When you’re looking for ways to DIY your move, whether it’s coast-to-coast or around the corner, one of the easiest ways to defray an expensive moving process is to rent your own truck. If you have friends and family who are able to help you load and unload, it can seem like a no-brainer to expedite the process in this way.
When you’re looking for ways to DIY your move, whether it’s coast-to-coast or around the corner, one of the easiest ways to defray an expensive moving process is to rent your own truck. If you have friends and family who are able to help you load and unload, it can seem like a no-brainer to expedite the process in this way.
However, it’s definitely not as easy as renting the first truck that you find on the Internet. In order to have a successful moving experience, you need to know a lot about the company you’ll be trusting with your belongings.
Will your truck rental place provide moving tools? Are there hidden fees involved, and what do their past customers say about them?
Luckily, we’ve done the research, and we’ve selected three budget-friendly truck rental companies to keep in mind for 2021 relocations:
- Budget Truck Rental
- Penske Truck Rental
- U-Haul
Want to know how these three companies stack up against each other? Follow along as we figure out exactly what works best with each of these affordable truck rental companies in 2021.
1. Budget Truck Rental – Best Overall.
Budget
Truck Rental is an extremely accessible option for the majority of
people seeking reliable relocation services. Budget Truck Rental has
a fleet of approximately 27,000 trucks, several locations in every
state across America, and is proud to be a moving company that treats
its relocation specialists with respect.
Budget Truck Rental Prices
Here’s a quick chart we put together to help you see what pricing structures you might be able to expect when you work with Budget Truck Rental:
Truck Size (feet) | Capacity | Approximate Weight | Local moving Under 25 miles | Interstate moving 200-300 miles | Cross-Country moving 700+ miles | Auto-Towing Option |
12 ft | Few Boxes | ~500lb | 80 | 140 | 750 | Yes |
16 ft | Studio-1 bedroom | 1000-1500lb | 146 | 276 | 977 | Yes |
26 ft | 2-3 bedrooms | 2000-4000lb | 200 | 570 | 1500 | Yes |
26 ft | 4-5 bedrooms | 4000-8000lb | 350 | 899 | 1750 | Yes |
Specific Examples with States:
Interested in knowing what an actual state-to-state move might cost with Budget Truck’s prices? We’ve listed out a few states with mileage below to give you a good idea of what a real trip might cost:
- Waco, Texas to Austin, Texas (101 miles): $95
- Florida to Louisiana (835 miles): $775
- California to Tennessee (1829 miles): $1699
Pros and Cons of Working with Budget Truck Rental
Pros | Cons |
Extremely well-designed, user-oriented website that’s easy to use | Pricing structure can be confusing |
Frequent promo codes and sales to keep an eye out for | Once you make the reservation online, you can’t change it online – need to call a representative to do so |
Possible to rent for only one day if needed | Hard to find updated, consistent safety information about their fleet of rental vehicles |
2. Penske Truck Rental
Penske’s main market is those looking to complete one-way, long-distance moves. In order to make sure that they’re competitive in that industry, they’ve worked hard to make sure that their processes are affordable and simple. In the United States, Penske is associated with the ‘old yellow truck’, and has been for over fifty years. However, the company has also invested in more modern vehicles that they also use to complete their moves.
Penske knows that their trucks are the star of their business, so they provide lots of easy-to-find, up-front information about the specifications of their fleet. They also avoid surprised, last-minute charges and promote a transparent pricing structure. Is Penske the truck rental company for you? Let’s dig into what to expect when you’re working with Penske – a truck rental company that has 2200 USA locations, and a fleet of over 50,000 vehicles.
Penske Truck Rental Prices
Truck Size (feet) | Capacity | Approximate Weight | Local moving Under 25 miles | Interstate moving 200-300 miles | Cross-Country moving 700+ miles | Auto-Towing Option |
12 ft | Few Boxes | ~500lb | 100 | 200 | 850 | Yes |
16 ft | Studio-1 bedroom | 1000-1500lb | 130 | 311 | 1236 | Yes |
22 ft | 2-3 bedrooms | 2000-4000lb | 177 | 500 | 2089 | Yes |
26 ft | 4-5 bedrooms | 4000-8000lb | 350 | 750 | 2700 | Yes |
Specific Examples with States:
If you’re wondering what an illustrative trip might cost, beginning to end, with Penske’s prices, look no further: Here are several specific examples for your perusal, of three different lengths.
- Fort Worth, Texas to Dallas, Texas (30 miles): $65
- Connecticut to New Hampshire (188 miles): $250
- California to Texas (1407 miles): $2400
Pros and Cons of Working with Penske Truck Rental
Pros | Cons |
Penske prioritizes environmental friendliness in every aspect of their business, from moving blankets made of recycled materials to a fuel-efficient fleet | Penske has fewer locations than the alternatives |
Reservations are flexible – you can alter reservations up to two days in advance with no charge | Penske’s prices do tend to be higher than the competition |
Penske guarantees reservations; if you have a contract, the truck you specified will be available | Other companies offer smaller trucks and moving trailers; Penske has a more concentrated range of offerings |
3. U-Haul
For a long time, U-Haul has cornered the market on truck rental services – with a name that has almost become synonymous with renting a moving truck. It’s reliable, it’s ubiquitous, and it’s relatively inexpensive.
The company innovated the concept of the one-way truck rental, solving an issue that many people faced. Their branding is orange, they have 20,000 locations across the USA and Canada, and their pricing structure is splashed across each and every vehicle in U-Haul’s expansive fleet. One thing that sets U-Haul apart from other truck rental companies is simple: It offers more choices than many when it comes to figuring out what size of truck you need.
U-Haul also sets itself apart with a generous compensation policy if anything is at issue with your reservation or experience. In many cases, if your contract says that you need to return your vehicle to one U-Haul preferred location, you can return it to another and it’ll be okay – a point of flexibility that many customers appreciate.
U-Haul also has one of the largest fleets in America, with over 176,000 trucks to their name.
The company has leaned into the DIY moving concept by expanding its offerings to include some moving tool and materials add-ons, and even moving helpers for hire. Let’s dive further into how U-Haul works and its pricing structure to learn more about whether it’s the right fit for you.
U-Haul Truck Rental Prices
Truck Size (feet) | Capacity | Approximate Weight | Local moving Under 25 miles | Interstate moving 200-300 miles | Cross-Country moving 700+ miles | Auto-Towing Option |
8, 10 ft | Few Boxes | ~500lb | 100 | 250 | 650 | Yes |
15, 17 ft | Studio-1 bedroom | 1000-1500lb | 133 | 291 | 1047 | Yes |
17, 20 ft | 2-3 bedrooms | 2000-4000lb | 299 | 600 | 1500 | Yes |
20, 26 ft | 4-5 bedrooms | 4000-8000lb | 800 | 1500 | 3500 | Yes |
Specific Examples with States:
We’ve chosen three different illustrative lengths of trips, with different mileages, to give you an idea of what U-Haul’s price structure looks like in real life:
- San Antonio, Texas to Dallas, Texas (274 miles): $260
- New York to Massachusetts (203 miles): $320
- California to Florida (2700 miles): $3500
Pros and Cons of Working with U-Haul Truck Rental
Pros | Cons |
U-Haul offers complimentary roadside service on their moves – you’ll never be left stranded on one of their relocations! | Reservations are often not guaranteed – the company can shift around times and dates at their disposal. (According to reviews, does not happen often – but still something to be wary of.) |
The most locations out of any of our Cheapest Truck Rentals for 2021 | The company does tack additional fees onto rental contracts |
Their base rates are extremely budget-friendly | Customer service is not the most helpful |
Recapping: Let’s Compare the Three Top Truck Rental Companies
Here’s a quick comparison table we drew up to help you see each truck rental company’s strengths and weakness in one easy-to-reference location:
Compare Criteria | Budget Truck Rentals | Penske Truck Rentals | U-Haul Truck Rentals |
Price and Value? | Cheapest by far, but Budget has fewer options; for example, only 3 standard truck sizes to choose from. However, the trucks are easy to drive. | Medium price, but doesn’t really offer discounts. However, they do include roadside assistance and sustainable trucks. | Most expensive, but the rentals are comfortable and the company has the most vans and locations for utter convenience and ease of access |
Online Reservation? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Moving and Packing Supplies Available? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
One-Way Long-Distance Rentals? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Auto-Towing? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sizes of Moves Serviced? | From 3100lbs to 9180lbs | From 3500lbs to 10,000lbs | From 2810lbs to 9600lbs |
Real Reviews: What Do People Say About These Truck Rental Sites?
As always, we find that it’s best to find out what real customers have to say about their experiences. Below, we’ve listed out real reviews that we found that shed some light on some positive and less-than-positive aspects of each rental company.
POSITIVE REVIEWS
Review Info | Budget Truck Rentals | Penske Truck Rentals | U-Haul Truck Rentals |
Reviewer Name | Denise | Jack | Sherry |
Moving Size | 26 foot | 16 foot | 17 foot |
Moving Distance | 300 miles | 700 miles | 350 miles |
Moving Cost | $550 | $2500 | $450 |
General Testimony | The price was right, customer service was friendly, and the truck got the job done | Cost higher than expected because of COVID – other than that, was pleasantly surprised with company flexibility on last-minute changes to moving plan | Was thrilled with customer service and ability to discuss storage options at the same time |
NEGATIVE REVIEWS
Review Info | Budget Truck Rentals | Penske Truck Rentals | U-Haul Truck Rentals |
Reviewer Name | Cora | Carlos | Tony |
Moving Size | 12 foot | 26 foot | 15 foot |
Moving Distance | 700 miles | 1500 miles | Local |
Moving Cost | $812 | $2700 | $104 |
General Testimony | Truck received was dirty inside with a cracked display | Trip took longer than expected because the assigned truck had safety issues | Ordered a truck, was given a van with unsteady tires |
Other Cost-Saving Resources
Want to know more about how to save money during your upcoming move? Don’t worry – we’ve got your back. Here are the four things you want to keep in mind when you’re putting together your cost-efficient relocation:
- Do your homework. Before you sign on with any truck rental company, make sure that you’ve obtained moving costs estimates from at least a few different possibilities. This will give you a good idea as to what is fair in your market – and help you make the best possible choice for you.
- Make sure that you’ve budgeted properly. Moving can be very expensive, particularly if you have a lot of items or are moving a long way away. Be realistic about what you expect your moving costs to be – and, if possible, downsize as much as possible before you start shopping around for quotes.
- Think about out-of-the-box options. If you’re open to more creative alternatives, such as moving using PODS or other moving container solutions, you may be able to save money. Make sure that you include these types of options in your search.
- Be creative about your supplies. See if you can source moving boxes and supplies from friends, from neighborhood resources, or other cheap or free alternatives. Make sure that you check with your truck rental company to see, too, if they include these types of moving tools with your rental price.
And there you have it! We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the three truck rental companies we’d recommend for budget-friendly moves in 2021. Refer to this guide whenever you need to know about renting trucks to make your move economical and easy!