Renting a truck vs. hiring a truck and driver: the real all-in cost
By the BoxHauls team, reviewed by John Marcus IV
For one or two items across town, hiring a truck and driver is often cheaper than renting a truck. A rental adds a base fee, per-mile charges, fuel, an optional damage waiver, and two trips to the rental counter, and you still do the lifting. For a full apartment, renting usually wins. Here’s the all-in math.
The rental side
| Cost | Typical |
|---|---|
| Rental fee (pickup or van) | [TODO: current Fresno rental rates, dated and sourced] |
| Per-mile charge | [TODO: current per-mile rental charge, dated and sourced] |
| Fuel | Pay to refill to the starting level |
| Damage waiver | Optional, extra |
| Extra miles | Home to the rental counter, and back, twice |
| Labor | You and a friend |
| Time | Usually 2–4 hours for one item, counting pickup and return |
The hired side (BoxHauls)
| Trip | Price | With a helper |
|---|---|---|
| 5 miles | $32.50 | $49.50 |
| 10 miles | $48.00 | $65.00 |
| 20 miles | $79.00 | $96.00 |
That’s the whole price: $17.00 plus $3.10 a mile, with no rental counter trips and no fuel.
The hidden miles
A 10-mile move in a rental is rarely 10 miles. You drive to the counter, take the truck to the pickup, go 10 miles to the drop-off, then return the truck and drive home. That’s often 30–50 miles of driving, and a few hours.
When renting wins
- You’re moving a full apartment or house
- You have help and a free afternoon
- You need the truck for several stops
When hiring wins
- One or two big items
- No one to help lift
- You don’t want to drive a truck you’ve never driven
More decision guides are in the guides index.
Questions
Is it cheaper to rent a truck or hire delivery?
For one or two items across town, hiring a truck and driver is often cheaper once you add up the rental fee, mileage, fuel and your own time. For a full apartment, renting a truck usually wins.
What does a BoxHauls trip cost?
$17.00 plus $3.10 a mile: $48.00 for 10 miles. Heavy items add $29, and a helper adds $17.
What costs do people forget when renting?
Mileage charges, fuel, the time to pick up and return the truck, damage waivers, and the lifting. A 10-mile move can mean 40 or more miles of driving once you count the trips to and from the rental counter.