In some situations, a one-way truck rental can make financial sense. If the rental agency has multiple branches and if you have limited time, a one-way rental can make sense.
If you don't have the time or energy for a round-trip truck rental, consider a one-way rental. Though most people assume that one-way truck rentals don't make financial sense, that's not necessarily true; some one-way truck rentals are worth the extra fee in the following circumstances.
Multiple branches
If your heart is set on a one-way rental, then at least make sure that the company you choose has a branch in your new location. Dropping off a truck rental in a branch office will be much cheaper than having to pay for a return trip fee. Just check locations with the rental agency prior to signing the contract; otherwise, you'll end up paying a hefty return trip fee. And if you're moving cross-country, don't assume the rental company doesn't have a sister branch or relationship with a partnering company, where you can drop off the car for a reasonable surcharge. You can even go online and conduct a search for branch locations, for both local and national offices.
Long-distance moves
If the truck rental company has a branch in your new location, the difference in cost in driving the truck rental back to the original location and a one-way rental charge might not be that different. That's because you have to take into consideration the cost of gas and any needed hotel stays and restaurant charges. For instance, if you're moving 1,000 miles away, you'll have to calculate the price of gas at roughly 10 miles per gallon plus at least a couple overnight stays at different locations along the way, as well as any restaurants. You might also have to factor in any lost wages during that time.
Limited time
With most moves, you'll have to take off a few days of work. If you have vacation days, that might not present a problem. But if you're already short on the number of available vacation hours, it might be financially impossible to take any more time off to return your truck rental, especially in a long-distance move. And you may not even have that luxury even if you have the time off if you're in the middle of a project or if there's no one else to replace you.
