What To Expect When You Move with Penske Truck Rental

Budget-conscious homeowners who need an affordable truck or cargo van for a DIY move should consider renting from Penske, one of the most trusted truck rental companies. Read our guide below for tips on securing the right truck or van rental, budgeting for the rental you need, and simplifying the moving process.

What To Expect When Renting From Penske

Renting a Penske moving truck is an option for anyone aged 18 and older. Penske requires all renters to register with a credit card, yet customers can choose to pay by cash or check instead. Renters must put down a security deposit if they’re planning a round-trip move.

You must reserve your truck at least 24 hours before your move to your new home, and you are free to adjust your moving dates as needed without incurring a fee. However, if you cancel within 48 hours of your reservation, you’ll be charged a cancellation fee.

You’re required to show two forms of identification on pick-up day, including a driver’s license and one of the following: state-issued ID, passport, Social Security card, vehicle registration, phone bill, military ID, or credit card.

The person who made the reservation can drive the truck, and so can his or her family members. The renter can also choose to add up to three additional drivers with a $10 charge for each driver. Your truck will be inspected and ready to go with a full tank of gas on pickup day.

If you need the truck for longer than originally planned, you can extend your rental window at a rate of $100 a day. Return the truck with a full tank of gas in the same condition as when you rented it and with all personal items and trash removed. There are no mileage or return fees but you may be charged if the truck is damaged or returned with less than a full tank. If you return the truck outside of business hours, there will be a drop-off box for your keys and contract.

Truck Sizes, Weight Limits, and Pricing

Penske offers five different moving truck sizes:

Cargo van: A Penske high-roof cargo van is the smallest but best option for driving through narrow city streets. Vans can fit the contents of a studio apartment.
12-foot truck: This rental size is the most maneuverable option and can hold the contents of up to two rooms. However, this model cannot tow a car.
16-foot truck: A 16-foot truck is ideal for moving a one-bedroom apartment or the contents of two to three rooms of furniture. It is the smallest size that can tow a car.
22-foot truck: A 22-foot truck is the right size to move the contents of a one- to three-bedroom home. It comes with a 1,000-pound-capacity loading ramp and three-person bench seating.
26-foot truck: Penske’s 26-foot truck is the largest truck it offers. It can hold the contents of up to seven rooms or a five-bedroom household. It also has a loading ramp and can tow a car.

Right-Sizing Your Truck

Our This Old House 2025 Moving Survey found that roughly 60% of movers live in three-bedroom houses or larger, yet many underestimate how much cargo space they actually need. With Penske’s weight limits ranging from 3,100 lbs. on the 12-foot truck to 10,000 lbs. on the 22- and 26-foot models, it’s worth noting that a typical fully furnished bedroom can weigh 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The jump in both capacity and price between the 16-foot and 22-foot trucks is substantial, so carefully inventorying your belongings before booking can help you avoid paying for space you don’t need — or making a costly second trip.

Renters get unlimited mileage for one-way reservations but pay for their own gas. Penske offers a fuel estimator tool to help renters budget accordingly. Penske adds a flat $15 environmental fee to all rentals up-front.

Penske moving truck costs vary based on supply and demand. We used Penske’s online reservation tool to generate the following quotes. They reflect pricing for a five-day, one-way rental from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. in early November. Figures include all taxes and fees.

Penske Rental	Floor Space	Loading Space	Weight Limit	Pricing
Cargo van	53 sq. ft.	404 cu. ft.	3,500 lbs.	$802.60
12′ truck	78 sq. ft.	450 cu. ft.	3,100 lbs.	$802.60
16′ truck	120 sq. ft.	800 cu. ft.	4,300 lbs.	$826.56
22′ truck	164 sq. ft.	1,200 cu. ft.	10,000 lbs.	$2,448.08
26′ truck	192 sq. ft.	1,700 cu. ft.	10,000 lbs.	$2,448.08

* Cost data in this article was sourced from Penske.

TOH Survey Insight

According to the This Old House Q1 2025 Moving Survey of 1,000 recent movers, 75% of respondents needed only one moving truck for their relocation, while about 22% required two trucks. If your move demands a second truck, be aware that extra vehicle fees can add significantly to your total cost — so choosing the right truck size from the start is one of the most important budgeting decisions you’ll make.

Crew Size Matters for Cost

The This Old House 2025 Moving Survey found that the most common moving crew size was three people (38% of respondents), followed by two people (34%). If you’re renting a Penske truck for a DIY move, keep in mind that recruiting enough help on moving day can mean the difference between a single-day rental and a multi-day one — which directly affects your final cost.

What Is Included With a Penske Truck Rental?

You’ll get the following guarantees when you rent with Penske:

24/7 roadside assistance
Guaranteed booking (as long as the reservation is made 24 hours in advance)
Unlimited date changes to the reservation
Unlimited miles on one-way trips

Penske trucks also come with a number of helpful features to make loading and driving easier. These perks are standard for 12-, 16-, 22-, and 26-foot trucks but not for cargo vans:

1,000-lb. load capacity ramp (22-foot and 26-foot trucks)
Air conditioning
AM/FM radio plus AUX or USB input
Automatic transmission
Backup cameras on select trucks

Cargo tie rails
Dual-faced mirrors
Non-slip wood floors
Power steering and anti-lock brakes
Rear roll-up door
Translucent roof and interior lighting

What Extras Are Available?

Penske offers a number of additional rental items and services.

Equipment

Customers who rent 16-foot trucks or larger models can rent towing equipment such as a tow dolly or car carrier to help tow their cars behind their moving trucks. Customers can also rent hand trucks or furniture pads from Penske in packs of 12. Penske sells packing supplies such as moving boxes, packing kits, mattress bags, tape, packing paper, and bungee cords.

Moving insurance

Penske moving trucks exceed the weight limit of most basic insurance plans. Renters should consider buying more specialized insurance through Penske. The company offers four levels of coverage, from Basic (equipment damage) to Plus (equipment and third-party damage, cargo accident damage, and personal injury). You can add towing insurance, too.

Other services

Penske doesn’t offer in-house storage or professional moving services, but it recommends preferred partners for both, and you can book them at the same time you reserve your truck. Penske partners with SpareFoot and CubeSmart for self-storage and Simple Moving Labor for loading and unloading help. You can get a discount on these services if you book with Penske.

Storage and Labor Add-Ons

While Penske doesn’t handle storage or labor directly, keep in mind that storage was among the add-ons frequently purchased by respondents in the TOH 2025 Moving Survey, particularly in states with high move volumes. Booking storage and loading help through Penske’s partner discounts at the time of your truck reservation can simplify logistics and potentially save you money compared to sourcing these services separately.

What Movers Actually Buy

According to the TOH 2025 Moving Survey, the most popular add-ons among recent movers were packing services (34.30%), packing supplies (29.80%), and unpacking services (21.20%). If you’re renting a Penske truck and handling the move yourself, you may still want to budget for some of these extras — especially packing supplies, which nearly a third of all movers end up purchasing.

Read more: Penske vs. U-Haul

Pro Tips

Here are some things to keep in mind when planning a DIY move with Penske:

Home Depot is a Penske partner. You can usually pick up or drop off your truck at a local Home Depot.
If you need to cancel your Penske reservation, do so at least 48 hours in advance. Otherwise, you’ll be charged a $100 cancellation fee. Remember that Penske offers free rescheduling to help avoid this.
Penske offers additional moving discounts for AAA members, active and veteran military, and college students. You must request these discounts and provide documentation when picking up your truck.
Penske prices local moves, which involve picking up and returning the truck at the same location, differently than one-way moves. One-way moves include unlimited free miles, while local moves include a $0.79 per mile charge, according to Penske’s online reservation tool.
Summer is the busiest moving season, and Penske will frequently offer discounts if you book a truck in an alternate season.

Plan Your Crew Size

According to a 2025 This Old House Moving Survey, the majority of DIY movers (about 38%) relied on a three-person crew on moving day, while roughly 34% managed with just two people. Only about 9% needed five or more helpers. Keep these numbers in mind when estimating how many friends or family members to recruit for your Penske truck move.

Crew Size Matters for DIY Moves

Our 2025 Moving Survey found that 37.50% of movers had a three-person crew on relocation day, while 33.80% used just two people. If you’re renting a Penske truck and handling the move yourself, plan your crew size carefully — most successful moves relied on two to three people, which is enough to manage furniture and heavy items safely without overcrowding the truck.

Our Conclusion

Penske isn’t always the least expensive moving truck rental company, but it’s worth considering, especially for long-distance moves. The unlimited mileage perk, well-equipped trucks, and 24/7 roadside assistance will come in handy when moving across the state or across the country. You can save significantly by choosing the right size rental and packing the truck yourself.

What Our Survey Found

According to the This Old House 2025 Moving Survey of 1,000 recent movers, 77.10% of respondents required only one moving truck for their relocation. If you’re among the roughly 23% who need more than one truck, Penske’s unlimited mileage offer becomes even more valuable — since you won’t be penalized per mile for each additional vehicle on a long-distance haul.

It’s also worth noting that among survey respondents who needed extra trucks, about 46% were charged an added fee for the additional vehicle, while roughly 54% were not. When comparing Penske quotes, ask upfront whether multi-truck moves carry extra charges beyond the base rental rate.

FAQ About Renting Penske Trucks

What are the requirements for renting with Penske?

You must be at least 18 and provide two forms of identification to rent a Penske moving truck.

What insurance coverage is needed?

You don’t technically need extra insurance coverage to rent a moving truck, but most personal auto insurance policies don’t cover rental vehicles that exceed a certain weight. Penske offers several moving truck insurance packages.

Coverage Is Worth Considering: In the TOH 2025 Moving Survey, two-thirds of movers (66.70%) opted not to purchase extra valuation coverage for their belongings — but those who did reported costs that varied widely depending on the provider, coverage level, and move size. Since Penske trucks carry heavier loads than a standard vehicle, their insurance tiers may be especially worth evaluating before you hit the road.

How do you use a Penske truck?

Penske trucks have automatic transmissions and power steering. Ensure you know how to maneuver the additional height and weight of the vehicle when driving under low clearances and braking.