Few people would argue that moving is a huge undertaking, especially if you’re DIYing it all. And undoubtedly the most important part of planning is the truck that is going to move you and all your stuff to your new home. 

The process of renting a truck is pretty easy. But finding the best deal on a reliable truck that will hold all your stuff can be a challenge. Read on to find out how you can snag a rental truck that fits your needs, your preferences, your budget, and, most importantly, your stuff, along with a few pro tips to really get you moving!

Figuring Out What Size Truck You Need

More than anything else, you want a truck big enough for all your belongings. Trust me, finding out your stuff won’t fit in your UHaul is a nightmare you don’t want to live through.

I rarely had a customer who didn’t say something like “I can’t believe how much junk I have!” Until you have to move it all, you probably won’t believe it either.

Fortunately, there is a fairly painless way to figure out how big a truck you’ll need.

Rental trucks only come in so many sizes. If you live simply, without a lot of furniture and other bulky stuff (like exercise machines, vintage arcade games, and baby grand pianos) you should be able to get away with a truck on the small end, meaning around 12 to 14 feet.

Even if you’re a pack rat with a wrap-around couch, the next size up, around 16 to 17 feet, should be big enough. If you are moving with your spouse or if you have children, you might want to think bigger. Check out the chart in this Hire a Helper article for a more detailed look.

Rule of thumb: if you find yourself waffling between sizes — 12 or 14 feet? 15 or 17? — go with the bigger one. The (likely) small difference in price will more than compensate for the stress of not knowing if all your stuff will really fit.

Just don’t forget about everything in the closets and out in the garage!

Whose Trucks Are the Most Reliable?

You can find good and bad reviews on every rental company out there. Years ago I had a terrible experience with a truck from a major moving truck renter (followed by a customer service experience that was not much better), but plenty of people have nothing but good things to say about that same company.

Overall, Penske seems to have the best reputation for clean, reliable trucks. Their fleet is, by all accounts, the newest out there, and their trucks are of the highest quality and relatively fuel-efficient. These are just a couple of snippets from this third-party comparison of Penske and UHaul.

Reliability can refer not only to the truck you rent but the company you rent that truck from. Forbes recently conducted a comprehensive survey of five nationwide rental companies, with Customer Ratings and Customer Support combining for 30% of their overall rating methodology. Penske came out on top.

But again, your mileage may differ! There’s also availability to consider, as well as other company rules or idiosyncrasies that make it less than ideal for your own move. 

Which Company is the Cheapest?

Here’s where your actual mileage can really make a difference.

Sticking with the UHaul versus Penske theme, we did a side-by-side comparison of the two by performing the same move with each. Which came out cheaper? UHaul did – until it didn’t.

 

“Don’t go to the truck rental place in the morning…Instead, arrange to pick up your truck the evening before your move. You’ll pretty much have your pick of the lot, and you can get as early a start as you want in the morning.”

 

For a short local move, UHaul will most often be the cheaper option. However Penske, with their lower mileage fee on local moves and more fuel-efficient trucks, can prove the more economical choice as you start to rack up miles. Furthermore, for one-way rentals, Penske offers free unlimited miles while UHaul limits the number of miles you can drive before you start incurring extra charges.

For a broader view of the rental truck landscape check out our cost comparison of Penske, UHaul, Budget, Enterprise, and Ryder (if you are a registered business). Keep in mind that these averages may not reflect the cost of options like insurance, equipment rental, or late fees.

Aside from their established charges, rental companies can adjust the quotes they give you based on a few additional factors:

• The number and quality of trucks available that day
• Where you live, i.e. in a high-demand city or region
• Where you will be dropping your truck off, in the case of a one-way move
• Your own flexibility

Ultimately, the final cost of your rental will depend on your specific requirements combined with the rental company’s situational logistics. So it’s impossible to say with complete accuracy which company will be able to offer you the best deal. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t negotiate a better deal than the one they offer you.

Ways to Get a Better Deal on Your Rental Truck

Pick your move day wisely:

Do you have any flexibility at all as to when you move? If so, take advantage. Renting a truck on a weekday in the middle of the month versus the always-busy first and last few days of the month can save you both stress and money.

Try a dealer somewhere out of town: 

The smaller dealers out in the boonies might have trucks hanging around while their colleagues in the city are scrambling. If so, they might be eager to make a deal. Call and find out.

Consider renting round trip: 

Dealers need to keep their inventory of trucks in places that are busiest. Otherwise, they have to move the trucks around themselves. So offer to make things easier for them. If you have a car and aren’t moving too far away, you might be able to score a deal by leaving your car behind, making your move, returning your rental and then driving your car to your new home.

What money you save doing this method may be offset by the extra time and gas it might take, so weigh your options carefully and make your call.

Ask where they most need your truck when you’re done with it:

Again, inventory logistics are a major part of a rental company’s operations. If you can help them out, they might give you a good deal. For example, if you’re moving to Eugene, Oregon, look for a deal that involves dropping your truck off in Portland. Even with the extra cost of getting back to Eugene, you may still come out ahead.

Make phone calls:

As we see in the above points, and in ways you may not even expect, it can pay off to simply speak to people. Ask about possibilities for mutual benefit that don’t show up online. Be friendly. Be inquisitive. Be persistent. You never know. 

Additional Pro Tips for Renting a Truck

• Know what kind of insurance you’re getting. It is possible that your car insurance, your homeowner’s insurance, or your credit card company will cover you, at least to some degree, in the unfortunate case of a truck rental accident. As always, call and check! If you have no luck, ask your rental representative what kind of insurance is available – what it costs and what it covers. Here’s a good rundown on rental truck insurance terms.
• Don’t go to the truck rental place in the morning. That’s what everyone does, and getting the right truck (or any truck at all) can be a hassle. Instead, arrange to pick up your truck the evening before your move. You’ll pretty much have your pick of the lot, and you can get as early a start as you want in the morning. You’ll probably sleep better too!
• Save cash with deals. If you are booking your rental online, HireAHelper offers discounts on Penske and Budget.
• Consider renting a trailer from UHaul instead of a truck. Even if you have to pay to have a trailer hitch installed on your vehicle, the money you save renting a trailer instead of a truck will in all likelihood more than cover the cost. Plus trailers don’t break down nearly as often as trucks. 
• Don’t believe everything you read. You may have seen UHaul advertising its trucks for as little as $19.95 per day on local moves. In reality, that’s just the baseline. Even for a simple one-day in-town move, you’ll end up paying much more.

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Cost, quality, customer service, insurance, truck size, and availability. It’s a difficult road to navigate! But with knowledge, persistence, and a few tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be well-equipped to handle this last and extremely important piece of your moving puzzle.

And hey, if you really want your stuff to fit into a truck that’s smaller and less expensive, why not call in the pros? They’ll not only pack your belongings so they take up less space, but they’ll also make sure it’s all packed right, so everything in your truck arrives safe and intact at your new home.