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

U-Haul is one of the most widely used moving truck rental companies in the United States and Canada. Whether you're moving across town or across the country, understanding how U-Haul pricing works — and what drives the final bill — helps you budget realistically and avoid surprises at checkout.

How U-Haul Pricing Is Structured

U-Haul doesn't charge a single flat rate. The total cost is built from several components that stack on top of each other:

• Base rate — the daily or mileage-based rental fee
• Mileage charge — a per-mile fee applied to most one-way and some local rentals
• Fuel — you return the truck with the same fuel level it had when you picked it up, or pay a refueling fee
• Insurance/damage coverage — optional but commonly purchased
• Equipment add-ons — dollies, furniture pads, and moving supplies
• Taxes and fees — vary by state and pickup location

Understanding which of these apply to your rental type is the first step.

Local vs. One-Way Rentals: A Key Cost Difference

The type of move you're making shapes the pricing model almost entirely.

Local rentals (returning to the same location) are typically charged at a low daily base rate — often in the range of $19.95 to $39.95 per day depending on truck size — plus a per-mile charge. That per-mile rate commonly falls between $0.69 and $1.09, though it varies by location and availability. The base rate looks affordable until you factor in mileage, which is where local rentals get more expensive than they appear.

One-way rentals (picking up in one city, dropping off in another) use a flat rate that's calculated based on distance, truck size, and demand at both locations. These can range from under $200 for a short regional move to $1,000 or more for a coast-to-coast relocation. U-Haul uses dynamic pricing on one-way rentals, meaning the same route can cost significantly different amounts depending on the time of year and how many trucks need to be repositioned in each direction. 🚚

U-Haul Truck Sizes and Approximate Base Rates

These figures are general reference points. Actual rates depend on your location, the date, and real-time availability. Pricing at pickup can differ from what you see during an online estimate.

What Drives the Final Cost Up

Several variables tend to push U-Haul bills higher than renters expect:

Mileage adds up fast. On a local rental, driving 50 miles at $0.99/mile adds nearly $50 to a base rate that seemed cheap. Plan your route carefully and consolidate trips.

Fuel costs are your responsibility. U-Haul trucks are not fuel-efficient — large moving trucks often get 8 to 12 miles per gallon. On a long one-way move, fuel alone can rival or exceed the rental fee.

Demand and seasonality matter. Summer months (especially May through August), end-of-month dates, and holidays push rates higher. Booking mid-week or mid-month in the off-season can meaningfully lower costs.

Insurance decisions affect price. U-Haul offers several optional coverage products — Safemove, Safemove Plus, and Safetow — ranging roughly from $14 to $45 or more per rental. Your personal auto insurance or credit card may offer some coverage for rental trucks, but coverage rules vary widely by policy and provider. Verify before you decline or purchase.

Equipment rentals aren't included. Appliance dollies, utility dollies, and moving blankets each carry a separate daily fee, typically $7 to $14 per item.

One-Way Pricing and the Direction Premium 🗺️

One of the least-discussed aspects of U-Haul pricing is the directional imbalance. Routes with high demand in one direction — for example, moving out of an expensive coastal city into a lower-cost region — may have dramatically lower one-way rates than the reverse trip. U-Haul needs trucks repositioned, so they incentivize certain routes with lower prices. If your move happens to align with one of those directions, you may find unexpectedly affordable one-way rates. The opposite is also true.

Trailers and Towing Options

U-Haul also rents cargo trailers, car trailers, and tow dollies for people who prefer to use their own vehicle to tow. These are generally less expensive than renting a truck:

• Cargo trailers — commonly start around $14.95/day for local rentals
• Car tow dollies — typically $54.95+ for one-way moves
• Auto transport trailers — typically $74.95+ for one-way moves

Rates vary by location, distance, and season. Your vehicle must also meet U-Haul's towing requirements, which differ by trailer type.

Taxes, Fees, and Location Variation

State and local taxes apply to vehicle rentals and vary significantly. Some states also charge environmental fees, surcharges, or licensing fees that appear as line items. Two identical rentals in different states can carry meaningfully different totals after fees are applied.

What the Final Number Depends On

No single figure captures what a U-Haul rental costs, because the bill is shaped by where you're moving from and to, when you're moving, how far you're driving, which truck size you need, whether you add coverage and equipment, and how fuel-efficient your driving is. A local apartment move in the off-season looks nothing like a summer cross-country relocation.

The estimate tool on U-Haul's website is the most accurate starting point for your specific dates, locations, and truck size — but even that estimate won't reflect fuel costs or how mileage accumulates during the actual move.