How to Use the Trip Planner in the U-Haul App

Planning a move often means driving a vehicle that’s larger than what you’re used to. Whether you’re driving a U-Haul truck, towing a trailer, or hauling equipment with your personal vehicle, planning your route ahead of time can make the trip much easier. 

The Trip Planner feature in the U-Haul App is designed to help you prepare for your move before you even start driving. With this tool, you can map your route, choose the type of vehicle you’re using, and locate helpful stops along the way, such as U-Haul centers and dealers. Instead of relying only on a standard navigation app, the Trip Planner helps you organize your moving trip with your specific vehicle setup in mind. 

Why Use Trip Planner? 

Trip Planner works like a built-in map inside the U-Haul App that helps guide you safely to your destination. Because moving trucks are larger and heavier than everyday cars, it’s helpful to plan your route with the right vehicle information in mind. 

With Trip Planner, you can: 

• Plan your route directly within the U-Haul App 
• Select the type of vehicle you’re driving 
• Preview helpful stops along the way 
• Locate nearby U-Haul centers if you need assistance during your trip 

As you drive, the app also provides voice-guided navigation, real-time updates, and notifications for upcoming steps, which appear directly on your phone's lock screen for easy access. 

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Choose the Vehicle You’re Driving 

One of the most helpful parts of Trip Planner is the ability to select the type and size of vehicle you’ll be driving. This helps the app to generate a route tailored to your move, including helping you avoid low-clearance overpasses and bridges that may not accommodate larger trucks. This is a feature that is unique to the U-Haul app apart from other navigation tools.  

When creating your trip, you can choose from options such as a personal vehicle, a U-Haul truck, a trailer or towing setup, or a U-Haul truck with a trailer. Selecting the correct vehicle ensures that your route is more appropriate for the size and type of vehicle you’re driving. 

This step is especially useful if you’re driving a larger moving truck or towing equipment for the first time. 

Find Helpful Stops Along Your Route 

Moving trips often involve long drives, fuel stops, and unexpected needs along the way. Trip Planner helps you identify useful locations on your route, so you can plan ahead. 

As you review your route, the map displays nearby U-Haul centers and dealers that could be helpful during your drive. Knowing where these stops are ahead of time can make your trip more convenient and reduce the need to search for services while on the road. If you zoom in on the map, you may also see nearby gas stations along your route, which can help you plan fuel stops ahead of time. While Trip Planner does not currently support searching for locations along the route, these visual cues can still help you prepare for your drive. 

If you need assistance during your move, seeing nearby U-Haul centers along the route can also provide peace of mind. 

Steps to Use Trip Planner in the U-Haul App 

You can access Trip Planner directly from the Tools section inside the U-Haul App. Setting up your route only takes a few minutes. 

• First, open the U-Haul App and log in using your U-Haul account. If you don’t already have an account, you can create one directly in the app. 

• Next, navigate to the Tools icon in the menu and select Trip Planner. 

• Once Trip Planner opens, enter your destination address and choose the type of vehicle you’ll be driving. You can select or modify your vehicle by selecting the car icon on the right side of the screen, or by tapping “Current Vehicle” after entering your destination. 

A pop-up labeled “Vehicle Information” will appear, where you can choose the vehicle that matches your setup. If you select U-Haul trucks or cargo vans, you will also have the option to choose the specific truck or cargo van size, as well as indicate whether you are towing a trailer or other equipment.  

After selecting the correct vehicle configuration, you can start your route. Once your route is active, Trip Planner continues to guide you even as you navigate through the app. If you leave the Tools section but stay within the U-Haul App, a persistent navigation banner will remain visible to show your next step and give you the option to stop navigation at any time. 

If you leave the app while navigating, Trip Planner will continue to send updates through your phone’s notifications. These updates can appear on your home or lock screen and may include voice-guided directions if your sound is enabled. 

The map will display available routes along with helpful stops on the way. From there, you can choose the route that best fits your needs. If you prefer, Trip Planner also allows you to open the route in Google Maps or Apple Maps for turn-by-turn navigation. 

Tips for Planning Your Moving Route 

Taking a few minutes to prepare your route before moving day can make the trip smoother and less stressful. 

Start by deciding what kind of vehicle you’ll be driving, then reserve it and plan your route before picking up your truck or trailer. This gives you time to review the drive and become familiar with the route. It’s also important to select the correct vehicle type so the route better suits your driving setup.  

The Trip Planner map also highlights traffic flow and potential hazards along your route for you to stay aware of road conditions and make adjustments as needed. 

If you’re traveling a longer distance, consider identifying fuel stops along the way. Keeping track of nearby U-Haul centers can also be helpful if you need assistance during your trip. 

Make Your Move Easier with the U-Haul App 

Moving involves many details, and having the right tools can make the process much simpler. The Trip Planner feature in the U-Haul App helps you prepare your route, locate helpful stops, and plan your trip with your vehicle setup in mind. 

If you haven’t already downloaded the U-Haul App, you can get it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play and start planning your move with Trip Planner.