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How to rent a moving van? First of all, I am sorry you had to ask that. I have had to do this many, many times, and learned a few lessons that, I hope, will render your experience painless. Also, trust me when I say that you do not want to borrow your buddy's pickup - especially if you're moving more than a mile away - if for no other reason than the strain on your gas card and your entire weekend (never mind your friendship with your "buddy").

The first thing you're going to want to do in the consideration of your moving van is pick a rental company. I have had good luck with Uhaul. They may have older trucks, but you ain't renting for looks, baby. They've got good rates and their equipment works. Additionally, they have everything you need right there at the store, whether it's bungees or boxes, dollies or load blankets. Just be careful to only get what you need and not buy extraneous items - more on this later.

The advantage to Uhaul versus Hertz or Budget is that Uhaul has been doing this for decades and the other guys built their business and service models around that fact. As such, I can almost guarantee that you will have a good experience. I have rented Uhaul trucks both local and long distance. I've never been left stranded, so if that's what you're worried about, stop it. They have impeccable road service if you need it.

A great way to make sure your rent is spent well is to be intentional. In other words, if you want to keep it cheap, keep it cheap. Have your house packed up and ready to go before you bring the truck home. You'll need to be creative to keep things economical, which can be fun. After all, you're not hiring a moving service, so why pay near as much just to buy the stuff you can find for free or next to nothing? The backside of strip malls and big box stores will provide you with every box you can imagine; just be sure to ask the manager for permission to raid his recycle dumpster. Part of the intentional benefit for recycling is the option to reuse, so you're actually being helpful by doing this.

Skimp on the boxes, but not on the tape, and be sure to get boxes of every shape and size. It goes without saying, but put the heavy stuff in the small boxes and keep the big boxes manageable for weight by packing smart. You'll need a dolly, too, which the rental company will be happy to provide for a fee, but borrowed is better than rented. If you'll be away from the truck for long periods of time you'll need a padlock, but don't pay ten bucks

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