Moving

Best moving truck rental companies in 2024

U-Haul is our top choice for moving truck rentals due to its truck size options and widespread availability. Many top truck rental companies also sell moving and packing supplies and partner with local moving companies for moving labor.

Booking a moving truck rental for your upcoming DIY move is the best way to save money. While you’ll have to do far more work yourself, it could be worth the hassle if you live in a small residence or have only a few large pieces of furniture.

We thoroughly researched and vetted each of the truck rental companies listed here. We pursued quotes with each and analyzed the truck size options and optional add-ons each provides to help you pick the best option for your needs.

Each of the following rental options features nationwide availability and multiple truck sizes. These are our top picks if you choose to move with a truck rental:

  • U-Haul Truck Rental
  • Penske Truck Rental
  • Enterprise Truck Rental
  • Budget Truck Rental
  • Home Depot Truck Rental

Our top choices for moving companies

If you’re on the fence about hiring a full-service mover or booking a rental box truck or pickup truck, we recommend the following nationwide moving companies. Here, you’ll find great options for both local and long-distance moves.

How do you choose a truck rental company?

Planning a DIY move can save you money but requires more extensive planning. Consider the following key factors when booking your relocation.

Determine your truck size and service requirements

Renting the correct truck size is essential when planning your DIY move. Booking a truck that’s too small can be problematic in two ways. It can lead to delays of hours or days as you scramble to exchange your truck for a better-size one where inventory may be limited. Or it can force you to leave items behind that you had intended to take to your new home.

Most truck rental companies have online space estimators that show which home sizes correspond to their offered truck sizes. The largest options available for residential use are 26-foot trucks, which can accommodate most three- or four-bedroom homes.

Tip

Writing up a thorough inventory of your home will help you to determine your truck needs before you book.

Consider whether you’ll need moving help or packing supplies. Some renters sell moving boxes, mattress bags and other supplies and even partner with professional movers to supply labor crews for interested customers. Be aware that local movers often charge minimum fees, which amount to two to four hours at their hourly rate. So, even if you only need assistance with a single furniture item, you’ll be charged for a set minimum rate.

Decide on your rental type

If your desired pickup and drop-off locations are in different towns or states, it will affect which providers are available for your needs. Some, such as Enterprise, don’t offer one-way rentals. Companies that do provide one-way service may charge higher rental rates for this service, or they may not allow last-minute booking for one-way moves.

It’s best to book one-way or long-distance rentals at least three to four weeks in advance for the best chance that your rental location can accommodate your service needs and desired truck size.

Consider the cost and get multiple quotes

Some truck rental companies provide all-inclusive rates with unlimited miles. Others charge mileage fees, environmental charges and more, attached to a flat daily rental fee. Most rental companies also charge for fuel costs if you don’t return your vehicle at the same fuel level. You should account for that when budgeting for your DIY relocation.

Read customer reviews

Most truck rental companies have poor ratings on nationwide platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, we encourage you to look into reviews for local rental offices you plan to contact. Location-specific feedback on Google Reviews or Yelp is far more indicative of the service quality you’ll receive from a given provider.

Decide whether you need additional insurance

All truck rental providers offer optional insurance coverage at an added cost. Read the terms of any coverage you purchase. Oftentimes, these policies only cover front-end collisions on your rental vehicle. You might be able to buy coverage for your goods, but most of these optional insurance plans will exclude high-value items.

Our reviews of the top truck rental companies for moving

We thoroughly vetted each of the following truck rental options. Learn how each can assist with your upcoming relocation here:

Our thoughts

U-Haul is our pick for the best overall truck rental option. It operates more than 23,000 locations throughout all 50 states. These include full-service locations and neighborhood dealers such as gas stations and similar retailers that rent out a limited number of trucks for local moves. 

What we like

The availability and storage options U-Haul provides make it our top choice among truck rental companies. Its full-service locations provide units for short- and long-term storage with clear contracts and rates. It also provides six truck sizes, including pickup trucks and 26-foot trucks.

What we don’t like

One downside to renting with U-Haul is the fluctuating cost per mile. This fee ranges from 59 cents to $1.29 per mile. This could inflate your price.

Services

This DIY moving mainstay rents out six truck sizes, including:

  • Pickup trucks
  • Cargo vans
  • 10-foot trucks
  • 12-foot trucks
  • 15-foot trucks
  • 20-foot trucks
  • 26-foot trucks

It also offers the following optional items and services:

  • Moving labor
  • Packing materials
  • Moving dollies
  • Moving blankets

At U-Haul, you’ll have the option to purchase or rent moving dollies and blankets. If you purchase more moving boxes than you need, this provider offers hassle-free returns.

Cost

We got a rate of $646 for a three-bedroom move between Boston and Philadelphia. It took about five minutes to complete the online estimate form for a 26-foot truck. This rate includes a 359-mile total distance and Safemove coverage, which protects your goods and releases you from liability for truck damage due to accidents or vandalism.

Availability

50 states

Customer thoughts

U-Haul is rated 1.1 out of 5 stars on its national BBB profile, however, this doesn’t reflect the quality of its individual locations. For example, its Springfield, Massachusetts location has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews with more than 110 testimonials. Theresa’s review included a favorable opinion of U-Haul’s convenient operating hours and quality equipment.

Negative reviews across different locations include complaints about equipment and truck availability. You might run into this problem if you’re trying to book a rental in the summer during peak moving season.

Our thoughts

Penske is a close second to U-Haul on our list due to its similarly comprehensive line of truck sizes and number of locations. While most locations don’t provide as many options for moving and packing supplies as its better-known competitor, its all-inclusive pricing makes up for this.

What we like

This rental company’s all-inclusive rental rates include unlimited mileage and eliminate much of the guesswork for moving clients when planning their relocations. As a bonus, AAA members can receive a discount of up to 12% on any truck rental, which even further reduces upfront costs.

What we don’t like

While we would rate Penske’s trucks as a better option than U-Haul’s for long-distance moves, the quote we got for service with a comparable move distance and truck size was substantially higher. Take this into account if your primary reason for taking on a DIY move is to save money.

Services

Penske Truck Rental offers the following truck sizes:

  • Cargo vans
  • 12-foot trucks
  • 16-foot trucks
  • 22-foot trucks
  • 26-foot trucks

Along with these truck rental options, Penske offers:

  • Tow dollies for transporting personal vehicles
  • Moving supplies 
  • Moving labor
  • Storage via a partnership with Cubesmart

Cost

We got a pricing estimate of $1,284 for a three-bedroom move between Boston and Philadelphia. This estimate included unlimited mileage for a 26-foot truck and a three-day, one-way rental. If you want coverage for your truck, you can opt for a minimum $243 policy. Additional coverage for your goods or medical liability in the event of an accident will cost more.

Availability

50 states

Customer thoughts

Penske’s national BBB profile is rated 1.3 out of 5 stars, but many branches rate highly on Google Reviews. One of its Philadelphia offices has 4.3 out of 5 stars on that platform. Michael’s review mentions honest pricing and prompt credit card refunds for erroneous charges. Negative reviews at this location mention poor and unresponsive customer service, which does not appear to be the norm.

Enterprise Truck Rental

4

Our thoughts

While Enterprise primarily operates as a car rental agency, its truck rental service offers a full range of truck sizes for residential and commercial clients. You can’t book this provider for longer one-way rentals, but it’s one of the premier options for local moves of all sizes.

What we like

Enterprise offers the most truck sizes on this list, with 16 different vehicle types available. It offers slightly higher base rates than some of its competitors, like Budget Truck, but provides low per-mile rates, making moving on a tight budget possible.

What we don’t like

The lack of a long-distance moving option is a drawback relative to other companies on this list. While its lack of one-way rentals helps to ensure a more consistent inventory of size options at its locations, you’ll only be able to book this provider for local moves.

Services

Enterprise offers the following truck sizes:

Pickups

  • Standard pickup
  • 1/2-ton 4-wheel-drive pickup
  • 3/4-ton pickup
  • 1-ton pickup
  • 1/2-ton 2-wheel-drive pickup

Cargo vans

  • Regular cargo van
  • Heavy-duty cargo van (higher weight capacity)
  • Heavy-duty XL cargo van
  • High-roof cargo van

Moving vans and trucks

  • 15-foot truck (optional lift gate)
  • 16-foot truck
  • 20-foot box truck
  • 24-foot box truck
  • 26-foot box truck

Cost

We were quoted $178.79 for a relocation between Springfield and Worcester, Massachusetts. This included a flat rental fee of $130 for a one-day rental and a per-mile rate of 35 cents with 100 miles of estimated travel.

Availability

50 states

Customer thoughts

Enterprise’s Chicopee, Massachusetts, location has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Positive feedback, such as Scott’s, praise the customer service and transparent pricing that clients are treated to here. Other positive sentiments mentioned in 5-star reviews include quality equipment and the easy returns process.

Budget Truck Rental

4

Our thoughts

Budget Truck Rental is our pick for affordability. All rentals include unlimited miles, making planning and budgeting for your move easier. With locations across all 50 states, you can access this provider anywhere when planning a local or cross-country move.

What we like

This provider’s unlimited mileage for all rentals makes it one of the least spendy options to book. Since your rate is disclosed upfront, you won’t have to worry about planning for hidden fees or additional mileage. 

What we don’t like

Budget has one of the most limited truck size ranges from all the companies we looked into. With just four truck sizes, including a cargo van, you’ll likely be able to handle most moving needs. However, this could lead to limited inventory at some of this provider’s locations.

Services

Budget rents out the following truck and van sizes:

  • Conventional cargo vans
  • 12-foot box trucks
  • 16-foot box trucks
  • 26-foot box trucks

Depending on your location, you can also book moving help through Budget. Additionally, you can rent tow dollies and purchase furniture pads to make manual labor easier on yourself.

Cost

We got a rate of $678 for a three-bedroom move between Boston and Philadelphia. This rental cost would include unlimited miles for a 26-foot truck with a four-day rental.

Availability

48 states, no locations in Alaska or Hawaii

Customer thoughts

Budget’s national BBB page has a low rating of 1.0 out of 5 stars. However, reviews for your local branch may provide a more accurate picture of quality. For example, Budget’s South Easton, Massachusetts, location has 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Positive feedback includes Elizabeth’s 5-star review, which mentioned responsive customer service during the rental process and a seamless truck exchange due to equipment malfunction.

The Home Depot

1

Our thoughts

Home Depot is one of the most well-known home improvement retailers in the U.S. Since it rents out tools and equipment for general home use, it shouldn’t be surprising that it rents out small moving trucks for local relocations. With locations in all 50 states, this is one of the most widely available options for small moves.

What we like

Like U-Haul, some Home Depot locations are a one-stop shop for all moving needs. Aside from moving trucks, you can purchase moving boxes and packing supplies, moving dollies, tie-down straps and more.

What we don’t like

Home Depot only offers small moving trucks for local moves, with its largest vehicle being a 12-foot box truck. This is an effective solution for in-town studio apartments and one-bedroom moves. Home Depot partners with Penske for larger truck rental needs, but we recommend going to Penske directly for larger moves.

Services

This truck rental option offers access to:

  • 8-foot flatbed trucks
  • 10-foot flatbed trucks
  • Cargo vans
  • 12-foot box trucks

Aside from these trucks, Home Depot sells moving and packing supplies.

Cost

Home Depot’s truck rentals are meant to be an affordable option for the smallest local moves. It charges $139 for a single-day 12-foot box truck rental, which includes unlimited miles. If you need a truck for a longer time period, it also provides weekly rates, with this same 12-foot truck costing $973 for that longer rental.

Availability

50 states

Customer thoughts

You’ll have to look up location-specific reviews for Home Depot’s tool rental department to find relevant customer feedback. Home Depot’s Glastonbury, Connecticut, location is rated 3.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Recent feedback cites poor customer service, but many of these reviews were from clients who rented other tools. This is the case for every Home Depot Rental Center we checked.

Final take: Get quotes from U-Haul and at least two other truck rental companies before booking your DIY move

Start your DIY moving process by getting an online quote from your local U-Haul. Many of its larger offices offer on-site short- and long-term storage options in addition to a full range of vehicle sizes. No matter how small your move may be, we recommend getting estimates from multiple providers for peace of mind that your preferred truck size will be available at a transparent rate.

Our rating methodology for moving companies

Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.

Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points. We then divide the final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.

BBB and Google Reviews ratings accurate as of June 2024.

Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.

Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Go Back to Top
More on this topic...
Are movers worth it?
couple looking at moving options in their home
Best moving companies
movers wrap couch
The ultimate guide to creating a moving checklist
woman packing for move with checklist
How to move furniture
large living room interior with hardwood floors, fluffy rug and designer furniture
Cheapest moving truck rental companies
moving truck on highway in the desert
How to use moving blankets
Empty moving and storage van with strapped moving blankets and plastic wrap on floor
Advertiser disclosure

Our editorial team is committed to creating independent and objective content focused on helping our readers make informed decisions. To help support these efforts we receive compensation from companies that advertise with us.

The compensation we receive from these companies may impact how and where products appear on this site. This compensation does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides within our content. We do not include all companies, products or offers that may be available.