Relocating to a new home can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to deciding how to move your belongings efficiently and safely. One common solution is renting a moving truck. This informative guide seeks to provide you with essential knowledge about renting a moving truck, including the various options available, costs, and other factors to consider before making your rental decision.
What Size Rental Truck do I Need?
Choosing the right size moving truck is crucial to ensuring a smooth relocation process. Rental trucks come in various sizes, each designed to accommodate different volumes of belongings. Here’s a breakdown of the most common truck sizes and their ideal uses:
10 to 12-foot Trucks
These smaller trucks are perfect for studio apartments or small one-bedroom homes. They can typically hold the contents of a couple of rooms, making them suitable for minimalistic lifestyles or small moves.
Capacity:
- Suitable for approximately 1-2 rooms of furniture and boxes.
15 to 17-foot Trucks
Offering a bit more space than the smaller models, these trucks can accommodate larger one-bedroom apartments and some small two-bedroom homes. They provide additional room for larger furniture pieces or more boxes.
Capacity:
- Perfect for 2-3 rooms of furniture and boxes.
20 to 26-foot Trucks
These larger trucks are ideal for medium to large homes, typically a three-to-four-bedroom setup. They are suitable for full-house moves and allow for additional space for larger items, such as appliances or oversized furniture.
Capacity:
- Designed for 4 or more rooms of furniture and boxes.
Considerations for Choosing Truck Size
When deciding on truck size, take inventory of your belongings. A good starting point is to create a list of your larger furniture pieces and any substantial boxes you’ll be moving. Additionally, consider factors such as your willingness to make multiple trips and whether you’ll be moving large or particularly heavy items. We broke down the rental truck sizes in the table below:
| Truck Type | Bedrooms |
|---|---|
| Cargo Van | 1-2 Single Bedrooms |
| Pickup Truck | 1-2 Single Bedrooms |
| 10-12’ Rental Truck | Studio- 1 Bedroom Apartment |
| 14-16’ Rental Truck | 2 Bedroom Apartment- 1 Bedroom House |
| 17-20’ Rental Truck | 3 Bedroom Apartment- 2 Bedroom House |
| 22-26’ Rental Truck | 4 Bedroom Apartment- 3-4 Bedroom House |
How Much is it to Rent a Moving Truck?
Understanding the cost of renting a moving truck involves considering various elements, including base rental rates, mileage, and additional fees. Here’s a general overview of costs associated with truck rental:
Base Rental Rates
Rental fees vary depending on the truck size and rental location. Typically, base rates may range from $19.99 for smaller trucks to over $50 for larger models. Some rental companies operate on a local basis (even hourly), while others may charge for a full day.
Mileage Charges
In addition to the base rental rate, mileage fees can significantly influence the total cost. Mileage rates generally range from $0.50 to $1.00 per mile. Long-distance moves can lead to increased mileage costs, so it’s essential to plan your route to minimize these charges.
Additional Fees
Any rental can accumulate extra costs, including:
- Fuel Charges: Ensure you refill the tank to the specified level before returning the truck to avoid fuel surcharges.
- Insurance: Opting for additional rental insurance can protect you from potential damages but will increase your overall expense.
- Equipment Rentals: Renting moving equipment like dollies, straps, or blankets may incur additional fees.
Rental Truck Cost Estimator
To simplify estimating the total rental cost, The Moving Site offers this cost estimator tool. Here’s a basic structure to follow:
- Choose Local or One Way Rental: Select one way for long distance moves.
- Choose Truck Size: Select your desired truck size.
- Calculate Mileage: Input the estimated driving distance.
Rental Truck Cost Estimator
How Much Gas Does a Rental Truck Use?
Fuel efficiency is an essential consideration when renting a moving truck. Generally, larger trucks consume more fuel, impacting your budget. The fuel consumption of rental trucks typically ranges from 8 to 12 miles per gallon (mpg), depending on the truck size and load.
Factors Affecting Fuel Consumption
Speed: Driving at higher speeds results in poorer gas mileage.
Load Weight: Heavily loaded trucks consume more gas.
Driving Conditions: Navigating hilly terrain or congested traffic can increase fuel consumption.
The following gas mileage table is based off of U-Haul rental trucks. U-Haul has over 20,000 locations and is available in all 50 states.
| Truck Size | Average MPG |
|---|---|
| Pickup | 19mpg |
| Cargo Van | 18mpg |
| 10’ Rental Truck | 12mpg |
| 15’ Rental Truck | 10mpg |
| 20’ Rental Truck | 10mpg |
| 26’ Rental Truck | 10mpg |
Things to Consider When Renting a Moving Truck
Renting a moving truck requires careful planning and consideration. Here are several key factors you should think about before finalizing your rental:
Location of Rental Facility
Choose a rental facility close to your current home or destination to save time and fuel. Additionally, check if they offer pick-up and drop-off services to enhance your convenience.
Rental Duration
Plan how many days you’ll need the truck. Avoid overestimating your rental period to save on costs while ensuring you have ample time for loading and unloading.
Booking in Advance
It’s advisable to book your truck rental ahead of time—especially during peak moving seasons. Early reservations help ensure availability and may even provide access to lower rates.
Budget for Additional Costs
Outline potential costs for fuel, mileage, insurance, and equipment. Having a clearer picture of total expenses can help avoid unexpected financial strain.
Who will drive?
Driving and parking a large moving truck can be tricky, and knowing you have someone safe to drive the moving truck will give you peace of mind that your belongings will arrive safely.
Extra Stops
Additional stops along the move including trips to a storage unit, multiple trips for the move, picking up furniture from a friend, or even taking detours for food or bathroom breaks can all add a significant amount of miles to your bill.
Free Moving Truck Rental
Some companies offer promotions such as free moving truck rentals. Typically, this involves providing the truck at no base charge but may still incur standard fees for mileage, fuel, and insurance. If considering this option, do your due diligence to understand any potential hidden costs and fine print associated with free offers.
Some self storage companies offer the use of a moving truck for free if you reserve a storage unit with them. CubeSmart is one of those companies and has over 1500 locations nationwide to serve you. CubeSmart’s free moving truck rentals are subject to availability. Call your nearest location to find out more.
Rental Truck With a Lift Gate
For those moving heavy items or large appliances, a truck with a lift gate is highly advantageous. A lift gate is a hydraulic platform at the back of the truck that can assist in lifting heavy loads from the ground to the truck bed.
Benefits of a Lift Gate
- Ease of Loading and Unloading: Minimizes manual lifting, reducing physical strain and risk of injury.
- Increased Safety: Smooth transition of heavy items lowers the chance of drops or accidents.
- Better for Longer Hauls: Especially beneficial for long-distance moves where heavy lifting may lead to fatigue.
Final Thoughts
Renting a moving truck provides a flexible, cost-effective solution for transporting your belongings. By factoring in the size of the truck, understanding costs including fuel and mileage, and considering your unique needs, you can ensure your moving experience is as seamless as possible. With this information, you can make an informed decision, allowing you to focus on what truly matters during your move—settling into your new home.
Popular Rental Truck Companies
When shopping for a rental truck company for your DIY or self service move consider the convenience of the pickup/drop off location, cost, insurance options, and truck availability. Here is list of the most popular rental truck companies:
U-Haul Truck Rental
U-Haul was founded in 1945 and has over 23,000 locations across all 50 states. They have a large selection of moving trucks, trailers and storage options for all of your relocation needs.
Budget Truck Rental
Budget rental truck is known for low rates on local rentals and unlimited miles on long distance rentals. With over 2,700 locations to serve you, Budget Truck is the second largest rental truck company in the U.S. To save 20% on truck rentals with Budget use the code 20DIS.
Penske Truck Rental
Penske Truck Rental has over 2,500 locations nationwide which makes it the third largest rental truck company in the U.S. Penske offers spacious moving truck rentals with unlimited miles on one way moves. For a limited time get 10% off truck rentals with Penske.
Enterprise Truck Rental
Enterprise Truck Rental has a wide selection of cargo vans and trucks available to suit any moving scenario. They do not offer one way rentals. Enterprise offers 3 sizes of rental trucks equipped with a lift gate.
FAQs
Related links: