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Last Updated: Feb 29, 2024
The company is highly recognized for its unique one-way truck rental service. UHaul’s orange brand design is popular with its advertised $19.95 in-town moving cost with its dominance in over 20,000 locations across the 50 states of the US and 10 Canadian provinces.
BEST OVERALL
4.9
When it comes to moving truck rental services in the United States, U-Haul emerges as a standout choice, lauded not only for its excellence but also for its unwavering reliability. The consensus among numerous consumers highlights U-Haul as a top pick, attributed to its competitive pricing and impeccable customer service.
It’s essential to recognize that every company has its strengths and weaknesses, and as you embark on the journey of selecting the right moving service provider, a comprehensive evaluation is paramount. Is U-Haul truly the optimal choice for your specific moving needs? This article will equip you with the insights required to make an informed decision.
One of U-Haul’s standout features is its extensive range of truck sizes, surpassing industry competitors. Whether you require a compact 10-foot truck or a spacious 26-foot option, U-Haul caters to diverse moving requirements. Intermediate sizes like 15 feet, 17 feet, and 20 feet are also available. For those with lighter loads or moving into smaller spaces, U-Haul provides convenient solutions in the form of pickup trucks and cargo vans.
U-Haul’s reservation system is renowned for its reliability, backed by an exceptional compensation policy. In the rare event of booking hiccups, such as unavailability at your preferred location or time, U-Haul ensures your satisfaction.
In this comprehensive review, we explore U-Haul’s offerings, dissect their pricing structure, and consider crucial factors for choosing a moving company. Join us in this exploration to discover vital insights and more.
UHaul is the most popular and earliest moving service option for consumers who cannot afford the fees of professional movers.
Initially, UHaul is popularly recognized for its moving trucks, until some decades ago when the company expands its scope to include moving helpers, storage, and car towing services.
We will be looking at each of the UHaul services and offers at a glance one after the other. This review focuses mainly on its truck rental service. We believe that at the end of this review, you will be able to know if UHaul is the right choice for you. Let’s look at the UHaul rental service at a glance.
UHaul has been ruling the world of moving truck rental for decades and the company continues to offer the best service to its consumers in the United States and its environs.
The company has the best moving truck options, cargo vans, and other additional moving equipment to achieve smooth relocation services across the US and Canada.
While other companies may want to use promotional pricing and coupons to attract customers, UHaul offers its normal daily and mileage rates that are far better than many other companies’ coupons or promotional pricing systems.
The designs of UHaul’s truck are incompatible with other companies, considering their unique low loading decks to accommodate your belongings. There are varieties of moving truck options for different sizes of moves.
UHaul offers the below sizes of a truck with the following features:
UHaul’s pickup trucks are an excellent option for small moves such as studio apartments or students relocating into college dorm rooms.
UHaul’s 8 feet trucks rent fee starts from $19.95, and they are a perfect option for moving a twin bed and various sizes of moving boxes. UHaul 8 feet pickup truck has the following features:
UHaul cargo vans have inside dimensions of 9’6″ x 5’7″ x 4’7″ and a volume of 245 cu. ft. It is reviewed as one of the great size options for any prospective consumer hoping to move to a college dorm room or small studio apartment.
They have the capacity to move a queen mattress set with other moving boxes for the move. Most customers have reviewed that UHaul cargo vans are fuel economy for local and small moves.
It can also be hired starting at $19.95. UHaul cargo van has the following features:
If you are a young couple, single or a student looking for a perfect moving truck to move your belongings to a 1- or 2-bedroom apartment, UHaul 10 feet truck is an option to explore.
The 10 feet trucks from UHaul claimed to offer the unique features of a low loading dock to easily accommodate furniture and heavy boxes; making them more preferable for small and local moves compared to the above two truck-size options.
Apart from this feature, UHaul 10 feet trucks also have the following features:
Out of various options of UHaul moving trucks, the 15 feet truck is one of the favorites of many consumers relocating to 1- or 2-bedroom apartments due to its comfortability in moving both belongings and people.
This moving truck can contain three people conveniently with its spacious seat as opposed to the other smaller size trucks above.
UHaul 15 feet trucks have the following features:
If you are moving to a two- or three-bedroom apartment, UHaul’s 17 feet moving truck is a perfect option for you. This truck is a dual-purpose vehicle for both local and long-distance one-way moves.
The UHaul’s 17 feet truck can move two large bed sizes with other household items in a typical two to a three-bedroom apartment.
The UHaul 17 feet moving trucks have the following features:
The UHaul 20 feet moving trucks have a unique design with a large-capacity van-like carriage. They are ideal for households moving to three to four-bedroom apartments.
If you want to move long distances, UHaul 20 feet moving truck’s seat can comfortably accommodate three people with your belonging in the back bucket.
The UHaul 20 feet moving trucks have the following features:
UHaul’s 26 feet truck comes with trailer towing capacity and is the largest moving truck available in the company. It is a better match for moving a four-bedroom home and above.
Just like 20 feet trucks, the 26 feet trucks also come with a comfortable van-like seating feature that can accommodate up to three people and can transport large loads of a typical four-bedroom home and above.
The UHaul 26 feet moving trucks have the following features:
In our reviews about UHaul moving truck, we discovered that the company had won the hearts of many consumers in the United States and Canada. Typically, people who want to relocate do go online, and many don’t have any other platform to go to, except the UHaul website to get a no-obligation quote for their moves.
This has made the company expand its scope to meet the demand of the consumers; hence, there is no limitation to the number of reservations the company can accept.
Consumers booking details such as size and pickup time can be rearranged and reschedule at the last minute in the case your chosen location’s inventory has been exhausted.
This implies that your reservation with the company is guaranteed, as UHaul covers every nook and cranny of the nation. These and many other qualities make UHaul one of the best matches for small, local, and flexible moves.
In summary, consumers can choose from any of the available sizes of UHaul moving trucks based on the size of the home or move as summarized below:
While UHaul moving trucks are not kid-seat friendly, their seats can accommodate up to 3 adults conveniently based on your selections.
Is there any UHaul center in your area? This will be discussed next.
UHaul wins the heart of many Americans and Canadians due to its availability across the two countries. It is a popular brand that is broadly available in all 50 states of the US and 10 franchises in the provinces of Canada to serve the needs of the consumers.
This widespread makes UHaul deliver to its customers satisfactorily by connecting to their locations across the country to give their consumers the best truck rental services.
Whenever, wherever you need UHaul trucks, they are readily available. Unlike other rental services, you don’t need to book their UHaul trucks months or weeks ahead before getting the best out of the company.
UHaul prides itself to handle impromptu reservations and ensure consumers get what they want at the right time. With over 20,000 locations in both the United States and Canada, there is an assurance of getting one closer to your community.
Just ask around or go to their website inquiry about one closer to you.
There is always uniqueness in each move – no two moves are identical. The best way to differentiate each move is to define it with distance. Likewise, UHaul defines moves according to the distance in a view to offer its customers a better moving experience.
By defining the actual type of move required by each consumer, it gives you and the company a clear picture of how to handle each move. Moves are categorized by UHaul as follows:
Local or in-town moves are usually the cheapest and simplest since the truck is expected to cover a short distance. These are the moves that involve the distance one can travel within a city or suburbs. It takes one or two hours for local or in-town moves.
In this type of move, it is assumed that consumer will return their moving trucks to the same location it was picked up the same day. UHaul categorizes your move as a local move if your move is less than 10 to 15 miles or if the move is in the same city.
One-way moves or interstate moves require more time as well as long-distance than local moves. In this type of move, you can travel across the state, and this is expected to cost more than local moves. UHaul is one of the few companies offering one-way moves and the most affordable rental service.
However, while many rental services see one-way as long-distance or state move, UHaul defines one-way moves as moves that require returning a rented truck to another location other than the location the truck was picked up.
This is regardless of the distance – even if it is just 30 miles or 20 minutes of travel. When it comes to a one-way move, UHaul calculates your price differently; hence, you are required to specify when requesting a quote, if your move is one-way or you are returning the truck to the same location.
It can be concluded that UHaul trucks are perfect for both local and one-way moves due to their availability and cost-effectiveness. The company guarantees enough inventories to meet up any number of demands from consumers across their locations in the United States and some provinces of Canada.
The question now is how much does it cost to rent a UHaul truck? This will be discussed next in this review. It can be concluded that UHaul trucks are perfect for both local and one-way moves due to their availability and cost-effectiveness.
The company guarantees enough inventories to meet up any number of demands from consumers across their locations in the United States and some provinces of Canada.
The question now is how much does it cost to rent a UHaul truck? This will be discussed next in this review.
You would have seen UHaul trucks with a brand inscription of $19.95 advertised on the bodies of their vehicles. Moving can be stressful and as well be costly.
Many consumers opted for renting moving trucks to use the DIY system in a view to reducing the cost of their moves. However, it would sound unrealistic to believe that you can move your belongings at a ridiculous cost of $19.95.
Renting a moving truck entails other costs that should be calculated in your moving quote. There are other hidden costs such as gas, insurance, environmental fee, and other related costs that can jack up the advertised price of $19.95 as seen on UHaul trucks and vans.
Like other rental services, the cost of renting a UHaul moving truck depends on a number of factors including size, mileage, and the type of move (whether it is a local or one-way move).
The truth is that the distance of your move plays a significant role in determining the cost of your move, as it determines the cost of gas used to travel the distance involved.
The UHaul’s moving trucks vary in size likewise in price. For instance, a UHaul’s 26 feet, 24 feet, and 20 feet trucks are priced at $39.95, 17 feet and 15 feet trucks priced at $29.95, and 10 feet truck priced at $19.95.
Typically, renting UHaul’s 10-foot van or 15-foot trucks should cost more than double the advertised price on the body of the truck.
In addition, if you are returning the truck to another UHaul center, there will be an added flat rate with an exclusive discount for truck idle mileage and days.
| Truck size | 10 ft. | 15 ft. | 20 ft. | 26 ft. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move distance | 976 miles | 976 miles | 976 miles | 976 miles |
| Amount of Included mileage | 1,151 miles included | 1,151 miles included | 1,151 miles included | 1,151 miles included |
| Base price or rental fee | $1,121.00 | $1,180.00 | $1,475.00 | $1,770.00 |
| Estimated overall price | $1,516.93 | $1,636.12 | $1,931.12 | $2,226.12 |
| Estimated costs of fuel | $300.93 | $361.12 | $361.12 | $361.12 |
| Damage protection | $90.00 | $90.00 | $90.00 | $90.00 |
| Environmental fee | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Dimensions | 9-ft. 11 in. by 6-ft. 4 in. by 6-ft. 2 in. | 15-ft. by 7-ft. 8 in. by 7-ft. 2 in. | 19-ft. 6 in. by 7-ft. 8 in. by 7-ft. 2 in. | 26-ft. 5 in. by 7-ft. 8 in. by 8-ft. 3 in. |
| Suitable for: | Studio to a one-bedroom apartment | one-bedroom home or two-bedroom apartment | two-bedroom home or three-bedroom apartment | three- to four-bedroom home |
Without wasting time, let’s look at what UHaul advertised price excludes and how hidden costs may build upon consumers’ bill:
The quantity of gas to use for your move largely depends on the distance the truck will travel and consequently, the cost.
The policy of UHaul (just like every other truck rental service) implies that the rented moving trucks must be returned to their locations with the same level of gas in the tank it was picked up.
You have to consider the fuel economy features of the truck you are renting to know the amount of gas for your move. For example, while an 8 feet truck consumes 19 mpg (miles per gallon), a 26 feet truck consumes 10 mpg (miles per gallon).
One cannot accurately specify the cost of gas until the actual moving distance is determined.
UHaul also charges consumers for each mile they go, and this charge can vary based on a number of factors such as the type of move and distance. While some stores charge 99 cents per mile, others charge 79 cents per mile during weekdays.
Typically, the charge could be as much as $1.29 during weekends. However, you can estimate a rack up of 50 miles between your pickup station and drop-off center – giving rise to an extra mileage charge of $29.50 and $44.50 for vans and trucks respectively.
Though it may look small to you, but not so when you discover it unaware. UHaul also charges truck renters an environmental tax or fee of $1 per day.
The company claims that the said fee goes toward reducing “the negative effect of her business on future generations” and this sometimes is understandable when it is disclosed to the customer during quoting.
UHaul page claims that most insurance policies are exclusive of damage caused to the truck. On the online reservation of the site, there is a pre-checked box – “damage protection” with an extra cost of $11 for damage caused to rental trucks.
If this box is selected, the other option means an instant reimbursement to UHaul for whatever damage caused to the trucks. If you want to avoid this charge, you may check your personal coverage to see if your move is already covered and no additional damage protection is needed.
The UHaul insurance policies are $15 and $29 per day for liability and full coverage respectively. However, this is optional, as insurance on your car may extend to the truck.
This is one of the reasons you should check your individual insurance coverage very well; so, you won’t pay for double insurance.
UHaul rental service offers one of the most cost-effective liability coverage in the industry to be responsible for any damage to the company trucks during your move.
Unlike other rental services, UHaul uses one of the reputable insurance companies known as Repwest to offer the best insurance coverage and not just valuation.
It is worthy of mentioning that most credit cards and personal policies don’t cover your rental trucks; hence, after confirming from your auto insurance that your rental truck is not covered, it is highly recommended to go for any of UHaul’s damage protection policies.
The available liability coverage options are:
Consumers are free to choose from any of the options that best match their moves after going through the features of each of the liability coverage.
For more understanding, let’s take a look at each of these plans:
Safemove is a damage protection policy that covers the UHaul rental truck and the contents therein such as the driver, cargo, and passengers. Below is the list of what you should expect under the Safemove plan:
Safemove frees you from paying for any damage to a UHaul moving truck during your trip. With this plan, if anything happens to the truck such as a cracked windshield, dents caused on the body, or broken side-view mirror, the company will not hold you responsible for them.
You don’t owe the company a penny for damages caused to the truck throughout your trips.
However, you should be aware that this package is exclusive of damaged tires, or collisions with overhead obstacles, which are one of the most rampant accidents that happen during moving. If you are looking for a plan to cover these damages also, check other plans.
Cargo coverage covers those damages caused to your items in the case of a truck catches fire, involved in an accident, windstorm attack, and other related incidents.
This is exclusive of goods damage due to poor handling, driving, or packaging. With as low as a $100 deductible, cargo coverage covers as high as $15,000 for local move rental and $25,000 for a long-distance or one-way move rental.
However, this insurance coverage cannot be compared with other moving insurance packages out there, as it offers more value than many of them.
While UHaul’s medical coverage may not be extensive; it offers a medical bill of up to $1,000 in the case accident. Also, consumers can get up to $15,000 and $25,000 in life coverage for passengers and lessees respectively.
Safemove Plus® offers up to $1,000,000 in liability coverage in addition to all the benefits of the Safemove plan discussed above for damages to other people’s possessions. The two significant added features that make Safemode Plus worth considering are:
Supplemental liability insurance from UHaul offers $1,000,000 with no deductible and has been reviewed to be one of the best plans in the industry.
It protects you from any post-accidental legal action that could be brought to you. It means this plan will cover you and your properties but not liable for the damage caused to the second party and his or her vehicle involved in the accident.
UHaul Safemove Plus covers more advanced damages such as damaged, cut, or blown tires and as well as collision with overhead obstacles not covered by Safemove.
Safetrip® is one of the newest insurance packages from UHaul to make your move safer than ever before. This plan offers protection for your trip with a choice of roadside assistance for as low as $5.00 daily.
Apart from this, the plan also offers solutions to problems such as fuel services (up to 3 gallons), lost keys, lockout services, getting stuck in snow or mud, and trailer/towing hookup.
This insurance is the only level of protection available for UHaul cargo vans and pickup trucks. With this coverage, it offers as low as $150 deductible for accidental damage, but it is subjected to some exclusions.
In summary, if you have seen UHaul trucks with inscriptions of $19.95, $29.95, or $39.95 flat rate for a move, the following is worthy of note:
For example, UHaul truck rates for locations such as Salt Lake City, UT to Mesa, AZ based on sizes are:
You can request a quote for the estimated cost of renting a preferred truck size to your preferred location. It is worthy of mentioning that these prices are exclusive of multiple costs of refilling the tank throughout your trip or associated increased price of the damage protection policy.
One of the reasons the consumers prefer UHaul is its easy payment system. You can reserve a UHaul rental truck without advance payment or deposit. The payment system is one of the simplest.
When you pick up your moving truck or pick up, your payment is put on hold while UHaul holds on to your credit or debit card and the actual costs of gas and mileage are adjusted once the truck is returned.
There is no additional charge for canceling or rescheduling your reservation. However, it is advisable to do so (if the need arises) at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled pickup time.
Having gone through UHaul’s services and pricing system, you should also be concerned about the customer experience of the company. From history, most of the customer complaints have been price-related issues. It all starts from the flat-fee advertised online or on the UHaul trucks.
Many prospective customers usually think that is a fixed price, not knowing there are other hidden charges not contained in the advertised price. Generally, UHaul has been outstanding in delivering its services to consumers, and many customers confirmed this. Nevertheless, we cannot but mention some common customers’ complaints over the times.
Having this knowledge about customer experience will help you prepare yourself or prevent them from happening when using UHaul rental trucks.
Below are the common customer experiences with UHaul:
While some consumers are ignorant of how mileage and gas are being charged, some UHaul customers do complain that they are overcharged. Though it is not common, some cases sometimes arise when customers are returning their trucks.
It is recommended to ensure your local UHaul location record the gas level, and mileage of the truck and both of you should take note of the record. This will prevent unnecessary arguments when you are returning your moving truck.
In another approach, you can as well take note of the odometer reading of the truck by snapping it with your smartphone for future purposes. With your smartphone, you will be able to record the time and date, to help you prove your case in the case of an argument about mileage and gas overcharge.
When you need a U-Haul moving truck, you will always get them. This implies that U-Haul trucks are always in use throughout the years; hence, there will be wear and tear on the truck compared to other companies’ trucks.
Though U-Haul has a maintenance culture that guarantees optimal performance of their vehicles, the quick availability of the truck can turn out to be a disappointment sometimes.
U-Haul always strives to ensure its customers do not experience any mechanical issues throughout their trips. The company worked hard to make sure all their vehicles are serviced and updated to match the new trend in the industry.
However, engines cannot be trusted to be 100% perfect; hence, the company arranges roadside assistance at no extra cost to the consumers. In addition to further ensure that everything works out smoothly and to avoid any related liability, it is advisable to buy one of the company’s insurance packages.
These have been discussed above. You should as well take note of any mechanical issues or dent on the truck before picking up your truck. Test-run the engine or drive the truck around to take note of any strange noises from the engine and body parts.
U-Haul can only guarantee your reservation after a service representative has had a verbal conversation with you. The $50 reservation guaranteed means some kind of commitment to reserve a truck for you, especially during peak periods.
However, some customers do complain about this. The $50 refund is somehow complicated due to the processes involved in qualifying for the claim.
The customer can only claim the $50 refund if he or she has a verbal conversation with U-Haul rep to confirm a booking a day before the scheduled day.
If you didn’t receive a call from a service rep and you come for pick-up; you are not qualified for a refund if your pick location is rescheduled.
In the case of size-swap, U-Haul reserves the obligation to swap your preferred truck size to another one, in as much as it fits into your reservation (e.g., 26 feet for reserved 20 feet truck); hence, $50 refund cannot be accepted.
Some consumers have faulted the ineffectiveness of live chat with U-Haul online representatives. If you want a quick response or solution to some issues, then use other means, as you can’t get what you need from a live chat with U-Haul.
While this may be due to many customers to be attended to, U-Haul has been charged to work on its live chat. One needs to focus on the screen throughout the chat section because of quick conversation time out of the platform.
Should something go wrong, you would be asking “how do I file a claim with UHaul’? Filing a claim with UHaul is the same process as an auto claim. If you want to have a valid claim, there are some steps you need to take.
If you involve in an accident with a vehicle or person or damage a third party property, some information regarding the incident should be exchanged to make your case. Some of these steps or pieces of information required include:
The more documentation you are able to get, the better for your claim to be valid. The next step is to report the incident to U-Haul by filing a claim. This can be done through the UHaul online claim portal, and you will receive a call from a UHaul representative to guide you through the steps.
It is worthy of note that U-Haul’s liability coverage is handled by an insurance company; hence, you should expect fair treatment and U-Haul cannot be directly blamed for any delay in processing your request.
Having looked through the mode of service delivery of U-Haul, there is no doubt; the company is the right choice for any type of move, especially local move. If you are flexible with your moving schedule over a short distance, we recommend UHaul.
Apart from local moves, U-Haul is also a great deal for you if you are comfortable driving a large truck over a long distance; hence, you should seek an option from U-Pack.
When it comes to affordability, UHaul is one of the best choices for in-town moves except for long-distance moves which required paying more as opposed to the flat rate.
You can as well consider U-Haul for the following services:
Movers offer several forms of insurance that you can take advantage of when renting a vehicle, but you may consider getting supplemental insurance if you are worried about the safety of your belongings. Supplemental insurance may be recommended if you are transporting valuable cargo or if you are planning on renting a vehicle for a long distance move.
Homeowners should check their homeowner’s insurance policy and find out if they are covered while moving. You can also check online reviews and ask people you know about third-party moving insurance, ensuring that all of your items are covered just in case anything goes wrong while your belongings are being transported to your new place of residence.
It’s important to communicate your schedule and moving plan clearly with both the long-distance movers and U-Haul. Make sure everyone is on the same page regarding pickup and drop-off times.
Generally, most people think that doing everything yourself can save money, but there are some things that are better left to professionals if you want to avoid spending more in the future. You can still save money in some ways, though, by doing things like packing your own items but leaving fragile, heavy, and valuable items in the care of professionals.
Another way to save is by finding as many free boxes as you can and using packing supplies that you have on hand instead of purchasing and discarding moving boxes. If you do purchase boxes and have some left over after packing all of your items, some places may recycle unused ones so you get some of your money back.
A moving broker is a company or individual that helps arrange your move for you – for a nominal fee. These professionals set you up with a moving company they are affiliated with and can make sure that you are all set for the day of your move.
A moving broker can be a good choice for some, but choosing a broker comes with its own risks. For example, make sure that the companies the broker is affiliated with have proper licensing and insurance by having them provide a USDOT number for the moving company they are working with.
There are different types of moves that companies may help you perform, including long distance (interstate) and local (intrastate) moves. Long distance moves are classified as any move in which belongings are transported across state lines, no matter how long or short the distance travelled is.
A local move is considered any move that does not cross state lines. Local moves are bound to state laws, but some states may not have any regulations in place for movers. If you’re not sure of the policies in your state, look at information provided by the Attorney General of your state.
The preparation steps you take will depend entirely on the items in your home, the size of your home, and whether or not you are going to be working with best moving companies. Some tips from moving professionals include packing boxes carefully and labeling them along with arranging boxes to take up as little space as possible.
If you’re working with a team of movers, they may load items during your load spread duration and movers will give you 24 hours’ notice before arriving to your home. If there is anything different from previously discussed on your moving day, such as construction, so that movers can plan accordingly to get your items loaded and unloaded in the safest possible way.
U-Haul has been around for a long time now, and the company has not relented on its effort to get better and key into the current technology. The company has come into the limelight in truck rental and other services in the industry. With over 20,000 locations across the United States and Provinces of Canada, U-Haul has touched the lives of many moving consumers in the moving industry.
Have you used U-Haul for any service before? How can you rate the company? What is your experience with the company? Is it positive or negative? Leave a comment in the box!
Thomas has a degree in literature from Stanford University and a profession in Mass Communication. Thomas is a member of the Moving Feedback research team, an expert in writing educative articles to help readers make the right buying decisions. He is well versed in moving industry matters to give the best advice on moving needs.