Penske Vs. Uhaul: Which Is Best For You? (2024)

Penske Services Offered

Penske offers a wide selection of moving truck rental and moving labor services but also sells moving supplies. The company has four different levels of insurance plans to cover equipment damage, third-party damage and injury claims, cargo accident damage and personal accident injury.

Penske also offers:

• Moving labor
• Moving supplies
• Car trailers
• Storage solutions
• Roadside assistance

Penske State Availability

Penske has 3,000 locations nationwide in 49 states. It does not provide services in Alaska. To make trucks more accessible, Penske partners with some Home Depot branches that rent Penske trucks from additional locations.

If you want more protection and insurance options and quality moving vehicles, consider Penske. While Penske charges higher rates and offers fewer service options in general, the company’s four different insurance plans offer a wider variety of coverage so customers can take more control of their move.

U-Haul Services Offered

What sets U-Haul’s services apart from many other moving companies is the huge selection of different types and sizes of moving vehicles. Depending on your U-Haul location, the company rents pickup trucks, cargo vans and five truck sizes, ranging from 10 feet long to 26 feet long. Unlike traditional moving trucks which are 4 feet high for moving dock loading, all of U-Haul’s vehicles have a lowered deck to be more consumer-friendly.

U-Haul also offers a U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 app so customers can book truck rentals and self-service pick-up, then return a truck at any time.

U-Haul also offers:

• Moving labor
• Moving supplies
• Car trailers
• U-Box containers
• Storage solutions
• Trailer hitches
• SafeMove insurance
• Roadside assistance

U-Haul State Availability

U-Haul is available in all 50 states and has more than 20,000 locations. Some locations offer a wider variety of services than others.

For do-it-yourself movers looking for an affordable moving truck rental, U-Haul may be a great choice. U-Haul makes DIY moving more convenient and easier to schedule using its 24/7 Truck Share mobile app. The company also offers a variety of additional services, including loading and unloading assistance and an extensive network of storage facilities.

Customers should be wary of U-Haul’s reliability when it comes to rental “guarantees” and should be cautious about U-Haul adding unexpected add-on costs to the final bill.

One of the most impactful differences between Penske and U-Haul is the cost. An estimated long-distance, cross-country move costs around $2,000 with U-Haul and around $2,400 with Penske. Though Penske’s upfront costs are more expensive, the company offers an unlimited mileage option so customers can make longer trips without racking up additional charges. Penske also offers a number of discounts for AAA members, students and military while U-Haul rarely offers discounts.

Penske and U-Haul also offer different varieties of services. While Penske has four different insurance and protection plan options compared to U-Haul’s two, U-Haul has a much longer list of moving supplies, storage solutions and other options to help cover all its customers’ needs.

Most U-Haul box trucks feature a lower deck for easier lifting and more-friendly consumer access. Penske’s trucks feature traditional, four-foot decks so the trucks will sit level against a loading dock.

Penske and U-Haul offer a similar variety of rental trucks and moving vans with both companies offering a cargo van and box trucks between 10 feet and 26 feet in length. Both companies are available across the United States, though Penske does not provide service in Alaska.

Penske and U-Haul both receive fairly mediocre overall ratings, with reviews averaging between 3.7 and 3.8. Both are nationally known for fairly reputable customer service. Penske and U-Haul are both accredited with the Better Business Bureau, though both companies have received a fair share of poor reviews from customers. Only a few major moving companies have stellar reviews—much of this may be because moving is a stressful and difficult process.

Consider U-Haul if you are looking for an affordable truck rental for DIY moving. The mobile app makes DIY moving more convenient and user-friendly. Additionally, U-Haul offers an extensive network of storage facilities and additional service options, such as loading and unloading assistance or car trailers and other types of moving apparatus.

Penske is a solid good option for those who want a quality vehicle with plenty of insurance protection options. In addition, Penske offers four insurance plans with comprehensive coverage and it regularly changes out its rental vehicles. These features do come at a cost higher than U-Haul.

It’s important to note both companies have issues with changing “guaranteed” reservations, but both have wide availability and good prices.