Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (2025)

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Move.org collected 118 quotes, mystery shopped, analyzed reviews, and compared truck rentals to find the most affordable options.

Best one-way prices

Penske Truck Rental

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (9)

4.5

$1,137 avg. cost

  • Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (10)

    🔥 Score amazing savings on truck rentals and hit the road with confidence!

Reserve Now

📞 844-847-9577

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Best local prices

Budget Truck Rental

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (12)

4.2

$1,054 avg. cost

  • Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (13)

    Discounts available

  • Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (14)

    4 truck sizes

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📞 800-462-8343

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Best insurance prices

U-Haul

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (16)

4.2

$992 avg. cost

  • Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (17)

    No discounts

  • Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (18)

    7 truck sizes

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📞 800-468-4285

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By Kurt Manwaring

May 13, 2024

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (20)7 min read

Rental trucks are often your cheapest DIY move option because you do most of the work (like packing, loading, and driving) instead of hiring a professional mover.

But that doesn’t mean all moving truck rental companies are created equal.

They aren’t.

Some companies offer low quotes but have high final prices. Others have low rates for local moves but are more expensive for one-way trips. And so on.

We researched truck rental companies to find your cheapest options, and we identified the five best cheap truck rental companies:

  1. Penske Truck Rental
  2. Budget Truck Rental
  3. U-Haul
  4. Home Depot
  5. Enterprise

We’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each truck rental company and help you find the cheapest option for your move.

Check out where these companies rank on our list of the best truck rental companies.

The cheapest moving truck rental companies

  • Penske Truck Rental

    : Best prices on one-way moves and least expensive one-way truck rental option
  • Budget Truck Rental

    : Best prices on local moves
  • U-Haul

    : Cheapest insurance
  • Home Depot

    : Flexible moving services
  • Enterprise

    : Another option for local moves

Compare cheap rental truck companies

Company

Avg. one-way rental price*

Avg. local rental price**

Discounts

Details

Penske Truck Rental$1,944.93

$328.09

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (22)Yes

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Budget Truck Rental$2,080.00

$27.61

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (24)Yes

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U-Haul$1,945.68

$38.70

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (26)No

Get a Quote

All data 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.

Penske Truck Rental—Best prices on one-way moves

Best prices on one-way moves

Our Rating

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (28)

4.5

Get a Quote

Call: 844-847-9517

Penske has the most accurate quotes of any company we researched (meaning your quote will be basically the same as your final price). It’s the least expensive one-way truck rental option and also has larger trucks for moving big homes.

While it has high prices for local moves and smaller trucks (for smaller homes), its overall rates are lower than average. Its trucks also get the best gas mileage of any company in the business.

Penske Truck Rental costs

Penske Truck Rental

Our top truck rental companies

$1,137

$1,550

Data current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing rental costs plus fuel for four home sizes across seven distances.

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (29)

Pros

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (30) Lowest one-way prices

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (31) Most accurate quotes

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (32) Lowest prices for big homes

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (33) Best gas mileage

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (34)

Cons

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (35) High prices for local moves

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (36) High prices for small homes

What sets Penske Truck Rental apart?

Penske Truck Rental is the least expensive one-way truck rental option

The average cost of a one-way move with Penske Truck Rental is $1,750—or about $30 less than average. If you’re moving to another city, it’s tough to beat Penske Rental Truck’s prices.

Penske Truck Rental one-way prices

Penske Truck Rental

Our top truck rental companies

$1,750

$1,780

Data current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing rental costs plus fuel for four home sizes across seven distances.

Penske Truck Rental has the most accurate prices

At first glance, Penske Truck Rental looks like it’s hundreds of dollars more expensive than other companies. In reality, the company is just more up-front with customers about final costs.

Here’s why:

The cost to rent a moving truck is almost always higher than what you see in your initial quote. Many companies don’t include fees, deposits, or taxes in your estimate—and those can amount to hundreds of dollars.

We like Penske Truck Rental because it has the most straightforward pricing. Its quotes are nearly 100% accurate: the only cost not included is fuel. So, you can rest assured it’s the cheapest one way truck rental option for you.

By comparison, the average company charges about 40% more than your quote.

Truck rental quotes compared to final prices

Company

Initial quote

Final cost

Amount above quote

Penske Truck Rental

$1,360

$1,540

$180

Budget Truck Rental

$1,170

$1,520

$350

U-Haul

$1,180

$1,580

$400

Data current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing initial quotes and final prices (including fuel costs) for four home sizes across seven distances.

Penske Truck Rental has the best gas mileage in the business

Don’t forget that you’ll need to fill up your truck’s gas tank when you move. That’s not a big deal if you’re moving only a short distance.

But the costs add up if you're traveling across the country. Different moving truck sizes get different gas mileage rates—which also vary from company to company.

We found that Penske Truck Rental can save you up to $60 in fuel costs compared to competitors.

Penske Truck Rental fuel costs

Distance

Penske Truck Rental

Our top truck rental companies

100 miles

$20

$20

1,050 miles

$180

$200

2,050 miles

$350

$410

Data current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing rental costs plus fuel for four home sizes across seven distances.

Learn more in our Penske Truck Rental Review.

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Budget Truck Rental—Best prices on local moves

Best prices on local moves

Our Rating

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (38)

4.2

Get a Quote

Call: 800-462-8343

Budget Truck Rental has the lowest overall prices and is especially affordable for local moves. The moving company also has several discounts, including an automatic discount of about 9% for one-way reservations booked online. Although it has high fuel costs and insurance prices, it’s still one of the best budget truck rental companies, and one of the better alternatives to U-Haul.

Budget Truck Rental costs

Budget Truck Rental

Our top truck rental companies

$1,054

$1,550

Data current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing rental costs plus fuel for four home sizes across seven distances.

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (39)

Pros

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (40) Lowest local prices

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (41) Lowest overall prices

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (42) Instant online discounts

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (43) Includes mileage in quotes

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (44)

Cons

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (45) High fuel costs

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (46) High insurance costs

What sets Budget Truck Rental apart?

Budget Truck Rental has the lowest overall prices

The average cost to move with Budget Truck Rental is $1,520—or $30 less than the average of the other companies on our list.

Budget vs. U-Haul

Even better? Budget Truck Rental is $60 more affordable on average than its highest-priced competitor, U-Haul.

Budget Truck Rental is your cheapest in-town truck rental option

Budget Truck Rental scores off the affordability charts for local moves. The average cost for a local move with a Budget rental truck is $80—or $70 less than the average.

Budget Truck Rental costs for local moves

Budget Truck Rental

Penske Truck Rental

U-Haul

$80

$110

$260

Data current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing rental costs plus fuel for four home sizes for a local move of 50 miles in which the moving truck is returned to the same location.

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (47)

Save 10% on a budget truck rental reservation

You receive an automatic discount of about 10% if you reserve a truck online with Budget Truck Rental.

Learn more in our Budget Truck Rental Review.

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U-Haul—Best insurance prices

Best insurance prices

Our Rating

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (49)

4.2

Get a Quote

Call: 800-468-4285

U-Haul is probably the most well-known moving truck rental company. It has low prices for moves of 100 and 1,000 miles and the cheapest insurance.

On the other hand, super cheap U-Haul rentals are tough to come by. U-Haul’s overall costs are typically high, and its quotes aren’t very accurate: an average move with U-Haul costs about $400 more than what the company quotes you.

U-Haul costs

U-Haul average cost

Industry average cost

$992

$1,550

Data current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing rental costs plus fuel for four home sizes across seven distances.

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (50)

Pros

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (51) Lowest insurance prices

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (52) Low prices for moves of 100 miles

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (53) Low prices for moves of 1,000 miles

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (54)

Cons

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (55) Inaccurate quotes

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (56) Highest overall prices

What sets U-Haul apart?

U-Haul has low prices for moves of 100 and 1,050 miles

U-Haul often gives the lowest quotes but has the highest final prices. However, there are two instances in which it’s possible to find cheap U-Hauls to rent:

  1. Moves of 100 miles. U-Haul’s price of $210 is $30 cheaper than the average.
  2. Moves of 1,050 miles. U-Haul’s price of $2,310 is $260 cheaper than the average.

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (57)

Choices, choices!

U-Haul has six different trucks to choose from, including a cargo van and a pickup truck for smaller moves. You can also rent equipment, like hand trucks and furniture pads. Learn more in our U-Haul Review.

U-Haul has the lowest insurance prices

Truck rental companies allow you to purchase insurance to cover costs due to accidents, injuries, and even roadside assistance annoyances like flat tires. While each company has slightly different offerings, U-Haul’s average insurance rates are about $50 less than the competition.

U-Haul insurance costs

U-Haul average cost

Industry average cost

$70

$130

Data current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing rental costs plus fuel for four home sizes across seven distances.

U-Haul has very inaccurate quotes

U-Haul has attractive quotes, but your quote does not equal your final price. U-Haul quotes include the cost of a moving truck rental and an environmental fee, but they don’t include other expenses:

  • Taxes
  • Fuel costs
  • Mileage fees on local moves

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (58)

U-Box: A U-Haul moving container

U-Haul has a moving container called a U-Box. Like with its moving trucks, final U-Box costs are much higher than initial quotes. But there are times when the U-Box has the lowest rates compared to other moving container companies.

The result is that your final U-Haul price is about 60% more expensive than your initial quote. For local moves, your final price is about 240% higher, while one-way moves set you back an extra 30%.

That means an average move with U-Haul will cost $400 more than your quote.

U-Haul quotes vs. final prices

Move type

Initial quotes

Final prices

Differences

Local moves

$30

$110

$80 ↑

One-way moves

$1,370

$1,830

$460 ↑

Averages

$1,180

$1,580

$400 ↑

Learn more in our U-Haul Review.

Data current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing initial quotes and final prices (including fuel costs) for four home sizes across seven distances.

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Home Depot—Flexible Moving Services

With Home Depot, you can rent a truck for local transport and one-way moves. They offer 8 ft. flatbed trucks, 10 ft. flatbed trucks, cargo vans, and 12 ft. HD moving trucks. Each option is available to rent for 75 minutes, per day, or per week. Home Depot offers unlimited mileage on all moving vehicles.

Home Depot offers flexible moving services for local and cross-country moves. They partner with BellHop to help manage the move and provide moving labor. The quotes are based on an hourly rate and number of movers.

Home Depot also offers moving help for moving from storage units and even extra help moving large items around the house.

What sets Home Depot apart?

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (59)

Pros

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (60) Trusted movers

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (61) Customizable move

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (62) Can purchase moving supplies

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (63)

Cons

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (64) Limited truck rental options

Enterprise—Another option for local moves

Enterprise Truck Rental focuses on local moves. It has 14 different moving truck sizes (including a pickup truck and a cargo van), making it the largest assortment of trucks sizes offered by any moving company.

If you’re looking for a local move, Enterprise Truck Rental is a good option, but not necessarily cheaper than U-Haul with an average rate of $129 per day. Learn more in our Enterprise Truck Rental Review.

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (65)

Pros

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (66) Large assortment of trucks

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (67) Low mileage rates

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (68) Great customer reviews

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (69) Availability in Canada and the U.S.

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (70)

Cons

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (71) Local moves only

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (72) Higher up-front costs

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (73) Fewer locations

What sets Enterprise apart?

Enterprise has great customer reviews with many touting the company’s customer service. So, if you’re looking for a relatively affordable truck rental option that you can rely on, Enterprise is a contender. Amongst its top features are moving coverage, roadside assistance, and used vehicle sales.

Recapping our five best cheap truck rental companies

  • Penske Truck Rental—Best prices on one-way moves
  • Budget Truck Rental—Best prices on local moves
  • U-Haul—Best insurance prices
  • Home Depot—Flexible moving services
  • Enterprise—Another option for local moves

What is the cheapest moving truck rental company?

Budget Truck Rental has the best overall prices and really shines for local moves while Penske Truck Rental has the cheapest rates for one-way moves. U-Haul is your go-to company for low insurance costs.

Other cost-saving resources

Methodology

Not sold on a truck rental company? Learn about other ways to save money on your move:

  • How to Save Money on Your Container Move
  • How to Find the Cheapest Way to Move
  • What’s the Cheapest Way to Ship My Car
  • How to Find Cheap Moving Supplies

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.

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org (74)

Written by

Kurt Manwaring

Kurt Manwaring brings nearly a decade’s worth of research experience as a business consultant to the Move.org team. He specializes in taking complicated issues (like moving) and presenting them in a way that everyone can understand. His writing has been featured in hundreds of publications, including USA Today, Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Heavy, Slate, and Yahoo! Lifestyle. He brings a BS in sociology and an MPA (masters of public administration) to the Move team. He would love to hear about your moving experiences and questions at kurt@move.org.

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FAQs

Top 5 Cheapest Rental Truck Companies of 2024 | Move.org? ›

Most Affordable: U-Haul. Best Discounts: Penske Truck Rental. Best for Small Moves: The Home Depot Truck Rental. Best for Local Moves: Budget Truck Rental.

What is the cheapest company to rent a truck from? ›

Most Affordable: U-Haul. Best Discounts: Penske Truck Rental. Best for Small Moves: The Home Depot Truck Rental. Best for Local Moves: Budget Truck Rental.

Which is better, Penske U-Haul or Budget? ›

While Uhaul is more affordable than Budget for long distance moves, Penske offers the lowest pricing. When comparing Uhaul vs Penske vs Budget, we would choose Penske, Uhaul, and then Budget for a long distance move. Penske offers free unlimited mileage on one-way moves and some discounts.

What time of year are moving trucks cheapest? ›

If you are moving in late fall, winter or early spring, you'll have access to the cheapest moving truck rates.

Why is Penske so expensive now? ›

In a statement, Penske said that the price difference came down to supply and demand. Penske Truck Rental currently has more customers leaving California than moving back into California, which has been consistent throughout the pandemic period.

Who is U-Haul's biggest competitor? ›

U-Haul vs. competitors
CompanyProsBBB score
Enterprise18 truck sizes to choose from. 300 miles included for free with all movesA
BudgetEasy to use app Unlimited miles for one-way rentalsA+
Home DepotTrucks are often available the same day Partnership with Penske makes it easy to rent a larger truckA+
3 more rows
Jan 6, 2024

What is the largest budget rental truck? ›

Enjoy the same array of rental options with Budget Truck that you're accustomed to with Budget Car Rental, including: Several vehicle size options: 12-, 16-, and 26-foot trucks.

Why is Penske so much more than U-Haul? ›

U-Haul: Cost. You'll typically find that Penske is slightly more expensive than U-Haul. This is because the company maintains a higher quality of trucks. U-Haul adjusts its cost based on the distance of your move and the time required for your move.

Why are haul trucks so expensive? ›

With the constant net loss in trucks in California, U-Haul must take efforts to prevent the state from running out of vehicles. That's one of the reasons customers may see higher prices for a one-way move out of the Bay Area, where one into the area may be much cheaper.

Does Penske take debit cards? ›

We accept major credit cards, debit cards, bank or cashier checks, and cash. Please note that Penske does not accept cash payments in excess of $5,000, though transactions can be split between two forms of payment.

What is the best day of the week to buy a truck? ›

Monday is usually the best day of the week to buy a car. This is when showrooms will be the least busy, which means you'll likely get more time and attention from the sales staff and have more time to go on test-drives. Edmunds suggests Tuesday is a better option than Monday if the car dealership is closed on Sunday.

What day of the week are movers cheapest? ›

The short answer to this question is that the cheapest day to move is on a weekday — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Simply put, most moving companies offer better rates during the week because they aren't as busy then.

Are trucks dropping in value? ›

Truck Price Forecast For 2024

With the arrival of 2024 models and the presence of numerous 2023 models still on dealer lots, it's likely that truck prices will continue to decline in the coming months. It's finally a buyers market, at least for educated truck shoppers.

How to move between states cheaply? ›

The cheapest way to move between states is to rent a truck and do the move yourself. Renting a truck can be more cost-effective than hiring cheap long-distance movers, as you will only pay for the time and distance of your trip.

How many miles per gallon does a 16 ft Penske truck get? ›

How many miles per gallon does a Penske truck get? A 16 ft. Penske truck will enable you to travel about 12 mpg. With a 33-gallon fuel tank, you can travel up to 396 miles when you fill up this truck.

Why is U-Haul so expensive one way? ›

One-Way Rental Cost Breakdown

The cost for this type of rental is determined by the size of the truck, the moving date, and the origin and destination. One-way rental prices encompass a designated mileage allowance and a predetermined number of days.

Who is Penske competitors? ›

Penske Truck Leasing main competitors are Ryder System, Group One, and Agway Energy Services. Competitor Summary.

Do penske moving trucks have Bluetooth? ›

How Does It Work? The Penske Driver app quickly and easily connects using Bluetooth inside Penske's rental trucks.

Is Penske a big company? ›

A leading global transportation services provider, Penske operates more than 439,300 vehicles and serves customers from nearly 1,480 locations.

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