Best Rental Trucks for Moving

Move.org researched services, gathered over 100 quotes, and interviewed real customers to find the 5 best moving truck rental companies.
Best overall
penske
Penske
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
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    $1,136.50 avg. rental price
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    Local and long-distance moves
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    5 truck sizes
Best local prices
budget
Budget
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
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    $1,054 avg. rental price
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    Local and long-distance moves
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    4 truck sizes
Most availability
uhaul
U-Haul
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
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    $992.19 avg. rental price
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    Local and long-distance moves
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    7 truck sizes
Most truck sizes
enterprisetruckrental
Enterprise
3.1 out of 5 stars
3.1
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    $129.70 avg. rental price
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    Local moves only
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    14 truck sizes
Best for quick moves
Home Depot
Home Depot
3.1 out of 5 stars
3.1
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    $1,330.60 avg. rental price
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    Local and long-distance moves
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    8 truck sizes
Joe Roberts
Mar 12, 2024
bullet16 min read

What are the best moving truck rentals?

At Move.org, we obsessively research and curate resources for one of life’s biggest events—moving. Of course, most moves wouldn’t be possible without ample room to get your stuff from one place to the next.

As we've learned more (from our own experiences and listening to our readers) our list of the best moving truck rentals has changed over the years, but several big-name brands remain high in our rankings.

Penske is a tried-and-true option because it’s available throughout the country, making long-distance moves much simpler. If you’re moving long-distance, Penske’s combination of reliable trucks, first-rate services, and low prices make it our number one choice.

We’ve also found Budget to be one of the best moving truck rentals because of its flexible pricing based on location. At Budget, you’re more likely to work with a local franchise business owner who cares about making a good impression than at other large chains. If you’re moving locally, Budget is your most affordable and dependable option.

Of course, other big names like U-Haul and Enterprise have made the best moving truck rentals list as well, because they’re also widely available throughout the U.S., and provide a lot of customization options.

Whether you’re moving from Portland to Poughkeepsie, or down the street, your rental company should have your back every step of the way.

Is your budget your biggest concern? See how these rental truck companies’ prices stack up on our list of the best cheap truck rental companies.


Who are the best companies to rent a moving truck from?

The best moving truck rental companies offer reasonable and transparent pricing, provide several truck size options, and have a history of great customer service. Often, if a deal seems too good to be true in the moving truck industry, it probably is. These five national brands are reliable, flexible, and offer additional services like roadside assistance.

Brand
Avg. one-way rental price*
Avg. local rental price**
Mileage rate (local moves only)
Car trailers/tow dollies available
Website
$1,944.93$328.09As low as $1.29/mile
bulletYes
$2,080.00$27.61As low as $0.47/mile
bulletYes
$1,945.68$38.70As low as $0.99/mile
bulletYes
N/A$129.77As low as $0.20/mile
bulletNo
$2,337.13$324.07As low as $1.29/mile
bulletNo

All data current as of publish date.
*Prices averaged for 5 home sizes across 6 distances over 100 miles. Mileage included in long-distance quotes.
**Prices averaged for 5 home sizes (when different trucks were available) for a distance under 100 miles. Prices do not include mileage rates.


What should you look for in a moving truck rental company?

Here are a few things to look for when picking a moving truck rental company:

The companies on this list have all been ranked and scored for these factors.

What makes a good moving truck rental company?

Choosing a rental truck company may seem like a fairly straightforward process, but you should consider a few things when making your final choice.

Availability

Whether it’s the number of company locations or the number of trucks and vans in the company’s rental fleet, the higher the number the better. More availability means you have a greater chance of reserving the right truck on the right day.

Compare moving truck sizes

Truck size
10 to 12 ft.
15 to 16 ft.
17 to 20 ft.
22 to 26 ft.

Home size

Studio
1–2 rooms

1-bed home
3–4 rooms

2-bed home
3-bed apartment

5–8 rooms
3-bed home and larger

Data current as of publish date.

One other thing to consider when choosing a specific truck size is gas mileage. Larger trucks may be less efficient over long distances, so take care not to overestimate how much space you'll need. Also, ask whether different sizes require regular gas or diesel fuel, which may be more expensive. Use a gas mileage calculator to factor in gas costs for your trip.

Pricing

If you’re looking into renting a moving truck, it’s safe to assume you’re trying to save money. We know it’s tempting to choose the cheapest rental company you can find, but we find movers are more satisfied with companies that have transparent pricing rather than low pricing.

Unlimited mileage

Rental truck companies have varying mileage policies, and only Penske offers unlimited mileage on one-way moves. Home Depot also does unlimited miles, but only for its Load 'N Go truck rentals.

U-Haul, Penske, Enterprise, and Budget have a per-mile fee for local moves. Additionally, U-Haul and Budget also have mileage limits for long-distance moves—you’ll pay for any additional distance you drive beyond that cap.

Depending on your move distance, unlimited mileage may not matter much to you. But if you want the flexibility to make a dozen trips back and forth on your local move or to stop at those wacky roadside attractions on your long-distance trip, you may want to compare unlimited mileage policies.


Penske—Best overall

Best overall

Penske Truck Rental is one of the largest moving truck providers in the nation with locations all across the US and Canada. Out of all the truck rental companies on this list, it also consistently scores the highest in customer reviews across websites like Yelp and Google Reviews.

Penske landed the number one spot on our list because of its comprehensive list of services and its low prices for long-distance moves (moves over 100 miles) and large truck rentals.

pro
Pros
pro Best prices for long-distance moves
pro Best rates for large trucks
pro Unlimited mileage for one-way rentals
pro Plenty of discounts
pro Reliable reservations
con
Cons
con Fewer locations than U-Haul
con Fewer truck options than most competitors

Penske’s moving trucks

Penske has a total of five truck sizes, which isn’t huge, but it’s nothing to sneeze at. On top of having a respectable selection of trucks, Penske also claims to have some of the newest trucks in the industry,1 so a Penske truck is less likely to break down en-route than trucks from competitors.

Penske’s moving truck sizes and features

Truck sizes
Cargo van
12 foot
16 foot
22 foot
26 foot

Internal dimensions

11 ft. 11 in. x 4 ft. 6 in. x 6 ft. 9 in.12 ft. x 6 ft. 6 in. x 6 ft. 1 in.16 ft. x 7 ft. 7 in. x 6 ft. 6 in. 21 ft. 11 in. x 8 ft. 1 in. x 8 ft. 1 in. 25 ft. 11 in. x 8 ft. 1 in. x 8 ft. 1 in.

Capacity

Up to 1 room 1–2 rooms2–3 rooms3–5 rooms5–7 rooms

Weight limit (lbs.)

3,500 3,1004,30010,000 10,000

Interior space (cu. ft.)

4044508001,2001,700

Fuel tank capacity (gallons)

Up to 31 Up to 33Up to 33 Up to 50Up to 50

Miles per gallon

12 12 12 1313

Data current as of publish date.

Why Penske is our number one

Penske has the best prices for long-distance moves and large loads

If you’re moving long-distance or you need a really big truck, out of all the moving rental truck companies, Penske is your best option. We gathered over a hundred different quotes from the companies on this list, and Penske had the best average price for moves over a hundred miles, but just barely. Penske’s average price for all moves over 100 miles was about $1,944 while U-Haul’s was $1,945.

Penske’s value really shined through with its pricing for moves over 1,000 miles and moves that required larger trucks.

For moves between 1,000 and 2,000 miles, Penske’s average was $2,471 while U-Haul’s was $2,684, a difference of over $200. Similarly, for moves out of homes with 3 to 5 bedrooms, Penske’s average was $2,141 while U-Haul’s was $2,225.

Though Penske’s average for local moves was higher than its competition during our research, we have seen the company offer the best price available for a local move. Even if you’re moving locally, getting a quote from Penske is still worth your time.

Penske has plenty of discounts

Beyond just having low prices, Penske also offers a healthy selection of discounts, including:

  • AAA discounts—12% or more off truck rental
  • Military discounts—10% off truck rental
  • College student discounts—10% off truck rental
  • Seasonal/promotional discounts—varied savings2
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Looking for killer discounts?

If you’ve got money on your mind and you want to see what discounts other moving truck rental companies are offering, you can check out our list of moving truck deals and discounts from across the industry.

Penske offers every service you could want for a truck rental move

Remember the qualities you should look for in a moving truck rental company? Well, Penske offers them in spades. Whatever you need for your moving truck rental—whether it’s a tow dolly, a loading labor crew, high-quality moving coverage, or the best truck for the job—Penske can do it all.

And, since Penske has better customer reviews than just about any other moving truck rental company, working with Penske means you’ll get first-rate customer service without breaking the bank.

To learn more, read our full Penske Truck Rental Review or read our report on one customer’s experience moving in a Penske truck.

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Hertz truck rental

Hertz—the car rental company—partners with Penske. While Hertz can rent out its own moving vans and pickup trucks, the company partners with Penske to provide customers with moving trucks. This means that if you get a moving truck from Hertz, it's actually a Penske truck.


Budget—Best local prices

Best local prices

Like Penske, Budget has locations all over the country and offers every service a moving truck company should. Unfortunately, Budget is slightly outclassed by Penske in terms of truck rental sizes, customer satisfaction, and long-distance prices.

However, for local moves (moves under 100 miles), the company gives customers the most bang for their buck, which shouldn’t be surprising for a company literally named “Budget.”

pro
Pros
pro Best prices for local moves
pro Help-for-hire available
pro Deals and discounts
pro Low mileage rates
con
Cons
con Fewer locations than U-Haul
con Fewer truck options than most competitors
con Lukewarm customer reviews

Budget’s moving trucks

With five moving truck sizes, Budget—like Penske—has a small but satisfactory truck selection. Budget’s truck sizes range from a cargo van all the way up to a 26-foot box truck which is just as large as the biggest trucks offered by competitors.

In addition to what is listed in the table below, Budget also has an assortment of full-size pickup trucks that can be used for small, local moves and home improvement projects. As any friendly neighbor knows, pickup trucks are some of the best rental trucks for moving short distances.

Budget’s moving truck sizes and specifications

Truck sizes
Cargo van
12 foot
16 foot
26 foot

Internal dimensions

11 ft. x 4 ft. 5 in. x 6 ft.10 ft. x 6 ft. 3 in. x 6 ft.16 ft. x 6 ft. 3 in. x 6 ft. 7 in.26 ft. x 8 ft. 1 in. x 8 ft. 1 in.

Capacity

1 room or a studio apartment1–2 rooms3–4 rooms5–8 rooms

Weight limit (lbs.)

3,4003,6104,46010,000

Interior space (cu. ft.)

357 3806581,698

Fuel tank capacity (gallons)

25 3533 50

Miles per gallon

8–14 8–146–10 8–10

Data current as of publish date.

Why we recommend Budget

Budget has unbeatable rates for local moves

Budget’s combination of low up-front costs combined with cheap mileage rates makes it your most affordable option if you’re moving under 100 miles and you need a mid-sized to large moving truck.

Budget’s average price to rent a moving truck for a local move is $27.60. For comparison, U-Haul’s average is $38.70 and Penske’s is $328.09 (yikes!). These prices are just for truck reservations, though, and they don’t include mileage rates.

That said, Budget’s mileage rate for the quotes we got was $0.47/mile, much lower than both U-Haul’s ($0.99/mile) and Penske’s ($1.29/mile). If you rented a moving truck for a local move and you drove 60 miles round-trip, you’d pay a total of about $60 with Budget, $100 with U-Haul, and over $400 with Penske.

The only companies with better mileage rates than Budget are Enterprise with mileage rates as low as $0.20/mile and Home Depot with unlimited mileage. However, Enterprise’s average up-front cost to rent a moving truck is $129.77, over a hundred dollars more than Budget’s, and Home Depot’s unlimited mileage policy only applies to a select number of very small trucks.

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Fun Fact: Budget partners with Avis

Budget partners with Avis Car Rental to supply Avis customers with cargo vans and rental trucks for moving that are larger than the vehicles in Avis’ core fleet. You can learn more about this service by visiting the Avis website.

Budget has a wide assortment of discounts

Budget offers these discounts to further reduce the price of its already affordable truck rentals:

  • Military discounts—20% off
  • AARP member discounts—20% off Sunday through Thursday and 10% off Friday through Saturday
  • Police, fire, and EMT personnel discounts—20% off for local moves and 15% off for one-way moves
  • Motor Club member discounts—20% off for local moves and 15% off for one-way moves
  • Bar Association member discounts—20% off for local moves and 15% off for one-way moves
  • Student discounts—20% off for local moves and 15% off for one-way moves3

Budget also periodically offers seasonal and promotional discounts, so be sure to check the company’s website or ask your customer service representative about what discounts are currently available when you book.

If you want to learn more about Budget, you can read our full review or check out our report on a real Budget move.


U-Haul—Best availability

Best availability

U-Haul is the most well-known moving truck rental company in the industry and is in a lot of ways synonymous with DIY moving. However, the company doesn’t offer the best customer service or the best pricing for moving truck rentals.

U-Haul outcompetes competitors in two ways, though: availability and sheer number of services.

pro
Pros
pro Widest availability with over 21,000 locations4
pro More size options than Budget or Penske
pro Help-for-hire available
pro Low—but not the lowest—prices
con
Cons
con Few discounts
con Terrible customer reviews
con Infamously unreliable reservations

U-Haul’s moving trucks

U-Haul has seven different moving truck sizes, giving it the biggest selection of trucks that can be used for long-distance and local moves alike. The company also claims to be the only moving truck company that works directly with truck manufacturers to engineer trucks specifically for household moving instead of commercial freight.5

U-Haul’s moving truck sizes and specifications

Truck sizes
Pickup truck
Cargo van
10 foot
15 foot
17 foot
20 foot
26 foot

Internal dimensions

7 ft. 10 in. x 5 ft. 2 in. x 1 ft. 9 in.9 ft. 6 in. x 5 ft. 7 in. x 4 ft. 8 in.9 ft. 11. In. x 6 ft. 4 in. x 6 ft. 2 in.15 ft. x 7 ft. 8 in. x 7 ft. 2 in.16 ft. 9 in. x 7 ft. 8 in. x 7 ft. 2 in.19 ft. 6 in. x 7 ft. 8 in. x 7 ft. 2 in.26 ft. 2 in. x 8 ft. 2 in. x 3 ft. 3 in.

Capacity

Small jobsStudio apartment1-bedroom apartment1-bedroom home2-bedroom home2-bedroom home4-bedroom home

Weight limit (lbs.)

1,8973,8802,8506,385 6,160 5,700 9,010

Interior space (cu. ft.)

N/A 245402764 865 1,016 1,682

Fuel tank capacity (gallons)

3425334040 40 60

Miles per gallon

19 181210 10 10 10

Data current as of publish date.

Why we recommend U-Haul

U-Haul has more locations than any other moving truck rental company

With a network of over 21,000 locations, U-Haul has more availability than any other moving truck service. Wherever you are, there’s probably at least one location near you. This is a big deal for two important reasons: pricing and convenience.

How U-Haul’s availability can save you money

Prices for moving are largely determined by supply and demand. Some services (like moving coverage) have fixed rates, but moving equipment rental prices can fluctuate drastically. This is especially true when a lot of people are moving as less equipment is available.

Because of this, a company with lots of locations and trucks can usually offer the lowest prices. And while U-Haul didn’t have the very best rates for local rentals or one-way moves, its rates came in second place in both categories.

We just wish U-Haul had more discounts.

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Is U-Haul worth the savings?

Renting a moving truck from U-Haul is cheaper than hiring a full-service mover, but not by as much as you probably think. Additionally, Moving with a U-Haul entails a lot of heavy lifting, long hours of driving, and a few extra costs like gas and hotels. To get the full breakdown, check out our guide where we compare renting a U-Haul to hiring a full-service mover.

Why U-Haul’s availability equals convenience

Because U-Haul is so widely available, you can almost always find a nearby location to pick up or drop off your moving truck. This makes it one of the best moving truck rentals for local moves because you’ll likely pay less for the mileage used just picking up or returning your truck. For long-distance moves, it means you won’t have to drive too far out of your way before or after an exhausting cross-country haul.

It also means that if your nearest U-Haul location doesn’t have the truck size you need, you can likely rent it from another nearby location.

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Ready to load up?

Need a hand getting all that heavy furniture into your moving truck? Check out our guide on the best moving equipment you can rent or buy.

U-Haul offers the most services

While both Penske and Budget have comprehensive service offerings that include everything from moving coverage to moving labor, U-Haul really shines in how many services it offers.

On top of the standard offerings for a moving truck rental company, U-Haul also offers:

Additionally, for everything that Budget and Penske do, U-Haul does more (if not necessarily better). The company has more tow-trailer and moving truck sizes than most of its competitors.

And while U-Haul’s customer reviews leave a lot to be desired, it’s hard to beat a service menu this complete.

To learn more about U-Haul before getting your quote, you can read our full review or hop over to our report about a U-Haul customer’s move.

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How does U-Haul compare to its competition?

U-Haul is one of the top dogs in the industry, but that doesn’t mean that its competitors can’t outclass the truck rental giant in a few specific instances. If you want to see how U-Haul stacks up, check out these guides:


Enterprise—Most truck sizes

Most truck sizes

You probably know Enterprise as the car rental company from those Kristen Bell commercials, but you may not have known that the company also rents out moving trucks. In fact, Enterprise has the largest selection of moving trucks in the industry.

The downside is that the company only rents out moving trucks for local moves.

pro
Pros
pro Largest assortment of trucks
pro Low mileage rates
pro Good customer reviews
con
Cons
con Local moves only
con High up-front costs
con Fewer locations than most competitors

Enterprise’s moving trucks

With 14 size options, Enterprise has a moving truck rental selection that absolutely no one else can match. In addition to what we’ve listed below, the company offers several additional cargo van, pickup truck, and stakebed truck sizes. Visit Enterprise’s website to see all of these truck sizes or call your local Enterprise location to ask what’s available.

Enterprise’s moving truck sizes and specifications

Vehicle sizes
½-ton pickup truck
Cargo van
15 foot
16 foot
24 foot
24 foot stakebed
26 foot

Dimensions*

Up to 8 ft. long truck bed 10 ft. 6 in. x 5 ft. 5 in. x 4 ft. 7 in.15 ft. x 8 ft. x 7 ft.16 ft. x 8 ft. x 7 ft. 6 in. 24 ft. x 8 ft. 6 in. x 8 ft. 6 in. 24 ft. x 8 ft. 6 in.26 ft. x 8 ft. 6 in. x 8 ft. 6 in.

Capacity

Small projects Small projects1–3 rooms3–4 rooms 5+ rooms Large projects5+ rooms

Weight limit (lbs.)

2,000 3,7005,0007,50010,000 10,00010,000

Interior space (cu. ft.)**

N/A 260810960 1,500 N/A1,800

Data current as of publish date.
*Interior dimensions were not available. Dimensions shown are of the exterior of the cargo container.
**Interior dimensions were not available. Dimensions shown are only an estimate. Contact your nearest Enterprise Truck Rental location for more precise specifications.
(Specific fuel tank capacity specifications were not available as this varies by the year, make, and model of each vehicle.)

Why we recommend Enterprise

Enterprise has the largest selection of rental trucks for moving

With 14 vehicle sizes ranging from pickup trucks to 26-foot box trucks that can rival any other company’s largest moving truck, Enterprise is sure to have the ideal truck size for your move, no matter how much—or how little—stuff you’re moving.

While renting the perfect truck size for the job has the obvious benefit of getting enough space for all your furniture, it also provides lower pricing and security for your belongings.

Larger moving trucks are almost always more expensive than smaller trucks, so if you rent a truck that’s larger than you need, you’ll actually pay extra for unused space. Additionally, if your truck is too large, your belongings have more space to shift and potentially break during your trip. Enterprise’s diverse assortment of trucks all but guarantees you can find the size you need.

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What’s the right truck size for your move?

The size of the moving truck you rent is just as important as the company you rent it from. To find the Goldilocks truck size for your move, check out our guide to picking the right truck size.

Enterprise is an affordable option for local moves

Like we said earlier, both Budget and U-Haul have lower prices for local moves than Enterprise, and Home Depot can be cheaper for quick local moves. However, Enterprise’s mileage rates can be as low as $0.20/mile, making it an affordable backup option if Budget isn’t available and U-Haul drops the ball on your reservation—which is known to happen.

To learn more about Enterprise and its rental trucks for moving, read our full review of the company’s pricing and services.


The Home Depot—Best for quick moves

Best for quick moves
Home Depot
Our Rating
3.1 out of 5 stars
3.1

What U-Haul is to moving, Home Depot is to home improvement. The company has some of the best brand recognition in its industry, it has locations all across the country, and it offers basically every service you’d expect. Home Depot also rents out moving trucks—a nice cherry on top.

While it may not be ranked among the best moving truck rental companies overall, The Home Depot’s Load-n-Go rental trucks are great budget options for fast, local moves—especially since they come with unlimited miles. For long-distance moving customers, The Home Depot partners with Penske, though we’ve found that trucks rented this way can cost a little more than trucks rented directly from Penske.

pro
Pros
pro Affordable rates for in-house trucks
pro Unlimited mileage on in-house trucks
pro Penske’s truck sizes plus four more
pro Nationwide locations
con
Cons
con High rates for most moves
con No tow trailers available
con Most trucks supplied by Penske

The Home Depot’s moving trucks

Trucks listed in the table below are Home Depot’s proprietary Load ‘N Go rental trucks, which are only available for local moves and projects. If you need to rent a truck for a one-way move or for a larger load than Home Depot’s trucks can accommodate, Home Depot partners with Penske to offer customers all of Penske’s truck sizes.

The Home Depot’s moving truck sizes and specifications

Truck size
F250 flatbed truck
T250 flatbed truck
Cargo van
Box truck

Capacity

Small projectsSmall projects Small projects 1–2 rooms

Weight limit (lbs.)

3,000 3,000 3,0003,850

Interior space (cu. ft.)

N/A N/A 277 515

Fuel tank capacity (gallons)

35 25 26 25

Data current as of publish date.

Why we recommend Home Depot

Home Depot’s Load ‘N Go Rentals can save you money on quick local moves

Home Depot’s rates were almost identical to Penske’s (if sometimes a little higher) for the moves we got quotes for. This was because all of the quotes we got were for the Penske trucks that Home Depot partners with Penske to provide.

However, Home Depot can be much more affordable than Penske—or really any other company we’ve listed—if your move is going to be both local and quick. This is because Home Depot’s Load ‘N Go trucks for local projects are available for unbeatable 75-minute rates, and they all include unlimited mileage.

Load ‘N Go rental rates
Truck size
F250 flatbed truck
T250 flatbed truck
Cargo van
Box truck
75-minute rental rate $19$19 $19 $29
Daily rental rate $129 $129 $129$139
Weekly rental rate $903 $903 $903 $973

Data current as of publish date. Exact pricing will be determined at the store.

If you don’t have a lot of stuff to move and you can do the job in a few hours, you can save a lot of money by securing a moving truck rental from Home Depot instead of another company. This makes Home Depot the best option for moving out of a dorm or studio apartment.

That said, it's not guaranteed that your nearest  Home Depot location will have a truck available when you need it.

Additionally, Home Depot’s largest moving truck is only about as big as the smallest box trucks offered by other moving truck rental companies, so if you need to move a lot of bulky furniture, you’re probably better off renting from Budget for your local move.

Home Depot offers one-stop shopping convenience

Whether or not we like to admit it, most DIY moves result in at least a little damage to furniture, walls, and floors. No matter how careful you and your friends/family are while you’re packing or unpacking, no DIY move comes with a damage-free guarantee.

Renting your moving truck from Home Depot means you won’t have to make another stop on your way home from returning your truck. While you’re dropping off your rental, you can just pick up wall putty, wood-stain repair kits, and replacements for furniture screws that got lost in the sauce en route.

Home Depot also offers a healthy selection of moving boxes and other packing supplies you can pick up when you get your truck.

If you want to learn a little more about Home Depot’s moving trucks, check out our full Home Depot review.


Not sold on renting a truck for your move?

Company
Company type
Move.org rating
Packing & loading services
Pricing
Discounts
Learn more
Professional mover
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8
bulletYes
$$$
bullet10% Move.org discount, military personnel, seniors
Professional mover
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
bulletYes
$$$
bulletNone
Professional mover
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8
bulletYes
$$$
bulletSeniors
Moving container company
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
bulletNo
$$
bullet10% Move.org discount, military personnel
Moving container company
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
bulletNo
$$
bulletMove.org readers, military personnel

If you’re moving from a studio apartment, you’ll want to choose a company that has small vans and trucks available (no sense in spending the money on a big truck for such a small job).

Large homes, on the other hand, require large trucks, so you should choose a company with trucks big enough to accommodate your needs.

Best moving truck rentals FAQ

Moving truck rental companies charge different rates depending on the size of the truck, the number of miles you’ll be driving, and the duration of your rental. The average moving truck rental costs anywhere from $129 to $1,300.

Personal auto insurance does not typically cover rental trucks for moving. This is why moving truck rental insurance is so important. Most companies provide you with coverage options when you initially book your rental. You can also reach out to your personal auto insurance provider to find out what your options are for your move

The difference between an in-town truck rental and a long-distance truck rental mainly comes down to price. Long-distance (or one-way) truck rentals are usually priced using a flat rate based on truck size, the date of your move, and your starting and ending locations. You will be charged extra if you exceed the estimated mileage or planned number of days you'll have the truck.

In-town rentals, though, are usually charged by the mile and rates can vary depending on the truck size and the day of the week.

Remember: not all truck rental companies offer both in-town and long-distance rentals, so you'll want to confirm with your company in advance.

In order to be able to rent and operate a rented truck, you need to be at least 18 years old and possess up to two forms of identification, like a driver's license, military ID, passport, credit card, and/or phone bill.

Note: Any additional drivers will also need to provide up to two forms of ID! 

No, rental trucks are not considered commercial vehicles, so you don't need a special license to drive one. That means that the maximum weight that you can carry on your rental truck is 26,000 pounds. Most rental trucks cannot carry this weight to begin with. The top rental trucks can carry between 1,897 to 10,000 pounds.

You should probably try to reserve your moving truck as soon as you know when you're going to move. In a perfect scenario, this would be at least 2 months before your move for the best chance to get the right size truck.

One of the easiest ways to save money when you rent a truck is to book early. Prices for moving services fluctuate throughout the year, and they’re always lower for early birds. By booking your truck rental months in advance, you could save hundreds if not thousands of dollars you’d have to pay by waiting til the last minute.

Another surefire way to save money is to take advantage of the discounts that moving truck companies offer. Some of these discounts are exclusively for senior citizens, military members, and students, but many are offered to just about everybody. Sometimes all you need is a promo code or to book your rental while a seasonal deal is running.

Even companies that won’t let you rent their trucks for cheap might still hook you up with discounted hotel rooms or other deals.

To learn about all the deals offered by moving truck companies, visit our truck rental deals and discounts page.

Which of these truck rental companies offer one-way (long-distance) rentals?

Of the companies on this list, only Enterprise doesn’t offer one-way rentals, though Home Depot only offers long-distance services through its Penske partnership.

All the other companies will allow you to pick up your rental truck at one location and return it at a different location, even if that location is thousands of miles away. Without this service, moving long distance in a rental truck would be virtually impossible.

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Need help planning your moving road trip?

When you’re driving across the country in a moving truck, it's important to plan plenty of stops, stay within your mileage limit, and keep an eye on your budget and schedule. Check out our guide to planning a moving road trip for helpful tips and tricks that’ll streamline your trek and keep it affordable.

Does Ryder rent moving trucks?

Ryder Truck Rental offers vehicles for commercial business moves only. The company does not rent trucks to customers moving from one home to another. If you need to move your personal belongings, all of the truck rental companies on this list are great alternatives to Ryder.

What's the difference between hiring moving help from a truck rental company and hiring professional movers?

Full-service van lines (like International Van Lines or Mayflower) will send professional movers to assist you with your move. These professionals will be vetted by the van line, so you can expect the same level of service from any mover sent by your chosen van line. If you encounter problems with the movers, you can go directly to your moving company to address and resolve them.

When you hire moving help in addition to your truck rental (popular with U-Haul and Budget, for example), the truck rental companies are connecting you with a local agency to hire laborers to assist. These are still professional movers, just not ones hired specifically by the moving truck rental companies. Therefore, you won’t be able to hold truck rental companies liable if the movers mess up.

Can you drive a rental truck to Canada or Mexico?

No, you more than likely will not be able to drive your rental truck to Canada or Mexico. Most rental truck companies prohibit anyone from taking their trailers across the border. If you need help with an international move, we've got lots of resources.


Methodology

Move.org analyzes and ranks truck rental companies using a five-step research process:

  • Compare quotes. We gathered 118 quotes from five moving truck companies. These pricing quotes included trucks that can move single-bedroom apartments, five-bedroom houses, and everything in between. Prices also included moving distances ranging from 50 miles to 2,060 miles.
  • Mystery shopping. We thoroughly review each company’s website and call every company several times to appraise the moving services, transit protection, and customer service provided by each truck rental company.
  • Analyze reviews. To understand how customers feel about each truck rental company, we read through hundreds of customer reviews and analyze thousands of star ratings customers leave on third-party review platforms like Yelp and Google Reviews.
  • Truck comparisons. We compare companies based on the moving truck sizes and truck types they offer (moving vans, flatbed trucks, box trucks, etc.). We also look at moving-specific features like loading ramps and tow dollies included with their trucks.
    Annual review. We annually revise our truck rental reviews and update them throughout the year to keep our recommendations up-to-date.

Recommended resources

People also asked…

Sources

  1. Penske Truck Rental, “Moving Trucks.” Accessed March 12, 2024.
  2. Penske Truck Rental, “Discounts.” Accessed March 12, 2024.
  3. Budget Truck Rental, “Current Truck Rental Deals.” Accessed March 12, 2024.
  4. AMERCO, “Company History.” Accessed March 12, 2024.
  5. U-Haul, “U-Haul Truck Rentals.” Accessed March 12, 2024.

Whether you go with our top pick or rent from another company on our list, let us know which company you choose in the comments below. We’d love to learn about your experience to help our readers make more informed choices for their upcoming moves.

Jenny Willden and Colin Holmes contributed to this report.

Joe Roberts
Written by
Joe Roberts
Joe Roberts is a professional writer with a degree in writing studies and over four years of copywriting experience. He previously worked at Overstock.com, where he wrote about furniture, home decor, and moving. Joe has moved all over Utah, so he knows his way around a moving truck—and he spends his time (and money) expanding his personal library so it will be even heavier next time he moves.