Whether you’re headed to the Pacific Coast Highway in California for a scenic drive or moving your stuff to a new apartment downtown, renting a truck is a budget-friendly option.
You only need a valid driver’s license to access different options, like a flatbed pickup truck or a van big enough to hold the contents of a four-bedroom home.
But before you click the Book Now button, you should know that there is more than one truck rental agency.
It pays to do your research to find the best provider and save money on your car rental. To help you out, here’s a comparison of truck rental rates so you can find the best deals.
Truck Rental Rates Comparison
Many players are in the field, but we will only cover the significant providers of reliable vehicle rental services. Here’s an in-depth truck rental rates comparison of the leading truck rental companies:
1. U-Haul
U-Haul is the biggest and most widely available moving truck rental company, serving over 21,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Such a wide availability can benefit you in two important ways.
First, it can save you money. Since rental truck prices follow the rule of demand, a moving truck company with multiple rental locations can offer better rates in that area. While U-Haul’s prices aren’t the cheapest, they were always far better than industry averages.
Besides the competitive pricing, U-Haul makes your move more efficient by giving you access to all types of rental trucks across different locations. It can cater to one-way moves, interstate moves, and cross-country moves.
Having a U-Haul location near your old and new home is more convenient. Whether relocating locally or long distance, you probably won’t have to drive any more than you have to.
Truck Rental Rates
U-Haul’s truck rental services have an average price of $38.70 + $0.99/mile. The price often fluctuates, so it is impossible to predict your move’s cost before you get a quote.
That said, U-Haul’s rental costs always include a base price. Additional costs may include car insurance, environmental fees, damage protection, and taxes.
Moving within the same city, you can expect to pay a base fee of $19.95 for a 10-foot truck and $29.95 for a 15-foot vehicle.
U-Haul’s prices for long-distance moves are based on the details of your move. Instead of getting a flat rate for each truck size, expect a unique rate that includes the mileage between your location and destination. You will also be responsible for the fuel costs.
2. Penske
Penske Corporation offers truck rental services to over 2,500 locations across the United States and Canada.
Compared to U-Haul, it is a relatively small company, but it offers a more personable rental experience and a few solid perks.
Penske’s rates for long-distance moves are some of the cheapest prices, but its rates can be pretty steep for small or local moves.
The company pairs affordable rates with exceptional customer service, a full suite of moving services, and a fleet of trucks.
The only drawback of Penske is its limited availability, which means it has a smaller selection of moving equipment rentals compared to major competitors.
Truck Rental Rates
For moves over 1,000 miles, Penske’s average cost is $2,471.20, about $300 less than the industry average cost.
For moves within 50 miles, the company charges $328.09 plus $1.29 per mile. For a moving distance of 463 miles, the cost is $980.64.
That said, Penske offers some of the most significant discounts compared to other major truck rental companies.
For example, if you are a college student, you will get 10% off your truck rental; if you are an AAA member, you get a 12% discount.
3. Budget
Budget Truck Rental operates in 2,800 convenient locations and boasts 30,000 trucks of varying sizes and models.
While the prices vary depending on where you live, the truck size you need, and the distance you’re covering, you can usually get a good deal and a discount.
Budget charges customers a per-mile fee on local and long-distance moves. Even so, it doesn’t mean you will spend more than you would with other standard truck rental companies.
Truck Rental Rates
Budget offers cost-effective options for all movers, but you’ll need to be aware of additional fees to avoid surprise charges later on.
The company charges a flat base rate for local moves, followed by a per-mile fee that ranges from $0.89 to $0.99. You can get unlimited miles for long-distance moves, but be mindful of additional charges.
4. Enterprise
Enterprise Truck Rental operates in 500 U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico locations. The company has 14 different truck sizes you can choose from, and it has the most extensive collection of truck sizes so far. U-Haul comes next at seven.
That said, Enterprise has the right vehicle for any moving job, whether you’re just moving a few furniture items or everything from your old house to your new home.
Unfortunately, not all these trucks are always available at every Enterprise location.
Truck Rental Rates
Its truck rental rates average about $129 per day. You can rent a cargo van for as low as $89 or a 26-foot box truck for $228 daily. Enterprise also charges mileage fees, ranging from $0.20 to $0.99 per mile.
5. Home Depot
Home Depot offers truck rental services in all its store locations. You can choose between Home Depot’s Load ‘N Go truck or a truck from its Partner, Penske.
However, it’s worth noting that not all Home Depot locations offer Penske truck rentals.
Truck Rental Rates
Home Depot’s truck rental rates are relatively simple and include unlimited mileage. Penske trucks, however, vary by location, distance, and season. In addition, renting a Penske truck at Home Depot is a bit more costly than renting directly from Penske.
The Load, ‘N Go Cargo vans are ideal for moving large items. The cost ranges from $19 to $29 for the first 75 minutes. Then, you will be charged $5 per 15-minute interval. Moreover, you need to refuel the vehicle before returning it to the store.
Also, Home Depot’s trucks are on the smaller side. It has several truck sizes available: cargo vans, flatbed trucks, pickup trucks, and small moving trucks ideal for moving one-bedroom apartments.
If you need something more extensive, you can hire a Penske truck.
6. Ryder
Ryder offers truck rental services to 800 locations across North America. While it used to provide services to individual consumers, most of Ryder’s trucks cater to commercial clients.
Ryder has many truck rental options, from cargo vans to box trucks. It also rents out trailers, commercial vehicles, stake trucks, tractors, and refrigerated trucks for businesses.
The smallest rental option is the Sprinter van, ideal for moving items out of a studio apartment or college dorm.
Truck Rental Rates
Ryder has competitive prices. Sprinter vans cost $100 per day and $505 per week. Meanwhile, box trucks cost $107 per day and $535 per week. You can rent a straight truck for $138 per day or $690 per week if you need a bigger vehicle.
Factors That Affect Truck Rental Rates
Several factors affect car rental prices, and knowing these things can help you achieve a lower rental cost.
Truck Size and Model
The first factor affecting truck rental prices is the size of the vehicle. Larger vehicles cost more. Hence, you must choose the right vehicle size for your needs.
Assess the items you are relocating and remove stuff you don’t need. It is also essential to check the truck itself. Watch out for dents, dirty air filters, hidden rusts, and other maintenance issues.
Services
The cost breakdown of truck rental includes the cost per mile, a basic coverage plan, a roadside assistance plan, and equipment rental. Some companies offer additional services, such as:
- Unpacking services
- Unloading services
- Storage services
- Cargo insurance
- Fuel service
- Driving services
- Flat tire service
Distance
The distance of your move will also affect the rental costs. Longer distances mean higher prices.
Season and Day
Truck rental fees in summer are more costly than in winter and colder seasons because many families and individuals move during that time. For the same reason, renting trucks on weekends is more expensive than on weekdays.
It is best to book in advance, as many companies offer acceptable discounts and cheap rates for early bookings.
Taxes and Other Charges
Besides the base costs and fuel mileage fees (if applicable), rental truck costs include other expenses like taxes, car insurance, roadside assistance, gas costs, drop-off charges, and early return fees.
Always read the fine print so you aren’t surprised when your final bill comes out. Also, avoid extensive coverage plans and opt for a basic plan instead. Furthermore, be prepared for extra expenses like fees for highway tolls.
Of course, your moving costs can significantly increase if you hire a truck driver or rent towing equipment and other helpful equipment.
Find the Best Truck Rental Deals Today
Comparing truck rental prices is your first step to finding the best price for your next move. It’s best to ask for quotes from at least three service providers to get accurate prices and choose which service can save you more money.
Again, take note of the factors affecting the price of truck rentals and the hidden costs. Learning about these things can help you achieve a budget-friendly move.
