How Much Does It Cost to Rent a U-Haul Truck?

U-Haul is one of the most widely available truck rental options in the country, but the price you'll pay isn't fixed. It depends on a combination of factors that can push a simple local move from around $20 to well over $200 — and a long-distance move from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand. Understanding how U-Haul pricing is structured helps you anticipate real costs before you commit.

How U-Haul Truck Rental Pricing Works

U-Haul uses two different pricing models depending on the type of move:

• Local (in-town) rentals are charged by the mile plus a base day rate. You pick up and return the truck to the same location.
• One-way rentals involve a flat rate that covers a set mileage allowance. You pick up the truck at one location and drop it off at another.

These two models produce very different cost structures, and confusing them is a common source of sticker shock.

Base Rates by Truck Size

U-Haul offers several truck sizes, each with a different base rate. The trucks range from a 10-foot cargo van-style truck to a 26-foot large moving truck. Approximate base rates for local rentals generally look like this:

These base rates are deceptively low. The mileage charge — typically $0.69 to $1.09 per mile for local rentals — is where costs accumulate quickly. A 50-mile local move could add $35–$55 on top of the base rate before any extras.

Note: Rates vary by location, season, and availability. Always check U-Haul's website directly for current pricing in your area.

One-Way Rental Costs

One-way moves are priced differently and tend to cost significantly more upfront. A flat rate is quoted based on:

• Origin and destination cities
• Truck size
• Time of year
• Current equipment availability at the pickup location

A one-way 15-foot truck rental from, say, a mid-sized city to another 500 miles away might run anywhere from $300 to $800 or more depending on demand. Moving during peak season (summer, end of month) from a high-demand origin will push prices higher. Moving off-peak or from a location where U-Haul has a surplus of trucks can result in notably lower rates.

What Gets Added to the Base Price 💸

The total out-of-pocket cost typically includes more than just the truck:

• Mileage fees (local rentals): Charged per mile driven
• Fuel: You return the truck with the same fuel level it had at pickup — or pay a premium refueling charge
• Environmental fee: A small flat charge applied to most rentals
• Taxes: Vary by state and locality
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Optional coverage typically running $14–$28/day
• Cargo protection: Optional coverage for your belongings
• Moving supplies: Furniture pads, dollies, and hand trucks are available as add-ons

It's not unusual for a quoted $29.95 local rental to cost $80–$120 after mileage, fuel, fees, and taxes are added.

Factors That Affect Your Final Cost

Several variables shape what you'll actually pay:

Location and market: Prices vary significantly by city and region. Urban markets tend to have higher base rates than rural ones.

Pickup date and time: Weekend and end-of-month rentals are typically more expensive and harder to book. Weekday, mid-month pickups are often cheaper.

Distance: For local rentals, the number of miles driven is the dominant cost driver. For one-way moves, the origin-destination pair is the main variable.

Demand and availability: U-Haul uses dynamic pricing. When trucks are scarce at a location, rates rise. This is especially noticeable during summer moving season.

Rental duration: Local rentals are typically priced per day. Keeping the truck longer adds daily charges.

Insurance decisions: Declining the Collision Damage Waiver saves money upfront but shifts financial responsibility for damage to you. Some personal auto insurance policies and credit cards extend coverage to rental trucks — but this varies widely, so verify with your insurer before declining coverage.

One-Way vs. Local: A Quick Comparison

The Missing Pieces

What you'll actually pay depends on your specific pickup location, the truck size you need, when you're renting, how far you're driving, and what optional coverage you add. 🗺️ Two people renting the same size truck on the same day in different cities can pay very different amounts. That's not a flaw in the pricing system — it's just how demand-based pricing works in the moving industry.

The base rate listed online is a starting point, not a final price. Building out a full estimate — including mileage, fuel, fees, taxes, and any add-ons — is the only way to know what a specific rental will actually cost you.