Renting a truck in the US + Not activating K1 visa

[Yomtl 0]

I've been comparing the prices of one-way truck rentals from Canada to USA and also from USA to USA (only option from Canada to USA is U-Haul).

It really seems that U-Haul is taking advantage of this monopoly situation on one-way rentals Canada/USA (they're charging around 1300$ before taxes and insurance fees for a one-way rental between Montreal and Orlando.... ; whereas renting in the US would only cost around 800$....).

So I'm starting to look at the option of crossing the border to go and rent my truck in Burlington (Vermont), then drive back to Montreal with the truck, load it and then drive all the way down to Florida.

Has anyone done something similar in the past?

The other tricky part here is that i do not want to activate my K1 when crossing the border to go rent my truck.

I am still kind of worried about this K1 visa activation question (I have read the whole topic talking specifically about this issue)....Do you guys think that I could have a problem crossing the border if I just bring my Canadian Citizenship card with me when I take a Greyhound bus through customs to go and pick up the rental truck in Vermont? (by bringing only my citizenship card I wouldn't have to present my passport with the K1 in it)

Thank you!

Edited June 11, 2008 by Yomtl

[Eric_and_Corinna 0]

I don't know much about the K-1 activation, but how much would you actually save by going to Vermont, then coming back to Montreal? I look at things like food along the way, bus fare, fuel, time spent, etc? Are you really ahead by doing that?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I've been comparing the prices of one-way truck rentals from Canada to USA and also from USA to USA (only option from Canada to USA is U-Haul).

It really seems that U-Haul is taking advantage of this monopoly situation on one-way rentals Canada/USA (they're charging around 1300$ before taxes and insurance fees for a one-way rental between Montreal and Orlando.... ; whereas renting in the US would only cost around 800$....).

So I'm starting to look at the option of crossing the border to go and rent my truck in Burlington (Vermont), then drive back to Montreal with the truck, load it and then drive all the way down to Florida.

Has anyone done something similar in the past?

In theory, sounds like a good idea.

The other tricky part here is that i do not want to activate my K1 when crossing the border to go rent my truck.

I am still kind of worried about this K1 visa activation question (I have read the whole topic talking specifically about this issue)....Do you guys think that I could have a problem crossing the border if I just bring my Canadian Citizenship card with me when I take a Greyhound bus through customs to go and pick up the rental truck in Vermont? (by bringing only my citizenship card I wouldn't have to present my passport with the K1 in it)

Thank you!

It looks to me that you have not received the K-1 yet. Have you considered doing this prior to the K-1 interview, and taking the K-1 interview appointment letter with you as evidence of intent to return?

[Yomtl 0]

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

I would save about 500$....(1300$ if renting in Canada vs. 800$ if renting in the US)

As far as the k1 visa goes I had the interview 2 days ago so I should receive it in a few days hopefully.

[Cassie 8]

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

I would save about 500$....(1300$ if renting in Canada vs. 800$ if renting in the US)

As far as the k1 visa goes I had the interview 2 days ago so I should receive it in a few days hopefully.

Are you factoring the cost of gas needed for the truck?? They get crappy gas mileage. And is the extra mileage going from Vermont to Montreal and back factored into the price?

Edited June 11, 2008 by Cassie

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

I would save about 500$....(1300$ if renting in Canada vs. 800$ if renting in the US)

As far as the k1 visa goes I had the interview 2 days ago so I should receive it in a few days hopefully.

Are you factoring the cost of gas needed for the truck?? They get crappy gas mileage. And is the extra mileage going from Vermont to Montreal and back factored into the price?

I think honestly it would be a waste of time and energy, not to mention the fact of not activating the K1..what if they make you?

I think with the cost of gas for the truck and the fact that they may make you activate the K1, I wouldn't do it.

JMO.

Edited June 11, 2008 by ~Laura and Nick~

[Yomtl 0]

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

I would save about 500$....(1300$ if renting in Canada vs. 800$ if renting in the US)

As far as the k1 visa goes I had the interview 2 days ago so I should receive it in a few days hopefully.

Are you factoring the cost of gas needed for the truck?? They get crappy gas mileage. And is the extra mileage going from Vermont to Montreal and back factored into the price?

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

[Cassie 8]

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

I would save about 500$....(1300$ if renting in Canada vs. 800$ if renting in the US)

As far as the k1 visa goes I had the interview 2 days ago so I should receive it in a few days hopefully.

Are you factoring the cost of gas needed for the truck?? They get crappy gas mileage. And is the extra mileage going from Vermont to Montreal and back factored into the price?

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

I honestly think you're underestimating it, but that's just me. And you haven't answered my other question -- is the UHaul quote done by mileage or by flat rate? If it's mileage, and you're adding on extra by taking it up to Montreal, they might ding you hard. You may also have troubles at the border.

[Yomtl 0]

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

I would save about 500$....(1300$ if renting in Canada vs. 800$ if renting in the US)

As far as the k1 visa goes I had the interview 2 days ago so I should receive it in a few days hopefully.

Are you factoring the cost of gas needed for the truck?? They get crappy gas mileage. And is the extra mileage going from Vermont to Montreal and back factored into the price?

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

I honestly think you're underestimating it, but that's just me. And you haven't answered my other question -- is the UHaul quote done by mileage or by flat rate? If it's mileage, and you're adding on extra by taking it up to Montreal, they might ding you hard. You may also have troubles at the border.

I wouldn't be renting with U-Haul if I would rent the truck in the US. I would go with Penske or Budget (Budget has unlimited mileage for the one-way rental).

What kind of trouble do you think I could have at the border?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Keep in mind of the Mileage! Most rental outfits (like Uhaul) give you only soo much "free" mileage from point A to point b, and usually its is not much more than what it would take. Once you go over that "free" mileage you pay soo much a mile, so check into that as well. By the looks of things you could save some $$ and if ya got the time why not! If one saw $100 laying on the ground, would ya just walk by it?? I had a medium size Uhaul and got around 10 mpg with it, but I drove it pretty hard.

But your problem (which probably isnt that big of a one) is the activation of the K1 and that is up to the POE officer, but others have had success at doing it!! If it were I, I may give it a go, easy to say though when it isnt me,lol

Oki see ur going with budget, but check too see if it is truly unlimited milage, some say that, bu tin reality, they are only giving 500 miles, and the trip takes like 480, so one has a small lee way! best of luck

Edited June 11, 2008 by flames9

[Cassie 8]

Keep in mind of the Mileage! Most rental outfits (like Uhaul) give you only soo much "free" mileage from point A to point b, and usually its is not much more than what it would take. Once you go over that "free" mileage you pay soo much a mile, so check into that as well. By the looks of things you could save some $$ and if ya got the time why not! If one saw $100 laying on the ground, would ya just walk by it?? I had a medium size Uhaul and got around 10 mpg with it, but I drove it pretty hard.

But your problem (which probably isnt that big of a one) is the activation of the K1 and that is up to the POE officer, but others have had success at doing it!! If it were I, I may give it a go, easy to say though when it isnt me,lol

Oki see ur going with budget, but check too see if it is truly unlimited milage, some say that, bu tin reality, they are only giving 500 miles, and the trip takes like 480, so one has a small lee way! best of luck

Yeah, flames was the one I was thinking of when thinking about your mpg and the mileage. make sure to read the fine print and also ask to make sure what penalties you may incur by going over mileage or what their definition of "unlimited" means.

And being the semi-paranoid about this kind of stuff kind of person I am, I'd be afraid of taking the risk of them making me activate the visa.

Edited June 11, 2008 by Cassie

[rae_and_scott 1]

I did a similar thing when I moved to Toronto 4 years ago. We did a one way Budget truck, drove it from NYC to Toronto, unpacked, then the next day returned it to Niagara. It will DEFINITELY save you money, but it will also definitely cost you a lot more time. At least it did with us. But it depends on which is more important to you; spending time or money. Now that you've brought this up I kind of wish I had done this the other way around. We are getting a Uhaul on Saturday; the cost of the truck without gas is $725. I just looked up Budget from Niagara and it's only $268!

Also Uhaul is just a horrible company. They called us today to tell us the closest truck they can give us is 30km away. We don't have a car. Scott was like "what are we supposed to do?" to the guy on the phone, and now, miraculously, they are going to deliver it to us. But I am still tempted to switch over to Budget and deal with more hassle... I dunno.

Anyhoo, sorry, I digress. I have also read other threads about people crossing the border and not activating your visa and my guess is that you would be just fine. I would just specify to the border agent that you do not want to activate your visa at this time.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Bus from Montreal to Vermont : 20$ (about 2 hours)

Gas to come back with truck from Vermont to Montreal : 30$ max.

I would save about 500$....(1300$ if renting in Canada vs. 800$ if renting in the US)

As far as the k1 visa goes I had the interview 2 days ago so I should receive it in a few days hopefully.

This info would have been good to add to your timeline and siggie.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

I did a similar thing when I moved to Toronto 4 years ago. We did a one way Budget truck, drove it from NYC to Toronto, unpacked, then the next day returned it to Niagara. It will DEFINITELY save you money, but it will also definitely cost you a lot more time. At least it did with us. But it depends on which is more important to you; spending time or money. Now that you've brought this up I kind of wish I had done this the other way around. We are getting a Uhaul on Saturday; the cost of the truck without gas is $725. I just looked up Budget from Niagara and it's only $268!

Also Uhaul is just a horrible company. They called us today to tell us the closest truck they can give us is 30km away. We don't have a car. Scott was like "what are we supposed to do?" to the guy on the phone, and now, miraculously, they are going to deliver it to us. But I am still tempted to switch over to Budget and deal with more hassle... I dunno.

Anyhoo, sorry, I digress. I have also read other threads about people crossing the border and not activating your visa and my guess is that you would be just fine. I would just specify to the border agent that you do not want to activate your visa at this time.

Wow, the budget website SUCKS!

I can't even look at the rates to drive from my area to NJ at all...it shows the drop off locations in NJ but it won't allow me to select them.

So stupid!!!

This info would have been good to add to your timeline and siggie.

The time line police are here.

[rae_and_scott 1]

Wow, the budget website SUCKS!

I can't even look at the rates to drive from my area to NJ at all...it shows the drop off locations in NJ but it won't allow me to select them.

So stupid!!!

That's b/c they don't allow one-way from Canada to the US. You have to pick a location in the US to make it work. I agree, it sucks and they should spell it out a bit more clearly.