U-Haul provides vehicles for moving large amounts of furniture, appliances, or other goods. Their services operate on a contracted basis, and having an expired contract without returning the vehicle effectively means the vehicle is stolen.
To avoid any fees or trouble with the law, it is important to understand the contract terms for using U-Haul trucks and other vehicles. Although the company prefers short-term rentals, they have some long-term options available for those who need them.
How Long Can You Rent a U-Haul?
You can rent a U-Haul for as long as your contract allows. Contracts are usually determined based on how far you will be moving, as well as the size of the vehicle you require. Most contracts are a couple of hours (8-24hrs) but you can add days if you’re moving out of state.
Keep reading to find details on U-Haul truck sizes and prices, as well as details on U-Haul rentals in general.
U-Haul Truck Sizes and Prices
U-Haul rental prices are based on the size of the truck you need, as well as the distance you intend to travel. Typically, this includes a flat rate for the truck, as well as additional fees according to distance traveled.
U-Haul trucks come in many sizes:
- Cargo vans —suitable for small jobs
- 10’ trucks — suitable for moving studio or 1 bedroom apartments
- 15’ trucks — suitable for moving 1 bedroom homes or 2 bedroom apartments
- 17’ trucks — suitable for moving homes up to 2 bedrooms
- 20’ trucks — suitable for moving 2 bedroom homes or 3 bedroom apartments
- 26’ trucks — suitable for moving 3–4 bedroom homes
The rates for all of these trucks differ. If you wish to calculate the expected rate for your moving job, you can visit the truck rentals page on uhaul.com.
How Many Miles Can a U-Haul Travel?
Different U-Haul vehicles have different gas mileage and tank sizes. Fuel prices are not included in the U-Haul rental fee, and gas must be paid for by the customer out-of-pocket. The expected driving distance per tank depends on vehicle size.
U-Haul trucks can travel between 372–600 miles on one tank of gas, depending on the size of the vehicle.
U-Haul will denote a certain number of miles that are included in your contract when you start your rental. Additional distance traveled will incur additional fees, to the tune of $1.00 per mile.
For more information on estimating distance fees and fuel costs, you can visit the tips page on uhaul.com.
Read: Are U-Haul Trucks Air Conditioned?
Can I Extend My U-Haul Rental?
U-Haul will allow you to extend your rental in most cases. This is best to organize beforehand. Let them know the extra days you’ll need the truck for upon pick-up and modify the contract.
If you need to extend it due to unforeseen circumstances and already have the truck in your possession, you can call up or go to you local U-Haul and inform them of the changes.
Each location and their availability will dictate whether or not you can extend your rental. Most of the time it shouldn’t be an issue whatsoever.
Read: Does U-Haul Provide Drivers?
Final Thoughts
U-Haul is a convenient service for people that need a temporary vehicle for moving large amounts of furniture, appliances, or other goods. Their rates are based on the size of the vehicle you require, as well as the distance you expect to travel.
There is generally no limit on how far or how long you can rent a U-Haul, but the exact parameters of your contract will be determined when you rent your vehicle. Adding additional miles to the distance will cost you extra. Fuel costs are also not included.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask away in the comments section.