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U-Haul vs Penske vs Budget vs Enterprise: which rental truck fits your move
U-Haul, Penske, Budget, and Enterprise differ in truck length, fuel, one-way mileage, and where the truck must be returned. Quote the same dates and a similar size, then read days, miles, fuel policy, coverage, and equipment before you pick.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 2026-09-28
The real differences
Penske one-way rentals include unlimited miles within a set number of days.
Sizes and fuel split the four brands. U-Haul offers 10, 15, 20, and 26 foot trucks plus a 9 foot cargo van, all gasoline. Penske offers 12, 16, 22, and 26 foot trucks plus a cargo van, and its 22 and 26 foot trucks use diesel. Budget offers 12, 16, and 26 foot trucks plus a cargo van, with diesel on the 26 and no 20 to 22 foot size.
One-way miles and loading gear differ. U-Haul one-way rentals come with a set number of days and miles. Penske one-way rentals include unlimited miles within a set number of days. U-Haul 15, 20, and 26 foot trucks have Mom's Attic and a ramp. Penske trucks 16 foot and up have a 1,000 lb ramp and can tow a vehicle. The Penske 22 and 26 foot trucks carry up to 10,000 lb.
How each brand rents, from its own pages. Prices are quoted per route and date, so compare quotes for the same dates.
| U-Haul | Penske Truck Rental | Budget Truck Rental | Enterprise Truck Rental | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-way | Yes, with a set number of days and miles | Yes, unlimited miles within a set number of days | Yes for trucks; pickups are local only | Box trucks generally no: return to the same location. Pickups can go one way with a drop charge. |
| How it prices | In-town: a daily rate plus a per-mile charge. One-way: a quote for the route with allotted days and miles. Fuel, insurance, and equipment are extra. | Local round trips: a daily rate plus a per-mile fee. One-way: unlimited miles, a set number of days. Fuel is extra. | Round trip: daily rate plus mileage. One-way: a route quote. Fuel is extra. | Daily rate plus mileage; ask the location. |
| Watch for | Every U-Haul truck runs on gasoline. | The 22 ft and 26 ft trucks run on diesel, which not every station sells. | Fewer sizes than U-Haul or Penske. | Plan on a round trip: one-way box truck rentals are the exception. |
Sources: U-Haul: the ultimate truck guide; Penske: moving truck sizes; Budget: 16 ft truck; Enterprise: one-way truck rentals.
What each brand rents in each size class. Read 28 Sep 2026.
| Size class | Fits | U-Haul | Penske | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | A dorm, a studio, or a few big items | 9' cargo van, 246 cu ft | cargo van, 404 cu ft | cargo van, 323 cu ft |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | A studio or a small one-bedroom | 10' truck, 402 cu ft | 12' truck, 450 cu ft | 12' truck, 380 cu ft |
| 15 to 16 ft truck | A one or two bedroom apartment | 15' truck, 764 cu ft | 16' truck, 800 cu ft | 16' truck, 658 cu ft |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | A two to three bedroom home | 20' truck, 1,016 cu ft | 22' truck, 1,200 cu ft, diesel | Not offered |
| 26 ft truck | A three to five bedroom home | 26' truck, 1,682 cu ft | 26' truck, 1,700 cu ft, diesel | 26' truck, 1,698 cu ft, diesel |
Which one fits which move
Enterprise box trucks are mainly for local moves and generally must return to the same location.
Local and one-way moves follow different rules. Enterprise box trucks are mainly for local moves and generally must return to the same location. One-way is the exception, and pickups can go one way with a drop charge. Budget offers one-way for trucks, while pickups are local only, and a one-way is a route quote. For a cross-country one-way, U-Haul says it has the largest network of company and dealer locations.
Towing and a full house need different trucks. Penske trucks 16 foot and up can tow a vehicle. U-Haul 15 and 26 foot trucks tow up to 10,000 lb. Budget 16 and 26 foot trucks have a 1,000 lb ramp, and the 16 is its smallest for a tow dolly or car carrier. Compare the 26 foot trucks and the U-Haul 20 foot truck on the size chart. Specs vary by model year and location.
Reviews in our licensed file that name each brand. Self-reported, not a ranking.
| Brand | Reviews | Mean rating |
|---|---|---|
| U-Haul | 0 | Too few |
| Penske Truck Rental | 0 | Too few |
| Budget Truck Rental | 3 | 3.30 |
| Enterprise Truck Rental | 0 | Too few |
Fuel for 1,000 loaded miles, at the US average price for the week of 21 Sept 2026. Uses the low end of each brand's mpg estimate, because a loaded truck does worse than the brochure.
| Truck | Fuel | Loaded mpg | Per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-Haul 9' cargo van | Gasoline | 18 mpg | $249 |
| U-Haul 10' truck | Gasoline | 12 mpg | $373 |
| U-Haul 15' truck | Gasoline | 10 mpg | $448 |
| U-Haul 20' truck | Gasoline | 10 mpg | $448 |
| U-Haul 26' truck | Gasoline | 8 mpg | $560 |
| Penske cargo van | Gasoline | 12 mpg | $373 |
| Penske 12' truck | Gasoline | 12 mpg | $373 |
| Penske 16' truck | Gasoline | 12 mpg | $373 |
| Penske 22' truck | Diesel | 13 mpg | $502 |
| Penske 26' truck | Diesel | 13 mpg | $502 |
| Budget cargo van | Gasoline | 8 mpg | $560 |
| Budget 12' truck | Gasoline | 8 mpg | $560 |
| Budget 16' truck | Gasoline | 6 mpg | $746 |
| Budget 26' truck | Diesel | 8 mpg | $816 |
Source: US Energy Information Administration, weekly retail prices (week of 21 Sept 2026).
How to compare quotes fairly
Prices are quoted per route and date by each brand
Match the dates and the size class first. Prices are quoted per route and date by each brand, so run quotes for the same pickup and return days. Compare a similar length, such as a 15 or 16 foot truck, or the 26 foot trucks. A truck size calculator keeps the class honest. Haulest is not a truck rental company and earns nothing from any brand.
Read what the quote actually includes. Check days, miles, fuel policy, coverage, and equipment such as a ramp or tow gear. U-Haul one-way miles are capped, while Penske one-way miles are unlimited inside the rental days. Budget one-way is a route quote. Round trip quotes add a mileage charge to the daily rate. Reviews that mention each brand appear on this page, with a count of U-Haul 0, Penske Truck Rental 0, Budget Truck Rental 3, Enterprise Truck Rental 0.
Haulest is not a truck rental company and earns nothing from any brand. Drafted with grok-4.7-medium via cursor-agent on 2026-09-24, then edited.
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- Can an Enterprise box truck go one way?
- Enterprise box trucks are mainly for local moves and generally must return to the same location. One-way is the exception. Pickups can go one way with a drop charge.
- Which of these trucks use diesel?
- Penske 22 and 26 foot trucks run on diesel, and the Budget 26 foot truck runs on diesel. U-Haul trucks in this set are all gasoline. Enterprise does not publish fuel economy.
- Which trucks can tow a car?
- Penske trucks 16 foot and up can tow a vehicle. The Budget 16 foot truck is its smallest that can use a tow dolly or car carrier. U-Haul 15 and 26 foot trucks tow up to 10,000 lb.
- How do I compare quotes fairly?
- Prices are quoted per route and date by each brand. Run the same dates and a similar size class. Then check days, miles, fuel policy, coverage, and equipment in each quote.
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About Anthony Bale
A moving industry professional, author and writer. Anthony has been at different positions in the industry for the last 10 years, gaining significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 6 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process.
At Haulest he writes the US cost, hiring, and rights pages, reading the licensed review file every week so the numbers on the page are the numbers people reported.
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