One-Way Van Rental

Should you rent a cargo van for moving?

When weighing options for a long-distance move, you might consider a cargo van — especially if you don’t have much stuff to load. But finding one and driving it to another state can be challenging. 

Although U-Pack® doesn’t rent vans, our moving experts are familiar with multiple options for small moves. Let’s look at some companies that do offer van rentals and how they compare to U-Pack’s solutions.

Rental vans for moving

There are several companies with rental vans available, but not all options will work for moving.

One-way van rentals

Hertz® offers one-way standard cargo van rentals, but the inventory is limited, and drivers must be 25 years old or older.

Vans for local use

U-Haul® has 9’ cargo vans for local rentals only, so you would pick up and return to the same location. Budget® has 11’ cargo vans mostly for local moves, though select areas may allow long-distance use.

Enterprise® has five types of cargo vans: Compact, Standard, Heavy Duty, Heavy Duty XL and High Roof. These vehicles must be returned to the same rental location, but a limited number may allow out-of-state use.

Commercial cargo vans

Penske® and Ryder® only offer commercial-use cargo vans, which won’t work for a personal move.

Other considerations with a small moving van

Choosing a van is similar to choosing a moving truck size. Selecting the smallest vehicle has pros and cons.

Pros

• Smaller vans are usually easier to drive than larger trucks. 

• The price is typically cheaper when compared to larger rental trucks. 

• You’re not paying for wasted space. 

Cons 

• Few vans are available for long-distance moves. 

• Liability coverage isn’t included in the advertised prices. 

• Most companies have a hefty surcharge for every mile driven. 

• Most smaller vans have low loading space and cannot tow vehicles. 

• You must pay for fuel costs out of pocket, and gas mileage is typically much lower than personal vehicles. 

A better alternative to a one-way rental van

U-Pack is a better way to move long-distance, even when you don’t need an entire moving truck. We’re a DIY moving service where you handle packing, loading and unloading, and then we take care of transporting your things.  

Choose from ReloCube® moving containers or space in our 28’ moving trailer (down to a minimum of 5 linear feet).  

Request a free, no-obligation quote online or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant. Please let us know in the comments if you have questions about U-Pack or how we compare to truck rental. 

Hertz® is a registered trademark of Hertz System, Inc. Enterprise® is a registered trademark of Enterprise Holdings, Inc. U-Haul® is a registered trademark of U-Haul International, Inc. Budget® is a registered trademark of Budget Truck Rental, LLC. Penske® is a registered trademark of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. Ryder® is a registered trademark of Ryder System Inc. Use of third-party trademarks or registered trademarks does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by such third party.