There are many costs associated with intrastate and interstate moves. Months of planning pass to ensure everything moves as smoothly as possible. Inevitably, families will consider the possibility of renting a moving truck. Even though hiring a moving company removes much of a family’s burden, rented trucks are often considered as a way to save money. Don’t let yourself be fooled. Costs can be just as high with rented moving trucks.
Consider the following points of fuel cost, safety, equipment and time. National Van Lines always recommends doing your due diligence. When looking for professional moving companies, you should always get multiple quotes and ask lots of questions. Do the same when researching rental trucks and make sure you make the most cost-effective choice for your move.
The Cost of Fuel
Moving families often underestimate the price of fuel for their heavy moving truck. Rented trucks are often advertised as averaging around 10 miles per gallon. Fill that truck with the weight of all your belongings, and you might cut that in half. Imagine driving down the highway across state lines or cross country while getting five or six miles per gallon! Depending on how far you are going, you could end up buying gas for near the price of professional movers.
Truck Breakdown Risks
The policies surrounding rental truck breakdowns vary. If you go this route, make sure to have the company’s emergency number on hand. Even with the best rental truck company, you are in for extra headaches if you should become stranded on a highway. It can take hours for the company to find a replacement truck and reach you. Once there, you will likely be responsible for moving all of your stuff from one truck to the other.
Pay special attention to any insurance or protection policies rental truck companies have on their vehicles. The headache of a breakdown can also come with a cost if you didn’t buy the right protection package.
Paying For Additional Equipment
Necessary equipment for moving heavy items and packing material to keep your fragile belongings safe usually does not come with your rental truck. You will have to pay more money to rent or purchase these items on your own. Our moving experts compare the exchange to buying a boxed cake mix. Even though you have the basics, you still need to buy additional supplies to complete the cake. With only the powder in the box, there’s no way to finish.
Moving on a budget doesn’t have to result in a DIY move. When you add up the cost of gas and equipment, you may end up paying just as much money as you would hiring a professional moving company. In addition, there are safety risk associated with driving a large truck. Chances are you haven’t gone through the rigorous qualifications that professional drivers have to undertake in order to get a license.
Don’t assume renting a truck will be the cheapest, easiest of safest way for you to move cross country. Get multiple estimates from both rental truck and professional moving companies. Take everything into consideration, including your time and safety, to make the best choice for your move.
Our moving experts would be happy to answer any specific questions you have about the moving companies and National Van Lines. Call us at 877-590-2810 for more information.
