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One Way Truck Rental Comparison - Cheapest Moving Truck Rentals

Published by Chris Townsend

One Way Truck Rental Comparison - Cheapest Moving Truck Rentals

The price of one way moving truck rentals can vary seasonally and can change depending on whether you are conducting a local move or a long-distance, one-way relocation. Comparing hauling with one-way moves will help you find the cheapest price.

Renting a truck for a local move often can be done on a per-hour or daily basis, since you can pick it up and return it to the same location. U-Haul advertises a 26-foot truck (large enough to hold the furnishings of a 3 to 4-bedroom home) with a loading ramp for $39.95 a day, plus $ 0.99 per mile driven in many metropolitan areas. Along with shifting, U-Haul also has trailers, cargo vans, containers (pods) storage, moving supplies, and accessories, and can help arrange for moving support such as packing and loading. Penske and Budget Truck Rental offers local and one-way rentals as well. Penske tends to be a bit pricier, and Budget will usually only rent to people aged 24 and over, but both have free, unlimited mileage, which can make a difference in the longer moves (more on long moves coming up).

It can be tricky to make a direct one way truck rental price comparison between the rental companies since they advertise differently and maybe include different elements in their pricing, with other fees added later. For U-Haul, the daily rate may be higher, and the per-mile cost lower, while Penske front-loads most costs into the upfront charge, and adds fewer fees at the end. Make sure you are looking at all the price elements when you compare. Enterprise, which only offers local rentals, advertises a 24-foot truck with a lift gate (arguably better than a ramp) for $170 for a two-day rental and $0.20 per mile.

What Things Need to Be Considered Before a Truck Rental One Way Move Comparison?

There are various things to consider before moving, such as the size of your home, the distance of the move, the relocation area, the timing of the move, DIY (Do It Yourself), moving tools, insurance, and what kind of truck you need, etc.

Size of the truck: Make sure the truck you rent is big enough to accommodate all of your goods.

Distance of the Move: When selecting a truck rental provider, keep the distance of your Move in mind. Some businesses charge more for longer distances.

Insurance: Verify that your insurance coverage is good enough to cover your relocation. You can check with your insurance company and the many truck rental firms that offer insurance choices.

Fuel costs: You will be responsible for paying for petrol during your journey, so keep that in mind. When contrasting truck rental prices, take fuel prices into account.

Loading and unloading: Consider whether you need assistance loading and unloading the truck before you begin. Companies that rent trucks may also provide extra services like help with loading and unloading.

Timeframe: To guarantee availability, plan your relocation and reserve your truck rental as early as feasible.

It would be best if you thought about your budget and the moving expenses, such as the price, the cost of the fuel, and any additional services you might require. You can guarantee a smooth and successful transfer by carefully planning and considering each aspect.

Factors Affecting Cost

When using shifting budget for a local move, you should consider these:

  • Rental truck fee (base rate)
  • Mileage fee
  • Fuel costs
  • Damage protection
  • Environmental fee
  • Add-on services (moving supplies, moving equipment, etc.)
  • Taxes

For a one-way long-distance move, the pricing elements are similar but usually don't have a per-mile fee, just a mileage cap.

What Other Fees Are There?

You can avoid some extra fees with planning. Ensure you have insurance coverage for any damage to the vehicle, or you risk high expenses for repairs. Return a rented truck to moving truck rental companies with the same amount of fuel that it had when you picked it up, or the refueling charge may be high. Check ahead of time for the cost of accessories and supplies--just because they are in the truck doesn't mean they are free. Ask about charges for additional or underage drivers, and make sure you return the rental in the time agreed to. If you need to cancel, you need to inform relocating companies" promptly. If you need to cancel, you need to inform companies promptly.

Moving Discounts

Also, look for and ask for discounts from one way truck rental companies. You may be able to snag 10% off by making your reservation online instead of in person or over the phone. A quick look at the Budget and Penske websites shows discounts for students, military personnel, members of automobile associations, first responders, retirees, and even attorneys. It never hurts to ask for a break based on a college, credit union, or other affiliation.

Local Moves

When you are making a local move, you may also want to consider renting from a local moving company. You may be able to negotiate a better deal from a small business that has a lull or sees an opportunity. Again, this tactic is more likely to be successful if you have flexibility in your schedule.

What If I Need One Way Moving Truck Rental For A Long-Distance Move?

One way truck rental is still an option for a long-distance state to state move. You may be charged an additional fee for dropping the truck off at another location, but that depends on whether the demand for moving at the destination at the time of your rental is higher or lower than where you picked it up. For example, California is currently experiencing a net outmigration (more people moving out than in), so there is less competition for relocating space and less demand for rental trucks to return to California markets. You may pay more for dropping off a truck in an unpopular destination than in a market that has a high demand.

As with commercial moving companies, rental costs of shifting will vary based on the season. Summer brings the highest demand for budget truck rental, as families and students move. The end of a month is also a critical demand period since most rental obligations are calendar-based. If you can be flexible and move during the offseason or in the middle of a month, you may be able to obtain a lower price. If you are not moving a large amount, consider sharing, which will reduce the cost, and eliminate some of the driving and labor as well.

Moving Truck Rental

Other expenses to consider when evaluating a long-distance truck rental are the added cost of food, lodging, and fuel. If it takes three days to make the journey, you have three days of rental charges, plus hotels and food, on top of the gasoline or diesel.

Packing supplies. While it may be tempting to pick up your packing supplies from the truck rental company, you may want to reconsider. Penske offers medium boxes for sale online at $2.65 each, while the same box at Home Depot sells for just $1.48. That dollar-plus difference will add up in a hurry. Of course, if you can plan ahead and start gathering used boxes from friends, deliveries, or other sources, you may be able to amass much of what you need for free. On the other hand, you probably are better off paying for temporary use of the dolly and moving blankets you need from the truck rental agency, instead of purchasing these items you won’t need again (at least not soon.) But ask about pricing before you use them—just because they are in the truck doesn’t mean they are available without charge.

Moving Safely

Don't overlook insurance. Of course, you already have car insurance, but don't assume that your truck rental, contents, and towed vehicle (if applicable) are covered. Possibly, your passenger vehicle coverage excludes large trucks, towed cars, or cargo. You want to check that you have adequate liability coverage if you damage any other vehicles or property. Remember, you probably aren't accustomed to driving (or parking) a huge box truck. If you are unfamiliar with towing, having to back up can be intimidating, even overwhelming. If something goes wrong, it is better to have the comfort of adequate insurance protection.

The same is true for your cargo. One of the reasons you may have decided to take this task on yourself was to maintain control of your cherished possessions. Yet, you may be parking your truck in a hotel or highway rest stop along the way, leaving the contents vulnerable to lose or damage. To keep your goods safe, ensure that they are well packed, loaded correctly, and insured for the full value if there is a mishap.

Truck 150

What Is The Best & Cheapest Option For Moving

When doing a hauling comparison, you should understand that the cheapest option is not always the best option. A cheap option may not always be trustworthy. But, your goal should be to find the cheapest shifting company. Once you've determined which companies are the most affordable, you should investigate and do a rental truck comparison for one-way moves by checking each one's reputation.

Here is a list of some reputable companies that are also very cheap:

  • Penske Truck Rental
  • U Haul
  • Budget Truck Rental
  • Home Depot Truck Rental
  • U pack
  • Enterprise Truck Rental

Since the price for renting a truck will be different for each situation, it's best to contact each one of them to get more accurate information about their prices.

Once you have made your choice, you can still try to keep the moving cost down. One of the best ways to do that is by driving efficiently to save fuel. For that, you should be an experienced driver.

If companies do not have a perfectly sized truck that exactly fits your belongings without any extra room, sharing a rental truck can help you save some money.

Where Is The Cheapest Place To Rent A Truck?

The cheapest place to rent a truck is Uhaul. The average cost to rent Uhaul is around $990 which is almost $100 less than its closest competitor.

Why Is Penske More Expensive Than Uhaul?

Penske is often somewhat more expensive than U-Haul when it comes to overall hauling costs. This is because Penske’s trucks are of superior grade. Penske frequently includes the option of unlimited miles in its quotes. U-Haul charges differently depending on how far you’re shifting and how long it takes.

Is Penske Better Than Budget Truck Rental?

Yes, Penske is better compared to Budget truck rental. In terms of truck rental sizes, client happiness, and long-distance rates, Penske marginally outperforms Budget.

Can You Move A 4 Bedroom Home In A 20 Foot Truck?

A 20ft truck isn’t sufficient to fill an average 4-bedroom house. A 20ft truck can only fill in a 2-3 bedroom house. A 22ft or 26ft truck would be a better option.

How Big Of A Truck Do I Need For A 10x20 Storage Unit?

For a 10×20 storage unit, the recommended truck size is at least 26ft. Anything lower than 26 will feel suffocating.

What Size Truck Do I Need For A 10x15 Storage Unit?

For a 10×15 storage unit, a 20ft truck will do the job just right. It is an appropriate truck size and can fit your belongings easily.

Chris Townsend is a moving professional and relocation expert that has more than 10 years of experience in the moving industry. With a background that includes working in virtually every aspect of the company, he has distinguished himself as an integral part of our operations with expertise in all things related to moving. Chris has a keen eye for detail and brings intelligence and passion to every project he’s involved with.

While getting his degree in communications from Santa Clara University, Chris started out with the company working in the field as part of our team of professional moving associates. Following graduation, he was promoted to our main office, where he has thrived in a role that involves increasing responsibility and requires him to wear many different hats. Some days, you may find him answering the phone and providing moving estimates, others he may be writing for our moving blog, and another day he may be coordinating a large corporate moving job or helping us with our marketing efforts. Chris has authored many of our in-depth moving guides, as well as provided our clients with information and advice to handle the complexities of their upcoming moving plans. Simply put, there’s nothing he can’t do and we wouldn’t be where we are today without him.

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