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Read
This Before You Rent
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Do You Budget?
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Count yourself blessed that there
are so many options available now in truck rentals. The trick
is comparing apples to apples. The Big Three are Budget, Penske
and UHaul. If you live in a large city, probably you can have
your pick of those and more. If not, there are many things you
should know before turning over that credit card and driving
off, no matter who your rental company is.
The Storage Works chose Budget because
of its advantage in a number of categories. But if we had to
pick only one category worth owning, that category would be
quality and safety.
Don’t take our word for it though.
Below we’ve listed some of the first things to consider before
making a reservation, then compared them among the Big Three.
Read first, then decide.
1. PRICE
Comparing prices can be puzzling since
they change from one day to the next. Even so, some companies
consistently come out on top, and more often than not, Budget
is one of them. Here’s a sample long distance trip to help you
compare rates:
|
Company |
Starting point |
Ending Point |
Miles allowed |
Truck Size |
Cost |
Discount |
Total |
|
Budget |
Dallas, TX |
Alexandria, VA |
1612 mi |
15ft |
$503 |
10% |
$453 |
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UHaul |
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1603 mi |
14ft/17ft |
$572/592 |
NA |
$572/592 |
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Penske |
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NA |
15ft |
$699 |
10% + 12%AAA |
$545.25 |
Please note that these prices do not
include sales tax or additional fees such as mileage overage
(Budget charges $.45/mi if you notify the company in advance;
$.60 if you don’t.). And don’t forget to also factor in mileage
per gallon. And, here’s a head’s up that could save you a bundle:
rental companies need to keep their inventory constantly in
motion, so those with too many inbound trucks are likely to
offer a discount to those leaving the city. Due to all of the
above, prices will vary by location and availability. Contact
us to find out our current rates.
More tips for keeping those hard-earned bucks in your wallet:
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Move in the middle of the month
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Reserve your truck for the middle of the week
(Monday through Thursday)
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Reserve as far in advance as possible (a month ahead
during peak season)
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Knowing your exact size might not always be available, it’s
better to go too big than too small.
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Online Discounts. Budget and Penske offer 10% off when you
rent online. What’s more, these can be combined with other
offers, such as AAA in the case of Penske. For sure check
into Budget’s Cyberdeals and Uhaul’s Hot Deals,
too.
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2. QUALITY AND SAFETY
Let’s face it. Self-move rental truck companies have not
always had stellar reputations. Some of the negatives, however,
are beginning to disappear. A few examples:
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Budget has invested nearly $100 million
into buying and maintaining its Ford and GMC trucks.
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Most Budget trucks are less than two years
old.
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If you have a break down, both Budget and
Uhaul offer 24-hour roadside assistance.
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Penske has started a new customer-focused
program called the "Penske Promise"
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3. ONLINE RESERVATIONS
All major truck rental companies now have online
reservations. What you want is the fastest and least
complicated. Among the Big Three, only Budget claims King of the
Hill. Uhaul, for example, required an email address first in
order to get a password. We had to wait several minutes until
ours arrived before we were allowed to proceed with getting a
quote. Similarly, all three rental companies offered information
specs about their trucks and how to get add-ons in their
Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ) sections, but for Penske, you’d
better know where to look or how to use their site map.
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4. INSURANCE
Did you know that your credit card’s insurance doesn’t
cover rental trucks? Most car and personal property insurance
doesn’t either. Contact your insurance provider, then review
the rental truck coverage plans. For example, cargo protection
covers unexpected loss or damage from flooding, tornados,
collisions, explosions and landslides, but does NOT
protect against theft. By the way. If jewelry, furs, and
antiques are on your manifest, read the fine print. Many
companies exclude those.
All of the Big Three offer protection plans that cover truck
damage, cargo damage and bodily damage. But only Budget offers a
Supplemental Liability plan that will protect you up to
$1,000,000 for any bodily injury or property damage liability
claims submitted by others as a result of an auto accident with
a Budget truck. If your regular auto insurance does not cover
you in the rental truck, definitely explore this supplemental
plan. No one expects to cause an accident. It’s always the
other guy, right? But in this case, if you are not experienced
in driving a rental truck, this is one plan you shouldn’t be
without.
Personal Coverage*
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Company |
Renter |
Passenger |
Medical |
Ambulance |
Limit |
|
Penske |
$100,000 |
$10,000 |
Up to $1000 |
Up to $100 |
$125,000 |
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Budget |
$50,000 |
$15,000 |
NA |
$100/person |
$80,000 |
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Uhaul |
$25,000 |
$15,000 |
$1000 |
NA |
NA |
Cargo Coverage*
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Company |
Amount |
Deductible |
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Penske |
$10,000 max |
$100 per occurrence |
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Budget |
$25,000 max |
$100 |
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Uhaul |
$25,000 |
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*- These figures are for one-way rentals only. Please consult
these companies’ Web sites or call your local rental provider.
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5. SIZE/CAPACITY
Did you know that UHaul’s 26-foot truck is actually smaller
in cubic feet than Budget’s 24-foot truck, and is limited to
6,430 lbs. compared to Budget’s 11,000 lbs? When comparing
rental trucks sizes, never compare the size in linear feet.
Here’s a comparison reference to guide you:
|
Company |
Truck options |
Size |
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Budget |
24’
15’
10’ |
1550 cu ft / 11000 lbs
800 cu ft / 3400 lbs
400 cu ft / 3000 lbs |
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UHaul |
26’
24’
17’
14’
10’
Cargo Van
Pick Up |
1538 cu ft / 6,430 lbs
1401 cu ft / 6500 lbs
849 cu ft / 2860 lbs
669 cu ft / 3100 lbs
368 cu ft / 1690 lbs
317 cu ft / 2230 lbs
64 cu ft / 1887 lbs |
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Penske |
25’
20’
15’
10’ |
1400 cu ft / 6000 lbs
1150 cu ft / 7000 lbs
725 cu ft / 3000 lbs
400 cu ft/ 3500 lbs |
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6.
THE
ULTIMATE SAFETY NET
Check around with friends and family before making your final
decision. Another excellent resource is the internet. It only
takes a minute or two to find other truck rental users who’ve
been down this road which can save you mountains of misery.
Check the consumer feedback sites, such as Epinions,
Planet
Feedback, and even Google.
There are plenty of stories there to help you form an opinion,
or at least know what questions to ask before signing up.
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