Penske Truck Rental Review
If you're planning to move soon, you're likely going to need to rent a moving truck to transport your belongings from your old place to your new one. But which moving truck rental company should you go with? Penske is one of the most popular options, so you should look into the pros and cons, costs, and truck rental process when it comes to this company. Here's what to know about renting a Penske moving truck or van for your upcoming move.
Penske Truck Overview
No matter where you live, you likely have a Penske truck rental location near you. That's because it's among the biggest moving truck companies in North America, with more than 2,500 locations throughout the US and Canada. As a result, you're likely within a short distance of moving help via Penske truck rental for your local or long-distance move.
Granted, Penske does have fewer locations and a smaller fleet than its main competitor, U-Haul. But it makes up for that with a more personal feel and excellent customer service. Plus, you'll find a range of moving truck and van rental options at Penske, with overall great rates and discounts available in many instances. As you plan your next move, look at the specifics on what kind of moving help Penske can offer.
Penske Reviews
Whether you're looking for moving labor help or just a moving truck rental, your first step should always be to look at company reviews online. This will help you narrow down the options so you get the highest quality moving help possible. Fortunately, when you look at the reviews for Penske moving truck and van rentals, you'll see that they're mostly positive.
In fact, on most review sites, Penske's ratings are higher than competitors. Some of the most commonly noted details include that the moving trucks are clean and in good condition, the customer service is excellent, and the truck rental process is easy. Some reviews complain that the prices are higher than other moving truck companies. But many reviews mention available discounts, so look for those if you want to save money on Penske truck rental.
Penske Pros and Cons
Like every moving van and truck rental company, Penske has some pros and cons. You should consider each one before deciding if this is the right moving truck company for you.
Pros:
- Penske tends to have the best rates on long-distance moves.
- There are many discounts available.
- Costs to rent large moving trucks are low.
- You get unlimited mileage on one-way moving truck rentals.
Cons:
- Not as many locations as competitors like U-Haul.
- Smaller fleet of trucks compared to competitors.
- Rates on local moves are often higher than other truck rental companies.
Penske Moving Truck Sizes
No matter how much furniture you have to move, you'll likely be able to find a Penske moving truck that works for you. After all, this company offers five sizes of trucks. Take a look at the measurements of Penske's fleet of moving vans and trucks to find one that meets your needs.
| Size | Rooms | Volume | Load Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Roof Cargo Van | Up to 1 room | 404 cu. ft. | 3,500 lbs. |
| 12-Foot Moving Truck | 1-2 rooms | 450 cu. ft. | 3,100 lbs. |
| 16-Foot Moving Truck | 2-3 rooms | 800 cu. ft. | 4,300 lbs. |
| 22-Foot Moving Truck | 3-5 rooms | 1,200 cu. ft. | 10,000 lbs. |
| 26-Foot Moving Truck | 5-7 rooms | 1,700 cu. ft. | 10,000 lbs. |
If you're not sure what size truck you need, read our post on how to choose a rental truck size!
How Does Penske Truck Rental Work?
If you need to rent a Penske moving truck for your upcoming move, you'll be glad to know the process is pretty simple. You can start by visiting the Penske website and going to the personal rental page. you'll see a form where you can fill out the pick-up and drop-off cities, the date you need the truck, and the size of moving truck you need.
Filling out this form will allow you to get a quote for the moving help you need. For local moves, you can see the locations that are closest to you for pick-up, as well as the price you'll pay per day and per mile. If you put in the information for a long-distance move, your results will include the pick-up and drop-off location you can choose from, as well as a total cost for the move.
Once you decide on the details, you can reserve your truck at the pick-up location and date of your choice. You can also add moving supplies—such as furniture pads or a hand truck—at this point. Finally, you can add insurance for your move if you'd like, as you can choose different types of coverage before you make your payment.
How Does Penske Work With Local Moves?
Whether you need local or long-distance moving help, the process is streamlined with Penske. For local moves, you can use the website to choose the size of the moving truck to rent and the most convenient pick-up location. you'll get a quote and can easily make a reservation on the site.
On moving day, you can pick up your reserved moving van or truck from the pick-up location. Once you drive it to your house, you or the local movers you've hired will load your belongings into the truck. You can then drive the Penske moving truck to your new home, where you or your moving helpers will unload the truck. Then you'll return the moving truck to the drop-off location on the agreed-upon date.
Not sure how to start the process of hiring movers to load and unload the Penske moving truck you rent? Check out our blog post on how to hire movers!
How Does Penske Work With Long-Distance Moves?
The good news is that long-distance moves with Penske are about as simple as local moves. The main difference in the process is that you'll be returning the moving truck to a different location than where you picked it up.
As you go through the reservation process, you'll notice that you won't see a per-mile price for the moving truck like you would with a local move. This is because the mileage for long-distance moves is unlimited, so you'll just see a total price for the move.
How Much Does Penske Truck Rental Cost?
The price of renting a Penske moving truck or van depends on a few factors, including the size of vehicle you need and how far you're moving. As a result, the price you'll pay can vary quite a bit, with a range of about $100 to $1,100 per day for most trucks.
For example, renting a 12-foot Penske truck for a local move typically costs $29.99 per day, plus $0.59 per mile. If you need a larger truck for a long-distance move one state away, you can rent a 22-foot truck for about $772 for a 3-day move. This doesn't include taxes, a $12 environmental fee, optional insurance, and any extra days you might need with the moving truck.
Luckily, it's easy to get a quote for your move online. You can also look for discounts. In particular, if you're a college student, member of the military, or part of AAA, you can get discounts to save money on your move.
You can learn more about estimating your moving expenses by reading our post on the costs to rent a moving truck.
Downsides of Using Penske Truck Rental
As you plan what kind of moving help you need, you should compare Penske to other companies that rent out moving trucks. When you do this, you might notice some downsides to getting a Penske moving van or truck.
For instance, even though discounts are available to reduce your moving costs, they're not always obvious. So if you aren't aware of them, you might miss out on a simple way to save money. Fortunately, you now know that Penske does offer discounts to certain customers, making it easy to reduce your total if any discounts apply to you.
Another possible downside to Penske is that it doesn't always have the cheapest local moves. Long-distance may be quite reasonable due to the unlimited mileage that most other moving truck companies do not offer. But if you're only moving locally, you might find slightly lower prices elsewhere—so be sure to shop around as you plan your options for moving help.
Should You Choose Penske Over Other Truck Rental Companies?
The bottom line is that Penske is among the most popular moving truck rental companies for a reason. Most people who have gotten moving help from this company have left positive reviews about their experience renting a Penske moving van or truck. This indicates that you're likely to have a similarly good experience if you choose Penske for your rental.
But what makes Penske stand out the most is its unlimited mileage on long-distance moves. This is a perk that you won't find with other moving companies, including U-Haul. So if you're moving across the country and don't want to worry about how much every mile is going to cost you, Penske is the right company to rent a moving truck or van from.
As a plus, this company has many safety features on its trucks and offers 24/7 roadside assistance, giving you peace of mind on both local and long-distance moves! If you're not sure if this is the right company to rent from, be sure to get a quote on the website so you can compare prices and policies with other moving truck rental companies. And don't forget to arrange for moving labor help before moving day!