Renting a truck for your move can set you back anywhere between $19.95 per day, all the way up to $129.99 per day and beyond – and that’s not including additional movers and special moving equipment.
Every move is different, and every moving truck company has their price. It’s important to shop around to see how much it’ll cost to rent your truck, and it’s important to take a look at your move and decide what additional services may be necessary.
Take a look at these prices, and don’t forget to reach out for a moving quote from one of our trusted truck rental companies.
Truck Rental Companies Costs
1. U-Haul
| Truck Size | Price per Day |
| 10’ Truck | $19.95 |
| 15’ – 17’ Truck | $29.95 |
| 20’ – 26’ Truck | $39.95 |
All moving trucks also have a $0.79 per mile fee included.
Additional options like hand trucks dollies are also available. U-Haul typically charges $7 – $10 for appliance dollies, $7 for furniture dollies, and $10 for a dozen furniture pads.
2. Budget
| Truck Size | Price per Day |
| 12’ Truck | $19.99 |
| 16’ Truck | $29.99 |
| Car Carrier | $65 |
| Car Dolly | $55 |
Both the 12’ and 16’ truck options have an additional $0.59 per mile included. A loading ramp and a tow hitch also come with the 16’ moving truck in case you need to tow a car.
As for accessories, expect to pay $17 a day for a dozen furniture pads, and $17 a day for a hand truck. Additional services may be incurred on drivers under the age of 24.
3. Enterprise
Most locations require drivers to be 25 years older, while others allow drivers over 21 years of age, although an additional charge may apply for under 25.
| Truck Size | Price per Day |
| 15’ Truck | $19.99 (and additional $0.60 per mile) |
| 16’ Truck | $80.99 (500 miles free, $0.69 per mile) |
| 24’ Box Truck | $39.99 (and additional $0.99 per mile) |
| 26’ Box Truck | $129.99 (500 miles free, $0.69 per mile) |
You can also get additional products like moving pads, hand trucks, straps, and stretch films, but you will have to contact the company as the prices are not listed on the website.
4. Penske
| Truck Size | Price per Day |
| 12’ Truck | $29.99 |
| 16’ Truck | $29.99 |
| 26’ Truck | $99 |
A $0.99 per mile fee is added to the cost of a round-trip rental while 1-way trips have unlimited miles.
You can get dollies at an extra $10 and a dozen furniture pads at $10. College discounts and military discounts are also available with Penske.
Moving Containers vs. Rental Trucks
Moving containers are great for cross country moves. Once they’re shipped, all you have to do is catch a flight to your new home. You’ll save tons of money on hotels, gas, food, and everything else associated with a long road trip.
On the other hand, moving trucks are usually a good option for local moves. If you’re going to DIY it and you’re loading, hauling, and unloading your belongings yourself – and your move is just across town – it makes sense to go for a moving truck instead.
Factors That's Effect Truck Rental Cost
The price of renting a moving truck can be significantly lower than hiring a moving company in some cases.
However, the price depends on truck size, how long you plan on keeping the truck, the distance you will be traveling, additional supplies or equipment required to complete your move, and whether you are moving locally or long-distance.
All of these factors, and more, can affect the price of a move and raise or lower the costs you can expect to incur.
1. Size
One thing that homeowners should determine is the size of the moving truck required to get items from one home to another. Bigger trucks will be more expensive and cost more per mile to fill up.
The items that need to be transported will typically determine the truck’s size. Moving trucks don’t charge by the weight, but they do charge by the mile and can get pricey when you add in the costs of fuel.
If you don’t need as much space as the typical moving truck allots and want to save on fuel, cargo vans are an excellent option. These are smaller than typical moving trucks and are convenient for single-family homes and smaller apartments and studios.
2. Duration
When renting a moving truck, you are paying for the duration in which you will be in possession of the truck. If you are not on time with returning the vehicle, extra fees will be added to your final expenses.
If you’re not sure of how long you will need to get items loaded and delivered to your new home, you may run the risk of paying more than you bargained for.
An option that allows for more flexibility when moving is a moving box or a storage pod. These containers provide you with enough space to load all of the items that need to be moved and can be picked up and dropped off at your home at your convenience.
3. Distance
The distance your items will be traveling plays a part in the price of your total truck rental price. On top of the base rate for the truck, the cost per mile is calculated along with additional fees like taxes and any additional services or supplies that may be required.
Mileage fees will vary from company to company, so it is important to discuss these fees with the moving company of your choice.
4. Equipment
While there are many items in the home that can be packed in boxes and loaded onto a truck with no problem, some items may be heavy or awkwardly shaped. Moving teams use equipment that allows them to get these items loaded and unloaded without causing damage, but many homeowners do not have these items in their homes and will need to either borrow or rent them.
If you’ll need to use any equipment provided by the truck rental company, such as a dolly, there will be a fee attached. If any specialized equipment is needed to get items onto the moving truck safely, professional help may be required.
Depending on the items that need to be transported, the items supplied by the rental company may come in handy.
FAQ
Is it Cheaper to Hire Movers or Rent a Truck?
Professional moving teams and moving truck rental companies provide homeowners with services that make moving from one place to another simple.
There are a few key differences between hiring movers and renting a truck, which should be considered before making a decision as to how to handle your move.
Are There Any Requirements to Rent a Truck?
Most truck rental companies will only require a driver’s license if you want to rent a truck. However, there are also minimum age limits that can vary from state to state and mover to mover.
| Moving Company | Age Limit |
| U-Haul | 18 Years Old, Valid Driver’s License |
| Budget | 24 Years Old or Older (Most States) |
| Enterprise | Some Locations Have a Firm 25+ Policy |
| Penske | 18 Years Old, Valid Driver’s License |
It’s always a good idea to call ahead of time to see if the truck rental company will require anything else, and to see if their location enforces a different minimum age.
What if Someone Else Is Helping Me Drive?
If you’re the only person driving the truck, the moving company will only need your information. However, if someone else will be taking over for any portion of the drive, you’ll need to provide their information as well.
What Should I Do if the Rental Truck Breaks Down?
Thankfully, most truck rental companies offer roadside assistance in case of emergencies. If your rental truck is experiencing a problem, you should call the company and let them know what’s going on. Truck rental companies will get in touch with their service network to get your move back on the road as soon as possible. Just be aware that sometimes this means towing your old truck and transferring your stuff to a new truck.
Does the Rental Truck Have Insurance?
Don’t expect your car insurance to cover your moving truck. You should check with your moving company to get rates and information about their insurance policies. It’s always a good idea to buy moving insurance, whether it’s to protect yourself and anyone helping with the loading and unloading, or it’s to protect against theft or damage to a rented truck.
Moving On-Season or Off-Season?
The date of your move makes a large difference to the overall average cost you can expect to pay for your move. During the off-season, moving companies are slower and prices drop, resulting in savings.
However, full-service movers and rental truck companies may have less availability during busier times of the year and the moving cost will rise.
This does not only apply to a long-distance move; even when planning a local move, the date you choose to transport your items to your new home may be lower during the off-season and higher during the busy season.
Do All Moving Truck Rentals Charge Per Mile?
While most companies charge per mile, not every truck rental company does. In some places, you can find moving truck rentals that charge one flat fee and give you unlimited mileage.
This option can save individuals a lot of money when conducting long distance moves, though it may be more expensive when it concerns local moves. Be sure to speak with the rental company of your choice to determine how they charge for their rental trucks and what costs you can expect to incur.
1. Fees You May Incur
A rental moving truck is often considered the best way to save money when planning a move. However, rentals can come with just as many fees as a moving service. Let’s go over some of the fees that may be added to your rental expenses at the completion of your move.
2. Damage fees
If any damage occurs to the vehicle, which sometimes includes damage caused by inclement weather, the costs of repairs will be deducted from the price of your deposit.
3. Gas fees
When returning a rental truck, it should contain the same amount of gas it had when you received it. If there is less gas in the tank, you may be required to pay a gas fee.
4. Supply fees
If you will be in need of equipment, such as blankets, the moving company will provide these items – for a price.
5. Young/added driver fees
Additional drivers and young drivers cost an additional fee, as younger drivers may pose a greater risk behind the wheel and additional drivers will need to be accounted for and covered. These fees are charged per day, so timeliness is recommended.
6. Late fees
Rental vehicles need to be returned before a certain date to avoid paying late fees, which can vary dramatically from one company to another.
7. Excess mileage fees
When renting a vehicle, your mileage is calculated based on the distance you will be traveling to your new home. Going over mileage can result in fees added to your final statement.
8. Cancellation fees
Cancellations will need to be made in advance in order to avoid cancellation fees, which vary depending on the company you are renting with. Aim to cancel reservations at least 48 hours before you are scheduled to pick up the vehicle.
Which Is Cheaper – Hiring Movers or Renting a Truck?
In order to determine whether hiring movers or renting a moving truck is the cheaper option, it is essential to look at all aspects of your move.
First, figure out the distance between your current home and the location of your new home and inventory the items in your home that will need to be transported.
Once this is done, get moving quotes from several moving and rental companies to see which option is best for you.
When renting a truck, it is also important to consider how much time it will take to load items along with how many heavy items will need to be transported, as these may require assistance from professionals or the use of special equipment.
In some cases, renting a moving truck is cheaper while in other situations it is more cost-effective to hire a team of professionals. The final costs depend greatly on your unique situation.
How can I save part of my money on my moving truck rental?
One of the most convenient ways to save money on a rental truck is to benefit from the discounts that most rental truck companies offer. Some of the discounts are mainly available to military members, senior citizens, and students, some are offered to almost everybody.
In some cases, you only need a promo code or reserve your rental during a seasonal deal. Even some companies that will not rent out their moving truck cheaply might provide you with discounted hotel rooms or other types of deals.
What truck rental is the cheapest for moving?
Even though predicting moving truck rental prices is difficult, Budget and U-Haul are the two companies that often offer the cheapest truck rental rates. But as mentioned earlier, there are many reasons why truck rental price prediction is difficult:
- Rental companies charge higher for rentals in various areas
- Some rental companies charge less for short against long-distance moves
- Availability is often considered by rental companies when charging
- Truck rental sizes vary by each company
Due to this variability, we often recommend obtaining rental quotes from various companies before you agree to any rental contracts.
Rent the Right Truck for Your Move
Before diving in and renting a truck, take a look at your move to determine which size would be best for your needs, and what kind of equipment you may want to rent out. Using our guide, weigh your options to see which moving company will be best for your move, and finally get started with a rental that works.
