Like any sort of vehicle rental, the pricing for moving trucks isnt always what it seems.
Youll see a great dealMoves from $19.95!
When you start looking for a more extended trip, like cross-country, the price differences get even larger.
As frustrating as this is, there is a way to improve your chances of getting a better price.
U-haul quoted me at $1,400.
Penske was about $900, and Budget was considerably cheaper at $600.
The price difference was large enough that I decided to figure out why.
So, I called U-haul with my Budget quote in hand, and asked for a deal.
Like airlines and hotels, truck-rental companies have adopted complex algorithms that help them manage inventory.
Rental companies say in-town and cross-country trips are priced differently for a variety of reasons.
The U-Haul representative also told me Id also just picked a crappy week to move.
It as the end of the month, which apparently is when everyone needs a truck.
Essentially, an algorithm chooses the price of a truck.
The lower the demand, the cheaper the truck.
And when theres more of a demand, the more expensive the truck becomes.
Its obvious when you think about it, but how often do any of us actually think about it?
So, why was Budget so much cheaper?
It turns out, its likely because I was doing them a favor.
They had a lot of stock in Denver, not that much in Seattle where I was taking it.
Your previous experience doesnt really affect who is going to have the cheaper price.
If you could, avoid moving during summer, especially between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
There is alsoMoving101, which offers a variety of price comparisons for different types of moves.
This story was originally published on 8/12/13 and was updated on 10/25/19 to provide more thorough and current information.
