Long-Distance Moving Truck Rental
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Long-Distance Moving Truck Rental One-way rentals compared, and how to skip the drive
Renting a truck one-way is still the most affordable way to move a household across state lines. It also comes with fine print the in-town rental never had: mileage allowances, fixed return dates, drop-off locations, and a fuel bill that can rival the rental itself. This guide compares the companies that actually rent one-way, explains how the pricing works, and shows what the whole trip costs, with or without you behind the wheel.
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Which Companies Rent One-Way Moving Trucks?
Three national companies rent moving trucks one-way for household moves: U-Haul, Penske and Budget. Enterprise Truck Rental focuses on local, round-trip rentals, and Ryder no longer rents trucks for personal moves at all. Here is how they compare for a long-distance move.
| Company | One-way rentals | Miles on one-way | Extra miles | Truck sizes | Fuel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-Haul | Yes, largest network | Set allowance in your quote | About $1.00 per mile | Cargo van to 26′ (29′ at some locations) | Unleaded gasoline | Availability, small towns, short-notice moves |
| Penske | Yes | Free unlimited miles | None on one-way | Cargo van to 26′ | Gas on smaller trucks; diesel on 22′ and 26′ | Long routes and detours with no mileage risk |
| Budget Truck | Yes | Set allowance (some routes include unlimited) | $0.80 prepaid, $1.00 at return | Cargo van to 26′ | Gas on smaller trucks; diesel on 26′ | Discounts and competitive base rates |
| Enterprise Truck | Limited | — | — | Cargo vans to box trucks | Varies | Local, round-trip moves |
| Ryder | No consumer rentals | — | — | — | — | Businesses only |
Two things in this table decide most long-distance rentals. First, mileage: a route that runs long, a detour to drop a car, or a wrong turn costs nothing on a Penske one-way, but every mile over your allowance costs money at U-Haul and Budget. Second, fuel type: Penske’s and Budget’s largest trucks run on diesel, which affects which stations you can use and what you pay per gallon.
How One-Way Truck Rental Pricing Works
An in-town rental is priced as a daily rate plus a charge for every mile you drive. One-way rentals work differently. You get a single quote built from your pickup city, destination, truck size and date, and that quote includes a fixed number of rental days.
- Days: each one-way quote includes a set number of days to complete the trip. Keeping the truck longer adds extra-day charges, so build your schedule around the allotted days, not the other way around.
- Miles: U-Haul and Budget include a mileage allowance based on the mapped route. Go over it and you pay per mile: about $1.00 at U-Haul; at Budget, $0.80 if you buy extra miles at pickup or $1.00 if you settle at return. Penske includes unlimited miles on one-way rentals.
- Fuel: not included anywhere. You pay for every gallon and return the truck at the fuel level on your contract, or pay the company’s refueling charge.
- Protection: damage waivers and cargo coverage, such as U-Haul’s SafeMove, are optional add-ons priced separately.
- Equipment and fees: towing equipment, dollies, furniture pads, environmental fees and taxes are added on top. Penske charges for tolls the truck incurs plus a $25 processing fee unless you pay the tolls directly.
One-way prices also move with demand. Trucks flowing out of a popular departure city in peak season cost more than trucks going the other way, and the same truck can price very differently a week earlier or later. Get quotes from at least two companies for the same dates before you decide.
Best Truck Rental for a Long-Distance Move
There isn’t one best company; there is a best fit for your route. A simple way to decide:
Choose Penske when…
your route is long, uncertain or includes detours. Unlimited one-way miles remove overage risk, and the base quote is often higher to pay for it. Check that a drop-off location is convenient to your new home.
Choose U-Haul when…
you need availability: short notice, a rural pickup, a specific truck size, or a car trailer. U-Haul has the largest network. Read your mileage allowance and add a buffer for the drive to and from the truck.
Choose Budget when…
your quote is lowest after discounts and the route matches the allowance closely. Buy extra miles at pickup if you expect to need them; they cost less than settling the overage at return.
Whichever you choose, the truck you rent is the truck someone has to drive for 10 to 12 hours a day. That part doesn’t change by brand, and it is the reason many long-distance renters hire someone to drive the truck.
What Size Truck Do You Need for a Long-Distance Move?
Size matters more on a long-distance move than a local one, because you can’t make a second trip. If it doesn’t fit, it stays behind or ships separately. When in doubt, go one size up.
| Home size | U-Haul truck | Penske / Budget equivalent | Notes for long distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or dorm | Cargo van or 10′ | Cargo van or 12′ | The van is the most fuel-efficient option for a long route |
| 1 bedroom | 10′ or 15′ | 12′ or 16′ | The 15′ gives room for awkward items and a buffer |
| 2 bedrooms | 15′ or 20′ | 16′ or 22′ | Most 2-bedroom long-distance moves fit a 20′ |
| 3 bedrooms | 20′ or 26′ | 22′ or 26′ | Choose 26′ if you have a full garage or patio set |
| 4+ bedrooms | 26′ (29′ where available) | 26′ | Consider a 26′ plus a cargo trailer for very large homes |
For the full measurements, payload and what fits in each truck, see the U-Haul truck size guide, or the 26-foot U-Haul guide for the largest truck. Towing your car? Only some trucks can tow; read U-Haul with a car trailer before you book.
Fuel: The Biggest Extra on a Long-Distance Rental
On a cross-country move, fuel can cost as much as the rental itself. Every U-Haul moving truck runs on unleaded gasoline, and U-Haul publishes these tank sizes and fuel economy ratings:
| U-Haul truck | Fuel tank | Rated MPG (up to) | Miles per tank (up to) | Gallons for 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 25 gal | 18 | 450 | ~56 |
| 10′ truck | 31 gal | 12 | 372 | ~83 |
| 15′ truck | 40 gal | 10 | 400 | ~100 |
| 20′ truck | 40 gal | 10 | 400 | ~100 |
| 26′ truck | 60 gal | 8–10 | ~600 | 100–125 |
| 29′ truck | 60 gal | 8 | ~500 | ~125 |
U-Haul’s ratings are for ideal conditions. A fully loaded truck, mountain grades, headwinds, highway speed and towing a car all lower real-world mileage, so budget on the low end. A simple formula: miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon. For example, 1,200 miles in a 26′ truck at 8 to 10 MPG is 120 to 150 gallons; at $3.50 a gallon that is $420 to $525, plus tolls.
Practical fuel tips for a long route: fill up when the tank reaches a quarter, not empty, because truck-friendly stations can be far apart at night; check whether your truck takes diesel before you pull up (Penske’s 22′ and 26′ and Budget’s 26′ do); and photograph the fuel gauge at pickup and drop-off.
What a Long-Distance Truck Move Really Costs
The rental quote is only one line. Here is everything that goes into a one-way truck move, and who you pay.
| Cost | Paid to | Driving yourself | With a hired driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way truck rental | Rental company | Yes | Yes |
| Fuel and tolls | Gas stations, toll roads | Yes | Yes, at cost |
| Damage protection | Rental company | Recommended | Recommended |
| Towing equipment | Rental company | If towing a car | If towing a car |
| Hotels and meals on the road | You | Every night of the drive | No: included in the driver price |
| Time off work | You | Every driving day | No |
| Professional driver | Driver service | No | Typically $600–$2,500 |
Worked example: New Jersey to Florida in a 26′ U-Haul
About 1,200 miles. Fuel at 8 to 10 MPG is 120 to 150 gallons, or $420 to $525 at an example price of $3.50 a gallon, plus tolls on I-95. Driving it yourself is usually two to three days in a loaded truck, with two nights of hotels and meals and the same number of days away from work. With a professional driver, the driver fee for this route is typically $1,200 to $1,600, and you fly or drive your own car while the truck travels. The truck rental and fuel are the same either way. See more routes in the U-Haul driver cost estimator.
How Long Does a Long-Distance Truck Move Take?
A loaded box truck is slower than your car: it handles poorly at high speed, U-Haul recommends a maximum of 55 mph when towing, and fuel stops come every 300 to 500 miles. A realistic planning pace for someone driving their own rental truck is 400 to 500 miles a day.
| Distance | Example route | Driving it yourself | With our professional driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~700 miles | Connecticut → North Carolina | About 2 days | About 1 day |
| ~1,200 miles | New Jersey → Florida | 2–3 days | About 1 day |
| ~1,700 miles | Chicago → Scottsdale | 3–4 days | About 2 days |
| ~2,800 miles | California → New York | 6–7 days | 3 days or less |
Remember that the rental company’s allotted days are a hard limit. If your own pace won’t fit the quote, either ask for more days when you book or hand the driving to someone who can cover the miles faster and safely.
Drive It Yourself, Hire a Driver, or Hire Movers?
A one-way truck rental can be the whole plan or one piece of it. These are the four realistic ways to move a household long-distance.
| Rent and drive yourself | Rent and hire a driver | Portable container | Full-service mover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who drives | You | A professional driver | The container company | The mover |
| Who packs and loads | You or hired labor | You or hired labor | You or hired labor | The mover |
| Delivery timing | As fast as you drive | Typically 1–3 days | Often 1–3 weeks | Often 1–3 weeks |
| Your belongings | In your truck | In your truck, in your name | In a container, may be stored | On the mover’s truck, may be transferred |
| Main cost drivers | Rental, fuel, hotels, time off | Rental, fuel, driver fee | Container quote | Weight, distance, services |
| Best for | Short or easy routes, confident drivers | Long routes, big trucks, towing, busy schedules | Flexible dates, storage needs | Larger budgets, no packing |
Renting the truck and hiring a driver keeps the two things people like about a DIY move, control and cost, and removes the part they dread: days behind the wheel of a 26-foot truck in traffic, weather and mountains.
Hire a Driver for Your Long-Distance Rental Truck
Rental companies don’t supply drivers; U-Haul doesn’t provide drivers, and neither do Penske or Budget. That is the gap we fill. You rent the truck and load it; our driver is added to your rental contract as an authorized driver and drives it to your new home anywhere in the 48 continental states.
- Request a quote. Pickup and delivery addresses, date, truck size, and whether you’re towing a car. Quotes come back the same day.
- Rent the truck in your name. U-Haul, Penske, Budget or Enterprise. You keep the rental agreement and its protection plan. Our driver can pick up the rental truck for you.
- Load it your way. Pack and load yourself, or book local labor.
- We drive it. A pre-trip inspection, then straight to your new address. Our office tracks the truck and keeps you updated.
- You meet the truck. Most trips are delivered in 1–3 days depending on distance.
Who drives your truck
Background-checked, licensed and insured drivers with at least five years of box-truck experience. Two or more moving violations disqualifies a driver.
What it costs
Typically $600 to $2,500 depending mainly on distance, including the driver’s travel, meals and lodging. Fuel and tolls are paid at cost. Towing a car may add a fee.
What we don’t do
We drive only. We don’t rent trucks, pack, load or unload, and we don’t carry passengers. Most customers fly or drive their own car and meet the truck.
Booked the truck? Now skip the drive.
Tell us your route and dates. Same-day quotes, no obligation.
Long-Distance Truck Rental Planning Timeline
- 4–6 weeks out (peak season, May–September): get one-way quotes from at least two companies for the same dates and reserve your truck. In the off-season, 2–3 weeks is usually enough.
- Right after you reserve: book your driver if you’re hiring one. Truck availability is usually the constraint, not drivers.
- 2–3 weeks out: confirm truck size, towing equipment and the drop-off location; buy boxes; book loading help.
- 1 week out: confirm the pickup location and time, add any additional drivers to the contract, and choose your protection plan.
- Moving day: photograph the truck, odometer and fuel gauge before loading; load heavy items low and forward; strap each tier.
- Delivery day: unload, refuel to the contract level, and return the truck to the assigned location on time.
How to Avoid One-Way Rental Surprises
- Read the mileage allowance. Map your actual route, including the drive to pick up the truck and any detour, and compare it to the miles in your quote.
- Confirm the pickup location a few days out. Reservations are for a truck size and date; locations can change when inventory is tight.
- Don’t let the schedule slip. Extra days cost money on a one-way contract. Weather delays are real, so build in slack.
- Return the fuel level on your contract. Refueling charges are far higher than pump prices.
- Know your tolls. Some companies bill tolls back with a processing fee unless you pay them directly.
- Check towing limits. Not every truck can tow, and towing lowers speed and fuel economy.
- List every driver on the contract. An unlisted driver can void the protection you paid for.
Get a Professional Driver for Your Long-Distance Rental
Tell us your route, truck size and move date. We reply by email with a personal quote the same day. No obligation and no sales calls.
Long-Distance Moving Truck Rental FAQ
What is the best truck rental for a long-distance move?
It depends on your route. Penske is the only national company with free unlimited miles on one-way rentals, which suits long or uncertain routes. U-Haul has the largest network and the most availability. Budget can be the lowest quote after discounts. Get quotes from at least two for the same dates.
Does U-Haul have unlimited miles on one-way rentals?
No. U-Haul one-way quotes include a set number of days and miles based on your route. Miles over the allowance cost about $1.00 each.
Which moving truck rental has unlimited mileage?
Penske includes free unlimited miles on one-way truck rentals. Budget includes unlimited miles on some one-way routes, so check your quote. U-Haul does not offer unlimited miles.
How much does it cost to rent a truck one-way?
One-way prices are quoted by route, truck size and date, and change with demand, so get a live quote. Plan separately for fuel, which for a 26-foot truck is roughly 100 to 150 gallons per 1,000 to 1,200 miles, plus tolls, protection and any towing equipment.
How much gas does a 26-foot U-Haul use?
U-Haul lists the 26-foot truck with a 60-gallon tank and up to 8 to 10 MPG in ideal conditions. Loaded, plan on the low end: about 120 to 150 gallons for a 1,200-mile move.
How long does it take to drive a moving truck cross-country?
At a realistic 400 to 500 miles a day, a 2,800-mile coast-to-coast move takes about six to seven days if you drive it yourself. A professional driver typically delivers in three days or less.
Can I hire someone to drive my one-way rental truck?
Yes. You rent the truck in your name, and a professional driver is added to the contract as an authorized driver. Moving Truck Driver provides background-checked, licensed and insured drivers in all 48 continental states, typically for $600 to $2,500.
Can I tow my car behind a one-way rental truck?
Yes, with the right truck and towing equipment from the rental company. Not every truck size can tow, and towing lowers speed and fuel economy. Our drivers check the hookup and tie-downs and handle the towing.
Is it cheaper to rent a truck or hire movers for a long-distance move?
Renting a truck is usually much cheaper than a full-service mover, even after adding fuel and a professional driver, because you do the packing and loading. Full-service movers cost more but handle everything.
Do I have to return the rental truck to a specific location?
Yes. One-way rentals are returned to the drop-off location on your contract, by the date on your contract. Confirm the location before you go and return the truck with the fuel level shown on your agreement.
You rent the truck. We drive it the distance.
Same-day quotes · Drivers in all 48 continental states · Hundreds of moves completed
Related Guides
Sources: U-Haul truck specifications, Penske one-way unlimited miles, Penske FAQ, U-Pack mileage comparison, This Old House on U-Haul one-way mileage; checked October 2026. Prices, policies and specifications change and vary by location; confirm with the rental company. Moving Truck Driver is an independent driver service and is not affiliated with U-Haul, Penske, Budget, Enterprise or Ryder.