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U-Haul vs Penske: which rental truck fits your move
U-Haul and Penske list different lengths, fuel types, and one-way mileage rules, so the useful comparison is the same dates and a similar size class. Haulest is not a truck rental company and earns nothing from either brand, and specs vary by model year and location.
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 do not match. U-Haul lists 10, 15, 20, and 26 foot trucks plus a 9 foot cargo van, and every truck runs on gasoline. Penske lists 12, 16, 22, and 26 foot trucks plus a cargo van, and the 22 and 26 run on diesel. Check the size chart before you treat a 15 foot and a 16 foot as the same box.
Miles, ramps, and towing. 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. The U-Haul 15, 20, and 26 have Mom's Attic and a ramp, and the 15 and 26 tow up to 10,000 lb. Penske trucks 16 foot and up have a 1,000 lb ramp and can tow a vehicle. Penske 22 and 26 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| One-way | Yes, with a set number of days and miles | Yes, unlimited miles within a set number of days |
| 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. |
| Watch for | Every U-Haul truck runs on gasoline. | The 22 ft and 26 ft trucks run on diesel, which not every station sells. |
Sources: U-Haul: the ultimate truck guide; Penske: moving truck sizes.
What each brand rents in each size class. Read 28 Sep 2026.
| Size class | Fits | U-Haul | Penske |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | A dorm, a studio, or a few big items | 9' cargo van, 246 cu ft | cargo van, 404 cu ft |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | A studio or a small one-bedroom | 10' truck, 402 cu ft | 12' truck, 450 cu ft |
| 15 to 16 ft truck | A one or two bedroom apartment | 15' truck, 764 cu ft | 16' truck, 800 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 |
| 26 ft truck | A three to five bedroom home | 26' truck, 1,682 cu ft | 26' truck, 1,700 cu ft, diesel |
Which one fits which move
U-Haul says it has the largest network of company and dealer locations.
Short local moves hinge on miles you actually drive. In town, U-Haul is a daily rate plus a per-mile charge. A Penske local round trip is a daily rate plus a per-mile fee. Neither quote is a flat local price, so the same dates and a similar size class are the fair test. Use the truck size calculator if the load is the real question.
One-way mileage, towing, and a big house. 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 says it has the largest network of company and dealer locations. Penske trucks 16 foot and up can tow a vehicle. The U-Haul 15 and 26 tow up to 10,000 lb. A big house points to the 26 foot trucks or Penske 22.
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 |
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 |
Source: US Energy Information Administration, weekly retail prices (week of 21 Sept 2026).
How to compare quotes fairly
Line up a similar size, not a matching foot number, because U-Haul and Penske skip different lengths.
Match the dates and the size class. Prices are quoted per route and date by each brand, so a fair check uses the same pickup and drop-off dates. Line up a similar size, not a matching foot number, because U-Haul and Penske skip different lengths. Read U-Haul truck rental and Penske truck rental with those dates already chosen.
Read what the quote actually includes. Ask how many days and miles are in the price, and whether extra miles cost more. Ask about the fuel policy, coverage, and which equipment is included, such as a ramp. U-Haul and Penske publish those rules on their own pages. This page does not rank a cheapest brand.
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
- Which trucks run on diesel?
- Penske 22 and 26 foot trucks run on diesel. U-Haul trucks are all gasoline, from the 10 foot truck and 9 foot cargo van through the 26.
- Do one-way rentals include unlimited miles?
- Penske one-way rentals include unlimited miles within a set number of days. U-Haul one-way rentals come with a set number of days and miles. Read the day count in each quote before you book.
- Which trucks can tow a vehicle?
- Penske trucks 16 foot and up have a 1,000 lb ramp and can tow a vehicle. The U-Haul 15 and 26 tow up to 10,000 lb. The U-Haul 15, 20, and 26 also have Mom's Attic and a ramp.
- Where do the review counts on this page come from?
- This page prints U-Haul 0, Penske Truck Rental 0 from reviews that mention each brand. We do not state ratings in this comparison. Use the count printed beside each brand.
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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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