U-Haul Review for Car Towing Equipment

The research in brief

U-Haul is a strong fit for a U.S. mover who wants to tow a compatible personal vehicle behind a rented moving truck, especially on a one-way move. All seven included platforms named U-Haul during the ranking stage, and it ranked first on every one of them. The strongest reason to consider it is the combination of purpose-built Tow Dolly and Auto Transport equipment, one-way towing availability, truck-and-equipment combo reservations, and published compatibility and setup guidance. The main limitation is that fit is conditional: vehicle compatibility, equipment inventory, route-specific availability, and final pricing must all be confirmed for the exact reservation, and published daily rates are examples rather than one-way quotes.

Research Snapshot

Why U-Haul Qualified for This Study

Questions explored

• Is U-Haul a good choice for truck rental with car towing equipment on a one-way move?
• How many AI platforms recommended U-Haul for towing a car behind a moving truck?

U-Haul qualified because it was the only company named by every platform in the ranking stage. All seven included platforms - Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, Grok, Kimi, ChatGPT, and Perplexity - listed U-Haul, and each placed it at rank 1, producing an average listed rank of 1.0 and a 100% share of included platform responses.

The fit ratings were not unanimous in wording. Six platforms (Claude, Gemini, Grok, Kimi, ChatGPT) rated the fit "strong," while DeepSeek and Perplexity rated it "good." Deepseek's rating came with the caveat that the fit is "good, not unqualified," citing availability uncertainty and itemized rather than bundled pricing ^[31].

Qualification rests on the use case itself: a mover who needs to bring a car along with household goods without driving two vehicles or hiring separate auto transport. U-Haul is one of the few national chains that rents moving trucks and towing equipment together, supports one-way towing, and publishes compatibility screening ^[16].

The moving offering in focus

Questions explored

• Which U-Haul product should a buyer choose for towing a front-wheel-drive car behind a moving truck?
• Does U-Haul let a buyer reserve a moving truck and towing equipment on the same one-way reservation?

The relevant offer is a U-Haul moving truck rental paired with either a Tow Dolly or an Auto Transport trailer, reservable together for one-way or in-town moves. Platforms described this combination in slightly different wording - "Tow Dolly + moving truck rental (one-way combo with discount)," "U-Haul Moving Truck + Tow Dolly or Auto Transport Trailer Combo," and "moving truck rental combined with a U-Haul Tow Dolly or Auto Transport (car trailer)" - but the underlying products are consistent across responses.

The Tow Dolly carries the front wheels and is primarily intended for front-wheel-drive vehicles; the Auto Transport carries all four wheels off the ground and supports a broader range of vehicles ^[27]. U-Haul states that towing equipment can be added to a one-way moving-truck reservation, and that a truck-plus-tow-dolly or Auto Transport combo may receive a discount ^[16]. U-Haul also states that all of its moving trucks can tow U-Haul trailers, and that even the smallest moving truck is equipped for towing ^[28]. The 10-foot Mini Mover is described as the smallest truck you can also tow your car behind ^[29].

What the AI Platforms Agreed About

Questions explored

• What do AI platforms agree U-Haul does well for towing a car with a moving truck?
• Is U-Haul's towing equipment available for one-way moves, according to AI research?

Agreement was strong on several points.

Equipment availability. Every platform that discussed equipment described both a Tow Dolly and an Auto Transport (car trailer) as U-Haul rental products that can be attached to a U-Haul moving truck ^[16].

One-way towing. Multiple platforms reported that U-Haul supports one-way towing equipment rentals, which is the core requirement for a relocation ^[24].

Compatibility screening. U-Haul's reservation process uses vehicle information to determine compatibility, and U-Haul states it will provide an exact recommendation for a particular vehicle combination ^[20].

Setup and safety support. U-Haul publishes hitch-ball, lighting, safety-chain, tire-strap, and loading instructions, and describes a free pre-tow inspection ^[20].

Network scale. U-Haul states it has over 25,000 rental locations across the US and Canada ^[28].

Where the AI Platforms Disagreed or Were Uncertain

Questions explored

• Is U-Haul's tow dolly price the same everywhere, or do AI sources disagree on the daily rate?
• Can a buyer rely on U-Haul guaranteeing the exact trailer reserved at pickup?

Pricing was the largest area of conflict. Published figures varied across sources: a $49.95 Tow Dolly daily rate and $69.95 Auto Transport daily rate ^[23]; a $44.95/day local Tow Dolly rate with one-way starting around $98 ^[33]; a $40–$92/day local range with roughly $150 one-way in secondary reports ^[39]; and a $15–$25/day figure cited in one source. One independent review reported a long-distance Miami-to-Austin auto transport charge of $908 ^[32], while another estimated $150–$300 for a few hundred miles and $500–$800 or more cross-country ^[34]. These figures do not reconcile into a single national price.

Specifications also conflicted. Tow Dolly empty weight was listed at approximately 740 pounds on some pages and approximately 750 pounds on others ^[27]. Tow Dolly maximum load was listed as 4,080 pounds in U-Haul's official specs, while one independent source cited 3,450 pounds FWD / 3,900 pounds RWD ^[27]. Auto Transport width limits differed by platform color: 79 inches for galvanized silver platforms and 75 inches for orange platforms ^[15].

Availability was uncertain. Deepseek cited independent reporting that reserved equipment can be subject to availability and substitution at pickup ^[36], and Gemini noted U-Haul occasionally reroutes customers to different nearby pickup locations if the reserved trailer is unavailable. U-Haul's own reservation guarantee language does not guarantee that a preferred trailer will be available in every circumstance ^[10].

Services for this moving need

Questions explored

• What weight and width limits apply to U-Haul's Tow Dolly and Auto Transport for a specific car?
• Does U-Haul provide safety chains, tire straps, and surge brakes on its towing equipment?

U-Haul's Tow Dolly is designed primarily for front-wheel-drive vehicles, with a maximum outside tire width of 6'4" and maximum outside body width of 6'6" ^[27]. Towing a rear-wheel-drive vehicle on a dolly requires disconnecting the driveshaft ^[27]. The Tow Dolly requires a 2-inch hitch ball rated to at least 3,500 pounds and must not exceed a maximum hitch ball height of 25 inches ^[27].

The Auto Transport supports a maximum load capacity of 5,290 pounds and requires a 1 7/8-inch or 2-inch hitch ball with an appropriately rated hitch system, external mirrors, and fully functional lighting ^[26]. Auto Transport maximum outside tire width is 6'4", minimum inside tire width is 3'8", and maximum outside body width is 6'7" ^[26].

Safety equipment includes heavy-duty security chains and ratchet tire straps on the Tow Dolly, and an easy-access loading ramp, security chains, and ratchet-operated tire straps on the Auto Transport ^[27]. Most U-Haul tow dollies and all auto transports are equipped with automatic surge brakes ^[13]. U-Haul states a 55-mph maximum towing speed for the Auto Transport and prohibits passengers in the towed vehicle or on the trailer ^[14].

Loading is described as a required two-person job: one person drives the vehicle onto the trailer while another guides the driver ^[17]. One independent guide describes setup taking 15–20 minutes ^[38]. U-Haul states it attaches towing equipment to rental trucks at pickup but cannot drive the tow vehicle onto the equipment ^[35].

Pricing, fees, and contract terms

Questions explored

• How much does U-Haul charge per day for a tow dolly or auto transport, and what extra fees apply?
• What is U-Haul's one-way towing fee and combo discount for a truck-and-trailer move?

Pricing is quote-based for the specific truck, route, dates, equipment, and rental duration. U-Haul publishes example local daily rates of $49.95 for a Tow Dolly and $69.95 for an Auto Transport, with taxes and fees varying by location ^[23]. One independent source lists the Tow Dolly at about $44.95/day local with one-way starting around $98 ^[33]. U-Haul states that one-way towable equipment rentals carry a $75 fee plus total rental charges, and that one-way truck reservations with a tow dolly or car carrier may include a combo discount that cuts trailer cost in half ^[5]. U-Haul also states that renting towing equipment with a U-Haul truck always comes with a combo discount ^[8], and that a one-way truck-and-trailer rental includes a discount plus one month of free storage at participating locations ^[23]. The reviewed sources do not state a universal discount amount.

Additional costs reported across platforms include $20 per extra day for trailers and towing devices ^[32], $40 per extra day for trucks on one-way rentals ^[32], mileage overage on trucks at $1.00 per mile with trailers including unlimited miles ^[32], fuel or refueling charges, environmental or recovery fees, taxes, and location-specific surcharges ^[32]. Optional coverage includes SafeMove protection at $8–$15/day ^[33] and Safetrip at $7 for one-way trips and $5 for in-town trips ^[23]. U-Haul states that basic roadside assistance is included and that protection cannot always be added after pickup ^[9]. U-Haul states that if equipment is not picked up within one hour of the scheduled time, it may cancel the reservation, and advertises a $50 reservation guarantee if it fails to meet the reserved time, place, or equipment size ^[10]. A specific cancellation-fee schedule for this exact truck-and-towing-equipment combination was not verified in the reviewed sources.

Best Suited For

Questions explored

• Who gets the most value from U-Haul's truck-plus-tow-dolly combo for a relocation?
• Is U-Haul a good fit for a long-distance one-way move with a front-wheel-drive car?

U-Haul is best suited for one-way household moves where the customer drives the rental truck and brings a personal car ^[16]. It fits movers with front-wheel-drive vehicles that meet Tow Dolly compatibility requirements, and movers with AWD, RWD, heavier, or low-clearance vehicles better suited to an Auto Transport ^[20]. It also fits movers who want towing equipment reserved together with the moving truck and who value a large national network of pickup and drop-off locations ^[30]. Budget-conscious movers eligible for one-way truck-and-trailer combo discounts are also a fit ^[23].

Probably Not Best Suited For

Questions explored

• Who should not choose U-Haul for towing a car behind a moving truck?
• Is U-Haul a poor fit for a buyer who wants a fully managed vehicle-shipping service?

U-Haul is probably not best suited for vehicles that exceed applicable weight, width, ground-clearance, or drivetrain limits ^[27]. It is a poor fit for customers seeking a fully managed vehicle-shipping service rather than self-loading, self-driving towing ^[16]. Buyers who need guaranteed confirmed equipment at a specific location and date with no substitution risk should look elsewhere ^[36]. Buyers seeking a single bundled all-in towing price will find U-Haul prices truck, mileage, days, dolly or trailer, and one-way fees separately ^[31]. Solo movers should note that loading is described as a required two-person job ^[17].

When Another Option May Be Better

Questions explored

• When is a professional auto transport service better than renting a U-Haul tow dolly?
• What should a buyer do if their vehicle is too wide for U-Haul's Auto Transport trailer?

A professional vehicle transport service may be better when the customer wants vehicle shipping without driving and loading a trailer, or when the vehicle fails U-Haul's compatibility screening ^[16]. A different rental provider may be better if the buyer needs a towing configuration U-Haul cannot confirm, or prioritizes guaranteed equipment availability or a fixed all-in price ^[36]. For vehicles wider than 79 inches at the tires, the Auto Transport may not fit; U-Haul's Toy Hauler is 8.5 feet wide with stepped drive-over fenders that allow a wider vehicle to make full use of the deck, and it costs $89.95/day local ^[37]. For rear-wheel-drive vehicles where the owner prefers not to disconnect the driveshaft, an Auto Transport or a professional auto transport service is the alternative ^[27]. Kimi noted that Penske may offer comparable auto transport with newer vehicles for RWD or AWD needs ^[12].

Questions to ask before booking

Questions explored

• What vehicle details should a buyer confirm with U-Haul before reserving towing equipment?
• What pricing and coverage details should a buyer confirm before signing a U-Haul rental contract?

Buyers should confirm the exact make, model, year, drivetrain, curb weight, width, tire size, and ground clearance against the Tow Dolly or Auto Transport requirements ^[27]. They should confirm which exact trailer will be assigned and whether it is confirmed for both the pickup location and one-way destination ^[36]. They should confirm that the rental truck size and configuration is approved to tow the selected equipment and loaded vehicle ^[26]. They should request the complete all-in price including truck charges, equipment, mileage, taxes, fees, fuel, protection plans, and any one-way charges ^[31]. They should ask what combo discount, if any, applies to the exact reservation ^[8]. They should confirm pickup, return, late-return, and cancellation terms ^[10]. They should ask whether the pickup location will perform the pre-tow inspection and assist with hookup or loading ^[20]. They should confirm coverage limits, deductibles, and exclusions for Safetow and SafeTrip ^[22]. They should check whether their personal auto insurer covers the towed vehicle, rental truck, and towing equipment ^[22]. They should ask about route-specific restrictions, speed requirements, and destination-location restrictions ^[14].

The consensus assessment

U-Haul is a strong fit for a U.S. mover who wants to tow a compatible personal vehicle behind a rented moving truck, especially on a one-way move. All seven included platforms named U-Haul in the ranking stage, and it ranked first on every one. Six platforms rated the fit strong and two rated it good. U-Haul has the relevant equipment, reservation structure, compatibility process, and support materials. The buyer should treat the recommendation as conditional on exact vehicle compatibility, confirmed equipment inventory, route-specific availability, and a complete written quote. Platform agreement reflects consistent retrieval results, not independently verified product quality.

How This Review Was Produced

This review synthesizes fit-research responses from seven AI platforms - Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, Grok, Kimi, ChatGPT, and Perplexity - each asked to recommend providers for a mover who needs to transport a personal vehicle behind a rental truck using a trailer or tow dolly. U-Haul was named by all seven platforms during the ranking stage and ranked first on each. The report evaluates U-Haul only for this use case. All factual claims are cited to the supplied platform responses. Company-owned citations materially outnumber independent citations in the underlying evidence, so U-Haul's own product and policy pages should be treated as company claims rather than independently verified facts.

Research limitations

Platform-reported research dates differ from the authoritative run date of 2026-09-30; DeepSeek reported 2026-06-11, and the remaining platforms reported 2026-09-30. Platform-reported dates are provenance metadata and do not independently prove freshness. Deepseek's response was produced with search disabled, so its claims are platform-reported and require verification before being described as current facts. The supplied URLs were collected from platform responses and were not independently validated by the writer stage. Official-site retrieval for uhaul.com failed during the run, and identity matching used exact-name fallback that remains unverified. Published daily rates are examples and do not establish the final price for a one-way truck-and-trailer rental. Availability and equipment assignment are not verifiable without the buyer's exact pickup location, destination, dates, truck size, and vehicle details. No independent comparative test or authoritative third-party source was identified that verifies U-Haul's comparative reliability, actual reservation fill rate, or customer outcomes for this use case. The Truck rental with car towing equipment consensus index aggregates the full ranking across all included providers.

See the broader Towing a Car With a Trailer or Dolly consensus index for comparisons across qualified options.

Explore more moving truck rental companies guidance in the category directory.

Sources

Company-Owned Sources

1. U-Haul Towing Guide: https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/4574/How-To-Tow-A-Car/
2. Business Rentals - Trailers & Vehicle Transport: https://www.uhaul.com/Business/Marketing/RentalsTrailers/
3. Truck Rentals | U-Haul FAQ: https://www.uhaul.com/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/Truck-Rentals/?questionId=584
4. U-Haul Hitch and Towing Help: https://www.uhaul.com/Help/Towing/
5. equipment reservation terms and conditions: https://www.uhaul.com/reservations/reservationadvisements.aspx
6. Best One-Way Rental Truck Options: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Loading/Best-One-Way-Rental-Truck-Options-17786/
7. How to Save Money by Moving Your Car and Belongings Together with U-Haul Rental Trucks: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Loading/How-To-Save-Money-By-Moving-Your-Car-And-Belongings-Together-With-U-Haul-Rental-Trucks-36166/
8. How to Save Money on Truck Rentals: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Loading/How-To-Save-Money-ON-Truck-Rentals-35820/
9. What Are U-Haul Insurance Options Available for Truck Rentals?: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Loading/What-Are-U-Haul-Insurance-Options-Available-for-Truck-Rentals-36966/
10. What Should I Do If My Truck Reservation Is Canceled or My Truck Rental Is Unavailable?: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Loading/What-Should-I-Do-If-My-Truck-Reservation-Is-Canceled-OR-My-Truck-Rental-Is-Unavailable-41493/
11. Where Can I Find Pickup Truck Rentals? | U-Haul: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Loading/Where-Can-I-Find-Pickup-Truck-Rentals-36850/
12. U-Haul vs. Penske: Which Moving Truck Rental Is Best for DIY Movers? | U-Haul: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Packing/U-Haul-Vs-Penske-Which-Moving-Truck-Rental-Is-Best-for-DIY-Movers-36098/
13. Trailers & Towing Tips: How to Tow: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/
14. U-Haul Auto Transporter User Instructions: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/Auto-Transport-User-Instructions-121/
15. U-Haul Auto Transporter User Instructions: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/Auto-Transporter-User-Instructions-121/
16. How to Tow a Car with a Moving Truck: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/How-To-Tow-A-Car-With-A-Moving-Truck-27588/
17. How to Tow Your Car: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/How-To-Tow-Your-Car-35367/
18. U-Haul Tow Dolly User Instructions: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/Tow-Dolly-User-Instructions-120/
19. Tow Dolly, Auto Transport, or Toy Hauler?: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/Towing-My-Vehicle-Tow-Dolly-Auto-Transport-OR-Toy-Hauler-26828/
20. Towing My Vehicle: Tow Dolly, Auto Transport, or Toy Hauler?: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/Towing-My-Vehicle-Tow-Dolly-OR-Auto-Transport-26828/
21. U-Haul® Tow Dolly User Instructions: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/U-Haul-Tow-Dolly-User-Instructions-120/
22. U-Haul Trailer & Towing Insurance Options Explained: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/U-Haul-Trailer-Towing-Insurance-Options-Explained-36965/
23. What Are U-Haul Trailer and Towing Prices?: https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Towing/What-Are-U-Haul-Trailer-And-Towing-Prices-36851/
24. Car and Motorcycle Towing: https://www.uhaul.com/Towing/
25. Trailer Rentals - U-Haul: https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/
26. Auto Transport Rental: https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/Auto-Transport-Rental/AT/
27. Tow Dolly Rental: https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/Tow-Dolly-Rental/TD/
28. U-Haul Truck Rentals: https://www.uhaul.com/Truck-Rentals/
29. 10ft Moving Truck Rental: https://www.uhaul.com/Truck-Rentals/10ft-Moving-Truck/
30. U-Haul One-Way Truck Rental: https://www.uhaul.com/Truck-Rentals/One-Way/
31. U-Haul Truck Rental Rates: https://www.uhaul.com/Truck-Rentals/Rates/

Independent Sources

32. How Much Does a U-Haul Really Cost in 2026?: https://blog.hireahelper.com/how-much-does-a-u-haul-really-cost-we-found-out/
33. How Much Is a Car Dolly from U-Haul? (2026 Price Guide: https://thedailyautomotive.com/how-much-is-a-car-dolly-from-uhaul/
34. Car Tow Dolly Rental Prices: https://vehrix.com/car-tow-dolly-rental-prices/
35. Car Carrier and Car Trailer Rental | Budget Truck Rental: https://www.budgettruck.com/moving-trucks-accessories/tow/car-carrier
36. U-Haul reservation availability reporting: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/moving/u-haul.html
37. U-Haul's Newest Car Trailer Finally Hits The Rental Fleet And It's A Game-Changer: https://www.theautopian.com/u-hauls-newest-car-trailer-finally-hits-the-rental-fleet-and-its-a-game-changer/
38. U-Haul Tow Dolly: Rates, Rules, and Setup Guide: https://www.usatowfinder.com/blog/guide/uhaul-tow-dolly-rates-rules-setup

Other Sources

39. U-Haul Rates Car Dolly: https://www.facebook.com/fb-answers/u-haul-rates-car-dolly/