What you need to know about Budget trucks 

Making a long-distance move takes a lot of planning, and if you’re thinking of using a rental truck service like Budget®, you might have some questions. We’ve gathered what you need to know about Budget truck rental, and we’ll compare it to U-Pack® — a DIY moving solution where you pack, load and unload but don’t have to drive the moving truck.    

Suggested reading: truck rental comparison. 

What are the age requirements to rent from Budget? 

The renter must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and be at least 24 years old or at least 18 years old with move orders from the U.S. government or military. Some locations allow non-government drivers ages 18-23 to rent equipment with two forms of ID and a $25 per day surcharge. 
 

How does Budget figure pricing for one-way rentals? 

Budget quotes are based on the origin, destination, truck size and move date. The price includes a set number of days and miles for the rental. Liability coverage, fuel, taxes and fees are not included in the base price.  

Read about Budget truck coupons. 
 

What does Budget charge for extra miles or days? 

Beyond the initial terms in the rental agreement, Budget allows additional days and miles for $80 per day and $0.80 per mile in advance, or $100 per day and $1.00 per mile upon return. Note that some one-way rentals offer unlimited miles — be sure to check your quote for what’s included.
 

Do I have to pay with a credit or debit card? 

You’ll need a valid credit or debit card to reserve a truck online. Rental locations will take cash as payment, and select locations may accept personal checks. 
 

Does Budget require a deposit? 

Yes. The amount will vary based on moving details and rental location. 
 

Are reservations guaranteed? 

While a reservation locks in the rate and lists your pickup location and time preference, the truck size isn’t guaranteed. Budget may substitute the truck with another size if the preferred size is unavailable. Any accessory rentals (like furniture dollies) are on a first-come, first-served basis. 
 

Do I have to purchase insurance? 

While Budget doesn’t require the purchase of their protection plans, they recommend it. Without protection, the renter is responsible for paying for any damage to the truck. Some personal auto insurance policies cover rentals, so check with your insurance provider for information about your policy. 

Is it easy to cancel my reservation? 

Budget doesn’t charge for cancellations that are at least 48 hours before the pickup time. However, they do charge a $75 fee for cancelations within 48 hours of the reservation. 

What sizes of moving trucks does Budget offer? 

Budget has three truck sizes available for long-distance and one-way moves.  

12-ft trucks 

• suitable for studio apartments 
• interior dimensions: 10’ x 6’ 3” x 6’ LWH, 380 cubic feet of loading space
• 9-ft clearance 
• 10,050 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 
• weight limit for belongings: 3,610 lbs. 
• seats two people 
• 35-gallon gasoline tank (8-14 MPG) 

16-ft trucks 

• suitable for 1-bedroom homes or apartments 
• interior dimensions: 16’ x 6’ 3” x 6’ 7” LWH, 658 cubic feet of loading space  
• comes with a moving ramp 
• 11-ft clearance 
• 12,500 lbs. GVW 
• weight limit for belongings: 4,460 lbs. 
• seats two people (a limited number of trucks might seat three, depending on the model) 
• 33-gallon gasoline tank (6-10 MPG) 

26-ft trucks 

• suitable for 2- or 3-bedroom homes or apartments 
• interior dimensions: 26’ x 8’ 1” x 8’ 1” LWH, 1,698 cubic feet of loading space  
• comes with a moving ramp 
• 13-ft clearance 
• 26,000 lbs. GVW 
• weight limit for belongings: 9,180 lbs. 
• seats three people 
• 50-gallon diesel tank (8-10 MPG) 

Can I tow my car with a Budget rental truck? 

Budget has car carriers and tow dollies available for rent if you are also renting a 16- or 26-ft moving truck. Learn more about renting a Budget trailer. 

Is it easy to drive the truck? 

While Budget vehicles operate similarly to other automobiles, they are much larger and heavier, requiring more time and attention — driving slower, giving extra room when turning, putting more space between the truck and other vehicles, and applying the brakes sooner.   

Maximum speed

While Budget doesn’t mention a maximum speed, they do recommend not exceeding 45 MPH when towing a vehicle. Either way, it’s important to obey posted speed limits and other traffic laws when driving a moving truck.

Cruise control 

The use of cruise control in a Budget truck isn’t recommended, so don’t expect to find the option in most trucks.

Towing  

Use extra care when driving with car towing equipment. Travel at slower speeds and allow more distance for braking. Backing up while using towing equipment isn’t recommended, so try to utilize pull-through parking when available.  

Gas mileage 

Budget trucks get between 6-14 MPG and use either gasoline or diesel fuel. You must return the truck with a full tank. Fuel costs are not included in the quote for Budget truck rentals, so plan for this expense. 

Learn more about Budget truck gas mileage. 

How does U-Pack compare? 

U-Pack is an excellent alternative to truck rental. We’re a DIY moving service where you do the packing, loading and unloading, and we handle the driving.  

Two flexible equipment options 

U-Pack offers two types of moving equipment:  moving trailers and ReloCube® containers. You only pay for the space used in a moving trailer (down to a minimum of 5 linear feet) or pay for the number of Cubes used. You don’t have to worry about choosing the right size rental truck. 

No extra costs for fuel or liability coverage 

U-Pack prices include fuel, transportation and standard liability coverage, so there’s no need to worry about the added cost of filling up a large moving truck with low MPG or paying extra for liability coverage.  

Less hassle 

With U-Pack, you don’t have to take time away from the move to pick up or drop off the rental truck. Our quotes include door-to-door delivery in most cases (although you can choose to load and unload at a service center for additional savings). Plus, you don’t have to pay more for extra days or mileage like you do with a rental truck (U-Pack transit times are generally 4-6 business days). 

Get a U-Pack quote now to compare prices 

Get a free, no-obligation U-Pack quote online or by calling 844-362-5303844-594-3077. You might be surprised to see how affordable we are when compared to rental truck prices once you add in the extra costs of fuel, taxes and liability coverage. If you have questions about U-Pack services and how they compare to Budget truck rental, let us know in the comments.   

Budget® is a registered trademark of Budget Truck Rental, LLC.  Use of third-party trademarks or registered trademarks does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by such third-party.