Faq
Texas Pro Trailers — Frequently Asked Questions
Self-service trailer rental in Austin, TX. Book online, pick up 24/7, hit the road. Below are the most common questions we get from Austin renters — plus everything you should know before you tow.
Common Questions
Booking & Payment
Pricing depends on which trailer you choose and how long you need it. Daily, multi-day, and weekly rates are all shown live on each trailer's page — no quote required. We've kept our rates competitive with U-Haul and other Austin trailer rentals, and our fleet is newer and better-maintained. Get an instant price by picking your dates on any trailer listing, or compare options side-by-side on our fleet page.
No — we never charge a security deposit. When you book, your full rental fee is charged to your card upfront and we keep the card on file for any incidentals (late returns, damage, missing equipment, tolls). This is one of the big advantages of renting with us: no $100–$200 hold tying up your account while you wait for a refund, the way most rental companies do it.
We accept all major credit and debit cards — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover — through our secure Lockii booking platform. The card you book with is the card we keep on file for the rental. We don't accept cash, check, Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal because our self-service model relies on having a verified card on file for the entire rental window.
Your full rental fee is charged at the time you complete your online booking — not at pickup. This locks in your reservation and your trailer. If you booked an optional delivery, that fee is added to the same charge. The only time we'd charge your card again is if you return late, return the trailer damaged, leave equipment behind, or rack up tolls during your rental.
Cancel 24 or more hours before your scheduled pickup and you get a full refund — no questions asked, no fees. Cancellations made inside the 24-hour window are non-refundable because that's the time when other renters could have booked your trailer. Need to change your dates instead of canceling? Just contact us and we'll move your reservation if the trailer is available.
Yes, as long as no one else has the trailer booked after you. Log into your account or contact us before your scheduled return time and we'll add days at our standard daily rate. The earlier you ask, the better — once another renter has the trailer reserved, we can't push them back. Returning late without an approved extension triggers a late fee, so always check first.
We run occasional promotions for new customers, multi-day rentals, and repeat renters. The best way to find current discounts is to join our email list or follow us on social. Contractors and businesses that rent regularly should reach out about our commercial accounts — we offer preferred pricing for ongoing work. We don't accept third-party coupon codes you might find on Groupon or RetailMeNot.
A receipt is emailed automatically to the address you used at booking the moment your card is charged. You can also log into your Lockii account anytime to download PDF receipts for any past rental — handy for business expense reports, tax write-offs, or insurance claims. If you need a custom invoice with a company name, PO number, or specific billing details, just contact us before pickup.
Common Questions
Pickup & Return
Once your booking is confirmed, you'll receive a unique PIN code by text and email about an hour before your pickup window. Drive to our lot at 7511 Dee Gabriel Collins Rd in Austin, find your trailer (each one is labeled), open the igloohome smart lockbox with your PIN to grab the keys and paperwork, hitch up, and you're rolling. No staff, no waiting in line, no paperwork to sign at the counter. The whole process takes about 10–15 minutes.
We're open 24/7, 365 days a year. Pick up at 6 AM, midnight, or 3 AM — whatever works for your schedule. This is the biggest difference between us and traditional Austin rental yards that close at 5 or 6 PM and aren't open Sundays. Just book a pickup time that works for you, and your PIN will be active for that window. Returns work the same way — drop the trailer back anytime before your return deadline.
A valid U.S. driver's license, the vehicle you'll be towing with (already equipped with the right hitch and ball — see our hitch guide), and your phone with your PIN. First-time renters also complete a quick Stripe Identity ID verification when booking, which takes about 2 minutes from your phone. After that first rental, future bookings are even faster — no re-verification needed.
First, double-check you're entering the right PIN for your trailer — we send the PIN with the trailer number to avoid mix-ups. If it still won't open, text or call us at the support number in your booking confirmation. We monitor support 24/7 and can troubleshoot the lockbox remotely or send a new code within minutes. Igloohome lockboxes are extremely reliable, but if there's ever a hardware issue we'll get you a working trailer or refund you fully.
We charge a late fee for every additional hour past your scheduled return time, with a full extra day's rate kicking in after a few hours. The bigger issue is that the next renter may have the trailer booked right after you — being late means leaving them stranded. If you realize you're running behind, contact us as soon as possible and we'll try to push your return time, extend your rental, or swap in another trailer for the next renter.
Absolutely. Bring it back any time before your scheduled return — day or night, 24/7. Park the trailer in any open spot in our return area, put the keys and paperwork back in the lockbox, and lock it. We'll send you a return confirmation email once we've inspected it. We don't pro-rate early returns (the rate you paid covers your reserved window), but plenty of customers prefer the flexibility of knowing they can drop off at 5 AM and get on with their day.
That's where the Texas Pro Promise comes in. If your trailer shows up in poor condition, unsafe to tow, or just isn't right for the job, contact us and we'll either swap you into a different trailer (if one's available) or refund you in full — no fighting, no fine print. We do a thorough inspection between every rental, but if something slipped past us, we'll make it right.
Yes — optional delivery is available throughout our greater Austin service area, which covers 12 cities and neighborhoods including downtown Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, Buda, Kyle, Manor, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, and West Lake Hills. Delivery and pickup are charged based on round-trip distance from our 78745 lot. Add delivery during checkout to see the exact cost for your address.
Common Questions
Trailers & Specifications
For most local moves we recommend the 20' enclosed cargo trailer — it keeps your stuff dry, locks up overnight, and holds the contents of a typical 1–2 bedroom apartment. For studio or single-room moves where weather isn't a concern, the 16' open utility trailer is cheaper and easier to load. If you're moving a furnished house with appliances, you'll likely need 2 trips with the 20' enclosed or one trip with a moving truck plus the trailer for overflow.
Our 20' car & equipment hauler with electric winch is purpose-built for cars, motorcycles, ATVs, and other powered vehicles — the winch lets you load even a non-running vehicle solo. For low-clearance sports cars, modified vehicles, or anything wider than a standard car, our 24' full-tilt deckover or 30' deckover with mega ramps gives you a flat deck and gentle load angle to prevent scraping. If you're hauling a project car that doesn't roll, the deckover is also easier.
The 14' hydraulic dump trailer is the right call. Load it up with dirt, mulch, gravel, sod, demolition debris, or yard waste, then dump the bed hydraulically with the push of a button — no shoveling at the dump site. For lighter, bulkier loads like brush, branches, or bagged mulch where you don't need the dump function, the 16' open utility or 16' multi-purpose utility is cheaper and gets the same job done.
Each trailer has its own payload capacity, ranging from about 2,500 lbs on the smaller utility trailers up to 12,000+ lbs on the 30' deckover. Exact payload (GVWR minus empty weight) is listed on every trailer's page, along with deck dimensions and tongue weight. Always confirm your tow vehicle is rated to pull that load — check the door jamb sticker or owner's manual for your truck's towing capacity before booking.
Every trailer comes with the coupler, safety chains, and a working 7-pin electrical connector for lights and brakes. The car hauler includes its electric winch. The dump trailer includes the hydraulic remote. You'll need to bring your own ratchet straps, ropes, or load bars for securing cargo (we don't include them because every load is different — but Tractor Supply and Home Depot off Ben White both stock them).
Three things to check: (1) your hitch class and tongue weight rating — printed on the hitch itself; (2) your vehicle's tow capacity — door jamb sticker or owner's manual; and (3) your ball size — most of our trailers use a 2-5/16" ball, the smaller utility trailers use 2". If your truck's tow rating is at least 1,000 lbs over the loaded trailer weight and you have the right ball, you're good. Our hitch guide walks through this in detail.
The product page for each trailer has multiple photos, full specs, and a short video walkaround. Because we're an unstaffed lot, we can't do in-person showings — but our Texas Pro Promise means if the trailer doesn't match the description or isn't right for your job when you pick it up, we'll swap it or refund you on the spot.
Common Questions
Towing & Safety
For our standard fleet, no. Texas (and federal law) requires a Commercial Driver's License only when the combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of your tow vehicle plus trailer exceeds 26,000 lbs and the trailer's GVWR is over 10,000 lbs (Texas DPS). A few of our heaviest trailers — like the loaded 30' deckover behind a 1-ton truck — can flirt with that threshold. If your combined weight is anywhere near 26,000 lbs, contact us and we'll help you figure out the right license class.
A standard Texas Class C driver's license (the one most people have) is all you need to tow any trailer where your truck + trailer combined GVWR is 26,000 lbs or less. Above that, you need a Class A or B non-commercial license, and beyond commercial use thresholds, a CDL (Texas DPS). Out-of-state renters can use their home-state license — same weight rules apply. We do require a valid U.S. driver's license; we can't rent to international license holders right now.
You must be at least 21 years old with a valid U.S. driver's license to book a rental with Texas Pro Trailers. The 21+ minimum is set by our insurance and applies to whoever's name is on the booking — if you're under 21, an eligible adult will need to make the reservation and pick up the trailer. Anyone driving the tow vehicle while pulling our trailer should be licensed and comfortable towing.
Most of our larger trailers have electric brakes — required by Texas for trailers over 4,500 lbs GVWR (Texas DPS). To use them, your tow vehicle needs an electric brake controller wired to the 7-pin connector. Most modern trucks (F-150, Silverado, Ram, Tundra) come factory-equipped with integrated brake controllers. SUVs and older trucks often don't — check your dash for a brake gain knob. If you don't have one, you legally cannot tow our heavier trailers; pick a smaller one or have a controller installed before pickup.
Most of our trailers use a 2-5/16" ball rated for heavy-duty towing (6,000–30,000 lbs GTW). Our smaller 16' utility trailers use a 2" ball. The exact ball size is listed on every trailer's product page. Use the wrong ball size and the coupler won't latch properly — a leading cause of trailer separation accidents (CURT Manufacturing). If you're not sure, the safest move is a multi-ball mount (a hitch with 2" and 2-5/16" balls both attached) — about $40 at any auto parts store.
Texas posts a separate speed limit for vehicles towing trailers on many highways — usually 5–10 mph below the regular limit. On most Austin-area interstates the towing limit is 65–70 mph. Beyond the legal limit, the practical limit is your trailer's tire speed rating (typically 65 mph for trailer ST-rated tires) and your own comfort level. Texas DPS also lets you tow with brakes-less trailers up to 15,000 lbs only if you stay under 30 mph (Texas DPS) — but all our brake-equipped trailers can run highway speeds safely.
You don't — that's our job. Every trailer in our fleet is registered with the Texas DMV, plated, and current on its annual safety inspection. As of January 1, 2025, Texas dropped the annual safety inspection requirement for non-commercial passenger vehicles, but commercial trailers like ours still require it (Texas DPS). Registration and plate documents are in the lockbox with the trailer keys — keep them in your tow vehicle in case you get pulled over.
Common Questions
Towing & Safety
Pull over safely, turn on your hazards, and call our 24/7 support line listed in your booking confirmation. We'll diagnose by phone — a lot of issues turn out to be loose connections or a blown light fuse that you can fix in 5 minutes. If it's something bigger (tire blowout, bearing failure, brake issue), we'll dispatch roadside assistance to your location and either repair the trailer or swap it out. The Texas Pro Promise covers any mechanical breakdown that's not caused by overloading or misuse.
Pull over safely, call 911 if anyone is injured or vehicles are blocking traffic, file a police report, exchange info with any other parties, and take photos of everything. Then contact us as soon as you can — we'll walk you through next steps. Your personal auto insurance is the primary coverage for trailer accidents in Texas (most policies extend liability and sometimes physical damage to a rented trailer — check with your agent). We'll provide any documentation your insurer needs.
It's our guarantee that you'll get a safe, working trailer or your money back. If your trailer arrives in poor condition, isn't safe to tow, or doesn't match what you booked, we'll swap you into a different trailer or refund your rental in full — no haggling, no restocking fees, no asterisks. We can do this because we maintain our own small fleet (no franchise variability) and inspect every trailer between rentals. It's the biggest reason customers switch to us from U-Haul.
Text or call the support number in your booking confirmation — it's monitored 24/7/365 by real people, not a chatbot. For non-urgent questions before your rental, use the contact form or email us; we usually reply within an hour during normal business hours. For urgent issues during your rental (PIN problems, mechanical issues, accidents), text is fastest because we can send photos and instructions back and forth quickly.
You do. Most Austin-area toll roads (130, 183A, MoPac express lanes) bill trailers separately because of the extra axle (SH 130 toll classes) — a Class B vehicle (passenger vehicle + trailer) is charged a higher rate than a regular car. If you have a TxTag, EZ TAG, or TollTag on your tow vehicle, it usually covers the trailer automatically. If you don't, the toll authority will mail an invoice to our address and we'll pass that charge through to your card on file, plus a small admin fee.
Same idea — anything that comes to us by mail referencing the trailer's license plate during your rental window gets passed through to your card on file with a small admin fee. We'll always email you a copy of the citation first so you can pay it directly or contest it. For tickets issued to you personally (speeding citations handed to the driver), that's between you and the issuing agency.
Report it to Austin Police (or local police if you're outside Austin) immediately and call us right after. File a police report — that's required for any insurance claim. Theft and vandalism while the trailer is in your possession are your responsibility under the rental agreement, but your auto or homeowner's insurance often covers rented equipment up to a limit (check your policy). We'll help with the paperwork. Best prevention: park in a well-lit area, use a coupler lock (about $20 at any auto parts store), and never leave valuables visible in the cargo trailer.