can you use rental car to move crosscountry

[SanAlessandra]

Yes, you can use a rental car to move cross-country, but it's crucial to understand the specific policies and potential costs involved. The primary challenge is that most standard rental agreements from major companies like Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis are designed for local use and include mileage limits. Exceeding these limits results in high per-mile charges that can make a cross-country trip prohibitively expensive. The solution is to look for a "One-Way" rental agreement, which allows you to pick up a car in one city and drop it off in another. However, these often come with a substantial drop fee that can range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, depending on the distance and demand.

Before booking, you must consider the logistics. Renting a minivan or SUV provides more space, but it will be insufficient for a typical household move. This method is only viable for moving a single person or a couple with very few belongings. You are also solely responsible for the vehicle's security and any damage incurred during the long journey. Critically, inform the rental company of your plans. Using the car for moving may violate the terms of the agreement, potentially voiding insurance coverage. Renting a truck from a company like U-Haul or Penske is often a more straightforward and cost-effective option for a genuine move.

Consideration	Standard Rental Car (with mileage limits)	One-Way Rental Car	Purpose-Built Moving Truck
Best For	Short trips, local moves	1-2 people with minimal possessions	Full household moves
Typical Cost Driver	High per-mile overage fees	Large one-time drop fee	Daily rate + mileage + truck size
Mileage Policy	Often limited (e.g., 100-200 miles/day)	Unlimited for the specific route	Unlimited or calculated in rate
Insurance Coverage	May be voided for moving use	Must confirm moving is allowed	Designed for moving goods
Space & Practicality	Very limited (car trunk/SUV space)	Limited (car trunk/SUV space)	Significant (10ft to 26ft truck beds)

[DiEsther]

I did this once, and my advice is to read the rental agreement line by line. I almost got hit with a massive fee because I didn't realize my personal car insurance wouldn't cover a rental used for "commercial moving." I was just moving my own stuff, but they considered it commercial! I ended up buying their extra insurance, which saved me. It's possible, but you have to be super careful and ask all the right questions upfront. The drop-off fee was a bitter pill to swallow, but cheaper than a moving truck for my small studio apartment.