trailers)
  • Environmental fees (Doesn’t apply to trailers)
  • Equipment rentals
  • Miscellaneous fees (e.g., Cleaning, toll, damage, parking, convenience, drop-off fees)
  • Taxes
  • https://blog.hireahelper.com/wp-admin/edit.php

How much did it cost for us to rent a U-Haul for a day?

Our final cost was $52.40 for the most bare-bones rental imaginable.

Below we break down how U-Haul gets their prices, what else we could have bought instead, as well as what we had to do to get our quotes.

How much do the bigger U-Haul trucks cost?

 

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

It’s not possible to pinpoint the exact cost of a specific truck size because mileage and tax rates vary, but local U-Haul truck costs are consistent everywhere. There are sites that ballpark individual truck size costs, but if you want an estimate based on user-reported, real-time prices for U-Haul moves, click on the graph below.

 

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
Moving101 Real-Time Pricing Page

 

Can you rent a U-Haul for more than a day?

Yes, you can (usually) extend your rental at the same daily rate if you need it longer than 24 hours (for a local move). All we had to do was call before the truck was due back and ask the store for an extension.

There’s also no limit to the number of days we could extend our rental. The only exception would be if our truck was reserved for the days we wanted. That’s why it’s best to extend your rental when you make your original reservation. Otherwise, you have to return your truck and get a new rental truck that isn’t reserved for the additional days you want.

If you wanted to extend your rental to multiple days and there were no rental trucks available, U-Haul would likely sell you on one of their moving containers as an alternative, if those are available in your area.

“Paying for a U-Haul in cash? We were told cash customers need to put down a $100 deposit or the estimated rental charges, whichever is more. (Yes, seriously.) This would eventually be reimbursed – minus our total cost – upon return of the vehicle.”

For long-distance moves, depending on the distance, U-Haul assigns a minimum number of days with your truck. This might just be a single day for a shorter distance like 150 miles or less. We asked and yes, you can add days to your long-distance rental — but only with advance coordination with your local U-Haul store, and only as long as your truck is still available.

Beware: U-Haul tacks on an ADDITIONAL $40 fee to every day you keep your truck after five days.

Here are the daily U-Haul rates for adding days to a U-Haul long-distance truck rental:

  • U-Haul trucks – $40 per day
  • U-Haul trailers – $20 per day
  • U-Haul towing devices – $20 per day

By the way, there are no discounts for returning the moving truck earlier than the minimum assigned number of days, but you still can return it earlier. Virtually the only advantages would be that it would reduce the likelihood of anything happening to the truck while in your care, and to get it off your to-do list.


Trailers and Hitches 101: How exactly does renting a U-Haul cargo trailer work?

How much does a U-Haul cost?
Middletownstorage.com

We didn’t rent a cargo trailer with our truck, but we got all the info straight from U-Haul.

There are three types of trailers U-Haul offers:

  • Cargo
  • Utility
  • Car carrier (Available only at some locations)

For smaller loads or something super fragile (or heck, even quarantined), U-Haul offers trailers that hitch to cars and trucks, pending location availability. U-Haul likes to say they’re perfect for moving a dorm room.

Like their trucks, U-Haul advertises these as being as cheap as $14.95 (not including tax), and just like the trucks, that quote is only for the smallest versions of them AND only if you’re moving locally. There’s no limit to the number of days you can keep them, as long as availability permits. You generally get five days to use a U-Haul trailer for long-distance moves. Your quote will be based on your start and end locations.

 

Here’s $25 Off Movers

$25 Off Coupon

 

All trailers are subject to regular U-Haul fees (minus gas and mileage) and – most importantly – come with an installation fee if you don’t have the proper hitch.

How much does it cost to get a U-Haul hitch installed on my vehicle?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
Tacomaworld.com

All types of U-Haul trailers require a proper hitch and lighting to hook to your vehicle.

You can use your own hitch if it’s compatible – a Class 2 or Class 3 with a 2-inch hitch ball (a Class 1 is kinda like a bike rack hitch, in case you’re curious). If you don’t have a proper hitch, you must have one installed. You can either get that done on your own, or make an appointment to have U-Haul install a hitch for a fee roughly around $100 or greater.

But note that U-Haul won’t install third-party hitches. Of course, trailer hitches and installation is an additional fee to your U-Haul rental bill.

For the heck of it, we asked U-Haul how much it would cost to get one of our cars modded for towing a trailer, and for pieces and installation. We were quoted $509.07 online to mod my incredible 2014 Kia Soul.

  • Hitch: $149.95
  • Hitch lifetime warranty: $5
  • Ball mount $24.95
  • Hitch ball $12.95
  • Pine & clip: $2.95
  • Wiring: $89.95
  • 2-year wiring service plan: $10
  • Installation fee: $180
  • Taxes: $33.32
  • Total after taxes: $509.07

The U-Haul rep I spoke with about hitches told me that the cost of installation depends on the complexity of the installation. Installation tends to be cheaper on older cars because the electrical wiring is simpler than with more expensive, newer cars.

(Fun fact: we were actually quoted a better price over the phone – $458.80 – so you may want to give U-Haul a call, as well as run an online quote for the hitch.)

Either way, this isn’t exactly a steal, given that doesn’t even include the rental. But at least you’ll be good to go for the future. You will be buying all the pieces you need, but expect to get up-charged versus if you found the pieces elsewhere.

Let it be known that technically, you can actually rent a trailer for your U-Haul truck rental (which already has a hitch and lighting hook up on it) if for whatever reason you needed a little additional space.

What’s the difference between the three different U-Haul trailers?

There are actually three different kinds of trailers you can typically rent. (Note: there might be more at an official U-Haul dealership.)

U-Haul Cargo Trailers

uhaul trailer
subaruoutback.org

U-Haul cargo trailers officially come in three different sizes and come with a built-in, lockable latch, so they’re secure.

uhaul cargo trailer
UHaul.com

None of them generally come built with the U-Haul “EZ Ramp,” so prepare for that.

How much does a U-Haul Cargo Trailer cost?

For local moves, U-Haul trailer rentals generally cost as little as $14.95 before fees, and as much as $29.95 for the biggest size, after fees.

Without any hitch installation and for single-day use, the smallest cargo trailer (4’x8′) with no ramp was quoted to us at exactly $14.95, before taxes or miscellaneous fees. For their biggest cargo trailer (6’x12′), it was $29.95 under the same stipulations.

For a long-distance move, that quote goes out the window. Our quote from Florida to Texas for the smallest trailer (4′x8′), minus the taxes and miscellaneous fees and for up to seven days, was $114.00 plus tax. And the largest cargo trailer (6′x12′) was $257.00 plus tax! This is exactly how your U-Haul price can skyrocket fast.

Don’t forget the hitch installation charges if you need it, which adds another couple hundred, at minimum, depending on the year/make/model of your car.

U-Haul Utility Trailers

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

Utility trailers are needed when you have to transport something tall or oddly shaped. So when you move your arcade cabinet (okay, probably a refrigerator), you can strap it to this and haul it behind your vehicle.

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

Bring your own ramp, though, because only the 5′ x 9′ and 6′ x 12′ utility trailers come with U-Haul’s fold-out “EZ ramps”. (Careful, they rent a 6′ x 12′ trailer without a ramp, too.)

How much does a U-Haul Utility Trailer cost?

tow haul
You may see this sticker inside your U-Haul

For local moves, prices generally begin at $14.95 and go up to $34.95 for the biggest size. The daily local rates don’t vary.

We were only able to get a quote for a long-distance move for a 5′ x 9′ Utility Trailer because it turns out the 4′ x7′, 5′ x 8′, and 6′ x12′ Utility Trailers are only available for local and roundtrip moves. Our quote was $153 plus the rental fee and taxes for five (5) days from Clearwater, FL to Arlington, TX. (Keep in mind this doesn’t include optional damage coverage or if you need to have a hitch installed.)

You can expect both larger and smaller utility trailers to scale roughly the same in cost as U-Haul Cargo Trailers.

U-Haul Vehicle Trailer

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
corvetteforum.com

Finally, if you need to tow a vehicle and aren’t looking to ship your car, check U-Haul’s car towing site, and maybe also call ahead to see if the U-Haul near you has any car and motorcycle trailers available.

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

This type of move can definitely save you some cash compared to normal car shipping, but keep in mind that do-it-yourself car transport is not for moving rookies and requires a lot of time and some skill.

How much does a U-Haul Vehicle Trailer cost?

For our local move, U-Haul trailer rental rates for a tow dolly for a front-wheel drive vehicle started at $44.95/day and an auto transport trailer started at $54.95/day.

To get an idea for a hypothetical long-distance move, we came prepared with two faraway ZIP Codes. Before fees, our quote from Florida to Texas was quoted as $80 for a tow dolly and $222 for an auto transport trailer for 5 days. We thought this was pretty cheap, as long as you’re up for driving it yourself.

“…(W)e had to reproduce the same or another form of payment in person, regardless of what we used online to reserve it. Makes sense, but it might be a stumbling block for some people.”

Keep in mind that hitch installation, taxes and other fees are not included in this quote, which as you can see, can add hundreds more to this cost.

Oh, by the way, the rep told us U-Haul won’t let you rent any trailer of any kind if your vehicle doesn’t have a hardtop, SUV and Jeep included. They also strongly recommend you not exceed 55mph with any of this stuff attached to your vehicle.

How much do U-Haul U-Box containers cost?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

We also didn’t actually rent a storage container but were told they are available for long-distance moves. Here was our quote, though:

My U-Box Container Quote for Clearwater, FL to Arlington, TX

U-Box Container that fits about 1.5 rooms (+1-month use): $99.95
2-dozen furniture pads: FREE
Gentle ride shipping (guaranteed delivery 13 days after pickup): $1,242
One-way transit fuel cost: FREE
Truck delivery: $115
Subtotal (before taxes): $1,456.95

However, according to Moving101’s real-time, user-reported prices, the average price for a U-Box move is $2,755.

For a complete breakdown on all U-Box moving container costs before you make your U-Haul U-Box reservation, check out the Moving101 U-Box page.


How U-Haul Mileage and Gas Fees Work

How much does U-Haul charge for mileage?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?

 

In general, the price per mile is region-specific. Mileage rates are also higher for local moves.

For a rental truck:

  • Our quote was $1.09/mile for Los Angeles on a Wednesday. On a Saturday, the quote we got was $1.39/mile.
  • In the Midwest, it’s more common to find price points of $0.79 (for a truck) or $0.69 (for a van or pick-up) per mile on a weekday. On a Saturday, we found these rates were $1.49/mile and $0.99/mile, respectively.
  • Meanwhile, the mileage rate for either U-Haul rental pick-up trucks or U-Haul vans are typically $0.69–$0.79/mile on a weekday and $0.79–$0.99/mile on a Saturday.

We drove the U-Haul all of eight miles from and back to the U-Haul store to take pictures. For this, we were charged $0.99/mile, for a total of $7.92.

Imagine, now, how much your mileage fee will stack if you drive your rental 20, 50, maybe even 100 or more miles to and from the rental location? That’s why some call it “consumer-unfriendly“. Let’s hope there are U-Haul coupons out there somewhere.

“If returned with less than 1/4 tank, I agree to pay a $30.00 service fee.”

-U-Haul customer agreement receipt

What are the mileage rates for a long-distance/one-way U-Haul rental?

If you’re moving long-distance, a certain number of miles is accounted for and rolled into your final rate. There are technically no mileage limits, but if you drive more than this number, you’ll be charged $0.40/mile, which seems to be consistent for long-distance rentals regardless of location.

Remember, a one-way/long-distance to U-Haul simply means dropping it off at a different location than the one you rented it from. Technically, this could mean as near as a town over. Keep this in mind when typing in “U-Haul near me” into Google… just return it to where you got it.

Also, mileage is cheaper for long-distance moves, but other fees are way, way more expensive, so make sure you stick to local (in-town) rates, if possible.

Do U-Hauls have unlimited miles?

With U-Haul, there’s no limit to the number of miles you are allowed to drive.

But remember, for local, in-town rentals, miles are never included in the rate – you’re charged per mile. For long-distance moves, you’ll be charged $0.40/mile for anything beyond the expected mileage that U-Haul declares is necessary for your move.  

If you do need to put on some extra miles, you’re better off looking at Penske or Budget. This area is where the $19.95 price promise really falls apart, unless you’re moving something across the street from your U-Haul store.

How do U-Haul gas fees work?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?

Simply put, you will pay for any gas you use. You gotta bring it back with at least as much gas as it started with.

The U-Haul clerk marked down the exact mileage and gave us their daily rate for gasoline. We had the choice of filling up what we used ourselves out in the wild, or paying U-Haul $6.25 a gallon (!) to do it for us after we returned it as a “convenience fee.”

And heed this warning straight from our receipt: “If returned with less than 1/4 tank, I agree to pay a $30.00 service fee.”

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
U-Haul mileage gauge

We spoke with a U-Haul rep who told us there’s no universal rule at U-Haul for this convenience fee, so this may be location-specific. (Oh, and in case you were wondering, U-Haul usually won’t reimburse you if you return the truck with more gas than you had to start with, so easy does it at the gas pump.)

Protip: Here’s how to save money on your rental truck’s gas.

How much mileage (MPG) does a U-Haul truck get?

A 10′ U-Haul truck should get in the neighborhood of about 7–10 mpg, although this can vary depending on what size truck you rent. The 15′ trucks and bigger are equipped with a fuel economy meter on the dashboard that shows you whether or not you’re getting the “Best MPG” in real-time. Our 10-footer had one too.

Protip: Normally, U-Haul is supposed to give you a truck with a full tank, but the tank can have less than this, and you’re only required to replace the gas you use. (We were given a truck with 5/16 of a tank of gas.) Make sure your truck’s tank is full when you take it off the lot. And by full, we mean full! (The fuel tank capacity for the 10′ truck is 33 gallons according to the equipment contract.)

When you pick up your truck, your U-Haul rep might think “full” means the needle on the gas gauge is more or less at full. But when you drop it off, that same rep will likely insist it isn’t full if there isn’t gas splashing out from under the gas cap.


U-Haul Insurance and Movers 101

What are my U-Haul insurance options?

U-Haul has two (2) main kinds of insurance. They’re called SafeMove and SafeMove Plus. Just like everything else, the added cost varies depending on whether you’re move is local or long-distance.

Keep in mind that absolutely no U-Haul insurance covers damages due to …improper packing, normal shifting of cargo in transit or theft of cargo“. When in doubt, U-Haul will probably win out.

Here are the differences between their two insurances.

SafeMove

SafeMove is basically coverage for if someone hits your truck. It gives you:

  • Damage waiver: Covers most accident damage to the rental equipment (doesn’t include collision with an overhead object)
  • Cargo protection: For loss or damage to the stuff in the vehicle (cargo)
  • Medical/life protection: Life coverage for the people in the cab of a U-Haul rental truck

You’ll have to look to your own insurance if you hit someone else, or get Safemove Plus, which covers you against damage done to another vehicle. And your stuff inside is only covered if you get hit, there’s a fire, a windstorm, or if your truck literally overturns.

“There are no formal military, senior, or student discounts at U-Haul. However, it’s up to the discretion of the U-Haul store you’re renting at if they offer it for asking.”

SafeMove Plus

SafeMove Plus is basically the coverage for if you were to cause an accident:

  • Coverage for accidental damage of any kind
  • Limited coverage for the stuff in the vehicle (cargo coverage)
  • Life coverage for the people in the vehicle
  • Supplemental liability coverage

It covers overhead damage, like the kind you see on YouTube where people slam their trucks into low clearances, as well as tire protection. (You know, the two most likely things to go wrong if anything were to go wrong.) And as a “safeguard” to your personal insurance, if you were to cause an accident or mess up their equipment somehow, this covers up the first million dollars (literally) of losses.

For our tiny little “move,” we were scared by U-Haul customer service into picking up U-Haul’s regular SafeMove coverage for $14. SafeMove Plus would have cost us $28.

Do I have to buy insurance with my U-Haul?

No, you don’t have to buy insurance of any kind to rent a U-Haul.

Here’s the thing though. While you’re statistically in the clear, U-Haul’s policies are perfectly crafted to screw you if absolutely anything were to go wrong.

  • Your personal auto insurance policy most likely does not cover damages to rental trucks
  • Your credit card likely does not cover any damages to rental trucks
  • You are responsible for damages even if it’s not your fault, including things like vandalism
  • Some stores told us you have to pay U-Haul the exact moment you return the vehicle for any and all damages, while others told us it goes through insurance — so, uh, probably ask

Keep in mind that U-Haul only offers SafeMove for their rental trucks. Pickup trucks and vans have their own type of insurance they call Collision Damage Waiver (CDW).

 

The difference between a move that takes you all day, breaks your back and your friendships, and keeps your stuff out of the hands of amateurs could be as little as $200 … Movers may be the most value you can get from any single add-on.”

 

U-Haul also offers SafeTrip for $5 extra per day, which means if you need roadside assistance they’ll send someone out to help. Kind of sad that you have to pay extra for this, but the option is there.

Bonus Insurance: SafeTow

SafeTow is U-Haul’s coverage for trailers, tow dollies, and auto transports. It’s available at different coverage levels from $8 per day up to $16 per day. Here’s what it covers: 

  • Damage to the rental trailer or towing device
  • Damage to your cargo or vehicle while being transported with a U-Haul rental trailer, auto transport or tow dolly
  • Medical and life protection for you in case of an accident (passengers are covered only if they’re riding in the passenger area)

Damages and cleaning fees

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?

Also, if you leave some kind of a noticeable mess, they will charge you up to $25. Maybe don’t eat while you drive … or transport hay.

U-Haul Equipment

We didn’t rent any equipment or buy any boxes or supplies, but we definitely had the option!

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
U-Haul stores give you a wide range of boxes and equipment to choose from online, and in person.

Sure, it’s possible to move without renting (or buying) any special equipment. But even if you hire a crew of movers to come in with all their hand trucks and dollies to load (and unload) your truck, you’ll at minimum still need your own blankets to protect your belongings.

Here’s how much the stuff cost for us.

Average* U-Haul equipment purchase prices:

  • Padlock: $4.95 to $16.96 (Best value is a 4-pack for $10) unless you want to get really fancy with a $49.95 braided steel cable lock
  • Stretch wrap: $9.49
  • Boxes: $1.09 to $16.95 per box (Wide varieties available)
  • Tie Down Rope: $3.95
  • Straps: $9.95 to $15.95 
  • Roll of packing tape: $3.95
  • Furniture dolly: $19.95
  • Hand dolly: $75.75 online (but a different model was on sale in the store for $49.95)
  • Furniture pads: $7.95 each

Keep in mind that you can rent some equipment versus buying it. U-Haul has furniture pads for $5 per half dozen, as well as furniture dollies ($7 for local and $12 for one-way/long-distance moves) and appliance dollies ($10 for local and $15 for one-way/long-distance moves).

*These prices came from U-Haul’s website and may vary by location. You may want to check your local store first before buying online in case their prices are cheaper.

 

How much does moving labor cost?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?

When you go to a U-Haul shop, it’s likely they’ll try and sell you on movers. Even the inside of their trucks have advertisements for moving labor all over them.

How much are U-Haul movers? Movers prices will vary dramatically, depending on the number of hours booked, how many movers you book, whether they are doing a load, unload, or both, and how soon you need them. U-Haul’s rate is for two helpers, and there’s a two-hour minimum per location (your starting point and end point). But if both locations are near each other, you may be able to combine the loading and unloading at both locations into one two-hour block.

Movers through U-Haul cost as little as $200 to as much as $5,000, which is why you need to get your own moving quote to compare against theirs.

moving equipment
Moving equipment can sometimes add up to cost almost as much as local movers!

The way U-Haul’s movers work is that they have a network of local move helpers that sign up to receive job requests via their marketplace. But unlike HireAHelper’s $1,000 guarantee if anything goes wrong or gets broken during a mover, with U-Haul you’re mostly taking your chances. They’ll connect you with movers, but it’s beetween you and them after that.

We found this part of their terms a little unsettling:

“Furthermore, the Moving Help request and its acceptance and if applicable, any resulting provision of Services, are solely between You and the Moving Helper. Therefore, when and where there are any claims, demands, liabilities, damages or losses incurred as a result of the same, You, your heirs, successors and assigns, do hereby waive and release Us (Our officers, directors, agents, parent, subsidiaries, affiliated companies and employees) from any such claims, demands, liabilities, damages or losses.

You acknowledge and agree that both You and the Moving Helper each have the right to pursue a claim against one another in a Court of competent jurisdiction or in another similar forum of dispute resolution.”

This, compared to cheap movers through HireAHelper, which provides some insurance for free (and $1,000 service guarantee if anything goes wrong), plus additional insurance starting at $12.

And in case you were wondering, for us to add movers to our made-up, on-the-spot move, U-Haul quoted us $312.

Are movers actually worth it?

The difference between a move that takes you all day, breaks your back and your friendships, and keeps your stuff out of the hands of amateurs could be as little as $200, depending on how much stuff you have. Movers may be the most value you can get from any single add-on.


Other Factors That Affect Your U-Haul Cost

What actually happens at the U-Haul store after you reserve online or over the phone

U-Haul reservation text
Here is the reservation text you get after you reserve a vehicle

We went online and used a credit card to book a 10′ rental truck, and we thought the booking was all paid up. But it wasn’t — our card was just used to make the reservation.

While our vehicle was reserved online (thank goodness), we had to reproduce the same or another form of payment in person (cash was acceptable as well), regardless of what we used online to reserve it. Makes sense, but might be a stumbling block for some people.

After that, U-Haul put a hold on our bank account upfront for all the estimated costs (rental fee, environmental fee, tax, and mileage). They asked us how many miles they thought we’d drive for our local move and added that to the total cost for the hold. If you end up driving less, they’ll charge you less in the end. If you end up driving more, they’ll charge more. Plus they’ll add any applicable miscellaneous fees.

When we returned with the vehicle, they checked out the truck before charging us to verify gas level and mileage (and probably to check for damages). We were given a paper receipt with the total costs. Because we used a debit card already on file, no further action was needed.

Paying for a U-Haul in cash?

We were told cash customers need to put down a $100 deposit or the estimated rental charges, whichever is more. (Yes, seriously.) This would eventually be reimbursed – minus our total cost – upon return of the vehicle.

Here’s how the cash payment breakdown works, straight from their website:

“If you’re paying with cash, the following is due when you pick up your equipment:*

  • Local/in-town truck: $100 or estimated rental charges (whichever is greater)
  • One-way truck: $100 plus rental rate 

*Cargo vans and pickup trucks must be reserved with a credit card. Deposits cannot be made in cash.

The total estimated charges for your rental are due when you pick up your equipment regardless of your method of payment. Payment can be made by credit card, debit card or cash. 

Cash is accepted for pickup and van rentals. However, a valid credit or debit card with a major credit card logo will also need to be presented in the name of the renter.”

Haggling and U-Haul coupons

There are no formal military, senior, or student discounts at U-Haul. However, it’s up to the discretion of the U-Haul store you’re renting at if they offer it for asking. The rep let it leak that anywhere between 10-15% discount is what they’re allowed to apply to an order if they decide.

How old do you have to be to rent a U-Haul? 

Wanting to test the age limits, we sent one of our 20-year-old team members to officially do the honors of picking up the vehicle. No matter, as U-Haul says you need only be 18 years old with a valid driver’s license, and just 16 years old to rent a trailer attachment.


The Cheapest We Were Able to Get Our U-Haul

Our final cost for our U-Haul was $52.40.

  • Rental Fee: $19.95
  • Mileage Charge: $7.92
  • SafeMove Insurance: $14.00
  • Environmental Fee: $1
  • 1.6 Gallons of Gas from U-Haul: $7.51
  • Tax on Rental: $2.02

Total: $52.40

We got a 10′ truck, U-Haul’s smallest with no ramp, and drove it a “colossal” eight miles. We bought the cheapest insurance, absolutely zero equipment and zero labor, and got hit with no other fees (since we didn’t actually put anything in the truck).

Our bill was still almost three times the advertised price.

Of course, $52.40 isn’t a bad deal, depending on what you need it for. The problem is that if you needed only a quick lift to pick something up, $50+ can render a lot of good deals useless.

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
The $19.95 truck has raised wheel wells inside the vehicle, which takes up some serious space in your rental truck.

On the other hand, if you were seriously moving, odds are great you’d drive many more miles, and your mileage would probably be way higher, given you probably aren’t hauling air. And if it’s during the busy moving season, the rental rate will likely be greater than $19.95.

An extremely conservative estimate for a very small, local move is probably closer to around $125 for the rental. You’ll realistically need one of the larger trucks for a real move.

And that is strictly local. For long-distance moves, even a small load will be much closer to $1,000 or more. And that is assuming you don’t need a hitch installed.


The Bottom Line

Nobody pays $19.95 plus tax. How much you finally shell out will depend on your circumstances, your preferences and your requirements. Keep the above in mind as you plan out your move. You’ll probably save at least enough for some extra coffee on the drive to your new home!

I’m a Millennial and I Hired Movers, Here’s What Happened

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After a lawless period of asking my friends for help moving throughout my early twenties, then straining my romantic relationships in my late twenties, I have arrived in my thirties ready to embrace movers! Like a lot of young people though, I didn’t exactly know how hiring movers even worked.

But when our dream Los Angeles apartment dropped into our lap, I found myself at a crossroads. Half the judgemental voices in my head were screaming to do the heavy lifting myself, while the other half murmured exhaustedly that I’m too old for that.

One thing both voices agreed on, though, was hiring movers for free. I couldn’t have been more delighted when HireAHelper stepped in to help me out. Yep, they offered me an all-expenses-paid move! (Though we did cover the tip ourselves, which I hope serves as a reminder whenever you get something for free.)

All that was expected of me in return was to book it myself and give an honest review. So here goes.

How Does Getting Movers Actually Work?

Whereas my previous moves inevitably began about a week (or let’s be honest, a few days) before the move as I threw everything into boxes, the conversations about this move started a whole couple of months ahead of my move.

Turns out, for a local move you can book shockingly affordable professional movers online without having to even talk to anyone, and it doesn’t even matter if it’s next day or next month. (But as you might imagine, the early bird gets the worm.)

All you need to be able to see hourly rates is a ZIP Code and a hypothetical move date to see who’s available near you — that’s literally it. 

Third-party sites like HireAHelper.com keep moving companies honest.

Or if you’re brave like me, you can just call and talk to a real-life customer service person. She got me mover booked in like, literally five minutes. (Sidenote: I learned booking a long-distance move needs a little more communication, but it’s the same basic idea.)

What does a moving company ask you when you book movers?

For a local move like mine, not a whole lot, honestly. Over the phone (and its the same online), they asked me:

  • The rough moving date
  • Distance traveling (aka a second ZIP Code/address)
  • Type of residence (e.g., home, apartment, condo, business, etc.)
  • Number of bedrooms
  • If you want labor-only or need them to bring a truck

Four out of five of those were easy answers — we were moving our West Hollywood one-bedroom apartment five miles east to Los Feliz, which qualified it as a local move — but the date itself was seriously up in the air.

After giving these few details, the person on the phone suggested how many movers I’d probably need and how many hours they’d likely need to finish my specific move.

I was still worried about the date though. We were initially told we could move in at the beginning of the month at the earliest, and definitely by the 15th, but I was starting to get a little suspicious that construction was going to take longer. 

Not knowing the exact moving date is a fact that would 100% have derailed me if I was doing this by myself, but luckily, my new friend Sandy didn’t seem bothered by that issue at all. She told me we should just get a date on the calendar and we could always move it later. 

Sandy was able to score me an appointment with Rigo’s Moving & Storage, one of LA’s top-rated moving companies. (They currently have a 4.9 rating out of 5, with nearly 500 reviews.) 

 

“Honestly, my most difficult task was figuring out what to do while everyone around me was being so industrious, but it was over so quickly that I hardly even had time to get uncomfortable”

 

Instead of belated “sorry, can’t make it” texts from my weary friends on the day-of, I got confirmation emails from HAH and Rigo’s in quick succession, and just like that, the move itself was off my plate. I suddenly felt like I could focus on work, packing, and the many other stressors that come with a move. 

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What happens before moving day?

On the Monday before the beginning of the month move — yes, I was right about the construction — my phone rang. My immediate thought? “Omg, my friend with the van is about to bail.” But then I snapped awake, remembering that I’m not in my twenties anymore.

It was actually my moving company, calling to confirm my 9:00 a.m. appointment later that week. Then the evening before the actual move, I received yet another call. I thought it might be one final confirmation, or Rigo’s coming to their senses and ditching me to go to brunch, but it turned out to be HireAHelper reviewing my info for the next day. 

On the phone, my movers asked if there was a reason for booking a 12-foot truck, which he thought was kind of small. He then asked if they could send a 26-foot truck instead, free of charge, just to make sure his team didn’t have to make multiple trips.

Sure now that this was a prank call from Ashton Kutcher and that I didn’t have movers coming at all, I agreed. (And it turns out, no, HireAHelper did not put them up to this.) The main thing I contributed was packing.

What exactly happens on moving day?

The next day, right smack dab in the middle of the moving window, I got another call. Now, surely, this would be the moment when everything fell apart and I’d have to make twenty sweaty car trips while my boyfriend and I stewed in irritated, exhausted silence.

But nope! It was a heads up that our movers were ten minutes away, followed by another when they were right outside. (If you’re keeping track, that’s four separate phone calls confirming and communicating about a single move, which was incredibly reassuring to someone scarred by the stress of previous moves.)

Before I knew it, four movers descended on our apartment and asked for a few details on what was going and what was staying before launching into work. A big part of me was still assuming I’d get put to work, but in a ceaseless wave of motion, they:

  • Plastic-wrapped furniture
  • Disassembled our bed frame
  • Took endless rounds of boxes down the apartment complex stairs

Honestly, my most difficult task was figuring out what to do while everyone around me was being so industrious, but it was over so quickly that I hardly even had time to get uncomfortable.

Okay, then what happens during the unload?

After just over an hour, our apartment was empty and the Rigo’s guys told us we could head to the next location; they were already prepped with the address, so nobody needed to wait on each other. (A far cry from having a three-car caravan follow me to the new address and inevitably losing one of my ducklings at every traffic light and having to circle back.)

We drove all of 20 minutes to Los Feliz and arrived just as the window for our moving permit was opening, so there was plenty of space available on our street for the upgraded truck. (I had to reserve a time with the city to make room for the trucks by the way!) 

 

“…in the process of squeezing up and down the stairs, there was some scuffing that happened to the newly-painted walls…I pointed it out to one of the movers…and he assured me that he’d already taken photos and that someone would be reaching out to make sure I got compensated.”

 

This side of the move was decidedly more difficult, as our new apartment has an upstairs (!!!) and a lot more space, so I posted up in the living room to direct traffic. I’d also labeled each box with either a “UP” for upstairs or a “D” for downstairs so that I wouldn’t need to be present for every decision. (The habit of giving up control apparently dies hard.)

One of the movers got right to work upstairs reassembling our bed frame, calling down to me to make sure he’d placed it in a position I’d like (okay, communication!!), while the other three made trip after trip to the truck, coaxing the dolly up the outside steps and carefully negotiating larger items up the cramped indoor staircase.

They would have been well within their rights to complain, as I have nonstop when helping friends move in the past. But the funny thing about people being paid instead of doing you a favor is that they’re as motivated to do it quickly and well.

Then it was over?

At least I was sweating by the time the last box had made it inside, but it all still felt like it was over in a snap. Three hours might sound like a long time for a move, but it pales in comparison to the 10- and 12-hour marathons I’ve put myself through in the past. 

But this time around, my lovely boyfriend verified that all our items made it on a spreadsheet he’d prepared, I signed the paperwork for Rigo’s, and our four-person team was out the door and back in their truck, all before noon, and with no greasy pizza boxes to clean up or anything!

Post-Move Thoughts

With a bit of hindsight to mull things over, here’s what I think: If I had this move to do over again, I would change very little, even if I was using my own money. 

There were for sure little things that weren’t ideal, like the fact that two of our movers didn’t wear masks. (To be fair, I was too nervous to ask them to, but if you find yourself in a similar position, please ask! You’re paying for a service, and you’re absolutely in the right to expect your movers to adhere to both public health guidelines and those COVID-19 policies laid out by HAH.)

Another small downside is that in the process of squeezing up and down the stairs, there was some scuffing that happened to the newly-painted walls. Feeling very thirty-something, I pointed it out to one of the movers when I signed the paperwork, and he assured me that he’d already taken photos and that someone would be reaching out to make sure I got compensated. 

But other than those two things, honestly, everything went beautifully.

The move could not have been faster or smoother, our sectional is stable, the bed frame was rebuilt beautifully, and not one single item I moved was damaged in the process. My boyfriend was so enamored with this move that he says next time we should have the movers pack for us, too. To which I say… but then what would we fight about??

2021 Review: My Move With a Penske® Truck

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When it comes to moving truck rental companies, your cup runneth over in terms of choice. You’re probably looking for any little detail to help one option stand out from the rest, so I’m going to tell you my experience moving with Penske, a national truck rental company that supports commercial, personal, local, and long-distance moves.

How does getting a Penske truck work for a local move?

My journey began on the company’s website—specifically, its personal rental page and not the commercial one.

They have this page they call the Penske’s Truck Wizard tool, which I used to determine which size vehicle I should rent. I clicked “Get a Quote” and then added my desired dates and my pick-up and drop-off location information.

penske
Penske’s truck wizard can help you approximate what size truck you’ll need – Penske.com

The first time I moved, I was making a local move within my state, so I selected the same spot for both to keep costs down: Hackensack, New Jersey. 

Then you pick the day

I chose a weekend for vehicle pick-up. Penske automatically determined the drop-off date based on my move details, inviting me to add up rental supplies and spring for insurance. Thankfully, I was also chatting online with a Penske customer service representative during this process (click the “live chat” button on Penske’s site to be connected).

My personal estimate initially suggested I would pay $79 per day for the truck rental and $0.99 per mile for my move, but my rep asked if I wanted to pay a lower rate. Yes, please!

 

“The other major difference for long-distance moves with a Penske truck is that you’ll be offered free unlimited mileage.”

 

They were able to knock down the price to $70 per day for the truck rental and $0.87 per mile driven, with the caveat that the offer was good only during the duration of our conversation. If I’d let it slip through my fingers, there was no guarantee I’d be able to get that same price again. Luckily, I sprang for their offer over the phone.

Penske guarantees your reservation

Once I’d accepted my quote, Penske guaranteed my reservation detailsIn case you haven’t used a ton of other moving truck companies before, you should know that this is huge; U-Haul, for example, can change the details out from under you at will, so it’s a huge perk that Penske sets your deets in stone. (The only exception is for bookings made less than 24 hours in advance, in which case Penske might switch you to a larger truck or alternative pick-up location.)

Mileage fees (only for local moves)

Another fine print to be aware of is that the calculated mileage ratings listed on your estimate are exactly that: an estimate. Penske notes that fuel mileage may vary depending on land, terrain, weather, and driving speed, so be sure to leave some wiggle room in your budget.

 

“And because I reserved through HireAHelper, I got an additional discount of $193.77.”

 

If you have to tack on extra days before truck pick-up, you’ll be charged $50, while if you add on after pick-up, the fee will increase to $100. And no, you don’t get a refund if you return the truck early, sorry.

How does Penske work for a long-distance move?

Penske

If you’re scheduling a long-distance or “one-way” move, as they often call it, the process will be similar to the way things work locally:

  • Head to the website for a quote
  • Chat with a representative to see if you can get that quote lowered
  • Sign up for the appropriately sized truck

For a long-distance move, you’ll likely be picking up and dropping off your truck in two different locations, which Penske, like most moving truck companies, charges more for.

The other major difference for long-distance moves with a Penske truck is that you’ll be offered free unlimited mileage. That’s instead of the initial $0.99 quote I got for my local move estimate. If you want to apply that discount toward your move immediately, you can search HireAHelper to see if it’s feasible to hire a team of movers on one or both ends. (Spoiler alert: it probably is.)

How much does Penske cost?

As you might expect, prices will vary based on truck size, distance traveled, and the length of time you have the vehicle. But what you might not expect are the many ways to slash your bottom line. Penske prides itself on its discounts and usually has some sort of seasonal offer going on.

Here are the basic savings available year-round:

 

Discount For Discount Amount
US military 10% off all truck rentals
Students 10% off all truck rentals
AAA 12% off all truck rentals

$129.44 for a local move — three bedrooms || 5 miles

I received this quote in February of 2021. Even before I received any discount, my local move was looking quite affordable. A 26-foot rental truck, with enough space to move a three-bedroom home plus basement and garage from Fort Lee to Ridgefield Park within New Jersey, came to $129.44 with the following breakdown:

  • Daily fee: $79.99
  • Mileage: $4.95 ($0.99/mile x five miles)
  • Environmental fee: $2
  • Vehicle licensing recovery fee: $2.50
  • Limited Damage Waiver: $40

TOTAL: $129.44

$2,089.05 for a long-distance move — three bedrooms || 1,200 miles

I received this quote in March of 2021. To move that same three-bedroom house from northern New Jersey to central Florida, I was charged $2,089.05, which included:

  • Truck rental: $1,614.75 for the use of a 26-foot truck over six days
  • Free unlimited mileage
  • Furniture pads: $30 (two dozen at $15 per dozen)
  • Hand trucks: $40 (two at $20 each)
  • Protection plans: $232.50 (Limited Damage Waiver for $132 and supplemental liability for $100.50)
  • Sales tax: $162.80
  • Environmental fee: $9

TOTAL: $2,089.05

These costs put Penske right in line with those offered by Budget® and U-Haul®, but make sure to talk to an agent over the phone like I did, because you never know what cost-cutting promos you might qualify for.

The biggest perk for Penske

The first major thing is that a long-distance move gives you unlimited miles. This is massive value if you’re going across the country!

Plus, I don’t know about you, but since the average day doesn’t find me behind the wheel of a 26-foot truck, I was endlessly appreciative of everything offered in Penske’s vehicles. We’re talking safety features like: 

  • Anti-lock brakes
  • Dual-faced mirrors
  • Free roadside assistance
  • Convenience stuff like an easy-to-operate loading ramp with a 1,000-pound capacity and a translucent roof with interior lighting so I could load and unload the truck in the dark.

My anxiety also really appreciated knowing that the average truck was less than two years old and that I could test drive one before pick-up, a perk that I wish more rental truck companies offered. (Just contact the district office in your area if you want to do the same.)

Potential downsides of using Penske

This first one is kind of a double-edged sword: Your truck may be more reliable than other rental companies, but the trade-off is that Penske prices might look higher than those offered by other rental trucks—at least at first glance. But ultimately, prices will vary based on your approach and how adept you are at sniffing out discounts.

Some ways to shrink your bottom line are by reserving through the website, a step that saved me $215.30! And because I reserved through HireAHelper, I got an additional discount of $193.77

Along the same lines, I highly recommend being on the lookout for hidden fees, which can be as hard to pin down as the secret discounts. For example, it was only after multiple questions about the supposedly “nonexistent cancellation fees” they advertised. I was finally told that I would, in fact, be fined $100 if I made changes to my reservation within 48 hours of pickup. Dumb.

They can get pretty big!

Why should you choose Penske over other truck rental companies?

For me, it came down to three major factors that helped mitigate the stress surrounding my move: 

  • The free unlimited mileage on long-distance moves (this is huge)
  • The emphasis on safety in the vehicles themselves 
  • The fact that roadside assistance included with every order, totally free of charge

Ultimately, if you’re someone with safety concerns who’s willing to snuffle around for a while in search of the lowest quote, I definitely recommend Penske. The sheer amount of opportunities to negotiate your price down are frankly unmatched in competitors, and the ease of using the website and online chat functions really set the company apart.


To read our full 2021 Penske truck rental review, check out Moving101’s Penske page. And, for more information on long distance movers, check out our list of verified long distance moving companies.

How I Afforded to Move to the Big City

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For the first twenty-five years of my life, I lived in the same small town in south Florida. My hometown is nothing short of—well, boring.

While taking online classes at the University of Central Florida (UCF), I decided that in order to finally graduate, I needed to move straight into the heart of UCF. But the college campus is in Orlando and I had never moved more than thirty minutes away from my parent’s house, let alone a big city!

Moving from a small town to a big city can be intimidating. (At least, that’s how the movies make it seem.) However, what I learned from my own big move was that it shouldn’t be, and can actually be affordable – if you know what to do.

Step 1: Establishing a New Job

Step one when you are moving to a new city is to naturally find a job.

If you’re not moving for a career, establishing a new job in a big city was probably the most intimidating aspect of my move, especially since I was still in college.

In my small town, there were just a few chain restaurants here and there, only one hotel, and a handful of locally owned businesses. That’s it. Needless to say, jobs were scarce. (I worked at the same hotel for nearly four years because I heard horror stories about how hard it was to find work.)

Before I moved, I used the site Glassdoor because you can set up filters for the type of work I’m looking for. Every single day, I would submit resumes to jobs I considered accessible and efficient. My advice? Don’t be picky about the kind of job you start off with when you get to your new, big city home. You literally can’t afford to be.

Even if you aren’t a student like I was, one line of work I highly recommended is serving. Why? I needed to find something that would allow me to pay my budgeted rent and the ability to buy groceries without committing to forty hours a week. Serving not only teaches you humility, but it’s the easiest line of work to fall into; there are typically tons of opportunities, it’s an easily transferable trade, and the money isn’t bad, either.

Here are a few hacks to remember for getting a job in a big city:

  • Sign up for job search websites, such as Glassdoor
  • Schedule as many phone interviews as you can before you move
  • But don’t start taking interviews until you are 1-3 months away from your move date
  • For any in person interviews, let your potential employer know you are traveling for potential travel reimbursement
  • Calculate an exact starting so you can cite it for all your potential employers

Step 2: How to Budget for the Big City Prices

It can be hard to decipher what amount of rent you will be able to afford if you haven’t even started your new job. This was stressful for me at first, but I figured out a trick!

I saved up the equivalent of three months’ worth of rent so that I would have everything covered. I did this by saving 10% of my weekly earnings for my Big Move a year (yep, 12 months!) before I planned on moving.

An easy way to keep track of your money is to practice using a personal finance management app on a regular basis. There are plenty, but personally, I like to use Mint because it helps track what is going in and out of my bank account. (Which means I can see when I’ve been whipping out my debit card too much.) You can also set various different budgeting goals so you can start saving for your Big Move and traveling expenses.

I also set simple budgeting stipulations for myself that I implemented to last from the year before I moved, until the year after I moved.

During this time, my budget was strict, but worth it in the end. Here are the key components you need to keep track of:

  • Rent and Utilities: 35% of income
  • Life (food, gas, etc): 25% of income
  • Transportation: 15% of income
  • Debt Repayment (yes, get a credit card): 15% of income
  • Savings: 10% of income

Protip: Affording an Apartment

 

It was actually really easy to find a home within my budget. Unlike my hometown, Orlando has an insane amount of living options! Initially, I started by looking for studio apartments by UCF (there were a lot). But then I discovered Roomsurf, which lead me to find fellow students in need of roommates. It was a lot better (and safer) than using Craigslist.

I got to bunk with a fellow English major and met some of my best friends at my apartment complex. This was another great thing; I didn’t have to live in student housing, but I still lived around people my age.

Here are some things to keep in mind for you Big City home search:

  • Intricately figure out your rent budget before you start looking
  • Include three months’ worth of rent money in your savings (just in case)
  • Budget for traveling expenses and plan one full weekend to look at houses/apartments nonstop
  • Look for low-income housing, often near a city’s major college campuses
  • Find a roommate using Roomsurf, or another roommate app

Step 3: Getting Rid of Your Stuff

Next, start packing!

Rather than bring my baby photo albums and soccer trophies to my new, big city abode, I realized that there were some items that would be best left at my parent’s house. I also realized how much stuff I actually had! This meant either multiple trips or a pretty hefty moving truck rental.

Instead, I decided it was time to condense. Rather than dumping off a box of used clothes at Goodwill for them to make a profit, I found a way to use my old stuff to raise money for my Orlando move.

I hosted a garage sale. Then, I sold the remainder of my clothes to my local Plato’s Closet, a brick-and-mortar shop that will pay you for your slightly worn name brand clothes. What they didn’t want, I listed and sold on Poshmark. (Poshmark is a digital marketplace that allows to list and sell your subtly worn garments.)

Boom! Just like that, I was ready to start fresh, and I even had money in my pocket to fund my Big Move.

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Protip: Affording Movers

Let’s face it, if you’re trying to save money, you probably aren’t going to drop a few grand on professional movers. 

But after I went through all the effort to sell a lot of my stuff, all I needed to do was haul a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen’s worth of essentials in a small rental truck. So instead of getting some big moving company quote, I just got my rental truck separately and hired a couple movers à la carte. Thanks to this moving costs calculator, I was able to confidently hire the help I needed at a price that was well within my budget. 

How did it work? After packing all my stuff, they got it all loaded into my truck for me (plus my annoyingly heavy couch). Then, I drove my truck to my new place in Orlando with the movers following behind me. After I got there, they just opened up my truck and got it all upstairs to my new place.

Since it only took a couple hours, the whole process only cost me a couple hundred bucks on HireAHelper, which honestly saved my moving day and was way, way worth it for the cost.

Now I’m a City Girl!

Moving to a city completely different from your own will take some getting used to. However, it is a far easier feat than most people realize. If you are looking to move to your nearby metropolis, I highly recommend it. Just like any move, it just takes some budgeting and ambition to get the wheels turning. And with these little tips and tricks up your sleeve, you will be fully equipped to make the Big Move all on your own.

Tiffani is a writer and a dreamer who moved to the big city to explore her opportunities. She has a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing from UCF and likes to travel. She also likes to watch Marvel films while researching social media marketing tips and cuddling with her pup, Lady Pug.

The Unexpected Perks of Local Moves

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Often when people move, it’s across the country or at least across the state. But for my recent move, it was just about seven blocks away! Yes, I just completed a local move. And I’m a little surprised about all the unexpected perks.

Here’s the story: My husband and I are expecting our first child and have had our eyes peeled in our “dream neighborhood” for over a year. This neighborhood came with a much better school district, a house big enough to accommodate our growing family, and a close-knit community that we were eager to join.

So although it seems silly to think we put in so much effort for a move just seven blocks away, we think it was well worth the investment and are so happy with the decision.

What We Learned

We didn’t have to be as organized.

A lot of my friends have moved across the country and in doing so, have had to really focus on their moving gameplan because it came with some serious logistics. How many days and miles do you need the moving truck for? Who will drive the moving truck and who will drive the family’s cars? What do you gotta bring on the moving truck to survive the few days en route?

Figuring out this information wasn’t exactly impossible for them, but I found out (the easy way) that common logistic problems definitely didn’t sneak up on me because our move was local.

Scheduling and driving a rental truck was easy-peasy.

To save money, I opted for a Hybrid Move. Translation: I hired Helpers for the heavy lifting, but rented and drove the moving truck myself. Because my move was local, when I was choosing the truck I needed, my priorities were strictly around the size. Nothing else.

Here’s another thing: Often times during long-distance moves, new homeowners need to research a truck that has extra seating, valuable leg room, USB or GPS capabilities, etc. Guess what? That extra information didn’t matter so much to me as I was zipping back and forth. Plus, the rental process was a breeze because there were so many trucks available in our area that fit our minimal requirements.

4 Cases Where You Really Should Move to Save Money

If you like to burn money, don’t read this post.

Even details like where or when I needed to drop the truck off were far less complicated because I was going to pick-up and drop-off at the same location, which meant I was dealing with one salesperson the entire day. And yes, he quickly got to know me when I picked it up and was very flexible on when I brought it back. Repition is nice.

Plus, I’m not necessarily “used to” driving a 15-foot moving truck, but I can do anything for 7 blocks, right?! I would have been a bit more hesitant to drive a solo mission across the country, but zipping around a neighborhood I was already familiar with was definitely a perk that came along with this local move.

My neighbors were a huge resource.

When we moved into our new house, we needed an extension ladder to get up on the roof right away. The homeowner before us left several decorative ornamental pieces on the siding around our home and I couldn’t stand to look at these eyesores another day! You’re probably laughing at me, but seriously, a missing extension ladder was the only thing holding me back.

Google Map image of my new home.

 

Sure, we could have purchased one, but they’re expensive (like almost $200!) and it would’ve taken up quite a bit of non-existent room in our limited garage space.

But – yet again – because we still lived so close to our old house, we were able to borrow the ladder from our old neighbor! We drove it the seven blocks to our new house, used it, did a happy dance on our lawn once the job was done, then drove it right back to our old digs. I had no idea that the network we made in our old neighborhood would pay off so quickly, but staying local does have its perks … especially when you find yourself in a bind!

Potential financial overlaps pay off … big time!

Paying two mortgages at the same time is not fun, but ironically for the few days that we had possession of both our old house and the new house was pretty amazing in terms of moving perks. If you’re moving locally and have the chance to close on your new house just a few days before the old ones, do it! I can’t begin to tell you all of the hidden perks that came along with this situation.
For one, we were able to accomplish a lot of our DIY projects in the new house without having to live through the mess. We demoed the trim, added new trim, painted the walls, and had the floors re-finished all before we had to move into our new place. This was an epic success because we were not only able to dodge the mess and dust, but these jobs were so much easier (and quicker) to accomplish without the nuisance of all of our delicate, new furniture.

And speaking of all my “stuff”, after the DIY dust settled, we started bringing over the light-weight boxes to our new home. Anytime we would drive to the new house, we would fill up our cars with a few boxes and before we knew it, a lot of our stuff was already there and it wasn’t even moving day yet!

I can’t stress enough how much time, money and stress we were able to save thanks to this overlapping, local ownership.

We leisurely unpacked our wardrobes, bathroom essentials, and entire kitchen before moving day. When moving day finally arrived, we needed to hire the minimal amount of Helpers, then, the entire job was done in two hours! Plus, the unpacking process was a lot less stressful because nothing needed to be unpacked immediately since the closets, bathrooms and kitchens were already done.

With the help of the movers, moving day turned out to be relaxing (yes, that’s a thing!) … a welcome perk I definitely didn’t see coming.

The transition of utilities was seamless.

When we called about canceling some of our monthly utilities, some of the companies quoted us a cancellation fee because we would be ending our contract. But much to our surprise, a lot of these cancellation fees were waived if we had these services transferred over to our new house instead. We obviously opted for that option, which made the transition pretty seamless and much more affordable.

It also made paying our bills a whole heck of lot less time-consuming because we didn’t have to set up new automatic pay accounts through our bank for all of these new utility companies. So we could continue making payments and the utilities continued just like usual. It was definitely a win-win!

All our food stayed fresh.
How to Pack Up a Kitchen - Fridge, Pantry, and Freezer

Another unexpected perk was not as significant as the previous ones, but one I still appreciated!

In a long distance move, transferring your frozen or refrigerated food is another task that needs some pre-planning and an exact game plan. Groceries are far too expensive to let them go to waste because of poor planning. But in my local move, none of this pre-planning was necessary. No cooler (or planning) necessary! I don’t know about you guys, but I could get used to this trend of not having to pre-plan during a move!

Long story short, my seven block move came with some pretty unexpected perks that ending up saving me time, money and stress. Some of our family and friends rolled their eyes at us when we announced that we were hopping just one neighborhood over, but I’m happy to report it wasn’t that big of a deal to do, and the perks for us were huge; Even if it’s just seven blocks away from our old one!

The DIY Playbook are Bridget and Casey, two crafty bloggers writing out of Chicago about cool DIY projects, lifehacks and money saving techniques. After 15 years of blogging, they believe that if they can figure out how to DIY it, you can definitely do it too.

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