U-Haul review (2026)

Researched and written byDaniel HarperSenior Moving Industry Research Editor

Reviewed byAmanda BrooksSenior Editorial Reviewer

Last reviewed August 2026How we research moving companies Editorial standards

U-Haul operates through local franchise entities, so its USDOT and MC numbers must be checked per location in the FMCSA register before booking. Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, U-Haul covers all 50 states. A two-bedroom interstate move with U-Haul is estimated at $400–$2,800, before packing, valuation, and storage. BestMovers.info publishes no numeric score, star rating or ranked order for moving companies. On the documented record, U-Haul is most relevant to diy moves where you drive the truck.

Key facts

Founded: 1945
Headquarters: Phoenix, AZ
Coverage: All 50 states
2-bedroom interstate estimate: $400–$2,800
Services: Local, Long-distance, Storage, Container/Portable

Verdict

U-Haul

We do not publish a numeric score for moving companies.

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
Main trade-off: Truck condition and customer service vary widely by location; one-way rentals can run 3–4x the local price.

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Is U-Haul a carrier or a broker?

U-Haul supplies and transports portable containers rather than operating as a household goods carrier, so the customer loads the container and a separate authorisation applies to the driving leg. DIY truck, trailer, and container rental company — equipment rental, not a full-service household-goods carrier.

Does U-Haul have one USDOT number?

U-Haul registers separately in each state rather than under one national number, so there is no single federal registration that covers the brand. The registration that applies to a given rental is the one held by the state entity the equipment is rented from, not a national one. We read 7 of those registration records in the federal carrier census; those records list general freight and rental equipment as the cargo carried and do not list household goods. That is a statement about the 7 records we checked, not about every entity the company operates.

Source: FMCSA Company Census File (dataset az4n-8mr2)

Is U-Haul licensed to move within Arizona?

Arizona issues no mover-specific authorisation; what a mover holds there is ordinary business registration. What a consumer can check instead is the Arizona Corporation Commission business registration. We have not verified U-Haul's Arizona business registration. Holding federal interstate authority is a separate thing from holding state authorisation for a move that starts and ends inside one state.

How much can a mover charge above a non-binding estimate?

On an interstate move priced with a non-binding estimate, a mover may require no more than 110% of the estimated charges before it will release your goods at delivery. That cap is set by 49 CFR 375.407, and it applies to the mover you hire regardless of what the final weight turns out to be. Anything owed above that amount is not payable on delivery day: the mover must bill you for it, and you have 30 days from delivery to pay it under 49 CFR 375.407.

Source: 49 CFR 375.407, eCFR

What is a mover liable for if my belongings are damaged?

Every interstate mover must offer released value, the no-extra-charge level of liability set by 49 CFR 375.701. Under released value the mover owes 60 cents per pound per article, so a claim is settled on what a damaged item weighs rather than on what it is worth. A heavy item pays out more than a light expensive one. The alternative is full value protection, which a mover must also offer, costs extra, and settles at repair, replacement, or a cash equivalent. Released value applies by default if you sign nothing else.

Source: 49 CFR 375.701, eCFR

How can I verify U-Haul?

Estimated cost of a move with this carrier

This is an estimated quote range, not a record of prices paid. For a 2-bedroom interstate move, U-Haul quotes generally land in the $400–$2,800 range, with the midpoint of that estimated range near $1,600. The low end of that range usually applies to off-season runs under 1,000 miles with self-packing; the high end shows up on full-service summer moves over 2,000 miles.

Local hourly pricing through U-Haul is not published by the company and we hold no rate card for it. Our national editorial estimate for a two-mover crew and a truck on a local move is $105 to $155 an hour, May 2026, and it is a model figure rather than a quote from this carrier. Ask whether travel time, fuel surcharge, and stair fees sit inside or outside the hourly number, because that is where two apparently identical quotes diverge.

Where this carrier may fit

DIY moves where you drive the truck. That is an editorial view of fit, not a measured performance result: we hold no complaint-rate, claims-outcome or satisfaction dataset for U-Haul. Three things make any move with this company more predictable, whatever the carrier: an inventory list locked in two or more weeks ahead, a binding not-to-exceed estimate in writing, and a destination ZIP the company services directly rather than through a subcontracted agent.

How to work around the main trade-off

The trade-off summarised at the top of this page is the one that most often costs readers money with U-Haul. Two questions defuse it at quote stage: ask for the specific line items that drive the number up on your move profile, and ask whether the crew at your origin is employed directly or subcontracted to a local agent.

Then price the same inventory with one alternative below. A second quote on identical inventory is the only reliable way to tell whether the premium buys you anything on your particular lane.

Carrier	Founded	2BR price range
U-Haul	1945	$400–$2,800
Allied Van Lines	1928	$3,200–$7,500
Atlas Van Lines	1948	$3,000–$7,200

Carrier

Founded

2BR price range

U-Haul

1945

$400–$2,800

Allied Van Lines

1928

$3,200–$7,500

Atlas Van Lines

1948

$3,000–$7,200

Booking process, step by step

Request a quote with a complete inventory list. Online forms are fine for a first pass; a video survey is what makes a binding number stick.

Insist on binding-not-to-exceed in writing. Federal rules let a carrier collect up to 110% of a non-binding estimate at delivery, with the balance billed later; a binding not-to-exceed estimate removes that exposure.

Confirm valuation coverage. Released value (the federal default) pays $0.60 per pound. Full-value protection costs more but actually replaces a damaged TV.

Confirm pickup and delivery windows. For interstate jobs the delivery window is a range, not a date — plan accordingly.

On move day, walk the truck and check the inventory list before signing the Bill of Lading. Note any pre-existing damage on the form.

Frequently asked questions

How much does U-Haul cost for a 2-bedroom move?

A 2-bedroom interstate move with U-Haul is typically estimated at $400–$2,800. Final price depends on distance, season, packing services, and access conditions on both ends.

Does U-Haul offer binding estimates?

U-Haul offers binding-not-to-exceed quotes on request. Always ask for one in writing before move day, especially on interstate jobs.

What services does U-Haul include?

U-Haul offers local, long-distance, storage, container/Portable. Confirm which add-ons are bundled into the base quote and which are billed separately.

Where does U-Haul operate?

U-Haul covers all 50 states and is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, where it has been based since 1945.

Who is U-Haul best suited to?

U-Haul suits dIY moves where you drive the truck. The main trade-off to plan around: Truck condition and customer service vary widely by location; one-way rentals can run 3–4x the local price. Compare at least one alternative quote before you sign.