U-Haul Truck Rental Review

U-Haul tracks more than two million one-way moving truck rentals every year in the US. They were the pioneers in one-way truck rentals, starting in 1945, after World War II. Since then, they've been the budget option for a rental truck that you could count on.

With more than 21,000 locations and 175,000 trucks and trailers on the road today, U-Haul is the most popular moving truck rental company in the United States.

U-Haul Overview

U-Haul is one of the most well-known brand names for moving truck rentals in the moving industry. It's often an excellent option for your move because there are many locations with a range of truck rental sizes. You'll also generally have consistent access to a moving truck from U-Haul no matter where you are in the US. Their distinctive orange-and-white color scheme makes their trucks stand out virtually everywhere on highways and city streets.

U-Haul Reviews

The reviews for U-Haul and their moving trucks vary widely. Quite a few of the reviewers rented moving truck solutions from U-Haul but had negative experiences from the staff on-site.

• "The three stars are because the truck did the job. The engine and transmission were solid, the rear door opened and locked as it should, and the ramp worked. The pickup location was okay, with a manned yard and a friendly/helpful counter person. Past that, U-Haul gets 0/5." - Gordon Walker, TrustPilot.
• "This entire process was a nightmare! NEVER USE UBOX THROUGH UHAUL!!! The customer service was horrible - extremely long wait times, I was hung up on more than once, as well as told different information almost every time I spoke with someone." - Allison Gubitz, TrustPilot.
• "I have had to rent a few hauls over the past two months for work, and each representative I've spoken with has been wonderful. They've helped me move to drop off locations and pick up times, easily changed from 1 to 2 trucks and every time it's been quick and seamless." - Courtney, Consumer Affairs. 

U-Haul Pros and Cons

While the U-Haul company is one of the most well-known names in the industry, it's also fraught with its share of problems, particularly over the last few years. While most customers don't have issues with the quality of the trucks themselves, some customers report issues with customer service, confusion about costs, and other issues. Here's a quick overview of the U-Haul pros and cons.

Pros:

• U-Haul has more locations than Budget and Penske.
• U-Haul offers more truck sizes than Budget and Penske.
• U-Haul pick-up trucks, vans, and cargo trailers offer a quick and easy solution for smaller moves.
• U-Haul trucks are more fuel-efficient than rental trucks from other companies (depending on the truck size you select).
• U-Haul is the only truck rental company that also rents tow-behind cargo and utility trailers.
• If you don't want to drive a moving van or truck, you can rent a U-Haul U-Box instead.

Cons:

• U-Haul's "reservation guarantee" doesn't mean they will actually have the truck or trailer you reserved.
• U-Haul reserves the right to schedule an alternate pickup location and/or equipment as needed, based on the most convenient location (for them), with available equipment.
• Poor customer service is an issue that customer reviews often mention.
• The nature of the one-way truck rental is complicated. Depending on the distance, you may pay more to return the truck to a U-Haul location in your moving destination.

While the pervasive nature of U-Haul locations across the US makes them the logical choice for moving, it also may contribute to an overall lack of consistency in how the employees manage each store. So, you may find a U-Haul location that offers friendly and reliable service, but it's not guaranteed.

U-Haul Moving Truck Sizes

U-Haul trucks range in size from the standard pickup truck to the 26-foot truck. Here's an overview of the truck options:

Not sure what size moving truck you need? Check out our guide to choosing the right truck size for your move.

How Does U-Haul Work?

U-Haul creates an agreement between you and the company. You pay them money to rent their trucks for your local or long-distance move. They also offer a range of supplies and other subcontracted services related to the moving process.

As with any vehicle rental arrangement, you sign a contract agreeing to return the truck in the same condition. They also track the fuel level and mileage. If you return the vehicle with fuel at the same level as when you picked it up, you avoid extra charges for the fuel. However, U-Haul still charges for the rental cost plus the mileage rate.

How Does U-Haul Work With Local Moves?

U-Haul trucks can be the perfect solution for a local move, but there are some drawbacks. Here's a quick rundown of what you should expect with a local move with U-Haul. 

• U-Haul reserves the right to schedule an alternate pickup location and/or equipment as needed, based on the most convenient location (for them), with available equipment. (So, even when you have a reservation, you may not actually get the truck and equipment you need. Or you may need to pick it up from a different location.)
• Be sure to get a truck that really will be big enough to move all your stuff for a local move. While you can make multiple trips, remember that you're also paying by the mile as part of your overall rental cost.
• You can rent more than just trucks for local moves, so you should look at your options for pickup trucks, cargo vans, trailers, and even U-Box containers. 
• Depending on the size of the truck you've reserved and how far you're moving locally, you can sometimes book the truck for just for a few hours to move.
• When you've completed your local move, be sure to fill the gas tank up to the pickup level before you return the truck and equipment. The cost of gas is one of those hidden costs that can add up even for a local move. 
• When you drop off the vehicle, you may return the keys to the U-Haul store or leave it in the U-Haul key dropbox, depending on what time it is and what your agreement says.
• Some rental equipment is only available for local moves. So, if you need furniture blankets, moving dollies, lifting straps, or trailers, you can usually rent what you need. 

Local moves are typically pretty straightforward. But assume nothing. Call and ask questions if you have any concerns about your drop-off time, location, equipment, or anything else involving your U-Haul rental.

How Does U-Haul Work With Long-Distance Moves?

Although the process may start the same way, renting a U-Haul truck gets a little more complicated.

• For a long-distance move, where you may be in a time crunch, call to verify the reservation the day before you've scheduled your pickup to ensure they have a record of your order. Make sure they have the truck and equipment you need.
• U-Haul reserves the right to schedule an alternate pickup location and/or equipment as needed, based on the most convenient location (for them), with available equipment.
• You can rent more than just trucks for long-distance moves. Depending on what you're moving to, you can rent trailers or even U-Box containers.
• Some rental equipment is only available for local moves. So, if you need furniture dollies or straps to unload your furniture, you may need to buy them or rent them at your destination U-Haul store.
• You can get insurance from U-Haul to cover any unforeseen accidents or situations for your long-distance move.
• Locate the U-Haul store and check what times and days they are open since hours of operation may differ by location. (Don't just rely on the times posted on the internet, because many locations have changed their hours without updating them on local listings.)
• Drop off the vehicle and either return the keys to the U-Haul store or leave it in the U-Haul key dropbox, depending on what time it is and what your agreement says.
• When you've completed your long-distance move, be sure to fill the gas tank up to the pickup level before you return the truck. The cost of gas is one of those hidden costs that can add up for a long-distance move.

How Much Does U-Haul Cost?

The cost for U-Haul rentals will vary depending on whether you're making a local move or a long-distance move. So, let's break it down, based on those two pricing models.

Local Move Pricing

A "local move" is one where you pick up your rental truck from a U-Haul store, and you return the truck to the same store. The U-Haul pricing for a local move involves two components: 

• Per-day rate, which can range from $19.99-$39.99. 
• Per-mile rate, which can range from $0.99-$1.99.

The per-day rate is usually based on the size of the truck you select. So, you might expect to pay ~$19.99 for the day's rental of a 10' U-Haul truck in addition to the per-mile rate. You might pay ~$39.99 for a single day's rental of a 26' truck, which is the largest U-Haul truck currently available.

As with any rental scenario, expect the per-mile and per-day rate charges to fluctuate based on supply and demand, as well as location. Your cost can range higher if you're renting during the peak moving season, from April through September. That's when as many as 80% of Americans move during the year. 

So, for example, if you rent a U-Haul truck at the end of July, which is an on-demand time period, you might expect to pay at least $1.99/mile for your U-Haul truck rental. Depending on where you're located and the local availability, the per-day rate could go up as well for peak season. On the flip side, you might luck out in January, with a much lower per-mile rate, when there's not as much demand for moving trucks. You might get a lower per-day rate too. 

Of course, your local U-Haul store might offer U-Haul truck rentals based on the lower-end of those per-mile and per-day price ranges, even when you're renting during the peak moving season. You should check with your store to verify rates before reserving or renting a U-Haul truck.

Long-Distance Move Pricing

A "long-distance move" is one where you pick up your U-Haul rental truck from one U-Haul store, and you return the truck to a different store that's usually located in a different city. The U-Haul pricing for a long-distance move usually includes a single price that estimates: 

• The cost of the U-Haul truck rental, based on the size of the truck.
• The number of miles that it should take to load up and reach your destination.
• The number of days to complete your trip. 

In most cases, those estimates are sufficient to allow you to complete your move to your new home without any overages. However, those estimates don't usually take into account any side-trips, breakdowns, or delays along the way. Since the estimate includes miles and days, your long-distance move will tend to be higher in cost compared with a local move. 

However, that cost can continue to increase if you miss your window for dropping off the U-Haul rental truck at your destination, as you will probably incur additional costs for the number of days and miles that exceed the estimate. If an emergency delays your arrival, or you've been unavoidably delayed for other reasons, contact the destination U-Haul store to keep them informed of the delay. 

What About Moving Equipment?

The cost of renting a U-Haul truck will differ depending on whether it's a local or long-distance move, but you still have several options to choose from. You can add equipment and/or protection insurance to your order at an additional cost. For example, you can rent furniture dollies, blankets, and even add insurance options for damage, liability, etc. 

While you're never required to rent equipment, it can make your life easier, since you probably don't own moving blankets or furniture dollies. Of course, the costs for equipment rentals are not included in the standard rental truck costs. Similarly, you're not required to add insurance options to your order, but it's a great way to protect yourself from while you're moving. 

Downsides of Using U-Haul

While you're saving money by taking the do-it-yourself route, is the hassle worth it, particularly for a long-distance move? Carefully consider your overall costs for renting a moving truck from U-Haul and hiring a moving company to do the heavy lifting for you.

While the moving company may cost more, you may not have the same hassle with packing and loading the truck, driving across the country in a large moving truck, and worrying about what the cost will end up being when you're all done. Even if you've estimated the cost for mileage, the cost of gas, fees, and other incidentals will add up.

There are other downsides as well, though. For example, if you need local moving help, you may not have access to friends and family to help you with your move. Of course, you can hire hourly movers to move heavy furniture and load your truck for you.

Another issue is that U-Haul doesn't guarantee that they will have a truck available from your local store. Even when you reserve a truck from them, you may be required to drive up to 50 miles to a different location to pick up a truck or other equipment if they have a problem with availability at their location. 

Should You Choose U-Haul Over Other Moving Truck Rental Companies?

U-Haul trucks are affordable as far as moving trucks are concerned, but you need to watch for hidden fees and make sure you're covered. If you're looking for an affordable option in a moving truck, U-Haul trucks may be the right choice for your needs, but you should keep these tips in mind.

• Return the U-Haul equipment and truck on time. (They could charge you a late fee). 
• If you think you will be late, call ahead and rent the vehicle and equipment longer. (Don't just assume it will be okay to keep the vehicle and equipment for longer.)
• Make sure you refill the gas tank to avoid the high fuel cost from U-Haul. 
• Find out the details about the roadside assistance before you leave the U-Haul store to take the truck on a cross-country moving trip.
• Consider other options for buying moving supplies, if possible. (There are many online options if you have enough time to order and receive the supplies.)
• Return all the equipment in the same working order and ensure it's all received and signed back in.

With any rental situation, you can quickly rack up the charges if you're not careful. So, be mindful of what you're doing and don't assume anything. Particularly in situations where you're moving long distances, make sure you have everything in writing. It's easy to see the cost of a rental truck grow exponentially based on a few misunderstandings or the simple lack of documented agreements.

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