U-Haul Says It’ll Be $150 A Day To Rent. Then Man Decides To Call A Tow Truck Instead: ‘Spend Wisely’

Moving can be incredibly time-consuming and stressful. It can also be expensive—depending on how you do it and how far you’re going.

While many people trying to save money opt for a U-Haul, one man is now convinced that U-Haul's rate is too pricey. So he found a creative workaround. Commenters are worried that while it may have been cheaper, it may not have been safe.

Moving Hack Or Dangerous Workaround?

In a TikTok with around 15,000 views, content creator @life_of_a_detailer explains how he moved a few large items cheaply.

"I called U-Haul, it was a hundred and fifty dollars a day," he says. 

So he says he called a towing company instead, lied about his car being broken down, and asked how much it would cost to tow from Forest City to Spindale, both in North Carolina. The driver quoted him $50. 

When the truck showed up, he loaded up a bunch of other items on the flatbed instead of his car. When he points the camera at the truck, you can see a three-person sofa, a washer and dryer, and four tires.

"I just saved myself a hundred bucks," he says.

It’s unclear if the tow driver cared that they were roped into the man’s moving scheme, but it seems they did it anyway. "Think smart fellas," he said in the caption.

What Does It Cost To Rent A Moving Truck?

According to Move.org, a local two-bedroom move with a rental truck averages around $200, while a long-distance move for a larger home can run close to $3,000. And that's before you factor in gas, insurance, and mileage fees, none of which are typically included in the base quote

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U-Haul charges $0.99 per mile for local moves on top of the daily rate, and in large urban areas like New York City, that jumps to $2.49 per mile.

This Old House notes that truck size plays a major role, too: small trucks (10–12 feet) run $20–$30 a day, midsize trucks go for $40–$80, and large trucks can hit $100 a day—all before mileage.

Timing matters as well. Moving between May and September, or on a weekend, tends to cost significantly more than an off-season weekday rental.

Which Moving Truck Company Is Cheapest?

Move.org breaks down the relative costs of popular moving truck and trailer rentals pretty simply: 

• Budget is usually the cheapest for local moves, with average local rental prices well under $100.
• Penske tends to offer the best value for long-distance hauls—its quotes are transparent and don't tend to balloon with added fees. 
• U-Haul sits somewhere in the middle, but it wins on availability. It's the easiest company to find nationwide and typically offers the lowest-cost insurance options, making it a solid pick if you need a truck on short notice.

Commenters React

Some expressed concern about the safety of @life_of_a_detailer’s tow truck moving trick. “They drove it down the road like that?? That’s wild without ratchet straps,” one wrote.

But most people were impressed by his creativity.

“Brilliant,” a person said.

“Spend wisely,” another wrote.

Motor1 reached out to @life_of_a_detailer for comment via TikTok direct message and comment. We'll be sure to update this if he responds.

 

 

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