U-Haul vs Penske Truck Rental
Researched and written by Daniel Harper · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks · Last reviewed August 2026
We publish no numeric score for moving companies, so this page names no winner. U-Haul is described as best for diy moves where you drive the truck, while Penske Truck Rental is described as best for diy moves where vehicle reliability matters. Compare the registration and authority records below, verify each USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER, and get a binding estimate from both before booking.
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Side-by-side
| Category | U-Haul | Penske Truck Rental |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 327574 | |
| MC # | 118117 | |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | |
| Founded | 1945 | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Phoenix, AZ | Reading, PA |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Services | Local, Long-distance, Storage, Container/Portable | Local, Long-distance |
| Legal name on the federal filing | PENSKE TRUCK LEASING CO LP | |
| Entity status | A | |
| Power units on the census file | 38,075 | |
| Drivers on the census file | 16,014 | |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-13 | |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $400–$2,800 | $450–$2,900 |
Legal name, entity status, operating authority, fleet counts and safety rating come from the FMCSA motor carrier census and licensing files, and appear only where the identifier on the federal record matched the company record on this page. Where a row is absent for one company, this site holds no verified federal value for it.
U-Haul
The default DIY rental option in nearly every US ZIP code. Cheapest path for a same-city move; their U-Box container product also competes with PODS for long-distance.
- Best for diy moves where you drive the truck.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1945.
- Truck condition and customer service vary widely by location; one-way rentals can run 3–4x the local price.
Penske Truck Rental
Penske rents one-way and local moving trucks. It is a truck rental provider rather than a household goods carrier, so no household goods operating authority applies to it.
- Best for diy moves where vehicle reliability matters.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1969.
- Per-mile rates on one-way rentals are noticeably higher than U-Haul.
DIY moves where you drive the truck
Truck condition and customer service vary widely by location; one-way rentals can run 3–4x the local price.
DIY moves where vehicle reliability matters
Per-mile rates on one-way rentals are noticeably higher than U-Haul.
Compare U-Haul and Penske Truck Rental, and a few alternatives
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Frequently asked questions
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