Is Penske the right option for your long-distance move? 

If you’ve seen yellow Penske® trucks around town, you might be wondering if they are a good fit for your upcoming move. Read on to learn what to expect from Penske and compare their long-distance moving service to U-Pack®.

Learn what to expect when renting a Penske truck 

Penske offers both one-way and round-trip rental options, and the available equipment will vary based on the type of move. For a long-distance move, you’ll want to focus on Penske’s one-way services since round-trip would require you to return the equipment to the same place you rent it from. 
 
With Penske one-way moves, you get unlimited miles and a set number of days depending on the distance. The rental period starts the moment you pick up the truck. This means you’ll need to handle driving home, loading, long-distance travel, unloading, and truck return (in a new location) within those days. Additional time costs $100 per day. 

What are their rental requirements?

You must be at least 18 and have two forms of identification, one of them being a valid driver’s license (no CDL is required). Penske requires a credit card to rent a truck.  

Does Penske require a deposit? 

Penske does not require a deposit to reserve a truck online.  

Where do I go to rent a truck? 

While Penske has 2,500 locations spread around the U.S. and Canada, the hours will vary by location. You’ll need to check their website to make sure a specific location can accommodate your schedule. 

Can I tow my car with Penske? 

You can add towing equipment when renting trucks 16-ft or larger. According to Penske, you can’t attach your own trailer to a Penske truck or use your own truck to haul their trailers, and not all cars will fit the towing equipment. Contact a rental location for more details about your specific vehicle. 

Learn more about Penske trailer rental options. 

What size trucks does Penske have? 

According to their website, Penske has four truck sizes available for personal long-distance moves: 12-, 16-, 22- and 26-ft. Here are the specifics of each: 

Penske Gas Trucks (Seat 2 people): 

12-ft 

• Holds 1-2 rooms (450 cubic feet) 
• Interior dimensions 12’ x 6’6” x 6’1” (LWH)* 
• 3,100 lb. weight limit 
• 33-gallon fuel tank 

16-ft 

• Holds 2-3 rooms (800 cubic feet) 
• Interior dimensions 16’ x 7’7” x 6’6” * 
• 4,300 lb. weight limit 
• 33-gallon fuel tank

Penske Diesel Trucks (Seat 3 people): 

22-ft 

• Holds 3-5 rooms (1,200 cubic feet) 
• Interior dimensions 21’11” x 8’1” x 8’1” * 
• 10,000 lb. weight limit 
• 70-gallon fuel tank 

26-ft 

• Holds 5-7 rooms (1,700 cubic feet) 
• Interior dimensions 25’11” x 8’1” x 8’1” * 
• 10,000 lb. weight limit
• 70-gallon fuel tank

*Exact measurements will vary based on make, model and year. We suggest confirming with your nearest rental location for specifics about their trucks. 

How does U-Pack compare to Penske?

U-Pack handles all the driving so you can focus on getting to your new home without having to worry about driving a large moving truck out of state.   

You can reserve space in a U-Pack moving trailer (down to a minimum of 5 linear feet) or use as many ReloCubes® as you may need. The space is flexible, and you only pay for what you use. And you get three days to load and three more to unload that are not included as part of the transit time.  

Learn more about how U-Pack compares to truck rental.

Penske rates vs U-Pack rates

Penske’s rates are based on equipment, availability, distance and date, so prices will vary for each move. Here’s an example quote for a one-bedroom apartment move from Shawnee, KS, to Columbus, OH (approximately 670 miles). 

For this move, Penske recommended a 12-ft truck. While this is likely more space than you need for a 1-bedroom, it is the smallest available size for a long-distance move. The price below included estimated fuel (based on AAA’s national gas price average at time of posting), fees, liability coverage and taxes.  

Suggested reading: Do Penske coupons really save money?

For the example one-bedroom move from Shawnee, KS, to Columbus, OH, U-Pack recommended one ReloCube for only $1,443. This option is perfect if you have limited parking availability or need to store your things during the move. The ReloCube is a bit smaller than Penske’s 12-ft truck, but with U-Pack, you’re not paying for more space than you need. 

For less than the cost of a Penske rental, you could get the right amount of space, and you won’t have to drive a moving truck! 

Get a quote for your move

Want to check U-Pack rates? Call us at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 or request a quote online. We’re always happy to help! 

Penske® is a registered trademark of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. Use of third-party trademarks or registered trademarks does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by such third-party.