You’ve done all the work to find a new place and arrange your move —now, you just need to rent a truck and do it. But how do you choose between so many big players in the rental truck space?
Penske is one of the most popular DIY moving truck companies in the U.S. With more than 2,500 rental locations and known for its newer and well-maintained truck fleet and free unlimited miles for one-way moves, it’s a strong rival to U-Haul and Budget Truck.
If you’re looking for Penske truck rental reviews, you’re in the right place. At HireAHelper, we evaluate rental truck brands and moving companies independently based on public data, first-hand shopper research, and nationwide feedback from real customers.
In the following guide, we share all the ins and outs of renting a Penske truck, including Penske truck rental prices, fees, availability, trucks and equipment, and more —as well as where the brand shines compared to its biggest competitors —so you can pick the best fit for your move.
Table of Contents:
Our Penske Rental Truck Review at a Glance
Penske might be a match for you if:
- You’re planning a one-way, multi-state move and want predictable pricing and unlimited miles.
- You prioritize newer, well-maintained trucks and 24/7 roadside assistance.
Consider another brand if:
- You’re planning a local or short regional move and are chasing the lowest price.
- You need ultra-wide location coverage or have rigid pickup dates in tight markets.
How Renting a Truck With Penske Works
Booking With Penske
The process of reserving a truck with Penske will depend on whether you’re moving locally or long-distance.
- A local move (or “round-trip” move) is generally defined as an in-town move where you’ll pick up and drop off your Penske truck at the same location.
- A long-distance move (or “one-way” move) means you’ll be picking up and dropping off your truck at different locations. In this latter scenario, you’ll be given multiple days to complete your move and return the truck.
For both types of moves, you can book a truck on Penske’s website or over the phone. There are slight differences in the quote experience depending on whether you’re moving in-town or long-distance.
Like many millennials, I prefer an online experience over calling —but I did run into website issues several times while trying to complete our online reservation. If you don’t have a ton of time (or patience), be prepared to pick up the phone if you’re looking for a Penske quote.
Booking a Local Move With Penske
Depending on what services you need —local vs. long-distance moving— your booking process can look quite different. Here’s what to expect if you’re booking a local move, based on my own experience.
First Steps
The reservation process was pretty straightforward: I filled in my desired truck size, dates, and pick and drop-off location (which was the same since this was for a local move). Penske automatically filled in the drop-off date based on my move details. Then I clicked “Get a Quote.”
At this point I was invited to confirm the truck size:
Figuring out your truck size can be the hardest part of the process for many people, but it was pretty clear that for our situation that we’d need the 26-foot for our 3-bedroom home.
Our quoted price was $99.99/day plus $1.29 per mile for my local Penske move.
Pro Tip: To help figure out which truck size is best for you, Penske offers a Truck Wizard tool. This can be helpful if you’re on the fence between two different options.
Chatting with a Representative
I decided to check with a rep via chat to see if I could get a deal. They were running a promotion for 15% off one-way moves, but I didn’t see any discounts for local/same-location truck rentals. The rep said they offered discounts for AAA members (12% off local moves), active and veteran military members (15% off), and college students (10% off). When I said I didn’t qualify for any of these (in reality, I’m a AAA member) and asked if there might be another promotion or discount available—in hopes that the rep might be able to help me out—she let me know there were no other deals available.
“…[W]hether or not Penske is the right fit for you largely comes down to trip length. If you’re going far and want predictable, mileage-included pricing, Penske is a compelling option.”
After my chat, I continued on with the reservation. Penske invited me to add moving supplies and insurance. I could add a hand truck rental for $15 and furniture pads for $20 per dozen. As far as insurance goes, I had multiple options, starting with $50 for basic coverage (covering just Penske’s equipment), up to $82.35 for their fullest coverage option.
I added a AAA membership discount to get 12% off my total (which is applied to both the equipment rental daily fee as well as the mileage fee total). The total—which is really an estimate because they don’t know how many miles I’m going to be driving—came to $244.39, including $50 in basic coverage with an estimate of 75 miles. This included estimated taxes and fees.
At this point, I was asked to enter my credit card information. It wasn’t clear to me how much I would have to pay, so I decided to ask a chat agent before filling out my card details.
Finalizing My Reservation
I ended up chatting with another agent who I had already talked to previously about whether or not they did price matching for U-Haul quotes. Without even asking her if she could give me a discount, she told me she could offer me the 26-foot truck for $85 for the day and $0.99 per mile. I told her I was more likely to drive 25 miles than 75 miles, and the new total came to $121.24.
The catch was that I had to book right then and there, but I could make the reservation with my credit card, and I wouldn’t be charged anything until pick-up. At which point, I would be required to pay the estimated total plus a $150 refundable deposit for a total of $276.65. I was informed that as long as I dropped off the truck within 24 hours and with the same amount of fuel that I had at the start, I would receive the full deposit back.
I asked if the chat agent could throw in basic coverage at a discounted rate as well, and she offered it to me for $40 instead of $50. What a different experience from my earlier conversation!
Moral of the story? It’s worth chatting with a couple of different agents to see if you can get a deal, and it probably didn’t hurt that I mentioned I was also getting quotes from U-Haul.
Booking a Long-Distance Move
Getting a quote and reserving a truck for a long-distance move was similar to making a reservation for a local move, but there were some notable differences.
First Steps
After filling out my truck size and locations, Penske automatically calculated the length of my rental based on the distance I would be moving —from Tampa Bay, Florida, to Los Angeles, California —and this was set at a comfortable 9 days. They let me know I could add up to three additional days during checkout for $100 a day.
After verifying my truck size, I was then given options for renting moving supplies: a hand truck for $25 and furniture pads for $20/dozen. This was followed by options for insurance, ranging from $540.00 for basic coverage to $822.15 for full protection. I also had an option to pre-pay my tolls for $90.00—something I actually haven’t seen before.
The website automatically offered me a promotion (most likely the same one they were offering on the homepage) and asked if I was a AAA member (I said yes), which took my total down 22% from $4,267.00 to $3,577.29 before insurance.
Finalizing My Reservation
I had just gotten a quote on U-Haul’s website for the same size truck for less — $3,410.20 including their basic coverage and fees, before taxes. So I asked a chat agent if there was anything they could do for me. She said if I would reserve with her right now, she could match that price for me —but the offer was only good during our conversation. I would have to reserve it right away and with a credit or debit card,but nothing would be charged until I picked it up. I would be required to pay the full amount upon pick-up.
Does Penske require a deposit?
Penske’s policy on security deposits varies depending on whether or not you’re moving long-distance or locally.
- For a long-distance move, no deposit is required as long as you reserve with a credit card, and you’ll pay the amount in full when you pick up your truck. However, if you reserve with cash or check, you’ll be required to leave a security deposit of at least $150, although the price varies depending on the location you rent from.
- For a local move, a security deposit is required, no matter which method of payment you opt for. If you pay with a credit card, a deposit of at least $150 will be required, but again, the exact amount varies by location. According to their website, if you pay with cash or check, you’ll need to leave a deposit of at least 150% of the estimated total amount.
Does Penske guarantee reservations?
Once I’d accepted my quote, Penske guaranteed my reservation details. In case you haven’t used a ton of other moving truck companies before, you should know that this is huge. U-Haul only offers a $50 Reservation Guarantee, and only for locations that have the guarantee badge, so it’s a notable perk that Penske sets your details in stone.
The only exception is for bookings made less than 24 hours in advance, in which case Penske might switch you to a larger truck or alternative pick-up location.
Here’s Penske’s exact language about guaranteeing reservations:
“At Penske, we guarantee that the vehicle you reserved, or an equivalent or larger vehicle, will be available at the time and location you selected. If you reserve within 24 hours of pickup, Penske cannot guarantee a truck will be available for your reservation and Penske may provide an alternate pickup location.”
Want to learn more about how Penske measures up against U-Haul? Check out our guide: Penske Vs. U-Haul: Is Penske a Good U-Haul Alternative?
Pickup Day
When it’s time to pick up your Penske truck rental, the process is straightforward: You just head over to your designated pickup location on moving day, and be sure to bring along a valid driver’s license, your reservation details, and a credit or debit card for payment.
A Penske representative will walk you through the truck features, and you’ll also sign the rental agreement and do a quick inspection of the truck to confirm everything looks good. Make sure to take pictures of the truck, inside and out, as well as the mileage and fuel gauges, for documentation purposes.
Returning Your Penske Truck
Dropping off your Penske rental is just as simple as the pickup. If it was a local move, you’ll drop it off at the same location. For a long-distance move, the drop-off location will be different.
Before returning your truck, make sure the fuel is at the same level it was at pick-up to avoid extra charges. You should also remember to clean it out and remove all personal items. A Penske representative will check the vehicle for mileage, fuel, and overall condition, then you’ll get your final bill and pay any additional charges if applicable.
Penske Truck Rental Prices and Cost Structure
As mentioned above, like other rental truck companies, Penske charges differently depending on whether you’re moving locally or long-distance. Here’s how the pricing breaks down:
- Local moving (same pickup and dropoff location): You pay a daily base rate, which varies depending on the size of the truck, plus a per-mile fee (which varies by market and date) —currently around $1.29/mile.
- Long-distance moving (one-way trip with a different dropoff location): You pay a flat, per-trip quote that includes unlimited miles and a set number of rental days based on your distance. Extra days can be added for $100/day.
Both U-Haul and Budget Truck follow the same basic pricing structure, but neither offers unlimited miles.
Here’s an average of the quotes we gathered for a Penske one-way truck rental (16-foot truck) for local, medium-distance, and long-distance moves:
| Trip Type | Ave. Miles | Ave. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Local move (In-town) | 18.33 mi | $215 |
| Medium-distance move (Next state over) | 46.67 mi | $256 |
| Long-distance move | 2,856.67 mi | $3,713 |
How do these numbers compare to Budget and U-Haul? Penske’s average totals were higher than U-Haul and Budget across all move distances — local, medium, and long-distance — at least for 16-foot trucks. On local (under 50 miles) or shorter long-distance moves — where you may not benefit much from unlimited miles — U-Haul or Budget is often priced lower.
Keep in mind that pricing can vary by factors such as the season, day of the week, truck size, discounts, distance, geographic region, add-ons (e.g., insurance or supplies), fees, and taxes. The prices above include the environmental fee ($15) — but no fuel, taxes, insurance, or other fees.
Insurance Options
As with the other major truck rental companies, Penske offers several options for insurance and liability coverage:
- Limited Damage Waiver (LDW): Waives your financial responsibility for covered damage to the truck or towing equipment, per contract terms, but not your personal vehicle
- Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI): Up to $1,000,000 in protection for the renter and listed authorized drivers against claims made by a third party for bodily and/or property damage (age restrictions apply)
- Cargo Protection (CAI): Protects your household items in the truck from loss or damage caused by accidents or natural disasters during transit, and only while in the truck (limits apply)
- Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): Medical and accidental death coverage for the renter and cab passengers
- Towing Insurance (TWI): Covers a vehicle towed behind your Penske truck in case of damage while loading or unloading, or while in transit
Make sure to review your policy in detail before checkout, as coverage may vary.
Moving Supplies
In addition to a rental truck, your move will require moving supplies like boxes, tape, furniture pads, and a dolly. You have lots of options for buying and renting supplies and equipment, like borrowing from friends and family or purchasing them at your local hardware store.
If you need, you can buy or rent moving supplies from Penske as well. Prices may vary by date or location, but here’s what we saw in the quote flow for both local and long-distance quotes:
I was informed that there were supplies offered for sale at the location I was picking up my Penske truck from, although there were no specific details about which supplies were available. According to Penske’s website, they offer the following supplies for sale, but pricing varies by location:
- Moving boxes
- Bubble wrap
- Mattress bags
- Mattress covers
- Ropes and bungee cords
- Padlocks
Towing Equipment
Need to tow your vehicle as part of your move? Penske offers two options for towing equipment (available only with a Penske truck reservation): a tow dolly and a car carrier.
Not sure which one to rent? Here’s what to know:
- Tow dolly: This lifts the front wheels of your vehicle off the ground. It’s best for front-wheel-drive vehicles within Penske’s recommended size/weight limits.
- Car carrier: This carries the entire vehicle and is typically used for AWD/4WD/RWD vehicles or when owners prefer to have all wheels off the road.
In the chart below, we break down each piece of equipment further:
| Tow Dolly | Car Carrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Front-wheel-drive cars | AWD, 4WD, RWD vehicles |
| Key Limits | – Load cap ~4,300 lbs – Max towed width: 74 in – Max wheelbase: 125 in |
– Load cap 4,055–5,000 lbs (depends on truck size) – Max towed width: 80.5 in – Max wheelbase: 128 in |
| Considerations | – Rear wheels on road (adds tire wear) – Not for AWD/4WD – Cheaper than car carrier |
– All wheels lifted off road (no tire wear) – More stability for long-distance moves |
Quotes vary depending on factors such as date and distance. Generally speaking, adding a tow dolly or car carrier adds several hundred dollars to a move.
Penske Truck Sizes and Features
Penske stands out for its regularly updated, well-maintained vehicles. Here’s what you can expect in terms of features:
- Newer Trucks: Penske’s fleet contains newer, well-maintained vehicles for reliability and comfort.
- Ramps and Lift Gates: Ramps are available on larger trucks to make loading and unloading easier. However, it appears that lift gates just come with Penske’s commercial trucks, and they may not be available for all trucks.
- Towing Capabilities: Most trucks (all except the 12-foot size) can tow personal vehicles or trailers.
- 24/7 Roadside Assistance: Nationwide 24/7 roadside support is available for all customers for breakdowns, flat tires, or other issues at no additional cost
Like its major truck rental competitors, Penske offers several truck size options —falling somewhere between U-Haul and Budget in terms of its size offerings. Here’s a closer look at the dimensions and other details for each size option, along with recommendations for what size home it’s best suited for.
How does this compare to Penske’s competitors? As far as traditional box trucks go, Penske has just as many size options as U-Haul. Budget only offers 3 options for small, medium, and large-sized moves. Here’s how the three fleets compare:
What Customers Say About Penske
Established in 1969, Penske has a long track record in the truck rental space and is one of the most trusted brands in the industry. Like its name-brand competitors, it’s generally well-reviewed with mostly positive feedback but also occasional complaints tied to service and inventory.
Here’s how Penske is rated by some of the major third-party review sites:
- BBB: Penske’s company profile shows an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- Trustpilot: Penske has a rating of 2.1/5.0 (“Poor”) from 40 reviews, but their company profile is unclaimed, which means the brand hasn’t verified its details or engaged with any reviews there. That means the sample is small and unmanaged, with potentially outdated information.
- BestCompany: Penske is tied with U-Haul with a rating of 4.4/5 from 83 user reviews (although U-Haul has 660 user reviews) on BestCompany.com.
You can also check out some real customer reviews from our own HireaHelper customers.
What happy customers highlight
Common positive feedback centers on Penske’s newer and cleaner trucks and their strong customer experience. Here are some reviews from BestCompany.com:
- “Good service and great trucks. Very reliable…”
- “Every time I… rented from Penske it has been seamless and easy.”
- “Truck was clean and easy to drive.”
These themes align with Penske’s reputation for the quality of its fleet and the company’s straightforward pick-up and return process at many locations.
Where customers get frustrated
On the other hand, there are some negative reviews that point out issues with equipment and customer service at individual locations. Here’s a sampling of feedback from lower-rated reviews on Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau:
- “Had to be towed… it didn’t have oil.”
- “Truck wouldn’t go over 50 mph… customer service… was extremely rude.”
Takeaway
The disparity between the negative and positive reviews suggests that experiences can vary significantly by individual location and truck. All in all, the managed profiles skew much more positive than Penske’s unclaimed and unmanaged TrustPilot profile, and over the course of a number of years.
It’s safe to conclude that, in general, you can count on Penske’s trucks to be in good shape and their customer service to be smooth, but there is the possibility of isolated breakdowns or service and inventory hiccups. That being said, Penske does offset these risks with their 24/7 roadside assistance and a reservation guarantee.
Here are some tips to make sure you have the most positive experience possible with Penske:
- Inspect carefully at pickup: Check fluids, lights, and tires, and note damage in the app or on the contract. Take pictures documenting the original condition.
- Understand policies on swaps and roadside assistance policies: Know the process in case you encounter any issues in the middle of your route.
- Book as early as possible for one-way moves: The earlier you reserve a truck, the more likely you are to find the size you want.
Pros and Cons of Renting from Penske
Like any moving company or rental truck company, Penske has its pros and cons.
The brand is a strong fit for long-distance, one-way moves thanks to its flat rate pricing with unlimited miles and, generally speaking, newer, well-maintained trucks. If you’re moving far and you want a predictable price without having to worry about keeping track of mileage, Penske is likely a good fit.
“Before returning your truck, make sure the fuel is at the same level it was at pick-up to avoid extra charges. You should also remember to clean it out and remove all personal items.”
On the other hand, as our rental truck pricing data shows above, Penske’s average totals were higher than U-Haul and Budget across all move distances; however, higher-mileage long-distance moves may be priced competitively due to Penske’s policy of unlimited miles. And as our experience shows, Penske is open to price-matching and may offer additional discounts if you ask.
Here’s a look at where Penske shines and where the brand falls short compared to the other major truck rental competitors.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Unlimited miles (one-way) – Newer, better-maintained trucks – Simple bundled pricing – Clear quote flow – Roadside assistance included – Price-matching may be an option |
– Higher average pricing – Booking success issues – Fewer locations than U-Haul – No moving trailers available |
Is a Penske Truck Rental Right for You?
In the end, whether or not Penske is the right fit for you largely comes down to trip length. If you’re going far and want predictable, mileage-included pricing, Penske is a compelling option. If you’re staying local or if every dollar matters, it’s best to compare quotes from the cheapest moving trucks —our data reveals that U-Haul and Budget frequently undercut Penske on short- or medium-length moves.
That said, it’s worth asking if Penske will price-match competitor quotes. You might just end up paying the same lower price for a truck from a newer, well-maintained fleet — a big stress reducer on multi-day drives. And even if they won’t cut you a deal, a small premium may be worth it for the newer fleet and reliability.
Should you choose to move forward with Penske, be sure to take advantage of the following discounts if applicable and chat with a representative to see if they can uncover any other savings opportunities.
You can find their full offering of discounts here.
Why Trust HireAHelper
With over 17 years of experience in the moving industry and more than 1 million moves under our belts, HireAHelper has built a nationwide network of over 1,700 vetted moving providers. With our deep industry insights drawn from nationwide customer reviews and first-hand shopper research, we pride ourselves on delivering the most up-to-date, unbiased data on moving companies like Penske — helping readers make confident, informed comparisons.
FAQs About Penske Truck Rental
How much does Penske charge to rent a truck per day?
Penske doesn’t have a universal daily price. The cost of a move depends on various factors. Local rentals, where you pick up and drop off the truck at the same location, are priced according to a daily base rate plus a fee per mile, which can vary by market or date. One-way moves are priced differently as a flat rate that includes a certain number of days and unlimited miles, with extra days priced at $100/day. The best way to find out how much a Penske rental will cost you is to run a quote for your specific move.
How many days can you rent a Penske truck?
When renting a Penske truck for a local move (where you pick up and drop off at the same location), rental periods are usually same-day. However, you have the option to rent your truck longer at a per-day rate plus a per-mile fee.
With one-way Penske truck rentals, the number of days you rent your truck depends on the distance. If you need your truck longer, let your Penske representative know, and they can extend your rental period at $100/day.
What is cheaper than Penske?
According to our personal shopper research, U-Haul and Budget tend to offer truck rentals for less than Penske, especially when it comes to local or short moves. However, Penske has been known to price-match lower quotes, so be sure to check with your Penske rep before opting for a lower-priced competitor.
How many miles will a Penske truck go on a full tank?
On Penske’s website, the 22- and 26-foot diesel lists up to a 70-gallon tank and up to 13 mpg. In ideal conditions, that’s about 910 miles per tank (70×13).
Penske’s 12- and 16-foot trucks are listed online as having a fuel tank up to 33 gallons (up to 12 mpg). This would amount to 396 miles per tank in ideal conditions. Real-world numbers vary according to factors such as speed, load, terrain, and idling.
Pro Tip: Use Penske’s Fuel Estimator to estimate fuel costs for your truck size and distance.
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