So last week we gave you the first 5 of the top 14 tips you should know before renting a  moving truck, or choosing from a full service moving company. Here’s a quick recap of the top five tips: 1) Calculate the moving truck size you need before comparing rental facilities. 2) Determine the distance your moving your possessions to and from. 3) Figure out your moving date, and call in advance to rent the truck. 4) Learn the operation of the moving truck so you have no problems driving it. And 5) Inspect your rented moving truck for any damages before signing off on it so you can’t be charged for any unlisted damage you didn’t cause. Those are the first 5 tips, and here are the next 5 most important tips when choosing a moving truck.

6. Check that the headlights, wipers, and breaks are working properly. The last thing you want when driving a moving truck are mechanical issues. Verify that the interior of the box of the truck is clean and undamaged. Learn how to operate the lift gate and check that it works properly. Also, find out who you need to call in case the van broke down.

7. Try to avoid busy summer months when you plan to rent a moving truck or hire a full service moving company. The last 10 days of June, July, and August are usually the busiest moving days. Sometimes full service moving companies will overbook people during this time and not show up on time. Or they’ll even subcontract your move to another company or truck driver. Sometimes they’ll even contract day-employees who have no experience to handle your possessions.

8. Some full service moving companies will try to squeeze in any extra charges that they can so be careful. Ask about “long carry”, “flight”, and any other extra charges they might not tell you about ahead of time. “Long carry” is when the movers have to carry your possessions a certain distance from your home to the moving truck. Some places parking is limited and the moving truck will be forced to park further away from your home. In this case you might be hit with the “long carry” charge. The “flight” charge is when the movers have to carry your possessions up and down stairs. So if you live in an apartment, or in a multi-floor home, ask ahead about this charge before selecting your full service moving company.

9. Make sure to fully inspect all your possessions once they’ve been moved, before signing off on the receipt. Any damage spotted after signing the receipt can’t be claimed.

10. Most moving truck rental companies will offer you additional optional insurance to protect your possessions. Sometimes it’s worth it to purchase this insurance. Check with your auto insurance and property insurance companies ahead of time, to see what they will cover during your move. If you’re lucky, it might not be necessary to purchase the additional insurance at all. But if you’re not fully covered, then purchase the additional insurance, because it will cover any accidents you may have when driving a rented moving truck. Some moving truck rental companies offer damage and limited / total loss insurance for your possessions. Also inquire about assessed value insurance which can replace your possessions in case an accident happens. If you’re not moving far from your location, and your possessions aren’t too valuable, a general insurance could be all that’s necessary.

There you have the next 5 of the top 14 tips when choosing a moving truck or a full service moving company. From today’s tips, it’s evident that a full service moving company might try to squeeze extra charges out of you so be careful. Check back soon for the third section of this three part series for the final and most important tips when checking out moving truck options.