Tips For Renting a Moving Truck

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Renting a moving truck can be an affordable option for homeowners and businesses that need to move household or office items. It’s important to choose the right size truck, check availability and rental terms, and ensure that your insurance coverage is up to date.

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Start by walking through your home or apartment and making a list of furniture and large items that won’t fit in boxes. Use online calculators to estimate what size truck you’ll need.

Size

When renting a moving truck, size plays one of the biggest roles in your move. If you rent a truck that is too small, you will end up having to make multiple trips to transport all of your belongings or you may find yourself with items left behind. Similarly, if you rent a truck that is too large, you will waste valuable time and money on fuel.

Fortunately, there are several methods to help you determine which moving truck size is best for your move. The first step is to walk through your home and make a list of all the large items that you will need to move. Then, you can use online calculators provided by moving truck rental companies to determine how much space you will need.

The smallest moving trucks are 10 to 12 feet long and are great for studio or one-bedroom apartments, as well as dorm rooms. These trucks are not as spacious as box trucks, but they offer the best fuel efficiency, offering up to 7-11 miles per gallon. The next size up is a cargo van, which offers more space than a pick-up but not as much as a truck.

Weight

Weigh stations are locations along state and interstate highways where officials weigh the cargo of commercial trucks. They can also check other regulated elements of the truck, such as its tires and brakes. The weight of a truck is important because it helps authorities determine whether the vehicle is safe for travel and can adequately handle the load it’s carrying.

Moving companies charge by the pound, so it’s important for them to know how much their clients’ items will weigh before they load them into the truck. For this reason, 이사짐센터 movers use scales to weigh their empty truck before they load anything into it, which is called the tare weight.

They also weigh the truck again after they’ve loaded all of your belongings, which is called the gross weight. You have a right to observe the weighing of your shipment and should be informed of your mover’s weighing procedures. If your mover has a minimum weight charge, they must state this on the order for service. Some states require rental trucks to stop at weigh stations, and you may be subject to a fine if your truck is too heavy for the highways.

Fuel

As the size of the truck increases, so does the fuel needed to move it. This is why many rental companies offer both gas and diesel trucks for their customers. Diesel engines are more powerful, but gasoline is less expensive and easier to maintain.

The type of fuel used also affects the mileage rate. It is important to use a high-octane fuel with low vapor pressure to reduce engine friction and improve gas mileage. Also, accelerate slowly to prevent over revving the engine. Rapid acceleration uses a lot of fuel, and driving at high speed can reduce your miles per gallon significantly.

Besides the factors mentioned above, your moving truck mileage will depend on the terrain you’re driving through. A trip through mountainous terrain will decrease your fuel efficiency more than cruising through flat plains. Moreover, towing a vehicle can significantly decrease your mileage as well. So, it’s essential to plan your route ahead of time and make sure you have enough space in the truck for all your belongings. It will help you avoid running out of gas or wasting money on extra fuel.

Insurance

Many people mistakenly believe that their standard auto insurance or credit card coverage extends to rental trucks. In reality, most policies exclude rentals due to size and weight restrictions. Even if your policy does cover a truck rental, you may need additional coverage for the cargo you transport.

Most rental truck companies sell various supplemental insurance packages to their customers. The major players offer plans that bundle several coverage types, such as damage waivers, cargo protection and supplemental liability insurance. For example, U-Haul’s Safemove and Safemove Plus each include a damage waiver, medical coverage and a $1 million in liability for property damage or bodily injury to others caused by your actions while driving the vehicle.

Most of the costs associated with renting a moving truck can be covered by purchasing a supplemental policy. However, it’s important to compare options carefully. The cost of a policy is based on a number of factors, including state, distance and the size of the truck. NerdWallet writers are experts who use primary sources, industry research and interviews to produce content that is accurate, timely and helpful.

Safety

If you’re renting a moving truck for the first time, it can be easy to overlook safety issues that could arise during your trip. The best way to avoid these is to thoroughly inspect your vehicle before you hit the road, including all mirrors, locks and other features.

Loading your truck correctly is also important for safe driving. Ideally, your largest items should go toward the back and along the walls of the truck, with lighter items on top and in between. This will help distribute weight evenly and prevent heavy items from crushing or shifting during the drive. You should also make sure to disassemble furniture wherever possible, such as taking feet off tables and removing bed frames.

Finally, be aware of the weather conditions on your route. If you’re unsure whether you can safely drive your truck in snow or ice, consider hiring a professional mover who has experience in these conditions. Also, keep in mind that you may not be able to use the left lane of the highway when driving a moving truck, depending on state laws.