There are times when you will need to make several trips when moving even just down the block to a new home. Also, there are times when a family needs to take certain pieces of furniture to an alternate location, because they are giving someone else their extra, or old furniture as they may have purchased new for their recently purchased home. Having unlimited mileage will mean that you don’t have to be stressed by the odometer turning over. Another way to save even more money is to ask for a truck with a diesel engine, which will almost double your miles per gallon.

Even if you do not need the largest truck they rent, try and obtain one that has a hydraulic lift gate, it will help lift heavy objects up to the cargo entrance without having to over exert yourself. Make sure you have enough cargo straps to secure the heavier pieces of furniture that can shift about during transport. Some moving trucks have dividers that can be placed at intervals during loading to prevent your furniture and boxes from falling over and damaging other items. Try to load the heaviest items first toward the front and secure them before placing boxes, and lose items for a better load balance.

As you are responsible for any physical damage while the rental moving truck is in your possession, the sales person will visually go over the truck with you before leaving the rental lot. For your protection, it is a good idea to bring a camcorder or digital camera to document the exact condition of the vehicle before leaving. This will prevent any confusion about pre-existing damages that you could be charged for when returning the truck. Even though you have unlimited mileage you still need to pay for gas. Be sure and replace the fuel to the exact level you as when to took possession of the truck, as most companies will charge you double the cost of gasoline’s current pricing as a service fee to top off the tank.

In the past this process was called “Dead Heading”, this meant getting a vehicle to another location where it was needed most, and rental companies would waive vehicle return fees to clients needing their moving truck to go to another city. In fact the client was doing the company a favor without them knowing. Now it has flourished into a niche industry that helps truck rental companies move inventory to alternate locations while giving clients the luxury of getting a cheap one way moving truck rental to save money.

If you are only used to driving a sub compact car, then driving a moving truck may be a little overwhelming at first. Not so much driving forward but maneuvering into tight spaces while backing up can unnerve just about anyone except a commercial truck driver. To overcome your fears and gain confidence handling your rental truck, take it an empty parking lot and practice for a little. Try backing up and turning a the same time into a parking place, then backing in between two objects like a light pole and trash can. This should give you some confidence behind the wheel, and make for a more successful move.

Be sure and purchase the extended insurance policy the rental company offers, especially if this is your first time driving one of these vehicles. The peace of mind will be worth it incase you back into someone else vehicle, or property. Over all the policies run between thirty and one hundred dollars. This might seem like a large amount, but if your deductible on your personal auto insurance is five hundred dollars or higher, it may be prudent to hedge your bets with their additional policy. It’s cheap compared to the alternative, and you will not be liable for the vehicle if something happens.

When shopping for cheap one way moving trailer rentals, make sure and read the fine print of their contracts, as companies that usually cut their profits to garner new customers will offset the loss with hidden charges that you will have to pay if the contract is not executed to their exacting specifications. If their prices look to good to be true then this should be a huge red flag, and further shopping for a rental trailer may be required. Also, when at the rental location check the trailer out thoroughly to make sure it can make the trip you need safely.

Tires, brakes, load straps, hitch condition all should be in top condition before signing the rental contract. If the company is not willing to provide you with a safe trailer for your hauling needs then find another, and do not negotiate with someone that doesn’t care about the safety of their clients or their equipment. Customer service and equipment maintenance should be the pinnacle of any one way moving trailer company. The cost of roadside repair should also be taken care of by the rental agency, so make sure you will not have any out of pocket expense if there is an equipment failure, or flat tire while the trailer is in your employ.

The best one way moving trailer companies will rotate their old stock out for new every couple of years, and when driving up to their lot, do a cursory scan of their inventory to see the general condition of their products. This will tell you volumes about the way they do business before you even speak to a sales representative. After all, you are not only trying to save money by moving your household goods yourself, but do it in a frugal, safe and timely manner as well.

Ascertaining what size van you will need may be a little difficult if you are not used to moving yourself. The good news is that the sales representative will know how to calculate this for you. You will want to stay on the large side of things, as not having enough space once your van is loaded would mean unloading and getting a bigger vehicle, or making multiple trips. This would defeat the purpose of using a service such as this, and cost a lot more in fuel, that most cannot afford.

Shopping around for the features you, want will not be that hard since van rental companies have intuitive websites that list all available vehicles and their options. Most normally, come with creature comforts like air conditioning, a minimal audio setup to listen to the radio and possibly play CDs. Comfort for a long drive should be your main objective, so looking for tilt steering, cruise control, comfortable seating will be high on your shopping list. It is also a good idea to ask the rental agencies about any speed restrictions or cargo restrictions they may enforce.

Sticking with the nationally syndicated van rental companies will insure that you have a late model, well-maintained vehicle to rent. Usually regionally owned companies will not have an extensive network to help their clients when a break down occurs or be able to offer a truly one way rental. One question to ask your sales person when shopping for a rental, is if the van breaks down will they take of all expenses, so you will not have to incur any out of pocket costs.