6 Pitfalls Of Hiring Your Own Removal Truck

Most people want to save as much money as they can during the moving process and are tempted to hire their own moving truck.

However, while the DIY removal route might seem like a cheaper option on paper, there are many pitfalls that come with moving on your own.

Before you decide whether to use a professional Brisbane removalist service or pack your own truck, consider these common pitfalls that come with the self-moving trend.

You’ll need money on a credit card for a deposit: If you’re strapped for cash, hiring a truck is not going to be inexpensive in the short-term. Most truck hire companies require anything from a $200 to $500 deposit paid before you pick the vehicle up, and you’ll usually need to pay this with a credit card owned by the designated driver.

There are rigid hire time requirements: Moving trucks are usually only available for 24 hour hire periods - not the half or quarter day increments that professionals offer. If you’re super organised this won’t necessarily be a problem, but don’t expect to return your truck half an hour late without having to pay for an entire extra day.

Vehicle inspections waste valuable time: You know you’re going to be busy from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to bed on moving day. But, most people don’t factor in the time needed to properly inspect a removal vehicle and fill out the condition report before and after their move. Online reviews of truck hire companies are littered with cautionary tales of time-poor movers who rushed this process, didn’t notice a defect in their hire vehicle, and were then stung for repair costs later on.

It’s hard to collect your truck without help: Even if you’re confident that you can pack and move all of your possessions by yourself, a major roadblock that solo movers often don’t consider is the logistics of picking up their hire truck. Many hire places do not have anywhere for you to park your vehicle for the day while using your hire truck, so you’ll need to get a friend to drop you off or to hire a taxi on the day.

Don’t expect accessories to be included: Few truck hire companies include removalist trolleys, blankets and ropes in their standard packages. While these items can usually be rented, you’ll often find that the cost of hiring these essentials can come close to the cost of buying them new.

Your possessions aren’t insured: Everyone knows that when you rent a car you have to purchase basic insurance. But when you insure your hire truck you’re only covering the truck, not any of your possessions inside. Unlike professional movers who offer break-free guarantees, when you move goods yourself you have no safety net for potential damages.