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Frequently Asked Questions about Budget Trucks
Apr 25, 2025
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Budget truck rental 101: What you should know
Planning a DIY move means considering all your options. If you’ve ever rented a car from Budget®, you might wonder about their moving trucks.
Rental truck services like Budget are popular for local moving, but there are easier and more affordable alternatives for long-distance moves. Let’s review some common questions about Budget Truck Rental and compare their services to U-Pack®, another DIY out-of-state moving service.
What are Budget’s rental requirements?
To rent moving equipment from Budget, you must:
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be at least 24 years old* or 18 with move orders from the U.S. government or military.
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have a valid credit or debit card to reserve online. Rental locations will take cash as payment, and some locations may accept personal checks.
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have a valid U.S. driver’s license. A CDL is not required.
*Some locations allow non-government drivers ages 18-23 to rent equipment with two forms of ID and a $25 per day surcharge.
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.
What’s the cancellation policy?
Budget allows no-charge cancellations if they’re made at least 48 hours before the pickup time. However, there is a $150 fee for cancellations made within 48 hours of the reservation.
What size moving trucks does Budget offer?
Budget has three vehicle sizes available for long-distance and one-way moves.
12-ft truck dimensions and specs
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Interior dimensions: 10’ x 6’3” x 6’ LWH, 380 cubic feet of loading space
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Suitable for studio apartments
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9-ft clearance
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10,050 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
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Weight limit for belongings: 3,610 lbs.
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Seats two people
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35-gallon gasoline tank (8-14 MPG)
16-ft truck dimensions and specs
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Interior dimensions: 16’ x 6’3” x 6’7” LWH, 658 cubic feet of loading space
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Suitable for 1-bedroom homes or apartments
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Comes with a moving ramp
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11-ft clearance
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12,500 lbs. GVW
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Weight limit for belongings: 4,460 lbs.
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Seats two people (a limited number of models might seat three, depending on the model)
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33-gallon gasoline tank (6-10 MPG)
26-ft truck dimensions and specs
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Interior dimensions: 26’ x 8’1” x 8’1” LWH, 1,698 cubic feet of loading space
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Suitable for 2- or 3-bedroom homes or apartments
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Comes with a moving ramp
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13-ft clearance
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26,000 lbs. GVW
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Weight limit for belongings: 9,180 lbs.
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Seats three people
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50-gallon diesel tank (8-10 MPG)
How do Budget trucks operate?
Budget vehicles operate similarly to other automobiles. Because they are much larger and heavier than personal cars, you’ll want to practice extra care when driving moving trucks. Drive slower, allow extra room when turning, put more space between the truck and other automobiles and apply the brakes sooner.
Can I tow my car?
If you use a 16- or 26-ft moving truck, you can rent a Budget trailer to tow a personal vehicle as long as it meets the requirements.
What’s the maximum speed of the trucks?
While Budget doesn’t mention a maximum speed on their website, they recommend not exceeding 45 MPH when towing a car. It’s important to obey posted speed limits and other traffic laws while operating any vehicle.
Are cruise control or other comfort features available?
Cruise control isn’t recommended or offered in most Budget truck models. However, the trucks provide air conditioning, power steering and a radio.
How’s the gas mileage?
Budget trucks typically get between 6 and 14 MPG with either gasoline or diesel fuel. You must return the truck with a full tank. The quote does not include fuel costs, so plan for this expense.
What is Budget’s pricing like for one-way rentals, and when do I pay?
Budget quotes are based on the origin, destination, equipment size and move date. The price includes a set number of days and miles. The base price does not include liability coverage, fuel, taxes and fees. Occasionally, Budget coupons are available for rate savings.
Is a deposit required?
Yes. The amount is $150 plus the estimated rental rate due upon picking up the truck. The deposit will be refunded if the vehicle is returned in good condition.
When is the payment due?
The total fee (including any state or local taxes) plus deposit is due upon picking up the equipment. Any incidentals (like extra days, miles or fuel refilling costs) will be assessed upon truck return.
What are the charges 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: Some one-way moves offer unlimited miles. Check your quote to see what’s included.
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 equipment. Some personal auto insurance covers rentals, so check with your provider for information about your policy.
How does U-Pack compare to Budget?
U-Pack is an easier and often more affordable 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.
Inclusive pricing with no surprise fees
U-Pack prices include fuel, transportation and standard liability coverage, so you won’t have to worry about the added cost of filling up a large moving truck with low MPG or paying extra fees.
No hassle
With U-Pack, you don’t have to drive a bulky rental truck hundreds or thousands of miles. You also won’t have to take time away from the move to pick up or drop off the equipment. U-Pack rates include door-to-door delivery in most cases (although you can choose to load or unload at a service center for additional savings). Transit times are generally 4-6 business days.
Request a free U-Pack quote to compare prices to Budget
Get a free, no-obligation U-Pack quote by calling 844-362-5303844-594-3077 or using our easy online form. You might be surprised to see how affordable we are when compared to Budget’s 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.
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