Renting a Moving Truck in Ottawa: How to Choose the Right Company and Size

Renting a moving truck in Ottawa looks straightforward until you’re actually trying to book one in late June and the size you need is unavailable at every location within 20 kilometres. This guide covers the main rental options operating in Ottawa, what they’re actually good for, how to size your truck correctly, and when renting yourself genuinely makes sense versus hiring a crew.

The Ottawa Rental Market: What to Expect

Ottawa’s truck rental market follows the same peak-season bottleneck as the moving industry generally. Around July 1 — when a large share of the city’s leases turn over simultaneously — demand for rental trucks spikes sharply and inventory at major locations runs thin. U-Haul locations on Coventry Road and Innes Road, the Penske branch on Stevenage Drive, and the Enterprise location on Laperriere Avenue all see their larger truck sizes book out weeks in advance during June and early July. If your move is anywhere near July 1, booking four to six weeks out is not excessive — it’s the realistic window for having a choice of size and location. For moves in spring, fall, or winter, one to two weeks is usually sufficient.

One thing worth knowing before you start comparing companies: Ottawa city streets often require a parking permit for large vehicles. If you’re moving to or from a downtown address, Old Ottawa South, Westboro, or anywhere with limited street parking, arrange the permit through the City of Ottawa before moving day — not the morning of.

Truck Rental Companies Operating in Ottawa

U-Haul is the most widely available option in Ottawa, with multiple locations across the city including Coventry Road, Innes Road, and Merivale Road. Fleet size ranges from 10-foot cargo vans up to 26-foot trucks, and they offer both in-town (return to the same location) and one-way rentals. U-Haul also rents trailers and U-Box containers if you need a hybrid approach — load at your own pace, have the container moved later. The breadth of locations and vehicle types makes U-Haul the most flexible option for most moves. Fleet age varies; inspect the truck before you leave the lot.

Penske operates from their Stevenage Drive location and offers 12- to 26-foot trucks and cargo vans. Their strongest selling point for Ottawa movers is unlimited mileage on one-way rentals — useful if you’re moving between Ottawa and another city, or doing a cross-town move where you want cost certainty. The fleet tends to be newer than U-Haul’s, and 24/7 roadside assistance is included. The main limitation is fewer Ottawa locations, which can mean a longer drive to pick up.

Enterprise Truck Rental operates from Laperriere Avenue and offers a broad range of vehicles — box trucks from 14 to 26 feet, cargo vans including high-roof options, pickups, and flat decks. Enterprise publishes payload capacity details for their fleet, which is genuinely useful if you’re moving heavy items and want to avoid overloading. A solid choice for business moves or anyone with an unusual mix of items that doesn’t fit neatly into a standard box truck.

Budget Truck Rental operates in Ottawa but has a lower public profile than the others. Fleet and pricing are broadly similar to U-Haul. Worth including in your comparison if you’re price-shopping, but verify local availability directly — their Ottawa inventory is smaller.

Home Depot rents moving trucks from their Ottawa locations including the Bank Street store. Rates are notably lower than the dedicated rental companies — Ottawa users have reported full-day rates around $130 — making this the most cost-effective option for short local moves. The trade-off is limited truck sizes and no one-way rental option. If you’re moving within the same neighbourhood or a short distance across town and don’t need a large truck, Home Depot is worth checking first.

Company	Truck sizes	One-way?	Best for
U-Haul	10′–26′ + vans, trailers, U-Box	Yes	Most moves — widest selection and most Ottawa locations
Penske	12′–26′ + cargo vans	Yes — unlimited mileage	Long-distance or one-way moves; newer fleet
Enterprise	14′–26′ + vans, pickups, flat decks	Yes	Heavy or unusual loads; business moves
Budget	Standard box trucks	Yes	Price comparison; verify Ottawa availability first
Home Depot	Moving trucks (limited sizes)	No	Short local moves on a tight budget

Choosing the Right Truck Size

Undersizing is the most common mistake — people underestimate how much space furniture and boxes actually take. Oversizing wastes money but is far less disruptive than making two trips because everything didn’t fit.

• Studio or 1-bedroom apartment — a 10- to 12-foot truck is usually sufficient, though a cargo van works for very light loads
• 2-bedroom apartment or condo — 16 to 20 feet; size up if you have large furniture or a full kitchen
• 3-bedroom house — 22 to 26 feet; most Ottawa house moves of this size need the full 26-foot truck
• 4+ bedroom house — 26 feet, and potentially two loads or a second vehicle for overflow

When in doubt, size up by one. The daily rate difference between a 16-foot and a 22-foot truck is typically less than the cost and time of a second trip across Ottawa.

Costs to Actually Budget For

The daily base rate is only part of the cost. A realistic truck rental budget for an Ottawa move includes:

Mileage charges on in-town rentals — U-Haul and most others charge per kilometre beyond a base allowance. On a cross-city move from Barrhaven to Orléans, mileage adds up quickly. Penske’s unlimited mileage on one-way rentals eliminates this variable entirely, which can make them cheaper overall despite a higher base rate.

Insurance and damage waivers — check whether your existing auto insurance policy includes coverage for non-owned vehicles. In Ontario, this is the OPCF 27 endorsement. If it does, you may not need to purchase the rental company’s damage waiver. If it doesn’t, factor in the waiver cost, which typically runs $15–30 per day.

Equipment rentals — furniture dollies, appliance dollies, moving blankets, and tie-downs are all rented separately at most companies. Budget for these if you don’t already own them.

Fuel — trucks are returned full. A 26-foot truck doing 60–80 kilometres across Ottawa and back will use noticeably more fuel than a car. Factor this in, particularly with current fuel prices.

DIY Rental vs. Hiring a Moving Company

A truck rental looks cheaper on paper than hiring a moving company, but the comparison depends heavily on your situation. For a full cost breakdown including supplies, fuel, and hidden DIY expenses, see the DIY moving costs Ottawa guide.

DIY rental makes sense when you have a small load (studio, 1-bedroom), a short distance to cover, several people available to help load and unload, no large furniture requiring special handling, and a flexible timeline that doesn’t fall on a peak date.

Hiring a moving company makes more sense when you have a full house, stairs or elevator logistics at either end, specialty items like a piano or antiques, a fixed move date in peak season, or no reliable help available for loading and unloading. The math often shifts when you factor in your own labour time, the risk of injury or damage without professional equipment, and what happens if something goes wrong with a rental vehicle.

For anything larger than a 2-bedroom, or any move involving Ottawa condos with elevator booking windows, the time and logistics involved in a DIY move frequently outweigh the cost savings. Foosun’s Moving Hours Estimator gives you a realistic picture of what your move will take before you decide.

Before You Pick Up the Truck

Inspect before you drive. Walk around the truck with a rental company employee and document any existing damage with photos before leaving the lot. Note scratches, dents, and the condition of the loading ramp. This protects you from being charged for pre-existing damage on return.

Confirm the fuel level. Most rentals require you to return the truck with the same fuel level it had when you picked it up. Note this on your rental agreement and photograph the gauge.

Check your insurance coverage. Confirm with your auto insurance provider before pickup whether your policy includes non-owned vehicle coverage (OPCF 27 in Ontario). If not, purchase the rental company’s damage waiver — driving a 26-foot truck without coverage is not a risk worth taking.

Plan your route. Large trucks have height restrictions that passenger vehicles don’t. The Bronson Avenue underpass and several Gatineau-side routes have clearance limits that can catch drivers off guard. If your move crosses into Gatineau, confirm the routing with the rental company before you leave the lot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rental company locations, fleet availability, and pricing change frequently. Confirm current details directly with each company before booking. Rate estimates reflect general Ottawa market conditions and may not reflect current pricing.