The Pros & Cons Of DIY Relocation With U-Haul & Penske Moving Truck Rentals

Jan 18, 2024

Stuck on whether you should hire the professionals or go the DIY route with a truck rental for your big move? Read Movers.com’s guide to weigh your options!

Relocation is never going to be completely straightforward, and the decisions you’ll have to make along the way definitely complicate things. That also goes for whether you want the convenience of a professional moving company or the savings you’ll get from renting a truck and doing it all yourself.

As with everything else, different methods suit different situations, so if you’re wondering where you fall on the scale, you can check out Movers.com’s guide to truck rentals and professional moving companies. These pros know the industry like the back of their hands, so you can trust their takes on the subject!

Moving Truck Rentals Vs. Professional Movers: The Pros Of U-Haul & Penske

Here’s the million-dollar question: What’s the price of moving? Movers.com says that the upfront costs of renting a moving truck are cheaper than hiring a professional agency, as most rental companies will only charge based on truck size, distance traveled, and days of use. No need to worry about labor fees; you and your buddies are the only ones doing the labor here! 

You will also be able to reduce additional expenses by purchasing your own packing materials and utilizing items like car haulers. If you don’t have many possessions and are moving only a short distance from your original location, then you’ll be saving big time.

Another advantage to renting a moving truck is that you have significantly more control over your move, as you will have the freedom to decide on your moving date, how to pack your items, and the truck size. If something unexpectedly urgent happens, you’ll be able to shuffle your schedule around as you see fit.

Driver’s Manual Not Included

However, there are some things you should take into consideration for DIY moves. If you don’t have much experience operating large vehicles, you may find a moving truck difficult to handle. Compared to regular cars, trucks are big and unwieldy, so you need to take some extra precautions if you’ve never driven one before. 

Needless to say, the notion alone can be pretty stressful!

Furthermore, the lower cost of a rental may be offset by fuel, toll charges, rental surcharges, cargo protection, and other unexpected fees. You’ll also have to assume full responsibility for any damages that occur to your belongings during the journey; you won’t have insurance, and there also won’t be anyone else to point your fingers at.

The Value of Professionals

On the other hand, professional movers are trained to transport delicate and heavy items, and reputable companies will often provide insurance as part of their services. Although more expensive, they’re a convenient and low-stress resource if you’re the type who would prefer not to expend as much effort on planning and labor. They’re also a great option if you can’t walk into a room without knocking something over, or if you happen to have a bad back.

Movers.com recommends professionals for long-distance transportation, specialty moves, and small moves, but the website also advises you to research a company extensively to avoid poor-quality movers and scams. Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad apples out there, so it’s important to make sure you’re not hiring one of them. You definitely don’t need problems on top of your move!

Don’t worry if you don’t have time to sift through the bunch, though. You can use Movers.com’s online directory to find trustworthy companies in your area. All businesses partnered with the website are licensed, insured, and pre-screened according to strict quality guidelines. They’ve already filtered out the aforementioned bad apples for you, which means you can focus on finding the sweetest deals instead.

In short, renting a moving truck and hiring a company both have their own benefits and drawbacks. But that’s why Movers.com is here - to give you the resources to make an informed decision. If you need more in-depth information, check out the full guide to see which choice is best for you!

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