U-Haul (Truck rental, one-way) review 2026
The cheapest way to move if you drive it yourself: a one-way 20 ft truck for our route was $1,400 before fuel, with 20,000 locations
Is the U-Haul Worth It?
Cheapest way to move. Nothing moves a two-bedroom apartment across the country for less than a U-Haul, and nothing asks more of you. It scores on value and coverage and loses on everything that involves someone else doing the work.
U-Haul Pros & Cons
- Lowest cost by far — roughly a quarter of a van line
- Locations everywhere; one-way drop-off
- Moving Help marketplace for loading labour
- U-Box containers as an alternative
- You drive a 20 ft truck 1,000 miles and buy about $350 of fuel
- Reservation does not guarantee the exact truck size
- Mileage and equipment fees add up
U-Haul at a Glance
Rubric v1: Reliability & complaints 30 · Pricing transparency 25 · Services 20 · Coverage & scheduling 10 · Value 15. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.
Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026
U-Haul specifications
Why it scored 8
Nothing moves a two-bedroom apartment across the country for less than a U-Haul, and nothing asks more of you. It scores on value and coverage and loses on everything that involves someone else doing the work.
Where it loses
Services; the driving.
Still the right pick for
Budget moves with a willing driver.
What owners say
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Changelog: Sep 11 — rank 5 → 6 · all changes