When moving house, there are so many things you need to take care of, that you may feel a bit overwhelmed. Actually, if you organize everything well, the operation should be smooth and seamless, even if you move overseas or at a big distance from your actual residence. Here are a few truck rental tips gathered from experience, to help you sort out this issue:
1- When you rent a moving truck, don’t close the deal on the first offer you encounter. Try to do some more research, ask the potential truck companies what they have to offer and for what prices, because you may save a lot of money this way. Price is not always the only thing you need to watch. Cheap may mean poor quality service and you don’t want that. Look for a company that has high standards for their trucks and other equipment. It may cost you more, but worth better it in the long run. Ask if the company offers unlimited mileage, if not, find out how much extra miles will cost you. You never know when you need this, so make sure you’ve foreseen the unpredictable.
2- Reserve a moving truck easily either by phone or by internet. It is possible to do almost all of your research and to make reservations either online or over the phone. However, if possible, try to meet your truck rental company representative face to face. This will help to avoid any misunderstandings. Besides, the negotiating power of direct encounters shouldn’t be underestimated.
Tip! If you belong to any groups or associations like AAA, AARP, NAACP, and more, ask the car rental company about any discounts the provide to groups, companies and associations. That can often save you several dollars per day.
3- Before you agree to rent a truck, take a closer look at it, a sort of detailed inspection. The rental company will have a standard form for you to fill out. While doing the inspection, look for things such as dents, scratches and rust. Be sure to check out the latches and locks on the doors as well. By writing down all things that are broken or wrong with the truck before you rent it, will save you from eventual charges at the end of the job.
4- While you are in the reservation and renting process, the company will offer you optional insurance to cover the vehicle. There will be a few options available to you when renting a moving truck, these could include accident insurance, limited loss and damage waivers and cargo insurance. It’s always a good idea to speak with your auto insurance carrier to see if you already have these overages. If you don’t, it could be a wise idea to buy them from the rental company, especially if you are traveling very long distances.
Tip! Finally, read the car rental policy carefully and decide whether or not your car insurance or credit card covers you. Then discuss the car rental’s coverage with the agent.
5- At the time of rental, you will need to show certain personal documents. These will include a driver’s license, your personal proof of insurance and a major credit card. These documents are needed to prove that you are of legal age to rent the truck (usually 25), that you have personal auto accident insurance available, and that they can secure payment from you.
6- Depending upon the size of the moving truck rental, you need and where you are traveling, you may need to stop at weigh stations along the way. It’s best to ask the rental company if they have any knowledge of the truck being big enough for this requirement. Also, call the state police in all the states you will be traveling through to get the specific requirements for each state.
Tip! All the big car rental companies have offices in Las Vegas, some in the airport, and some near the airport. Allstate, Dollar, Hertz, National and Sav-Mor all have desks in the terminal.
7- Lastly, before you drive off the rental lot with your moving truck, you will need to get copies of all of the important documents from the rental company. These could include the rental agreement, a driver trip report, a truck inspection sheet and any other paperwork that the rental company suggests. Check to be sure that the proof of insurance and the registration are also in the truck.
2 Comments
Very useful article, thanks for giving us tips on choosing the right rental moving van.
I personally have had a couple of bad experiences with Uhaul. I’ve had much better luck with Budget. Their trucks are newer and better maintained. You can save a bit also by using a Budget promo code at http://www.budgetpromotioncode.com.
One Trackback
[...] can be a pain in the butt, especially if you haven’t moved yourself before. This article by All Tips and Tricks shows some tips on how to make using moving trucks as easy as possible. Shop around and inquire [...]