Penske Truck Rental Review: Costs & Services
Here’s the bottom line: Penske Truck Rental provides moving trucks at an affordable price for those who wish to handle every aspect of their move themselves. With excellent customer service and roadside assistance, Penske is a superb choice for a do-it-yourself move and one of our picks for best moving truck rental companies.
rating
4 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Read on to learn more about Penske Truck Rentals and whether or not they might be the best choice for your upcoming move.
Featured Penske reviews
Katie chose Penske for her move from Chicago to North Carolina mainly because she couldn’t afford full-service movers. While Penske didn’t have the cheapest quote during her search, they ended up having the best deal with unlimited mileage and the exact truck size she needed.
Katie loved Penske’s low pricing, excellent customer service, and range of truck sizes. Although a few issues came up during the move, most were not Penske’s fault, and she would definitely use Penske to move again.
After Chandra’s rental reservation with Budget fell through on her move day, she was able to get a last-minute truck rental from Penske. While Penske came through in the nick of time and offered good communication throughout the move, she had two blowouts on the tow dolly, which made her experience much more stressful.
Chandra loved how kind the customer service agents at Penske were during her move, but because of the equipment issues, she would likely not use Penske again.
Pros & cons of moving with Penske Truck Rental
- Provides one-way truck rentals, so you don’t have to worry about returning your vehicle when you move
- Excellent prices for local moves and long-distance moves
- Wide variety of truck sizes and add-ons (like towing equipment, moving blankets, and a tow dolly) to choose from
- Unlimited mileage for long-distance moves
- Company-covered roadside assistance
- Reliable confirmed reservations
- There are frequent discounts available
- Available in 49 states (not in AK)
- 15% military discount
- Fewer pickup and drop-off locations compared to competitors
- Not as cheap as some competitors
- Customers report that some of the moving supplies booked in advance aren’t available when they pick up the vehicle on moving day
Key takeaways
- Penske Truck Rental (USDOT#327574) provides moving trucks for people who want to make local or long-distance moves on their own and don’t mind driving.
- Penske isn’t the cheapest truck rental company, but they have a wide variety of truck sizes and provide unlimited mileage on cross-country moves.
- Even though they are just a truck rental company, they carry a wide range of moving supplies, such as furniture pads and trailers, which you can rent or buy for your move.
- While you’ll be doing most of your move on your own, their customer service is highly rated and many consumers enjoy working with Penske.
Jump to the Penske Truck Rental info you’re looking for:
- Penske Truck Rental pricing: How much it costs to move
- Penske Truck Rentals offers a wide variety of services
- How Penske Truck Rentals stacks up against the competition
- How moving with Penske Truck Rental works
- Customers love Penske Truck Rental’s unlimited mileage and stellar customer service
- Should you use Penske Truck Rental for your move
- FAQ
Penske Truck Rental pricing: How much it costs to move
One of the best parts of moving with Penske is their free online quotes and easy online booking options. Unlike other moving companies, you never need to speak to a customer service representative if you don’t want to.
Additionally, because Penske offers unlimited mileage on all long-distance moves (provided you pick up your truck and drop it off on time), the price you see at booking is the price you’ll pay. There are no surprise add-ons and no hidden fees.
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
93% of users select this mover
Your total cost with Penske will vary based on the size of the truck you book, seasonal demand and equipment availability, and your pickup and drop-off locations. Those wanting to use the Penske insurance plan rather than their own personal accident insurance will pay a few hundred dollars extra. It is important to note that all rentals with Penske include a small environmental fee to offset truck emissions — so you know they are doing their part for the environment!
The good news is Penske Truck Rental offers a lot of discounts and promotions, like a 15% discount for active and veteran military service members. Other discountsvary throughout the year but you can check their website to see what’s available at the time of your move.
During the booking process, you will have the option to save even more money by agreeing to return your truck to a specific store when you reach your new home. Penske offers these deals to get their vehicles where they need them while passing the savings on to you.
Both Katie and Chandra, two of our Better Moves participants, report that Penske wasn’t the cheapest moving truck rental quote they received. However, when they took the unlimited mileage and excellent customer service into account, they both reported that Penske was worth the extra money.
Still wondering if Penske truck leasing is the right choice for your budget? Compare their rates with other moving companies using our moving cost calculator.
Personal truck rental pricing estimates
| Model | Pick Up / Drop Off | Rates / Per Mile Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Penske 26-Foot | Houston, TX (local) | $39.99-$299.99 per day / .69- .99 per mile |
| Penske 26-Foot | Houston, TX to Dallas, TX (one-way) | $207.00-$478 includes unlimited mileage |
| Penske 26-Foot | New Orleans, LA (local) | $59.99-$299.99 per day /.69- .99 per mile |
| Penske 16-Foot | New Orleans, LA to Birmingham, AL (one-way) | $1,199-$1,216 includes unlimited mileage |
| Penske 26-Foot | New Orleans, LA to Birmingham, AL (one-way) | $1,299-$2,004 includes unlimited mileage |
| Cargo Van | Miami, FL (local) | $79.99-$149.99 per day / .99 per mile |
| Penske 26-Foot | Miami, FL (local) | $79.99-$99.99 per day / .99 per mile |
Note this pricing is an estimate, can vary based on the season or rental agency location, and is likely to change.
Penske Truck Rental offers a wide variety of services
Founded in 1969, Penske has been in the box truck rental industry for decades. They operate within the United States for local and long-distance moves and offer trucks for local moves in Canada.
- Personal truck rentals: Individuals moving across the country or within their city can rent and drive a truck with Penske. You can rent the truck one way or return it to the same location.
- Rental truck options: Penske has a wide variety of vehicles to choose from. You can rent a high-roof cargo van or anything from a 12- to 26-foot truck.
- Home Depot rentals: Penske has partnered with Home Depot to offer its trucks at all local Home Depot locations. Penske trucks are available through Home Depot in the following sizes: 12 feet, 16 feet, 22 feet, and 26 feet. You can also reserve your Penske truck rental through the Home Depot website.
- Insurance plans: You can use your own car insurance plan when you rent from Penske, or purchase their supplemental liability insurance to ensure you are covered in case something happens. You can also book cargo insurance for the items you are moving.
- Roadside assistance: All Penske truck rentals are covered by their roadside assistance plan (similar to AAA), so if you have a problem on the road, they will come to your rescue.
- Automobile towing equipment: You can use a tow dolly or car carrier from Penske to transport a vehicle. All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles should be transported only with a car carrier.
- Moving supplies: Online ordering is available for moving boxes, wardrobe boxes, mattress bags, packing tape, and other moving supplies. Orders of $25 or more are eligible for free shipping. Hand truck dollies are also available for rental.
- Self-storage units: Penske partners with SpareFoot and CubeSmart to help their customers find storage units at a discounted price.
- Moving labor: Penske promotes loading and unloading help provided through Simple Moving Labor. Simple Moving Labor is a third party provider you can hire to load and unload your truck.
- Commercial rentals: Penske also maintains a fleet of vehicles for commercial customers. Larger organizations can establish a National Rental Account (NRA) that may include pricing discounts and consolidated billing. Truck drivers can use the Penske Driver™ app, which is free and assists in complying with the Hours of Service (HOS) and electronic logging device (ELD) mandates.
Here’s a breakdown of the different trucks Penske offers for residential customers:
| Penske truck type | Cubic space | Load capacity | Room capacity | Vehicle towing? | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 404 cf | 3,500 lbs. | 1 room or a studio apartment | No | Round-trip and one-way |
| 12-foot truck | 450 cf | 3,100 lbs. | 1-2 rooms | No | Round-trip and one-way |
| 16-foot truck | 800 cf | 4,300 lbs. | 1-bedroom home or apartment | Yes | Round-trip and one-way |
| 22-foot truck | 1,200 cf | 10,000 lbs. | 3-5 rooms (2-bedroom home) | Yes | One-way only |
| 26-foot truck | 1,700 cf | 10,000 lbs. | 5-7 rooms (3+ bedroom home) | Yes | Round-trip and one-way |
Not sure if Penske or U-Haul is better for your move? Check out our head-to-head comparison right here.
Learn MoreHow Penske Truck Rental stacks up against the competition
There are many reasons movers choose Penske compared to U-Haul and Budget Truck Rental, two of our top picks for cheapest truck rental companies.
Penske Truck Rental vs. U-Haul
Katie chose Penske for her move from Chicago to North Carolina even though the quote she received from U-Haul was lower. She told us she chose Penske because of their unlimited mileage, so she wouldn’t have to worry about exceeding U-Haul’s mileage limit.
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Plus, Penske books most long-distance moves for five days automatically (you can add more days, if needed). This gave her one extra day that U-Haul didn’t offer with their price. Despite one minor hiccup on moving day, Katie would happily use Penske for her move again.
However, U-Haul has Penske beat in terms of availability and pricing. U-Haul has more than 22,000 locations nationwide, which can make it easier to find convenient pickup and drop-off locations. Its highly competitive pricing also makes it a popular pick. That being said, U-Haul has a reputation for disjointed customer service, including a clunky check-in process and unreliable reservations.
Penske Truck Rental vs. Budget Truck Rental
Budget Truck Rental is especially affordable, with several discounts customers can take advantage of. Generally speaking, Budget is going to be the most affordable option if you’re looking for a cheap DIY moving truck rental. Like Penske, Budget offers unlimited mileage on long-distance moves.
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However, Penske comes out on top in terms of reliability and customer service. You don’t have to worry about a truck not being available on moving day (like what happened to Chandra with her Budget rental), and the company has strong customer support, including 24/7 roadside assistance, to help you at every phase of your move.
Penske also has Budget beat in terms of the number of available truck sizes, as Budget only has three sizes available.
| Company | BBB score | State availability | # of truck sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penske Truck Rental | Varies by location | 49 states (not available in AK) | 4 + cargo van |
| U-Haul | A+ | All 50 states | 4 + cargo van & pickup truck |
| Budget Truck Rental | A+ | 48 states (not available in AK or HI) | 3 |
How moving with Penske Truck Rental works
Penske does their best to make your DIY move as easy as possible. Let’s take a look at the process of moving with Penske Truck Rental.
Getting a quote and booking
Getting a quote and booking your move can easily be done online using their free quote tool. You can book everything from start to finish online, and there is no need to speak with a representative (unless you want to, of course!). You can also use the Penske app to easily book your move.
Once you reserve your vehicle and put your credit card on file, the quote is binding, and there is no need to place a deposit. Penske guarantees your rental if you book at least 24 hours in advance. This means if you need a particular truck or van, it will be waiting for you on your move day and you don’t have to worry about them renting it to someone else.
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Moving day
On moving day, you’ll head to the Penske location to pick up your moving truck. You will need to sign a limited damage waiver, show your driver’s license, and provide Penske with insurance information if you aren’t buying a plan from them. Then you will drive the truck to your home and load your belongings.
Once everything is loaded, you can hit the road to your new home. If anything happens on the road, you can call Penske 24/7 for roadside assistance.
When you arrive at your new home, you will unload your truck, then return it to the location you specified when you booked it. When the vehicle is returned, it will be checked for damage and you will settle the bill. If you put a credit card on file, they will charge it after you sign and you are good to go!
Customers love Penske Truck Rental’s unlimited mileage and stellar customer service
Customer reviews about Penske are glowing. The company also has an overall rating of 4 stars on most review sites. Customers mostly love the unlimited mileage.
Unlimited mileage at Penske means when you book a one-way move, you book at a flat, all-inclusive cost for the total estimated mileage of your move, so you don’t have to worry about paying extra for any additional miles. After all, you’re busy worrying about your move — the last thing you want on your mind is stress over a few extra miles!
Customers also love that Penske guarantees your rental, as long as you book at least 24 hours in advance. Customers also appreciate that you can book everything online or in the app, so you don’t have to worry about scheduling a call with the company.
While every move is unique, Penske does their best to help yours go smoothly, even if they aren’t driving the truck for you!
Should you use Penske Truck Rental to move?
So, is Penske Truck Rentals the right option for your move? Here’s a closer look at when doing a DIY move with Penske Truck Rentals is (or isn’t) in your best interest.
Use Penske Truck Rental if:
- You’re moving on a budget. As a DIY moving option, renting a moving truck from Penske is much cheaper than using a full-service moving company. This is especially true of long-distance moves, since Penske offers unlimited mileage.
- You need a guaranteed rental. Unlike some of its competitors, you don’t have to worry about a Penske truck not being available when you go to pick it up. With definite moving dates reserved in advance, your rental is guaranteed.
- You need to haul your car, too. You can also book a vehicle trailer or tow dolly to tow your automobile with one of Penske’s larger moving trucks.
Don’t use Penske Truck Rental if:
- You’re not comfortable driving a moving truck. You can hire movers to help you load and unload the Penske truck, but you cannot hire someone to drive it for you.
- You want the absolute cheapest price. U-Haul and Budget Truck Rental typically offer lower prices for moving truck rentals.
- Your location isn’t convenient to a Penske facility. Though Penske is available in 49 states, they don’t have as many locations as U-Haul or Budget. Because of this, Penske might not be very convenient for picking up or dropping off your moving truck.
If you are thinking that a DIY move isn’t for you, take a look at some of the full-service moving options available in our list of the best interstate moving companies.
FAQ
Does Penske Truck Rental cost more than U-Haul?
In general, Penske does cost a little more than a U-haul truck for most moves. However,Penske guarantees reservations of truck rental and also provides perks like free 24/7 roadside assistance. With U-Haul, there is the possibility that they will overbook their trucks and you will find yourself with nothing to rent on moving day.
Are Penske trucks clean?
Penske reports that they clean their trucks between customers to keep them in the best shape possible. However, if you book a last-minute move, Penske cannot guarantee your truck will have been cleaned between the previous booking and your move.
Can you book last-minute with Penske?
Penske only guarantees truck availability for moves booked 24 hours in advance. You can still get a truck within the 24-hour mark but your reservation will not be guaranteed.
How does Penske work with local moves?
Penske Truck Rentals work the same for local moves as they do for long-distance moves. You make your truck reservation, pick up the truck at the agreed-upon date and location, then load your stuff. Once you’re done with your move, you can return the truck to either the same location where you picked it up or to a different location.
One key difference between local and long-distance moves is that Penske does not offer unlimited mileage on local moves. You’ll pay a per-mile fee, which can vary by location. For example, the mileage rate we got for a local move with a 12-foot truck in Ashburn, Virginia, was just $0.59/mile, while a move with the same truck in Chandler, Arizona, had a $0.79/mile rate.
Are there any hidden fees with Penske Truck Rentals?
Penske does not charge hidden fees — all fees, including the Vehicle Licensing Recovery Fee and Environmental Fee, are listed in your quote. As long as you return your truck on time, without damages, and at the same fuel level as when you got it, you won’t have any extra fees when you return the truck.
Why do Penske’s rates change so often?
Penske updates its rates daily based on customer demand and equipment availability. Because of this, rates can also vary significantly based on your location.
Does Penske have unlimited mileage?
Penske offers unlimited mileage on one-way truck rentals. However, round-trip truck rentals (typically used for local moves) do have a per-mile fee.
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