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by Dreamer Writer

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Van Rental Etiquette

When you need to rent a van for any purpose, there is a set of rules and behaviors that you as the renter and driver are expected to follow even though, the rental agent may not come right out and tell you about them. Based on the type of van you are renting and what the purpose of van is being used for sets the specifics on what rules you need to be sure to follow.
For moving van rentals, you need to be considerate of the massive size of this vehicle. Keep in mind that when these trucks are loaded to capacity, they can weigh as much as 24,000 pounds (6 tons)! Considering that the average car only weighs 1,600 pounds that should create a great deal of concern for what could happen if you lost control of that truck. In order for you to have the safest moving experience possible, you should exercise the following behaviors:

1. Before you depart for your move, make sure that you have more than enough gas to get to your destination. These trucks get very poor gas mileage (less than 10mpg empty) and you never know what kind of traffic delays and changes you will have to face along the way.
2. Be sure to carry a cell phone and your wallet on you within the cab of the truck. It would also be a good idea to carry your rental agreement with you as well in the event you are asked for proof of rental by law enforcement.
3. Keep the volume of the radio down to a minimal level to ensure that you can hear all the sounds from cars and other possible alerts around you while you are navigating the roads.
4. Accelerate slowly and brake far ahead of what you would normally do in your own car. These trucks are very heavy and take a whole lot more stopping room than you make originally think. This is even more important on hills and during inclement weather.
5. Obey the posted speed limits at all times. You are in a truck ten times bigger than the other cars on the road, you will stand out much more than everyone else, if you are driving too fast or driving erratically, the police will see you much easier than anyone else.
When you are ready to return your rental moving van, it is important to remember to refill the gas tank on the truck to the same point that is was when you first picked it up (this will save you from extreme gas charges). It is also important to make sure that you have cleaned the truck both in the cab and the box area to avoid be hit with a cleaning fee. If you have reserved your truck with a credit card and find yourself returning the truck after the store's business hours, don't worry. The amount due for the rental can be automatically charged to the card you have on file with them without needing to come back to the facility.

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