Budget vs Penske vs U-Haul in Los Angeles
All three rent moving trucks for local and one-way moves in Los Angeles. The real differences are the sizes each offers and what they hold: Penske runs from a 12- to a 26-foot truck, Budget offers 12, 16 and 26 feet, and U-Haul offers 10, 15, 20 and 26 feet. Price depends on date and demand, so quote all three.
| Budget | Penske | U-Haul | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sizes | Cargo van, 12, 16, 26 ft | Cargo van, 12, 16, 22, 26 ft | Pickup, cargo van, 10, 15, 20, 26 ft |
| Largest truck rated for | 5-8 rooms or a 3-bedroom home | 5-7 rooms or a 3-5 bedroom home | 3-4 bedroom home |
| Smallest truck that can tow a car | Not listed | 16 ft | 10 ft |
| One-way rentals | Yes | Yes, unlimited miles (This Old House) | Yes |
| RentThis earns a commission | May | May | No |
Where to rent
Budget Truck Rental
Moving trucks for local and one-way moves.
Check pricesPenske Truck Rental
Moving trucks for local and one-way moves.
Check prices
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Truck sizes
Penske: cargo van, 12, 16, 22 and 26 feet. Its 26-foot truck is rated for five to seven rooms.
Budget: cargo van, 12, 16 and 26 feet. Its 26-foot truck is rated for five to eight rooms, or a three-bedroom home.
U-Haul: pickup, cargo van, 10, 15, 20 and 26 feet. Its 26-foot truck is matched to a three- to four-bedroom home.
Room ratings are each company's own and aren't measured the same way, so treat them as a guide, not a like-for-like comparison.
Towing a car
Penske's smallest truck that can tow a car is the 16-foot. U-Haul's smallest box truck that can tow is the 10-foot.
One-way moves
All three offer one-way rentals. Budget offers both one-way and round-trip trucks and cargo vans. This Old House's 2026 review reports that Penske includes unlimited mileage on one-way reservations, with fuel paid by the renter.
How to compare prices fairly
Quote the same truck size, pickup date and return location at all three. Then add what the base rate leaves out: mileage on local rentals, damage protection, fuel, and equipment such as dollies and furniture pads.
Rates move with demand, so if your dates are flexible, quote two or three different pickup days.
A note on links
We may earn a commission from Budget and Penske links. U-Haul has no web affiliate program, so we earn nothing from it and cover it the same way.
Questions people ask
Which is cheapest in Los Angeles?
It changes by date, location and demand. The only reliable way to know is to quote the same truck size and dates at all three on the same day.
Which has a 22-foot truck?
Penske. Budget jumps from 16 to 26 feet, and U-Haul offers a 20-foot truck between its 15- and 26-foot sizes.
Do all three do one-way rentals from LA?
Yes. Availability of specific sizes for one-way trips depends on the pickup location and date.
Related
Sources
- Penske Truck Rental — 12 ft truck (rooms, space, payload) — checked September 27, 2026
- Penske Truck Rental — 16 ft truck (rooms, space, towing) — checked September 27, 2026
- Penske Truck Rental — 26 ft truck (rooms, space) — checked September 27, 2026
- Budget Truck Rental — 26 ft truck — checked September 27, 2026
- Budget — moving trucks and cargo vans (sizes, one-way) — checked September 27, 2026
- U-Haul — truck rentals (sizes by home size) — checked September 27, 2026
- U-Haul — how to choose the right size truck (towing) — checked September 27, 2026
- This Old House — moving with Penske (2026 review) — checked September 27, 2026