2022 Budget Truck Rental Review

We gathered near 30 quotes from Budget and scoured its services, coverage options, and customer reviews to meet how the company stacks up.

budget

4.2 out of 5 stars

4.two

  • Pros

    Best prices for local moves

  • Pros

    Moving assist bachelor

  • Cons

    Fewer locations

Bottom line: Budget Truck Rental is one of the best moving truck rental companies in the business, and information technology'south the number one pick for local moves. The visitor provides most services you could need for a DIY move, it's widely available throughout the country, and it has the best rates for local rentals.

That said, Budget's competitors do sometimes have better prices for long-distance rentals and big rental trucks. And so if y'all're moving long distance or you need a big truck, become a quote from multiple companies to compare.

Keep reading to larn about Upkeep'south pricing and services.

Budget is available in every land in the continental US (but non in Hawaii or Alaska).

Compare Upkeep trucks

Truck size

Internal dimensions

Capacity

Weight limit (lbs.)

Interior space (cu. ft.)

Fuel tank capacity (gallons)

Miles per gallon

Visit website

11 ft. 10 four ft. v in. x 6 ft. 1 room or a studio flat iii,400 357 25 8–14
10 ft. 10 half dozen ft. 3 in. x 6 ft. 1–2 rooms 3,610 380 35 8–14
16 ft. ten 6 ft. three in. x 6 ft. 7 in. 3–4 rooms iv,460 658 33 half dozen–x
26 ft. x 8 ft. 1 in. x 8 ft. 1 in. 5–8 rooms ten,000 1,698 50 viii–10

Data every bit of Oct, 2020.

What to know about Budget Truck Rental

Now that you've got an overview of Upkeep's services and prices, permit'south focus on a few of Budget's qualities you should know about.

Budget'southward mileage rate is ane of the lowest

For local moves, basically every moving truck rental visitor charges a mileage rate on top of the rental price. The simply exception is Home Depot, but this just applies to its small Load 'Due north Get truck rentals, which come with unlimited mileage. If you demand a medium- to large-sized moving truck, Dwelling Depot tin hire a Penske truck to you, but it will come up with Penske'due south mileage rate.

Mileage rates for moving trucks

Company

Budget Truck Rental

Penske Truck Rental

U-Haul Truck Rental

Mileage rate $0.47/mile $1.29/mile $0.99/mile

Data equally of October, 2020.

The just company with a lower mileage rate than Budget is Enterprise at $0.20/mile, though Enterprise's average upfront rental cost for local moves is nearly $100 college than Budget'south rental price.

Budget's low mileage rate, paired with its unbeatable rental prices, go far the near affordable moving truck rental company for local moves.

Budget offers loading/unloading aid

If you're renting a moving truck, you're probably prepared to do all the heavy lifting yourself to save coin. However, DIY moving doesn't take to be all or nothing, and getting some professional moving aid can expedite your motility and prevent back hurting later on on.

Budget partners with HireAHelper—one of our favorite moving labor companies—to help customers with loading and unloading. These services cost extra, but they're still cheaper than paying for a total-service movement.

Additionally, hiring trained professionals to help load and unload your belongings is safer than doing it all yourself, even if this isn't your starting time rodeo.

If you're all the same committed to doing all the work yourself, you should at to the lowest degree check out our guide to loading a moving truck to become some tips and pointers.

Upkeep's client reviews aren't stellar

Despite all the good qualities we've listed, Budget's client reviews don't paint a pretty picture. Across multiple review sites similar Yelp and Google Reviews, customers report issues similar unfriendly client service, muddied and damaged trucks, and boring response times from roadside assistance.

As a full general rule, you lot shouldn't put too much stock in customer reviews. People are more than probable to write reviews if they've had negative experiences,1 so online reviews tend to skew harshly disquisitional, even if a company offers satisfactory service a lot of the time.

That said, Upkeep's reviews are tied with U-Haul's for the worst in the industry, and then be forewarned before you determine to hire from Budget. The company's low local rates might even so be worth risking some bad customer service, but if you're willing to pay more for a amend feel, get a quote from Penske, the moving truck rental visitor with the best client reviews.

How does Budget compare to other moving truck rentals?

Information as of October, 2020.

How much does Budget Truck Rental cost?

If you're moving locally and you want to keep things cheap by renting a moving truck instead of hiring professionals, Budget Truck Rental is your go-to option.

To fairly compare moving truck prices, we gathered over a hundred quotes from industry-leading moving truck rental companies.

We found that Upkeep'south prices are consistently lower than U-Haul's, and they're the very best in the industry for local moves.

For moves under 100 miles, Budget's average cost was $27.60 with a $0.47/mile mileage charge per unit. Compared to the industry average of $169.65 plus a mileage rate of $0.75 per mile, Budget's local rates are an accented steal.

The but company that tin can hold a candle to Budget's local rates is Home Depot, only only if you tin can complete your move in one of Habitation Depot'due south super small Load 'N Go Trucks. If you're moving locally from a domicile with more than one bedchamber, Upkeep is your best bet.

Budget's long-distance rates are a different story, though. For moves over 100 miles, Budget'south average toll was $2,080, while the manufacture average was $two,077. So, while Upkeep's long-distance prices aren't as good equally Penske's, they're but about average.

These are just averages though, and Budget can sometimes take the best rates available for long-distance moves, like it did for this move from Iowa to Texas. The bottom line is that you lot should always get quotes from multiple companies.

Budget pricing

To give you lot an idea of how much your Upkeep truck rental might cost, here are a few of the quotes Budget gave us:

Quotes for Budget's 26-foot truck rentals

Move Distance

Quote

50 miles $38.38 + $0.47/mile
463 miles $777.70
1,846 miles $iii,029.63
2,060 miles $2,861.33

Quotes for Budget's 12-foot truck rentals

Move Distance

Quote

50 miles $21.14 + $0.47/mile
463 miles $571.63
1,846 miles $one,988.27
two,060 miles $2,179.52

Data as of Oct 2020. Prices practice not include addition services like moving coverage or additional equipment rentals. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject field to change.

Budget cost factors

Moving truck rental rates fluctuate daily because of supply and demand, so information technology's impossible to predict exactly how much your Budget moving truck will cost until you get your quote. Withal, here are some factors that will always impact your price:

  • Your move appointment
  • When you book
  • Your rental deposit
  • Taxes
  • Mileage
  • Add together-on rentals and services
  • Moving coverage

If you're curious about how each of these factors piece of work together to determine your rental price, read our guide to moving costs.

The $150 deposit is fully refundable equally long as you don't bring the truck back muddy, with less gas than yous started with, or past your allotted time. Programme accordingly, though: Sometimes the deposit can take weeks to hit your bank account.

Upkeep discounts

To make its competitive rates fifty-fifty better, Budget offers several discounts that tin can salvage you a lot of money:

  • Usa military discount—xx% off truck rental
  • AARP member disbelieve—20% off Dominicus through Th and ten% off Friday through Saturday
  • Police, burn down, and EMT personnel discounts—20% off for local moves and 15% off for ane-way moves
  • Motor Society member discounts—20% off for local moves and xv% off for i-way moves
  • Bar Association member discounts—20% off for local moves and 15% off for one-mode moves
  • Student discounts—20% off for local moves and xv% off for 1-mode moves​1

Ready to become your quote?
See exactly what your moving truck will cost and snag a sugariness discount while yous're at it.

Budget's moving coverage options

While information technology costs extra, moving coverage is admittedly essential for a painless and carefree motility. If y'all don't purchase coverage to pay for unexpected impairment to your moving truck or your belongings, yous'll be left footing the neb for whatsoever might go wrong. Even if yous make it to your new home without incident, the peace of listen that comes with coverage is worth the price.

Here's a list of Budget'southward moving coverage options and what they cover.

Damage Waivers

Budget's impairment waivers encompass the cost of concrete harm to moving trucks and towing equipment.2 Budget has two different damage waiver options, each with specific exclusions:

  • The first, called Physical Damage Waiver, covers all harm, so you're financially responsible for no damage to the truck.
  • The second, chosen Limited Damage Waiver, covers damage subsequently the kickoff $500. So, for case, if the truck suffered $1,000 of damage while you had it, you'd have to pay $500, then the harm waiver would cover the other $500. If the truck suffered only $500 of impairment, though, you'd have to pay it all.

Supplemental Liability Insurance

Supplemental liability insurance (SLI) protects y'all from third-party property damage or injury claims made by 3rd parties against you while y'all're driving your Upkeep truck. Keep in mind that there are exclusions. For case, SLI won't protect you if you operate your truck in a mode that violates your rental understanding.3

Personal and Cargo

Budget'due south personal and cargo insurance covers two types of damage in case of a standoff:

  • Bodily injury to you and your passengers
  • Damage to your household appurtenances

At that place are a lot of exclusions, and this coverage doesn't apply to items similar jewelry, antiques, and firearms, so exist sure to check the terms and conditions before you hit the road.iv

Motorcar Tow Protection

If you need to tow a car during your move, auto tow protection covers damage to the towed vehicle every bit long as you tow it behind your Budget truck on a Upkeep tow dolly or car carrier. This coverage comes with a $250 deductible. As with all types of coverage, there are also some exclusions.5

Roadside SafetyNet

Roadside SafetyNet is Budget'due south version of roadside assistance. Information technology gives yous access to Budget's 24/7 roadside assist hotline, which tin help you in case of certain events:

  • Flat tires
  • Lost keys
  • A cleaved window or windshield
  • A dead battery
  • An empty fuel tank
  • And more6

Roadside SafetyNet only covers these events if they happen to your moving truck, not to your personal vehicle. This is Budget's most bones coverage option, merely it's also the one y'all're almost likely to apply. Fifty-fifty if yous forego other types of coverage, y'all should however pay for roadside assistance.

All coverage options are subject to provisions, limitations, and exceptions. Individuals should review their rental contract—including addendums—for a complete clarification of the policy's terms, conditions, and exclusions.

Budget Truck Rental features and services

  • Long-distance, one-way rentals
  • Local, round-trip rentals
  • Multiple truck sizes
  • Pickup truck rental
  • Article of furniture pads and hand truck rentals
  • Tow dolly and motorcar carrier rentals
  • Multiple coverage options
  • Roadside assistance
  • Moving labor (costs extra)

Upkeep's moving trucks

Budget has fewer moving truck sizes than about competitors, though its 26-foot truck is just as big as any other company'south largest truck (requite or accept a few cubic anxiety of infinite). Budget's two largest trucks also come with convenient loading ramps that make it like shooting fish in a barrel to carry heavy furniture up into the truck.

Upkeep truck sizes

Truck size

Internal dimensions

Capacity

Weight limit (lbs.)

Interior space (cu. ft.)

Fuel tank capacity (gallons)

Miles per gallon

Visit website

11 ft. x four ft. 5 in. 10 6 ft. one room or a studio apartment three,400 357 25 8–xiv
10 ft. x 6 ft. iii in. x six ft. 1–2 rooms 3,610 380 35 8–fourteen
16 ft. x 6 ft. 3 in. x 6 ft. 7 in. 3–four rooms 4,460 658 33 6–10
26 ft. ten 8 ft. one in. x 8 ft. 1 in. 5–8 rooms 10,000 one,698 50 8–10

Data as of October 2020. Prices practice not include add together-on services similar moving coverage or boosted equipment rentals. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

In addition to the moving truck sizes listed in the table above, Budget rents out pickup trucks of various sizes. Budget's pickup trucks are just available for local moves and odd jobs, so you tin't motion to some other state in one, but they're perfect for hauling a busted sofa to the dump or picking up renovation materials from the hardware shop.

Budget's auto transport rental equipment

If you lot need an affordable mode to become an actress car to your new home, you can rent ane of Budget's tow dollies or car carriers to booty your vehicle behind your moving truck.

Budget'south towing rental specifications

Rental equipment

Tow dolly7

Motorcar carrier8

Intended towed vehicle type
  • Front-wheel drive
  • All-bike bulldoze
  • 4-wheel bulldoze
  • Rear-bicycle bulldoze
  • Four-wheel drive
  • All-bicycle drive
  • Load capacity (lbs.)
  • iii,300 (FWD)
  • 3,600 (AWD, 4WD, or RWD)
  • 4,055
    Maximum vehicle width six ft. 4 in. six ft. seven in.
    Maximum vehicle length N/A 12 ft.

    Budget's tow dollies and car carriers can only be rented if you're also renting a moving truck. You can't tow them backside whatsoever vehicle except your moving truck.

    Our recommendation

    Despite its negative customer reviews, Upkeep'due south list of services and affordable rates brand it 1 of the best moving truck rental companies in the biz. And, if y'all're moving locally and you want the most affordable moving truck you can find, Budget'due south rates are far and away the everyman. You should even so get quotes from a few other companies too, just Upkeep is likely your well-nigh affordable pick.

    Ready to get your move started?
    We could talk all 24-hour interval about Budget's affordability, but you'll only know for sure what your movement will cost after yous become your quote.

    Other truck rental picks

    If y'all want to learn about Upkeep'due south competitors and gather some boosted quotes, check out these reviews:

    • Penske Truck Rental
    • U-Haul Truck Rental
    • Enterprise Truck Rental
    • Home Depot Truck Rental

    Yous tin can as well compare companies' pricing and services on our Best Truck Rental Companies list or our Cheapest Truck Rental Companies listing.

    FAQ most Budget Truck Rental

    Why doesn't Upkeep Truck Rental guarantee reservations?

    Upkeep Truck Rental doesn't guarantee reservations because it considers your truck size, pickup date, and location to be preferences, and information technology reserves the right to make changes. However, Upkeep Truck Rental does honor your original charge per unit if y'all make a deposit using a credit card.

    Does Budget Truck Rental have unlimited mileage?

    Budget does non offer unlimited miles. With a local rental, you lot'll pay a per-mile fee. On a long-distance, ane-way rental, mileage is included, just there'southward a mileage cap based on your specific move—and you'll pay for any additional distance you lot bulldoze.

    Does Upkeep Truck Rental offer loading/unloading help?

    Budget itself will not transport its employees to assist you load and unload your truck or pack and unpack your boxes. Instead, it'll straight you to HireAHelper, which offers hourly moving labor.

    Does Budget Truck Rental hire moving trailers?

    Upkeep does not accept moving trailers bachelor for rent. It offers only car trailers and tow dollies for your vehicle. If you need a trailer to tow backside your car, check out our list of the best places to rent moving trailers.

    Does Budget Truck Rental rent cargo vans?

    Yes, in addition to its three moving truck sizes, Budget Truck Rental also offers cargo vans. As y'all might expect, Budget'southward cargo vans are much smaller than its moving trucks, so you lot can't fit much inside of them. That said, they're cheaper than renting a moving truck, and they're perfect for smaller jobs like moving out of a studio apartment.

    Methodology

    In order to charge per unit Budget'south pricing, we collected nearly 30 quotes for four dwelling house sizes moving seven distances (both local and long distance).

    Then we took a await at Budget'due south services, equally described on their website and verified through calls to the customer service agents. We also looked at moving insurance coverage, roadside assistance, availability, and how reliable reservations are.

    Finally, we took customer experiences into account. We looked at customer star ratings and comments on Google, Yelp, and other review sites. We also interviewed real-life customers who had recently moved with Upkeep and gave them moving assistance grants for their efforts.

    Recommended resource

    Our reports on Budget customers' experiences

    Related articles

    You can never over prepare for a move. Read these guides to brand sure everything is squared abroad before moving twenty-four hour period:

    • The Just Moving Checklist You'll Ever Need
    • How to Pack a Moving Truck Similar the Pros
    • How to Plan Your Moving Road Trip

    Sources

    1. Budget Truck Rental, "Electric current Truck Rental Deals." Accessed May 12, 2021.
    2. Budget Truck Rental, "Rental Damage Waiver." Accessed May 12, 2021.
    3. Budget Truck Rental, "Supplemental Liability Insurance." Accessed May 12, 2021.
    4. Upkeep Truck Rental, "Personal Accident & Cargo Insurance." Accessed May 12, 2021.
    5. Upkeep Truck Rental, "Auto Tow Protection." Accessed May 12, 2021.
    6. Upkeep Truck Rental, "Truck Roadside Aid." Accessed May 12, 2021.
    7. Budget Truck Rental, "Automobile Dolly and Tow Dolly Rentals." Accessed May xiii, 2021.
    8. Budget Truck Rental, "Motorcar Carriers and Car Trailer Rentals." Accessed May 13, 2021.
    9. Marketing Charts, "Bad Customer Service Interactions More Likely to exist Shared Than Good Ones," April 15, 2013. Accessed May 4, 2021.

    Joe Roberts

    Written by

    Joe Roberts

    Joe Roberts is a professional writer with a caste in writing studies and over four years of copywriting experience. He previously worked at Overstock.com, where he wrote almost furniture, dwelling decor, and moving. Joe has moved all over Utah, so he knows his fashion effectually a moving truck—and he spends his time (and coin) expanding his personal library so it will be even heavier adjacent time he moves.