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U-HAUL

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; verify final equipment, services, availability, coverage and rental terms directly with U-Haul or the applicable independent service provider.

U-Haul at a Glance

What U-Haul Provides

U-Haul is built around customers arranging and controlling their own move.

Depending on location and availability, U-Haul services can include:

Moving truck rentals
Cargo van and pickup rentals
Moving trailer rentals
Auto transport and towing equipment
U-Box portable moving and storage containers
Self-storage
Boxes and moving supplies
Trailer hitches and towing accessories
Moving equipment such as dollies and furniture pads
Moving labor booked through the Moving Help Marketplace

The exact mix of equipment and services varies by location. A neighborhood dealer may offer fewer products than a full U-Haul Moving & Storage center.

U-Haul Is Not a Full-Service Moving Company

U-Haul’s own current FAQ states that U-Haul does not have movers.

If you rent a U-Haul truck, you normally remain responsible for driving the rental vehicle and arranging the physical labor needed to load and unload it.

U-Haul provides access to moving labor through the Moving Help Marketplace, but those Service Providers are independent businesses. They are not U-Haul employees or contractors and they do not drive the U-Haul rental truck.

This distinction matters when comparing U-Haul with a full-service carrier.

With a traditional full-service mover, the moving company typically supplies the truck, driver and moving crew under one transportation arrangement.

With a U-Haul truck rental, you control the rental and transportation, while any labor you book through Moving Help is a separate service.

Moving Truck Rentals

U-Haul offers moving trucks for local and long-distance DIY moves.

The company’s current national size chart lists:

Pickup truck
Cargo van
10′ moving truck
15′ moving truck
20′ moving truck
26′ moving truck
29′ moving truck

Availability can vary by city, location and moving date.

The size of the truck matters because choosing a truck that is too small can require additional trips, while choosing a much larger truck can mean driving a larger vehicle than necessary.

When comparing truck sizes, consider:

Interior cargo space
Number of bedrooms being moved
Large furniture
Garage and patio contents
Ramp availability
Seating capacity
Towing needs
Truck height and clearance

U-Haul states that a standard valid driver’s license is sufficient for its moving trucks; a commercial driver’s license is not generally required.

In-Town vs. One-Way Rentals

U-Haul uses two main truck-rental structures.

In-Town rental

You pick up and return the equipment to the same U-Haul location. The rental generally includes a base rental charge plus mileage and other applicable charges.

One-Way rental

You pick up the equipment in one city and return it at a different approved location. One-way reservations generally include an allowed number of rental days and miles.

Before reserving, determine which structure fits your move and confirm:

Pickup location
Return location
Pickup date and time
Return deadline
Allowed mileage
Additional-mile terms
Additional-day terms
Equipment size

For a long-distance move, the return location shown on the rental contract is especially important.

Rental Charges to Check Before Booking

The advertised truck rate is only one part of the total rental cost.

Depending on the move and equipment selected, the final amount can also be affected by:

Miles driven
Rental duration
Origin and destination
Moving date
Equipment size
Fuel used
Taxes
Environmental fees
Optional protection plans
Dollies and furniture pads
Trailers or towing equipment
Additional days or miles
Moving supplies
Moving Help labor booked separately

For an In-Town move, estimate the total number of miles you expect to drive, including trips between the residence, storage facility and U-Haul location.

For a One-Way move, confirm the included mileage and number of rental days rather than assuming the quoted amount covers unlimited time or miles.

Fuel and Returning the Truck

U-Haul requires customers to return a rental truck with the fuel level specified in the rental contract.

The company’s current moving-truck fleet uses unleaded fuel. Estimated fuel economy differs substantially by truck size and can also change with:

Shipment weight
Road grades
Driving speed
Traffic
Weather
Towing
Driving conditions

Before leaving the pickup location, check the fuel level recorded on the contract and compare it with the actual gauge.

Before returning the truck, review:

Required fuel level
Return location
Return deadline
Mileage
Cab and cargo-area condition
Any equipment that must be returned with the truck

Keep the final fuel receipt and rental receipt until the transaction is complete.

Trailers, Auto Transport and Towing

U-Haul also rents trailers and towing equipment for customers who do not need a moving truck or who need additional capacity.

Available equipment can include:

Enclosed cargo trailers
Utility trailers
Motorcycle trailers
Auto transport trailers
Tow dollies

The correct equipment depends on the towing vehicle, hitch setup, vehicle weight and what you are transporting.

Before towing, verify:

Your vehicle is approved for the selected trailer or towing device
Hitch and wiring compatibility
Towing capacity
Vehicle dimensions and weight for an auto transport or tow dolly
Whether the rental is In-Town or One-Way
Return location and time
Applicable protection plan

Do not select towing equipment based only on trailer size. Vehicle compatibility is a separate requirement.

U-Box Portable Moving & Storage Containers

U-Box is U-Haul’s portable moving and storage container service.

Current U-Haul information describes each U-Box container as providing approximately 257 cubic feet of interior space and holding up to 2,000 pounds. U-Haul describes one container as fitting roughly the contents of one and a half rooms.

Customers can use U-Box containers for:

Local moves
Long-distance moves
Cross-country moves
International moves
Temporary storage
Longer-term storage
Moves with uncertain move-in timing

Depending on the service selected, containers can be delivered to your home, loaded at a U-Haul facility, or towed to your location using approved equipment.

When you are finished loading, U-Haul can store the container or arrange transportation to the destination. Depending on the shipment, third-party shipping carriers can be involved in transportation. Depending on the shipment, third-party shipping carriers can be involved in transportation.

How U-Box Is Different From Renting a Truck

A U-Box move changes one of the biggest responsibilities in a DIY truck rental: you do not have to drive the shipment to the destination yourself.

With a truck rental, you generally load the truck, drive it and return it according to the rental agreement.

With U-Box, you load the portable container and U-Haul coordinates the container’s pickup, transportation and destination handling according to the reservation. Depending on the shipment, a third-party shipping carrier may handle part of the transportation.

This can be useful if you:

Do not want to drive a moving truck
Need storage between homes
Want more time to load or unload
Have a smaller shipment
Have uncertain closing or move-in dates

Before reserving U-Box, confirm:

Number of containers
Container delivery method
Loading location
Pickup date
Storage needs
Transportation schedule
Guaranteed or expected arrival date
Destination delivery method
Access requirements at both addresses

Moving Help Marketplace

Moving Help is an online marketplace powered by U-Haul that connects customers with independent local Service Providers for moving labor.

Services can include:

Loading
Unloading
Packing
Unpacking
U-Box loading and unloading
Heavy lifting
Other labor-only moving services

The Service Providers are not U-Haul or Moving Help employees or contractors. They operate their own businesses and set their own rates, availability and service areas.

Moving Helpers generally provide labor rather than transportation. They do not drive the customer’s U-Haul rental truck.

If you book Moving Help, identify the specific Service Provider you selected and confirm the crew size, hours, services, tools and equipment before moving day.

Truck Rental + Moving Help Is Still a DIY Transportation Move

U-Haul may describe the combination of a truck rental and Moving Help labor as a full-service-style experience, but the transportation arrangement remains different from hiring a traditional full-service moving carrier.

With this setup:

You rent the U-Haul truck
You are responsible for driving the truck
An independent Moving Help Service Provider can perform packing, loading or unloading
You return the rental equipment according to your U-Haul contract

This can reduce the amount of lifting you perform while still leaving you in control of the transportation.

If you do not want to drive, compare U-Box or a traditional moving company instead of assuming the Moving Help provider will transport the rental truck.

Optional Protection Plans

U-Haul offers several optional protection products depending on the equipment and service selected.

Current options can include:

Safemove® — protection associated with truck rentals, including equipment damage, cargo and medical/life benefits.

Safemove Plus® — includes Safemove benefits plus supplemental liability protection where available.

Safetow® — protection for trailers and towing equipment.

SafeTrip® — supplemental roadside protection.

SafeHaul® — optional coverage associated with U-Box shipping.

Safestor® — coverage associated with qualifying storage.

Safeload® — optional coverage for qualifying Moving Help jobs.

Coverage, exclusions, deductibles and availability can vary. Read the actual protection terms rather than assuming your personal auto or homeowners policy covers every part of the move.

Reservations and Equipment Availability

U-Haul operates a large moving-equipment network, but trucks and trailers constantly move between locations.

Your reservation confirmation should tell you what has been scheduled and whether the equipment, time and pickup location are confirmed.

Before moving day, verify:

Exact pickup location
Pickup time
Equipment size
Whether a trailer or towing device is included
Return location
Return deadline
Allowed mileage and days
Mobile pickup instructions, if applicable
Required identification and payment method

Do not assume the closest U-Haul location will necessarily be the final pickup location for a One-Way rental. Review the reservation details as your move approaches.

What to Check on a U-Haul Rental Contract

Before leaving with the equipment, compare the rental contract with the reservation and the equipment you actually receive.

Check:

Equipment
Truck, trailer or towing-device type
Unit number
Existing damage
Fuel level
Odometer reading

Rental Terms
Pickup date and time
Return date and time
Return location
Included miles
Included days
Additional-mile terms
Additional-day terms

Charges and Add-Ons
Base rental
Mileage
Taxes and fees
Protection plan selected
Dollies or furniture pads
Towing equipment
Moving supplies

Move-Specific Requirements
Truck clearance
Parking restrictions
Building access
Loading location
Trailer or towing compatibility

Photograph the rental equipment before departure if you want your own record of its condition.

When U-Haul May Be Worth Comparing

U-Haul may be worth comparing with other moving options if you:

Want to drive the moving truck yourself
Want control over loading and transportation timing
Need a local truck rental
Need a One-Way truck rental
Need a cargo trailer or utility trailer
Need to transport a vehicle
Want portable-container moving through U-Box
Need storage between homes
Want to hire labor separately from transportation
Need boxes or other moving supplies

The right option depends on how much work you want to do yourself.

If you want one company to provide the truck, driver and moving crew, compare traditional full-service movers.

If you are comfortable driving but want help with the lifting, a U-Haul truck paired with independent Moving Help labor may fit better.

If you want to load the shipment yourself but do not want to drive the moving truck, U-Box may be the more relevant U-Haul service.

Questions to Ask Before Booking U-Haul

Am I booking an In-Town or One-Way rental?

What exact equipment size is included in my reservation?

Is my pickup location, time and equipment confirmed?

Where must I return the equipment?

How many days are included?

How many miles are included?

What happens if I need an additional day or additional miles?

What fuel level must I return the truck with?

What protection plan have I selected?

What damage or situations are excluded from that protection?

Are dollies, furniture pads or other equipment included or separate?

If I am towing, is my vehicle approved for the equipment?

If I am using U-Box, how many containers are included?

What is the U-Box delivery, pickup and transportation schedule?

Will a third-party shipping carrier handle any part of my U-Box transportation?

What coverage applies while my U-Box is being shipped or stored?

What happens if I need storage before final delivery?

If I book Moving Help, what is the name of the independent Service Provider?

How many helpers and hours are included?

Will the helpers bring tools, dollies or other equipment?

Who is responsible for driving the rental truck?

What cancellation or rescheduling terms apply?

If an answer could materially affect your move, keep the reservation confirmation or other written terms.

Compare U-Haul Based on Your Move

U-Haul offers several different ways to handle a move, but those services should not be treated as interchangeable.

Compare your options based on:

How much you are moving
Whether you are willing to drive a moving truck
Truck size
Route
Rental days
Mileage
Fuel
Loading and unloading needs
Storage needs
Whether you need a trailer or vehicle transport
U-Box container quantity
Delivery timing
Independent labor needs
Protection options
Total expected cost

For a DIY truck move, focus on equipment size, mileage, fuel, rental time and return requirements.

For a U-Box move, focus on container quantity, loading access, storage, shipment timing and final delivery.

For a truck rental with Moving Help, remember that the labor provider and the rental/transportation arrangement are separate.

Choose the moving method that fits the amount of driving, lifting and coordination you actually want to handle yourself.

Company, equipment and service information was checked against U-Haul, Moving Help, U-Haul Holding Company and current company filings in September 2026. Equipment, availability, charges, coverage and policies can change. Verify material details for your exact reservation before booking.

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