U-Haul Online Reservation

If you’re planning to rent a U-haul truck, make sure to reserve it well in advance. You can do this online, over the phone, or at a local store.

Concordia master’s student Sam Everitt reserved his rental truck for July 1 from Montreal to Toronto months in advance. But when he arrived for his pickup, a U-haul employee told him there was no truck available.

Requirements

U-Haul’s online reservation function allows customers to search for vehicles by location, truck size, and dates. It also gives them the option to select a one way rental or a round-trip reservation. The site is easy to navigate and intuitive, a significant benefit over Penske’s slightly cluttered system.

The website also includes helpful resources like a truck size calculator and packing tips. Its Truck Wizard feature selects furniture similar to what the customer will be moving and suggests an appropriately sized vehicle, saving time and money.

Despite the best intentions of U-Haul and its staff, unforeseen events can often prevent a customer from picking up or returning a vehicle as scheduled. Closing times change, weather or illness interfere, and new homes may not be ready to move into. In these circumstances, U-Haul reserves the right to provide a different vehicle or offer customers a refund on their reservation. It is important to understand this policy before making a reservation.

Pricing

Many things are becoming more automated, but there are still some tasks that need to be completed by phone or in person. Renting a U-Haul is one such task that requires the help of a live person. It’s important to understand how the pricing works before you reserve a vehicle online.

Go Public has found dozens of online complaints from customers who were told their reservations weren’t honored. Some were told to pick up their equipment at different locations, while others were given vehicles smaller than the ones they reserved.

To avoid these problems, try to reserve your U-Haul rental vehicle as early as possible. This will allow you to reserve a vehicle that’s more likely to be available on your moving day. U-Haul also offers a “reservation guarantee,” which is $50 compensation if you receive a vehicle that’s not the size and type you reserved. But this is a weak apology at best and not a good guarantee of getting the vehicle you need.

Convenience

Many things in life are now easier and more convenient when done online, but not all. When it comes to renting a vehicle, for example, some customers still prefer to pick up the phone and speak with someone. This is especially true for those who need to rent a U-Haul truck.

Sam Everitt was prepared for his move to Toronto from Montreal on July 1. The Concordia master’s student knew that moving day was a busy time of year, and he reserved a U-Haul nearly four months in advance. He even received reassuring emails from the company that his reservation was guaranteed.

But when he arrived at the Montreal location to pick up his equipment, staff told him that they weren’t able to provide one of the trucks he had reserved. They pushed him to another location, and by the time he was finished, it was 3 a.m. – 14 hours after his scheduled pickup time.

Security

The company uses a variety of security measures to protect customer information, including storing data in multiple locations and requiring the use of an email address or contract number for verification. U-Haul also uses the information to help speed up future rental processes and serve content, products and promotions. It will also keep the information for as long as legally required. Ensure you have your log in information ready ahead of time and download the app before arriving to expedite the process.

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