Best moving truck rental companies (2024)

Read our reviews for the best moving truck rental companies, including Budget Truck Rental, Enterprise, The Home Depot, Penske, and U-Haul.

Whether you're moving across town or to a nearby state, choosing the right truck rental company is crucial. With so many options, finding a reliable, affordable, and hassle-free service is a chore. That’s why we identified the top five moving truck rental companies to help you make an informed choice.

We evaluated each company based on availability, pricing, range of services, industry experience, and customer satisfaction.

Our top picks — Budget Truck Rental, Enterprise Truck Rental, The Home Depot, Penske Truck Rental, and U-Haul — stand out for their competitive pricing, discounts, and wide selection of vehicles, ideal for both local and long-distance moves.

Best for: Discount programs

Why we picked it: Budget Truck Rental offers cargo vans and 12-foot, 16-foot, and 26-foot trucks throughout 48 states in the continental U.S. The company is known for its competitive pricing and year-round discounts. It typically features savings deals and discounts of up to 20% for students, AARP members, the U.S. military, and first responders (police officers, firefighters, EMTs).

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Rental rates: Budget Truck Rental rates vary based on the location, time of year, and type of rental truck, with the lowest rates typically available Sunday through Thursday. Below are the estimated rates for a round-trip or local move within San Francisco and a one-way trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, including three days for returns and 482 miles. (Estimates are based on quotes obtained through Budget’s website; your prices may vary.)

Other notable charges? Budget Truck Rental charges a late-return fee at the daily rate for rentals with a contracted return date, a $100 charge per day for additional days, and $1.00 per additional mile for one-way rentals. Other fees depend on whether you include additional equipment or products, such as hand trucks and loading and unloading services.

Best for: Vehicle selection

Why we picked it: With over 200 locations nationwide, Enterprise Truck Rental offers one of the widest truck selections on our list. Its options include pick-up trucks, cargo vans, flatbed trucks, 12-foot, 16-foot, and 26-foot box trucks, as well as trucks for commercial use like stake bed trucks, service body trucks, and refrigerated vans.

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Rental rates: Enterprise’s daily rates can vary depending on your location and the type of truck. The company also charges a per-mile fee ranging from $0.25 to $0.99, with some vehicles including 600 free miles. Below are the estimated daily costs for multiple truck options in San Francisco based on quotes we obtained on Enterprise’s website. (Your prices may vary.)

Other notable charges? Enterprise charges a vehicle license recovery fee, late-return fees, and fees for adding additional drivers. Drivers under 25 are also subject to a young renter fee. This fee varies by state, but Enterprise says the average cost is $25. Enterprise may also charge a cleaning fee if you return the vehicle in poor condition.

Best for: Local and small moves

Why we picked it: The Home Depot Truck Rental is a convenient, widely available option offering four different truck types for same-day transports or local moves. The available trucks include cargo vans, 12-foot box trucks, and 8- and 10-foot flatbed trucks. All vehicles include unlimited mileage and options for renting per day, week, or for 75 minutes.

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Rental rates: Home Depot offers straightforward pricing, with rates readily available on its online site where you can make reservations. Below are the rates for its different truck options:

Other notable charges? Home Depot says some rentals may come with an environmental fee. Other than that, we didn’t find any notable charges regarding its truck rental services. However, as usual, take the time to review all terms and conditions before signing the rental contract.

Best for: Long-distance trips

Why we picked it: Penske offers unlimited mileage on one-way rentals and 24/7 road assistance with all reservations, making it a great option if you’re planning a long-distance transport. Available nationwide and in Canada, Penske’s fleet includes cargo vans and box trucks ranging from 12-foot to 26-foot. The company is also known for its well-maintained fleet, flexible cancellation policy, and reservation guarantee. However, its higher price point may be a consideration for budget-conscious movers.

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Rental rates: Penske pricing varies based on individual location and type of truck. All reservations include unlimited mileage and an environmental fee. Below are the estimated costs for a trip within San Francisco and a one-way trip starting in San Francisco and ending in Los Angeles. (Your prices may vary.)

Other notable charges? Penske charges a $15 environmental fee with all reservations. The fee covers the cost of disposing of truck-related materials, such as used oil and batteries. As with other companies, Penske may also charge a late return fee, toll charges, and cleaning fees.

Best for: Cargo trailers

Why we picked it: U-Haul is the only company in our list that offers cargo trailers and portable moving containers, aside from a variety of truck sizes for both local and one-way transports. Rental options include small pick-up trucks, cargo vans, box trucks in five different sizes (10-, 15-, 17-, 20-, and 26-foot), towing trailers, and tow-hitch installations. U-Haul also offers packing and loading services and a mobile app to manage your booking details.

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Rental rates: U-Haul charges a base rate, a per-mile fee for local moves, and a per-trip fee for one-way rentals. Base rates range from $19.95 up to $39.95, depending on your truck type. One-way rentals typically include a set amount of days of use and an allotted mileage. Below are the estimated costs for a local move within Los Angeles and a one-way trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. (Your prices may vary.)

Other notable charges? As with most truck rentals, U-Haul may charge additional fees if you return the vehicle in poor condition, without the same fuel level, or later than the agreed-upon time. Optional insurance plans also have an additional cost.

We rate and review moving companies across the following categories:

For this list, we focused on companies that specialized in truck rental services and selected the ones that performed best across our core criteria. Learn more about how we generally rate and review moving companies.

Truck rental companies specialize in the short-term rental of trucks and other large vehicles, such as cargo vans, pickups, and moving trucks. These companies offer a budget-friendly, do-it-yourself alternative to full-service movers, making them ideal for individuals and businesses needing a vehicle for tasks like moving household goods, transporting equipment, or delivering products.

Most companies allow customers to reserve a truck online, by phone, or in person. During the reservation, you can choose the truck size, pick-up date and time, and rental duration. Typically, renters must be at least 18 years old and have a valid government-issued driver’s license.

>>MORE: The best short-distance movers

“Cost is dependent upon the origin and destination, dates, and equipment selected,” says Jeff Lockridge, manager of media at U-Haul International.

Yet, daily rates can range from as little as $20 up to $130 for larger trucks. For local moves, rental companies often charge a per-mile fee, too, usually ranging from $0.25 to $1.09 per mile.

Depending on the company, the upfront price may also include a set number of miles to cover the distance between the pick-up and drop-off locations.

Money-saving tip: “For in-town moves, it is important to reserve the right-sized truck in order to cut down on numerous back-and-forth trips. The daily rate of a larger truck may cost $10 or $20 more, but if you can complete your in-town move in one trip as opposed to three-[to]-four trips with a smaller truck, the total cost with mileage and gas is likely to be much less with the larger truck. Aside from the cost and time savings, fewer trips [are] the more eco-friendly, responsible decision.” — Jeff Lockridge of U-Haul

When deciding between renting a truck and hiring a full-service moving company, consider several key factors. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on your budget, the size and complexity of your move, and how much time and effort you're willing to invest.

Get quotes from reputable movers in your area.

Before making a decision, explore your options. A quick search online may help you identify truck rental companies in your area. Once you’ve identified them, take some time to explore their services. Most reputable companies have online websites where they include information about their fleet, rental terms, pricing, and any additional services they offer.

You can also check online reviews on platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google, or Yelp. Pay attention to customer feedback regarding the company’s reliability, customer service, vehicle condition, and transparency in pricing.

Word of mouth from people who have used the service is often a good place to find information. Ask friends, family members, colleagues, or neighbors if they have any recommendations based on their experience. You could also consider asking for recommendations in community groups on platforms or forums like Facebook and Reddit.

Reputable truck rentals are transparent about pricing. Most companies have prices readily available on their websites and let you start the booking process online. We recommend getting at least three quotes from different companies for the vehicle size and rental duration you need.

If possible, visit the rental location to inspect the condition of the vehicles. According to Lockridge, reputable companies have to comply with the maintenance standards set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the manufacturer recall rules outlined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“With any truck rental, read the fine print and ask questions,” says Lockridge.

Pay attention to policies on mileage limits, fuel requirements, late return fees, and insurance coverage. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about anything unclear in the rental terms. Reputable truck rentals should be transparent and willing to explain their policies.

Getting ready to move? Read more of our in-depth guides: