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Penske Truck Rental Review 2023: Prices & Services
By Susan Doktor MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Whether you’re a college student transporting your bed and books to a dorm or a family moving an entire household of belongings cross country, there may come a time when you’re tempted to rent a truck and do it yourself, especially because it’s one of the cheapest ways to move. Some avid DIY-ers find reasons to rent a truck many times a year. Two-by-fours from Home Depot, a load of firewood, a washing machine from a used appliance store — there’s always the potential that the need for a cargo van or larger truck will crop up.
Whether you’re a first-time or regular truck rental customer, you’re probably familiar with the Penske brand. Even if you’ve never driven a truck, you’ve more than likely seen a Penske truck while driving around the neighborhood. Maybe even a couple per day. They’re that commonplace. Penske is an acknowledged leader in the truck rental industry. Today we’ll have a look at the company’s services, vehicles, pricing and how it stacks up against the competition.
Table of Contents
- Penske Truck Rental Overview
- Penske Truck Rental Moving Trucks
- Penske Truck Rental Services
- Penske Truck Rental Pricing
- Penske Truck Rental Coverage Options
- How Penske Truck Rental Works
- Penske Truck Rental Credentials
- Penske Truck Rental Accessibility
- Penske Truck Rental Customer Satisfaction
- Penske Truck Rental vs. The Competition
- Penske Truck Rental FAQs
- How We Evaluated Penske Truck Rental
Penske Truck Rental Overview
Roger Penske founded Penske in 1969. What was once a three-location rental and lease business has grown into a multibillion-dollar transportation and logistics company that operates around the world. Penske is huge: the company employs more than 36,000 workers and has a fleet of more than 300,000 vehicles on the road.
The company has an impressive history of expansion and has been credited with many innovations in logistics and consumer truck rentals. Recently, the company has focused on making its fleet more fuel efficient. The company has at least 750 electric Ford cargo vans in its fleet for consumer use and has been renting commercial electric vehicles for more than a decade.
The company also sells new and used vehicles. In 2022, it sold 447,000 vehicles through its retail operations and more than 20,000 through its commercial truck division. Those figures represent impressive year-over-year growth. During the same period, the company opened nearly 40 new retail locations to better serve its customers.
Penske Truck Rental Moving Trucks
Small, large or somewhere in between, you can bet Penske has the truck size you’re looking for. The variety of vehicles in its fleet and the many rental options the company offers is one reason why the company attracts so many customers.
Here’s a list of available Penske truck types and sizes:
- High-roof cargo vans
- Traditional cargo vans
- 12-foot trucks
- 16-foot trucks
- 22-foot trucks
- 26-foot trucks
Not sure what size truck you need? Not to worry. Penske Truck Rental features a Truck Wizard on its website that can take the specifics of your cargo and translate it into a truck size recommendation. It’s very precise — you can add items as small as an ironing board or as large as a king-size bed to your calculation. It’s easy to use and, overall, it’s a pretty nifty feature. Kudos to Penske.
Penske Truck Rental Services
Penske is more than just a store you can rent a truck from. The company offers some services you may not be aware of, including some typically provided by professional movers.
If you need to tow a car behind your vehicle, Penske can help with towing equipment, including car carriers. You can also rent a tow dolly from Penske, provided your truck doesn’t have 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Some choose a truck rental over hiring a moving company. They save money because they don’t have to pay for truck driver service but don’t relish the thought of loading and unloading their truck. Penske can also solve that problem for you. The company has teamed up with Simple Moving Labor and can send a couple of able-bodied helpers to do the heavy lifting.
You can purchase moving boxes, hand trucks, furniture pads and other moving supplies from a nearby Penske location, too. And should you need to store your belongings for any period of time, Penske can connect you to one of 10,000 self-storage facilities to meet your needs.
Penske Truck Rental Pricing
The final cost of renting a Penske truck is determined by several factors:
- What size truck do you need? You can get an estimate of how large a truck you should select on Penske’s website.
- For how long do you need your truck? Will you need it for an extra day or two once you’ve reached your destination? You may want to take your time unloading. That’s one advantage of a DIY move — you have more flexibility.
- Are you planning a one-way or a round-trip rental? Penske offers unlimited miles on one-way rentals, so unless you need to get back to your pick-up point again, that’s probably the better deal.
Those are the basic questions you’ll be asked when reserving a truck. But you may require additional services or equipment, such as moving supplies, a car carrier, loading and unloading help, accident insurance, cargo insurance and more. Think it through. Be sure you include all of the information on services you’ll require when getting a price quote from Penske.
You may be eligible for discounted prices so be sure to inquire. According to Penske’s website, the company extends this courtesy to AAA members and college students. Military discounts are also offered. In addition, Penske rewards first-time renters with a 20% discount. You may need to put in a phone call to your local Penske truck rental store to access these discounts, but it’s worth the trouble.
Penske Truck Coverage Options
You wouldn’t drive the family van without insurance. Nor should you leave yourself unprotected when you rent a truck from Penske. But insurance is a complicated business. What kind of coverage do you need and how much?
Penske offers a cogent summary of its insurance coverage options on its website. Here’s a summary of your choices and why you might elect one insurance type over another.
Limited Damage Waiver (LDW)
A limited damage waiver (LDW) protects you from financial liability should your rental truck be stolen or damaged during your move. LDW is recommended for obvious reasons. Should you be involved in a collision, without LDW coverage, you’ll be responsible for the cost of fixing your truck, regardless of whether you’re at fault in the accident. If you’re an inexperienced truck driver, LDW coverage is all the more critical.
Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI)
SLI protects you against claims made by a third party for bodily and/or property damage suffered as a result of being in an accident with you and your Penske truck. This coverage is excess over the liability insurance specified within your signed rental agreement and can be purchased with coverage limits as high as $1,000,000.
Cargo Insurance (CAI)
CAI covers your furniture and other possessions from loss or damage due to accidents or natural disasters during transit, and only while in the truck. Cargo coverage is limited to $15,000 and a $100 deductible applies if you make a claim.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)
PAI provides coverage for accidental deaths, as well as medical coverage for truck renters and their passengers. This coverage is supplemental and pays in addition to other available insurance.
Towing Insurance (TWI)
If you’re planning on towing a vehicle behind your Penske truck, towing insurance is a must. This coverage can be bundled with other insurance you purchase or selected on its own.
TWI provides protection against collision damage for a vehicle that’s attached to, towed by, or detached from your rental truck. It also covers mishaps during vehicle loading and unloading.
Insurance increases the cost of renting a Penske truck, but it’s vital to carry some. Be sure to read your rental agreement carefully to make sure that all the insurance you want is accounted for.
How Penske Truck Rental Works
Renting a truck from Penske works very much the same as renting a passenger car. The first step in the process is to figure out the size of truck you need to accommodate all of your belongings. If you don’t know, Penske can help you decide.
Once you’ve determined the size and style of truck you need, it’s time to make a reservation. Your reservation is for a particular time, pick-up and drop-off location. You choose between a one-way or round-trip rental. You’ll select the Penske services and optional equipment you need, such as packing supplies and towing equipment. You’ll then choose among Penske’s wide range of insurance coverage options. We advise all renters to purchase comprehensive insurance to protect themselves, their passengers, their rental vehicles and fellow motorists.
When you pick up your truck, you’ll be required to present your driver’s license and a valid credit card. If you haven’t paid for your rental with a credit card online, you’ll pay a security deposit at the time of pick-up. Your deposit will be returned to you — provided you return the rental in the same condition it was when you picked it up. If you haven’t prepaid, rental charges will be billed to your credit card when you return your vehicle.
Should you experience mechanical troubles with your vehicle or if you have an accident, you’ll be glad to know that Penske offers free roadside assistance. That’s a courtesy not all truck companies extend.
Penske Truck Rental Credentials
Penske Truck Rental is a certified ProMover, which is a designation awarded by the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). This certification is only given to companies that have demonstrated a commitment to ethical business practices, quality customer service and professional standards.
Penske has received certification from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their efforts to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. The company has implemented a number of eco-friendly initiatives, such as using low-emission vehicles and using sustainable practices in their facilities.
In 2019, Penske was among several companies recognized by the U.S. Navy Reserves for their support of Reserve Sailors. The company was also named by Victory Media in its list of Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers.
Penske Truck Rental accessibility
Penske Truck Rental provides services worldwide. In North America, Penske operates out of nearly 900 locations, which makes it easy for customers to rent a truck locally.
The company’s website is top-notch and you’re likely to find nearly all the information you need to decide whether to engage the company’s services. You can reach Penske by phone at 844-210-6887 or via online chat. Should you need to reach Penske headquarters by mail, the company’s address is 2675 Morgantown Road Reading, PA 19607. Penske does not offer TDI phone service or wheelchair-accessible vehicles at this time.
Penske Truck Rental customer satisfaction
Penske has been in business since 1969 and, along the way, has earned many satisfied customers. But that’s not to say they don’t have any complaints against the company. As a corporate entity, Penske earns a B+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, but you can also find ratings on individual Penske locations if you search the BBB website. Penske earns 3.1 out of 5 stars from consumers who review it on Trustpilot. Those ratings aren’t perfect, but they’re on the better side of average. Like many businesses who operate out of many local offices, you can expect some variance in the level of customer service you’ll receive.
Penske Truck Rental vs. The Competition
There are various factors to keep in mind when choosing a truck rental company, including the variety of vehicle types it offers, daily rental fees, mileage charges, the company’s reputation and more. Here’s how Penske Truck Rental compares to some of the other leading truck rental companies.
Rates quoted are based on a 15- or 16-foot one-way truck reservation from Boston, MA to Toledo, Ohio except in the case of Enterprise, which only offers local rentals. No optional equipment or insurance coverage is included in prices. These will drive your cost up, of course.
| Penske Review | Budget Review | U-Haul Review | Enterprise Review | |
| Moving trucks | Cargo vans, 12-, 16-, 22-, 26-foot trucks | Cargo vans, 12-, 16-, 26-foot trucks | Pick-up trucks, cargo vans, 10-, 15-, 20-, 26-foot trucks | Pick-up trucks, cargo vans, 15-, 16-, 20-, 24-, 26-foot trucks |
| Rental rates | $1,158.00 | Online quote not available | $904 | Local rentals only, $100 per day |
| Additional fees applied | Taxes, storage, insurance, specialty equipment | Taxes, insurance, specialty equipment | Taxes, storage, insurance, specialty equipment | Taxes, insurance, specialty equipment |
| Consumer ratings | BBB: B+ Trustpilot: 3.1 out of 5 stars |
BBB: A+ Trustpilot: 1.4 out of 5 stars |
BBB: A+ Trustpilot: 1.2 out of 5 stars |
BBB: Not rated Trustpilot: 2.2 out of 5 stars |
Penske Truck Rental Review FAQs
How We Evaluated Penske Truck Rental
First and foremost, we spent a lot of time exploring the company’s website. Penske’s description of its truck options, service options, reservation and rental procedures, payment policies, insurance options, and more is very thorough—better than the Penske competitor websites we’ve reviewed. We compared Penske to its competitors, in terms of truck options and pricing. We also read customer reviews of Penske published by the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot.
