Get Your Free U-Haul Moving Guide

Understanding What's in the U-Haul Moving Guide

U-Haul offers a free informational guide designed to help people understand the moving process. This guide contains educational information about planning a move, selecting appropriate equipment, and organizing the logistics of relocation. The guide is not a service that completes your move for you—rather, it presents information about how moving works and what factors you might want to consider when planning your own move.

The guide covers topics relevant to both local and long-distance moves. It explains different types of moving equipment available, discusses factors that affect moving costs, and provides information about planning timelines. The resource is intended as a reference document that you can read at your own pace to understand various aspects of the moving process.

Many people find that having written information about moving logistics helps them think through their situation more clearly. The guide presents this information in straightforward language without requiring any prior moving experience to understand. Whether you're planning your first move or you've relocated multiple times, reviewing informational materials about the process can help you think through your specific circumstances.

The guide can be obtained directly from U-Haul through their website or by contacting their locations. Since it's informational in nature, there are no forms to complete or special requirements to receive it. You can review the material whenever it works for your schedule.

Practical Takeaway: Before gathering the guide, think about what aspects of moving are most unclear to you—whether that's equipment selection, cost factors, or planning steps. This helps you focus on the sections most relevant to your situation.

Breaking Down Moving Equipment Options and Sizes

One of the main sections in moving guides covers the different types and sizes of equipment available for relocation. Trucks come in various dimensions, from smaller cargo vans suitable for studio apartments or dorm rooms to large 26-foot trucks designed for multi-bedroom homes. The guide typically explains how equipment size relates to the amount of belongings it can hold.

Understanding equipment categories helps you think about what might work for your move. A cargo van generally holds approximately 600 cubic feet of space and works well for moves involving fewer than 15 boxes plus furniture from a single room or small apartment. A 10-foot truck holds roughly 4,000 cubic feet and can accommodate belongings from a one to two-bedroom apartment. A 15-foot truck holds approximately 6,000 cubic feet and suits two to three-bedroom homes. A 20-foot truck holds around 8,000 cubic feet for three to four-bedroom homes, while a 26-foot truck holds approximately 12,000 cubic feet and is designed for four to five-bedroom homes or larger relocations.

The guide explains that selecting the right size matters for both practical and financial reasons. Renting a truck that's too small means making multiple trips or leaving items behind. Renting one that's significantly larger than needed wastes money on unused space and can be harder to maneuver, especially in urban areas or narrow residential streets.

Most guides also discuss additional equipment options like trailers, dollies, and hand trucks. These tools assist with moving specific items—trailers extend cargo capacity when towing behind a vehicle, while hand trucks help move heavy boxes without manually lifting them. The guide explains how these supplementary items might reduce physical strain during a move.

Practical Takeaway: Create a rough inventory of your belongings before reading equipment descriptions. Counting boxes and listing large furniture helps you match your actual moving situation to the right equipment size rather than guessing.

Planning Your Moving Timeline and Preparation Steps

Moving guides typically outline a timeline for planning a move, breaking the process into phases that span weeks or months before the actual moving day. Understanding this structure helps you see how various preparation steps fit together logically.

The guide usually recommends starting planning six to eight weeks before your moving date. In the earliest phase, you might declutter your home by sorting through belongings and deciding what to keep, donate, or discard. This step reduces the total volume you'll need to move, which can lower your overall moving costs. Many people find that moving presents a natural opportunity to reassess possessions they haven't used in years.

Four to six weeks before moving, most guides suggest notifying important contacts about your address change. This includes your employer, banks, insurance companies, subscription services, healthcare providers, and government agencies if relevant. Creating a written list of organizations to contact helps ensure nothing gets overlooked. Some contacts can be updated online, while others require phone calls or written notices.

Two to four weeks out, guides typically recommend gathering packing supplies and beginning the packing process for items you won't need immediately. Starting early prevents last-minute rushing and reduces stress. The guide may discuss different packing strategies, such as room-by-room packing or category-based packing, and explain the advantages of each approach.

One to two weeks before moving, the guide usually suggests confirming your truck reservation, arranging for any additional equipment you've determined you need, and notifying utility companies of your move date so they can disconnect and reconnect services appropriately. Final tasks typically include packing remaining items, arranging childcare or pet care on moving day, and preparing an inventory of what you're moving.

Practical Takeaway: Write your moving date on a calendar and work backward, noting when each preparation phase should begin. This transforms the abstract timeline into concrete dates relevant to your specific move.

Understanding Costs and Factors That Influence Moving Expenses

Most moving guides explain various factors that affect how much a move costs. Understanding these factors helps you think realistically about your moving budget and identify where you might reduce expenses if needed.

Distance is a primary cost factor. Local moves within a city or region typically charge by the hour, while long-distance moves charge by mileage, the weight of belongings, or a combination of both. A move across town lasting 4-6 hours costs considerably less than relocating 500 miles. The guide helps you understand how distance relates to the equipment rental cost you'll encounter.

The amount of belongings you're moving directly impacts expenses. More items require larger equipment, which costs more to rent. This is why decluttering before moving can reduce your total expense. Some people estimate they reduce their moving volume by 20-30% through decluttering, which translates to moving smaller equipment and paying less.

The time of year affects moving costs. Summer months (June through August) are peak moving season when many people relocate, which typically means higher prices. Moving during winter months or mid-week tends to cost less because demand is lower. If your moving date is flexible, choosing an off-peak time can significantly reduce expenses.

Special equipment or services add to the cost. If you need a dolly, hand truck, furniture pads, or moving blankets, each adds a small fee. Additional services like loading assistance, professional packing, or equipment delivery beyond standard locations also increase the total cost. Understanding these optional items helps you decide which, if any, fit your situation and budget.

The guide may also discuss fuel surcharges, which vary based on current gas prices, and insurance or protection options, which add modest amounts but may provide peace of mind for valuable items. Knowing these components helps you understand the final bill rather than being surprised by charges.

Practical Takeaway: Gather information about your specific move—the distance, approximate number of boxes and furniture pieces, and your target moving date. Cross-reference this information with the cost factors explained in the guide to develop a realistic budget.

Packing Strategies and Organization Methods

Moving guides typically include sections about effective packing methods that make unpacking easier and reduce the risk of damage to your belongings. These strategies reflect practical approaches used by people who move regularly.

One common strategy discussed is room-by-room packing, where you pack all items from one room together and clearly label boxes with the room name and contents. This method helps during unpacking because all items for a specific room stay grouped together. When you arrive at your new home, you know exactly which boxes belong in which room without searching through random boxes.

Another approach is category-based packing, where you group similar items together regardless of which room they originally occupied. For example, you pack all kitchen items together, all bedroom items together, and so on. This works well if you're rearranging your living space and don't want items to go to their previous room locations.

The guide typically recommends creating a packing inventory—either written or photograph