Not every individual is fond of the idea of handing over their items to a moving container company when they’re relocating or temporarily moving out. Fortunately, that’s not where your options end.
For a DIY moving project, instead of risking your items by shoving them in your car or taking multiple trips back and forth to get all of the items moved, why not rent a U-Haul truck?
U-Haul is a truck rental company that makes DIY moving convenient by providing large trucks big enough to move a whole house. With years of history in operation, they own not only the reputation, but they’re also easy to access, with rental locations dispersed over 20,000 spots in various states across the US.
Be cautious, though. The company also has some obvious drawbacks, and many customers have written poor comments about this company. Below is everything you need to know about U-Haul truck rental.
What Is U-Haul Truck Rental?
Back in 1945, Leonard Shoen conjured up the idea of U-Haul while working in his wife’s family garage. Today, the company has its headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, and operates across the US and Canada.
What started as a small idea for a common American citizen turned out to be America’s leading one-way self-move truck rental company. The operations started with placing trucks at gas stations for rentals. Nowadays, you can rent a truck from the U-Haul website or app.
The company’s services have expanded more than just renting out trucks to movers. Additional services include self-storage units, loading and unloading labor help, refueling facilities, and more.
How to Find U-Hauls Near Me?
Finding a U-Haul near me is easier than you could imagine. A few clicks on your laptop or taps on your mobile device are all it takes. These methods will let you search for the closest U-Hauls in your area.
Google Search
Turn on the GPS on your device and type in relevant keywords like “U-Haul near me” on Google to get results on U-Hauls in your area.
U-Haul Website
Through U-Haul’s online platform, you’ll be able to get the most accurate results on the ones closest to your location. You can search by zip code, address, city, or state and get the list.
With NearbyMovers’ search engine, you might also find U-Haul services around you. All you need to do is enter your address and browse a list of quality truck rental companies!
U-Haul Truck Sizes and Prices
To estimate the total cost of renting a truck through U-Haul for self-moving, you’ll first need to look into the truck sizes and their respective mpg to calculate the fuel prices (that you have to pay yourself). Here’s an overview:
8-foot
The 8-foot small pickup truck is ideal for local jobs that don’t need too much space. For instance, moving gardening supplies, a boat, or even a new furniture addition is something this handy pickup truck is capable of. The base cost is $19.95 with a 19 mpg fuel average.
9-foot
These cargo vans could be your next best option for a small job that requires moving a washing machine, a queen-sized mattress, or a 50” LED from the store to your home. The base cost is $19.95 with an 18 mpg fuel average.
10-foot
Rent a 10-foot truck to move your studio apartment or 1-bedroom apartment. The truck can fit 2850 lb in a 9'11" x 6'3" x 6'1" space. The base cost is $19.95 for local and $680 for long-distance moves, with a 12 mpg fuel average.
15-foot
The 15-foot truck is the perfect option for transporting 1–2 bedroom apartments or condos. Load up to a maximum of 6385 lb within internal dimensions of 15' x 7'8" x 7'2". The base cost is $29.95 for local and $718 for long-distance moves, with a 10 mpg fuel average.
20-foot
Families that occupy 2-3 bedroom houses will need to book a 20-foot U-Haul truck for moving. The internal dimensions are 19'5" x 7'8" x 7'1" with a max load capacity of 5700 lb. The base cost is $39.95 for local and $789 for long-distance moves, with a 10 mpg fuel average.
26-foot
The largest U-Haul truck can move 3-5 bedrooms with a maximum loading capacity of 12,859 lb and 26'2" x 8'1" x 8'3" internal dimensions. The base cost is $39.95 for local and $896 for long-distance moves, with a 10 mpg fuel average.
What Fees Does U-Haul Charge?
The base cost isn’t the only factor that makes up the price. Obviously, the company has additional charges that count toward the overall cost. Besides the base cost of the truck you rent, calculate the following factors in your total estimate so that you’re prepared for the final bill:
Fuel Costs
The fuel needed to go from one place to another will make up for most of your total costs. If you don’t want to run into an element of surprise by overlooking fuel costs, calculate them beforehand using the mpg average of the truck size you want to rent.
Insurance Charges
U-Haul, like most moving companies, encourages its customers to buy one of their two insurance packages—SafeMove and SafeMove Plus. The difference between the two is that the latter offers twice the amount of coverage you would get from the basic SafeMove. The insurance charges vary across rentals and the range of coverage you prefer, so you’ll have to contact the company for an exact quote. On average, SafeMove costs $77, while SafeMove Plus is estimated at $132.
Environment Fee
U-Haul charges a minimal amount on every rental to keep their trucks and facilities maintained and environmentally friendly. These only add around $1-$5 to your bill.
U-Haul Truck Rental Pros and Cons
Like every other service provider, in this case, self-moving truck rental, U-Haul, too, has its fair share of pros and cons.
Pros
Wide Availability Across the Country
The 20,000+ locations of U-Haul sites make it easier for customers to access one-way rentals through this company, especially for those living in far-off or rural locations.
Competitive Prices
U-Haul has attractive and competitive prices in the DIY moving department. With nominal base costs and fuel costs that make up a significant portion of the total, it’s an affordable option for many.
Promotions and Discounts
The self-moving truck rental company often offers exclusive promotions, discounts, and deductibles for first-time users; that’ll save you money.
Facilitative Truck Equipment
To some extent, U-Haul takes care of its automobiles with add-on features like EZ-load ram[ and gentle ride suspension that make loading and unloading and shifting a smoother process.
Storage Container Feature
With recent expansions to their operations, U-Haul has added features like U-Box that let you store items in their storage facilities for short-term and long-term durations.
Cons
Lack of Operational Efficiency
Selective U-Haul sites have repeatedly failed to deliver with operational inconsistencies and failures such as long waiting times for on-site service.
Poor Customer Service
U-Haul’s customer service in some areas isn’t the best. Customers have lodged complaints of uncooperative staff and an inability to reach a respondent.
Unconfirmed Reservations
Online bookings aren’t always guaranteed, as the $50 guaranteed reservation feature promises. You’ll need to double-check your reservation before visiting the site.
Hidden Costs
Charges such as environmental fees are hidden in the fine print of official documents provided by U-Haul that most customers aren’t aware of until they receive the billings.
U-Haul Customer Reviews
U-Haul receives very bad reviews from its customers on TrustPilot and other platforms, with an overall rating of 1.2 out of 5.
Canceled reservations, last-minute pickup site relocations, failure to deliver upon guaranteed reservations, unprofessional staff behavior, and overcharged cards make up for most of the drawbacks customers have faced many times. A few typical example are as follows:
Very rude service . They literally slammed the door in my fiancé face because we were 5 minutes late. We will be using another moving company next time, and we are contacting corporate. This is not how you treat customers, oh were also telling everyone to never use this company. A partial refund would be appreciated.
Terrible product and even worse service. Will never rent from them again. spent one hour on the phone and no one ever answered.
DO NOT EXPECT them to have the truck you ordered no matter how far in Advance you book it in Barrie and surrounding areas As prices increase they will rebook for higher profit you are better off with cube rental Have to throw some of my things out because they changed the sizes to smaller truck then sent invoice for price of larger truck.
In general, it is not recommended to rent trucks from U-Haul for moving. Instead, you can choose from our selected U-Haul alternatives, which might give you a better experience with less trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of a U-Haul?
You can opt for another self-moving truck rental company like Budget Truck Rental, Penske, or Enterprise Truck Rental. Search for truck rentals near you using NearbyMovers.
How much does U-Haul charge per day?
If you’ve rented a truck, U-Haul charges $40/day. Meanwhile, trailers and towing devices cost $20/day.
Why do Uhauls cost so much?
U-Haul prices are mainly dependent on demand and fuel costs. For instance, during peak moving seasons, the increased demand for U-Haul rentals will cause price spikes. Similarly, due to the escalating fuel prices, the total cost will become more expensive.
What are the different sizes of U-Hauls?
U-Haul offers a range of sizes suitable for any DIY moving project. For local small-town projects, you can rent a pickup or cargo truck. For larger local or long-distance moves, you can choose between 10-foot, 15-foot, 17-foot, 20-foot, or 26-foot trucks.
What can fit into a 20-foot U-Haul?
A 20-foot U-Haul will easily fit into a 2-3 bedroom house with items weighing up to 5700 lbs. From king-sized mattresses and cribs to furniture and household items, a 20-foot U-Haul will have plenty of room.
How much stuff can fit in a 15-foot U-Haul?
Items with a maximum weight of 6385 lbs. or a 1-2 bedroom apartment can fit in a 15-foot U-Haul. You can store a king-sized mattress, dressing tables, a washing machine, a fridge, and a sofa.
How old do you have to be to rent a U-Haul?
You need to have a driver’s license to be able to rent a U-Haul. For U-Haul trucks, the eligibility criteria are 18 years old. Alternatively, the minimum age limit for renting a trailer is 16.
What insurance is provided by U-Haul?
U-Haul offers two insurance packages; SafeMove (basic package) and SafeMove Plus (premium package). The insurance covers accidents, damage, cargo protection, and medical coverage.