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Trailer rental cost calculator

Work out what renting a trailer will cost from the rate you are quoted, any extra days, and the add-ons. A tow-behind trailer is inexpensive by the day in town, because you pull it with your own vehicle and pay by the rental rather than the mile. The total climbs with a one-way rental, optional damage coverage, and a hitch if your car is not already set up to tow. The calculator adds it up.

§ 01 Your numbers

Change anything. The answer updates as you type.

The rate the company quotes for your trailer size and trip. An in-town rental is a flat rate for the day; a one-way rental is a single flat fee set by the distance between the pickup and drop-off towns.
For an in-town rental kept longer than the standard period. A one-way rental already includes the days you need for the trip, so leave this at zero for a one-way.
What each additional day adds for an in-town rental. Set by the company, and usually less than the first day.
The optional damage protection the company offers on the trailer. Your own auto policy may or may not cover a rented trailer, so this is a real line to decide on. Zero if you decline it.
The small environmental or admin fee plus sales tax the company adds to the rental. Usually a few dollars.
If your vehicle has no tow hitch or wiring harness, renting or installing one is an added cost. Zero if your vehicle is already set up to tow.
Estimated cost
$35

Typical range $30 – $49

  • Base rental rate$30
  • Extra days$0
  • Damage coverage$0
  • Environmental fee & tax$5
  • Hitch & wiring (if needed)$0
  • Total$35
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Under about $75 is an in-town trailer for a day or two with light add-ons. The common case; you tow it and bring it back.

What this assumes, and where it could be wrong

Every one of these is a place the number could be off. They are here because you should be able to check our working, not because we are hedging.

YOU PULL THE TRAILER WITH YOUR OWN VEHICLE, SO YOU PAY BY THE RENTAL, NOT THE MILE.
A rented moving truck charges you by the mile on top of its daily rate. A tow-behind trailer does not, because you pull it with your own car, and your driving cost becomes just your own fuel. That is why a trailer can come in well under a truck for the same move: it skips the truck's mileage charge. What you pay the company is the rental itself, plus any coverage and fees, and that is what this calculator adds up

An in-town rental is priced by the day; a one-way is priced by the trip. An in-town trailer comes back to the same location and is billed as a flat rate for a standard period, with extra days added on. A one-way trailer is dropped off in another town, and its single flat fee is set by the distance between the two places, with the days you need already built in. Pick the one that matches your move, because they are quoted differently.

Damage coverage is the add-on to decide on before you drive off. The company offers optional protection against damage to the trailer, and whether you want it depends on what your own auto policy already does. Many policies extend your liability to a rented trailer but leave damage to the trailer itself for you, so the coverage is filling a real gap for some drivers and duplicating cover for others. Read your policy, then set the line.

You need a hitch and wiring, and not every vehicle has them. A trailer bolts to a tow hitch and plugs into a wiring harness for its lights, and a car without either has to have them added, which is a real cost on top of the rental. Just as important, check your vehicle's tow rating: a loaded trailer has a weight, and a vehicle rated below it should not pull it. The rental saves money when your vehicle is already able to tow.

The defaults are ours and are a starting point. The rental rate, the days, and any coverage are yours, and the estimate turns most on whether it is an in-town or a one-way rental and whether your vehicle needs a hitch added.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to rent a trailer?
It is the rental rate the company quotes, plus any extra days, optional damage coverage, and a hitch if your vehicle needs one. An in-town trailer is inexpensive by the day because you tow it with your own car and pay by the rental rather than the mile; a one-way rental is a single flat fee set by the distance and costs more. The calculator above adds it up from your quote.
Is renting a trailer cheaper than renting a moving truck?
Often, if you have a vehicle that can tow. A truck charges you by the mile on top of its daily rate, while a trailer you pull yourself charges just the rental, and your driving cost is your own fuel. The trade-off is that a trailer holds less than a truck and needs a tow-capable vehicle with a hitch. For a smaller move with the right vehicle, the trailer usually comes in lower; for a whole house, a truck may be the better fit.
Do I need my own hitch to rent a trailer?
You need a hitch and a wiring harness on your vehicle, though not necessarily your own beforehand: rental companies can install a hitch for you, or you may already have one. What matters is that the trailer bolts to a hitch and plugs in for its lights, and that your vehicle is rated to tow the loaded weight. A vehicle without a hitch, or rated below the trailer's weight, has to be sorted out before you can tow, and that is a cost and a safety check worth doing first.
Does my car insurance cover a rented trailer?
It depends on your policy. Many auto policies extend your liability coverage to a trailer you are towing, but leave physical damage to the rented trailer itself uncovered, which is the gap the company's optional damage coverage is meant to fill. Whether you need that coverage comes down to what your own policy already does, so it is worth a call to your insurer before you decide. Read the policy, then set the coverage line in the calculator.

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