There's ways to save money when renting a truck rental. Find out by reading our truck rental tips.
If you're planning a do-it-yourself move, the most expensive cost that you will endure is the price of the truck rental. That price, though significant, pales in comparison if you were to hire a full-service moving company that comes complete with such services as packing, loading, unloading, unpacking, and a driver for the truck. But even though you'll be spending less money than on a full-service move, it's still nice to save money. So how do you save money on your truck rental? Here's how.
Rent for the right amount of time
Bringing back your truck rental past the contract date can cost you a huge fine. Calculate how long you need the rental for, and add at least a few hours. That's for a local move. For a long-distance move, it's best to add a full day since you never know what can transpire during the length of move. For instance, if you plan to move from San Francisco to Los Angeles, you can get caught up in just one bad traffic jam that can put you're move behind a few hours. Some truck rental companies even insist upon adding a full day to the rental contract. For one-way moves and certainly for a cross-country move, companies might even insist upon a couple of day's leeway.
Don't just choose the lowest rate
Picking the truck rental company with the lowest rate is not your answer to saving money. Find out any hidden extras that might show up at the end of the day, such as extra mileage charges and return trip fees. You'll be surprised at how quickly these extra charges can make a relatively inexpensive rate become expensive.
Don't get hit with a bill for damages
Similar to when renting a car, thoroughly check the truck rental vehicle with the company's representative prior to signing any contract agreement. Make sure that the representative notes any damages on the truck, no matter how small or insignificant. The same goes for the interior of the car (i.e. soiled or torn upholstery). Sign the contract papers only if you're satisfied with the company's documentation of any pre-existing damages.
