Comparing Moving Truck Rental Insurance Options

If you’re renting a moving truck, the insurance or coverage options you see at checkout usually fall into a couple buckets: a damage waiver for the truck, supplemental liability for damage or injuries to others, cargo and medical/life coverage.

What Matters Most When You’re Choosing Truck Rental Coverage

Supplemental Roadside Protection

All U-Haul rentals include basic roadside assistance. Safetrip® Supplemental Roadside Protection is an additional coverage option available to you at a low cost. The benefits include lost keys and lockout services, limited fuel services if you run out of gas, jump starts, help if your vehicle is stuck in the mud or snow, and trailer hook-up problems.

Damage Waiver

Accidents happen, and you're responsible for all damage to rented equipment. A damage waiver covers most accident damage to the rental equipment. U-Haul includes a Collision Damage Waiver in both Safemove® and Safemove Plus®.

Liability Limits Protect from Big Losses

If you’re worried about a serious accident claim, compare the maximum supplemental liability limit. U-Haul Safemove Plus has a $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence. Budget Truck rental has a lower $750,000 limit.

Overhead Damage is a Common “Surprise Bill”

Bridges, carports, and low tree limbs are frequent dispute points. In this comparison, Safemove includes overhead damage with a small deductible, while Safemove Plus has a $0 deductible for accidental damage, including overhead damage.

Cargo Coverage

If you want to protect your cargo from collision, fire, windstorm, or overturn of your truck, Safemove or Safemove Plus are your best choice.

Medical / Life Protection

If you want medical/life protection for you and your passengers in the cab of a U-Haul rental truck, Safemove or Safemove Plus are your best choice.

Learn more about U-Haul Moving Truck Insurance Options.

Why Insurance Costs Matter, and Why “Cheapest Truck” Isn’t Always Cheapest

A low daily rate can look like a win until you add the protection options you actually want. Most moving truck rentals offer coverage in separate pieces, like a damage waiver (for the truck), supplemental liability (for injuries or property damage to others), and sometimes cargo or personal accident coverage.

Those add-ons can change the total price enough that a “cheaper” base rental ends up costing more than a competitor once you build an apples-to-apples package.

Here’s a practical way to compare totals without getting lost in the fine print:

• Start with the same shopping list. Decide what you’re trying to protect: the truck (damage waiver), your liability risk (SLI/SLP), your belongings (cargo), medical/life coverage, and supplemental roadside support. Companies package these differently, so match coverage types, not product names.
• Watch for big-cost gaps like overhead damage. Some plans exclude overhead collisions (like bridges and carports) unless you choose a higher tier.
• Compare liability limits side-by-side. A plan with a lower base price can look attractive, but if it includes a lower liability limit, you may be “saving” money by taking on more exposure.
• Look at deductibles, not just limits. A cargo plan might advertise a high max payout, but the deductible and exclusions determine how useful it is in real life.

Insurance/Protection Cost Comparisons By Company

These are example per-day ranges or bundle ranges. Actual prices vary by location, dates, truck size, and one-way vs. local rentals.

Local Box Truck Insurance Cost Quote

	U-Haul	Budget Truck Rental	Penske Truck Rental
Roadside Assistance	Free for basic coverage. ($5 for Safetrip supplemental roadside protection)	$14.99	Free for basic coverage.
Damage Waiver (and deductible)	$15 ($0 deductible for most damage with Safemove and Safemove Plus. $250 deductible for overhead damage with Safemove.)	$39.99 ($0 deductible)	$30.00 ($1,000/$500 deductible)
Cargo Protection	Included in Safemove and Safemove Plus	$2.45	$6.21
Medical/Life	Included in Safemove and Safemove Plus		$5.11
Basic Coverage Total	$15	$57.43	$41.32
Supplemental Liability Insurance	$15 for $1,000,000 in Liability Coverage	$16.89 for $750,000 in Liability Coverage	$28.43 for $1,000,000 in Liability Coverage
Total of all available coverage	$35	$74.32	$69.75

*Last updated February 2026. Pick up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Prices are subject to change.

One-Way Box Truck Insurance Cost Quote

	U-Haul	Budget Truck Rental	Penske Truck Rental
Roadside Assistance	Free for basic coverage. ($7 for Safetrip supplemental roadside protection)	$74.95	Free for basic coverage.
Damage Waiver (and deductible)	$96 ($0 deductible for most damage with Safemove and Safemove Plus. $250 deductible for overhead damage with Safemove.)	$199.95 ($0 deductible)	$390.00 ($1,000/$500 deductible)
Cargo Protection	Included in Safemove and Safemove Plus	$12.25	$33.06
Medical/Life	Included in Safemove and Safemove Plus		$24.39
Basic Coverage Total	$96	$287.15	$447.45
Supplemental Liability Insurance	$83 for $1,000,000 in Liability Coverage	$64.45 for $750,000 in Liability Coverage	$160 for $1,000,000 in Liability Coverage
Total of all available coverage	$186	$351.60	$607.45

*Last updated February 2026. Pick up in Los Angeles, CA. Dropoff in Denver, CO. Prices are subject to change.

Which One Should I Pick?

• If your top worry is truck damage: Focus on whether the waiver clearly covers overhead and what the deductible is (Safemove vs Safemove Plus).
• If your top worry is liability: Prioritize higher, clearly stated limits (Safemove Plus)
• If your top worry is your belongings: look for the option that provides you with the most value for your items (Safemove and Safemove Plus)

Ready to plan your move? Start your truck reservation on uhaul.com and add the protection option that fits how far you’re driving and what you’re hauling.