The 5 Best Moving Truck Rental Companies in 2020

Renting a truck for a DIY move can be tricky. Every truck rental company is different, and there's a lot riding on picking the right company for you. While the cost might seem like the most important factor, there are also many other factors you need to consider before deciding which company to go with – cheapest doesn't always equal best.

Though every company will claim to be the best, the truth is that each one of them has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In order to help you choose the right one, here is a list of some of the best moving truck rental companies in 2020 along with a detailed comparison.

U-Haul

The first name in the list of top truck rental companies is U-Haul. It's not just one of the oldest in the business but it's also the first one to have started one-way truck rentals. U-Haul aces its game in almost all aspects whether it's cost, variety, or quality. With over 20,000 locations across the United States and Canada, the company boasts one of the largest rental fleets.

Below is a table displaying the variety of truck sizes offered by U-Haul.

Truck Size	Dimensions	Capacity	Mileage
10-foot	9'11' x 6'4'' x 6'2'	Studio to 1-bedroom apartment	12
15-foot	15' x 7'8' x 7'2'	1 to 2-bedroom house	10
17-foot	16'9' x 7'8' x7'2'	Up to 2-bedroom apartment	10
20-foot	19'6' x 7'8' x7'2'	2 to 3-bedroom house	10
24-foot	24'1' x 7'7' x 8'1'	3 to 4-bedroom house	8
26-foot	26'5' x 7'8' x 8'3'	4-bedroom house and above	10

Pros and cons of U-Haul:

Pros:

• Spread across 20,000 locations
• Wide variety of truck sizes
• Trucks equipped with “EZ-Load' ramps that make the loading easy

Cons:

• It doesn't offer unlimited miles for rented trucks
• The actual cost may vary as per the availability

Budget

Budget is one of the most popular truck rental companies that assures affordable rates by offering a wide range of discounts. Interestingly, renting a 26-foot Budget truck for a one-way move can save you more than $150 when it comes to the base rate as compared to U-Haul and Penske.

Here is a table showing the variety of moving truck sizes and other details provided by Budget.

Truck Size	Dimensions	Capacity	Mileage
12-foot	11'8' x 6'3' x 6'1'	Studio to 2-bedroom apartment	8 to 14
16-foot	16' x 6'3' x 6'7'	Up to 3-4 rooms/ 1-bedroom house	6 to 10
26-foot	26' x 8'1' x 8'1'	Up to 5-8 rooms / 2 to 3-bedroom house	8 to 10

Pros and cons of Budget:

Pros

• Numerous locations across the continental US
• Trucks available at affordable rates
• Special discounted rates for students, AARP members, EMT members, police, fire, and military personnel

Cons

• It doesn't offer unlimited mileage
• The truck size variety is very limited

Penske

Although Penske is more expensive than U-Haul and Budget for local moves, it's one of the best truck rental companies when it comes to long-distance moves. It offers a good variety of truck sizes and discounts at various locations across the US and Canada. The best part about Penske is its fleet of new, clean, and easy-to-operate trucks that ensure a smooth move with a much lower chance of breaking down.

Shown in the table below is the range of truck sizes offered by Penske along with other details.

Truck Size	Dimensions	Capacity	Mileage
12-foot	12' x 6'6' x 6'1'	1-2 rooms	12
16-foot	16' x 7'7' x6'6'	Up to 3-4 rooms	6 to 10
22-foot	22'11' x 8'1' x 8'1'	3-5 rooms	10
26-foot	25'11' x 8'1' x 8'1'	5-7 rooms	10

Pros and cons of Penske:

Pros

• Reliable and large fleet of trucks
• Unlimited miles for one-way moves
• Offers lucrative insurance options

Cons

• Limited locations
• Expensive for local moves

Enterprise

Although Enterprise is known for its car rental services, you can also rent trucks from them for a DIY move. However, the company requires the customer to return the moving truck at the same location from which it was rented, so it's only suitable for local moves.

The table displayed here shows the range of Enterprise moving vehicles with their capacity and weight limit.

Vehicle Size	Dimensions	Capacity	Weight Limit
15-foot parcel van	15' x 8' x 7'	1-3 rooms	5,000 lbs.
16-foot cabover truck	16' x 8' x 7'6'	3-4 rooms	7,500 lbs.
24-foot box truck	24' x 8'6' x 8'6'	5 rooms and above	10,000 lbs.
26-foot box truck	26' x 8'6' x 8'6'	5 rooms and above	10,000 lbs.

Pros and cons of Enterprise

Pros

• It has the largest variety of moving vehicles, including cargo vans, pickup trucks, and box trucks
• No mileage charge for moves less than 300 miles
• Free pick up options
• 24/7 road assistance

Cons

• It doesn't offer one-way moves
• It is limited to 270 locations in the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada

Ryder

Ryder is not as big a name as U-Haul or Budget but it's quite a major player in the market that is known for offering truck rentals at affordable rates. It also offers a variety of trucks of different sizes.

With a fleet of around 37,000 vehicles, the company currently operates at more than 500 locations across the US. Reservations, as well as cancellation, can be done online through Ryder's website.

However, like Enterprise, Ryder doesn't offer one-way moves, so it's only suitable for local moves.

The truck rentals provided by Ryder includes the following options as mentioned in the table here:

Vehicle Type	Interior Space	Capacity	Weight Limit
16-foot box truck	960 cu. ft.	1-3 rooms	6,000 lbs.
16 to 24-foot stake truck	920 cu. ft.	1-4 rooms (based on location)	7,600 lbs. to 14,500

Pros and cons of Ryder

Pros

• Easy bookings available 24/7
• Wide variety of trucks
• Affordable rates

Cons

• Doesn't offer one-way moves
• Doesn't offer insurance coverage

U-Haul vs. Budget vs. Penske vs. Enterprise vs. Ryder Truck Rentals: Which is the best?

The process of renting a moving truck is pretty much the same with every truck rental company. However, choosing the right company for your needs can make your move much more efficient and smooth. So, it's best to explore your options to make an informed decision.

Here is what we can conclude about the top five moving truck rental companies in the business.

U-Haul : U-Haul is the best company to rent a truck if you want the assurance of quality at affordable rates and a variety of truck size options to choose from. However, there are often hidden fees, so you need to be prepared for a final price that was different than the one advertised.

Budget : As the name suggests, moves on a budget can be best handled by Budget Truck Rental with its lucrative deals and discounts. However, you'll have limited options when it comes to the truck size.

Penske : It's the best truck rental company for long-distance moves where you can't afford any risks. Penske is the only one that offers unlimited miles on round trips and has a good range of well-maintained trucks. However, make sure that you are willing to share your contact details in lieu of the rental quotes.

Enterprise : In many aspects, this is the best truck rental company for local moves when you have limited boxes and belongings to move. Its wide fleet of vehicles will definitely suit your needs. The only negative factor here is the company's age restriction policy that doesn't allow people below the age of 21 to drive the truck.

Ryder : The best part about this company is that it gives you the option of easy booking and cancellation. They also have a wide variety of trucks, including the ones equipped with refrigerated facilities for special goods. On the negative side, they don't offer any insurance coverage.

To sum it up, here is a table showing a comparison of the top five moving truck rental companies in 2020:

Truck Rental Company	One-way Moves	Unlimited Miles	More than 3 truck sizes	Pre-paid charges for extra miles	Post-paid charges for extra miles
U-Haul	Yes	No	Yes	$0.40/mile or $40/day	$0.40/mile or $40/day
Budget	Yes	No	No	$0.70/mile or $70/day	$0.85/mile or $85/day
Penske	Yes	Yes (only for one-way moves)	Yes	Per mile for round trips	Per mile for round trips
Enterprise	No	Up to 300 miles	Yes	Base price fixed for certain miles then charged per mile	Base price fixed for certain miles then charged per mile
Ryder	No	No	Yes	per mile	per mile

How to choose the best moving truck rental company

It's never easy to choose the moving truck rental company that's best for you, especially when you have so many options to choose from. Moreover, it's not just about the price but also about your individual needs and expectations. What works for one person might not work for another. So, the best way of picking a truck rental company is to weigh all the services offered by the companies and look for the one that aligns most with your requirements.

Below are some of the most important aspects you need to consider before choosing the best moving truck rental company for your needs.

• Authenticity: First and foremost, see to it that the company you are considering for the move holds an authentic and valid license. Your priority should be avoiding all kinds of scams and fraud.
• Availability: The second factor is to assess how accessible are the services provided by a truck rental company. If a company has locations across the US, chances are that you will be able to use its services in your location. No matter how credible the services are, it needs to have a facility in an area that is accessible to you.
• Variety of truck sizes: It's extremely important to rent a truck that fits all your belongings. So, if you want to choose the perfect truck rental company, make sure that they offer the size that's the right fit. It doesn't matter whether a company offers a variety or not; the only thing that matters is that it should fit your requirements.
• Rates: Before deciding on which company to use, it's extremely important to request quotes from each and compare prices. Often, you may be able to take advantage of offers and discounts on truck rental deals. However, remember that instead of looking for the cheapest option, look for the one that provides the most value for your money.
• Mileage: Before renting a truck, you need to review the mileage policies of all companies under consideration. Most companies will charge a fee per mile for your move while some like Penske may offer unlimited miles. So, make sure to figure out which company's mileage policy favors your budget most.