UPDATED: October 13, 2022

People moving to another state or city, or those who are planning on going for a weekend outdoors trip often find themselves scratching their heads. “Where can I find rental car companies that allow towing?”

If you’re one of these people, then you’ve come to the right place.

Renting a car or an SUV that can tow things like boats, cars, or trailers can be especially convenient if you’re planning on moving to another house or going for a weekend camping trip. 

After checking, we found out that there aren’t many companies that allow towing with their vehicles. Fortunately, there are some that do. 

We did our research and gathered a list of some of the best rental car companies with towing packages. We also went through forums and read reviews to find a few quick tips that you should keep in mind before towing. 

The last thing you want is to spend a ton of money on expensive towing or on renting moving vehicles. Keep reading until the very end so you don’t only save money, but also have some peace of mind the next time you decide to use a rental car for your towing needs.

What Rental Car Companies Allow Towing?

Most rental car companies don’t allow you to use their cars for towing. These ones on our list, however, do. 

Most of them even provide trailers and other towing accessories that you can also rent. We’ll tell you all about the different types of vehicles, trailers, and accessories you can rent from them, as well as any restrictions that the companies may have. 

1. U-Haul

Types of vehicles available for towing: 8-ft. Pickup trucks; 10-feet, 15-feet, 17-feet, 20-feet, 24-feet, and 26-feet moving trucks

Types of trailers for rent: Open-top or utility trailers and closed-top or cargo trailers of different sizes; Motorcycle and car carriers; tow dollies

Restrictions: None

Other advantages: Allow one-way rentals and provide receiver hitches

With over 20,000 locations, U-Haul is easily one of the biggest moving and storage companies in Northern America. Because of its popularity, many use its name to refer to moving trucks in general. 

U-Haul is one of the few companies who allow users to rent vehicles for towing and trailers separately. This means that it gives you the option to rent one of its vehicles and tow your own trailer, or rent its trailer and tow it using your own car. 

U-Haul trailers are often designed to connect with the majority of cars. On your end, you’ll have to check the hitch system rating of your vehicle and ask your insurance company if your policy allows it. 

2. Budget Truck Rental

Types of vehicles available for towing: 16-feet and 26-feet moving trucks

Types of trailers for rent: Tow dollies and car carriers

Restrictions: Tow dollies and car carriers need to be rented along with a truck reservation (they cannot be rented separately). 

Other advantages: Allow one way rentals and provide receiver hitches; unlimited mileage depends on selected rental and will be shown during the process of booking

While Budget Truck Rental may not match the scale of U-Haul’s business, it still remains a popular brand in this industry. Founded in 1998, it’s known to be a reliable service for your rental car and towing needs. 

Budget Truck Rental has its headquarters in New Jersey. Its fleet of over 27,000 trucks, however, can be found all over the country. 

3. Penske Truck Rental

Types of vehicles available for towing: 16-feet, 22-feet, and 26-feet moving trucks

Types of trailers for rent: Tow dollies and car carriers

Restrictions: Tow dollies and car carriers need to be rented along with a truck reservation (they cannot be rented separately). Towing your own trailer is also prohibited. 

Other advantages: Allow one way rentals, provide receiver hitches, and have unlimited mileage

Pennsylvania-based Penske Truck Rental was founded by Roger Penske in 1969. It has a nationwide presence, with a fleet of over 20,000 trucks. 

Similar with Budget Truck Rental, however, you can only use towing accessories if you also rented a truck from the company. Their tow dollies and car carriers also cannot be rented separately. 

4. Enterprise Truck Rental

Types of vehicles available for towing: ¾ and one-ton pickup trucks

Types of trailers for rent: Not available

Restrictions: Customer has to provide own equipment for towing

Other advantages: Allow one-way rentals and have unlimited mileage

Enterprise Truck Rental is one of the younger players in this game, having started sometime in 1999. Like the other companies, however, they offer rental vehicles in multiple states, and allow towing using some of their pickup trucks. 

Unlike the others, however, they do not offer any trailers for rent. If you decide to get one of their pickup trucks like the Ford F250 and F350, however, and you want to use it for towing, you’ll have to provide your own trailer and towing equipment. 

5. Hertz

Types of vehicles available for towing: Select vehicles that have a towbar

Types of trailers for rent: None

Restrictions: Permissions has to be requested from Hertz; weight and dimensions of item to be towed cannot exceed the capacity of the vehicle itself

Other advantages: Allow one-way rentals and have unlimited mileage

Hertz is one of the biggest rental car companies in the world. A subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., this Florida-based car rental company operates around 12,000 corporate and franchise locations worldwide. 

Unlike other companies here though, Hertz doesn’t specialize in towing. They do, however, have vehicles that are equipped for the job. 

What Hertz lacks in rental trailers and towing equipment, it more than makes up for inconvenience. With its worldwide presence, it is one of the most prominent and easiest rental car companies to go to. It is an established name in the industry primarily because of its reliability. 

Things to Do Before You Start Towing

With all these rental car companies that allow towing already checked off your list, make sure to keep the following reminders before you go on your trip.

1. Check Trailer Tires

Before anything else, make sure that the tires on your trailer are in good condition. This is just as important as checking the tires on the towing truck you’ll be using. 

Make sure that the tires on both the truck and the trailer are properly inflated, and that there are no cracks or dry rots in them. Factor in the treading as well. If you’re doubtful about the condition of your tires, it is always better to err on the side of caution and just change them.

2. Secure Safety Chains

Because you’ll probably be towing a significant amount of weight, it is always ideal to not risk your safety and invest in a high-quality chain. 

When you already have it, follow the cross chaining method when attaching the trailer to your vehicle. This should help ensure that the weight is properly distributed throughout, and should prevent avoidable accidents from happening. 

3. Fill Your Tank

Towing can and will eat up a lot of gas, especially if you’re carrying a heavy load. Stopping to fill up at gas stations with a trailer hooked up to the back of your truck can be a hassle. 

With that said, it’s best if you fill up your gas tank even before you head out and attach a trailer to the truck. If you’re renting, look for a truck that has a large fuel tank that’s enough to get you to your destination in one full tank. 

Summary

If you’re planning on moving to another city or going out on a camping trip, make sure to go through the list of rental car companies that allow towing before you decide on which option to go for. 

Once you do have your rental car or truck, keep our tips in mind before you head out so you can ensure yourself of a safe and hassle-free ride.