Do You Need Car Insurance to Rent a U-Haul?

Last Updated on December 17, 2025

If you’re preparing for a move, renting a U-Haul can be a cost-effective way to haul everything across town (or across the country). But a lot of people get stuck on one big question: do you need car insurance to rent a U-Haul? And if you can rent one without insurance, should you buy U-Haul’s optional protection?

Below is what to know before pickup day—what your personal policy might (and might not) cover, what U-Haul offers, and how to avoid expensive surprises.

Key Takeaways

• You can often rent a U-Haul moving truck without personal auto insurance, but you may still be financially responsible for damage, injuries, and other costs if you decline protection.
• Many personal auto policies and credit card rental benefits don’t cover moving trucks (or have size/weight exclusions), so don’t assume you’re protected.
• U-Haul’s SafeMove typically includes a damage waiver, limited cargo protection, and limited medical/life benefits, while SafeMove Plus generally adds stronger truck protection and extra liability coverage.
• The smartest move is to confirm coverage with your insurer before pickup—and if coverage isn’t crystal clear, consider buying SafeMove or SafeMove Plus.

Do You Need Insurance to Rent a U-Haul?

In most cases, you can rent a U-Haul moving truck even if you don’t have personal auto insurance. U-Haul typically doesn’t require “proof of insurance” just to hand you the keys to a moving truck.

However, that does not mean you’re automatically protected. If you decline U-Haul’s optional coverage and your personal insurance doesn’t apply, you can be financially responsible for damage to the truck, damage you cause to others, and other costs tied to the rental.

Also note: U-Haul’s requirements can differ by rental type. For example, pickup trucks and cargo vans may have different rules than larger moving trucks. When in doubt, confirm what you’ll need at pickup (and what you’re responsible for) before move day.

Your Car Insurance Usually Doesn’t Cover a U-Haul Truck Rental

When you rent a standard car, your existing car insurance policy often covers your rental car—at least for liability, and sometimes for physical damage if you carry comprehensive and collision.

Moving trucks are different. Many personal auto policies only extend coverage to “private passenger” vehicles and may exclude larger box trucks or vehicles above certain weight/size limits. Even when coverage extends to rentals, a U-Haul is more likely to fall outside what your policy considers a covered “temporary substitute” or “non-owned” auto.

The same issue often applies to credit card rental coverage: many credit cards exclude moving trucks, cargo vans, and other non-passenger vehicles. In other words, don’t assume the card you used to pay automatically protects you.

Bottom line: before you pick up your truck, call your insurer and ask specifically whether your policy covers a U-Haul (and what size/weight limits apply). If you don’t have clear coverage in writing, strongly consider buying U-Haul’s optional protection.

What Does U-Haul’s SafeMove Coverage Include?

U-Haul offers optional protection packages for moving truck rentals (commonly called SafeMove and SafeMove Plus). These options are designed to reduce (or eliminate) what you’d otherwise owe if the truck is damaged, and they can also add limited protection for your cargo and the people in the cab.

While terms can vary by state and rental type, SafeMove is generally built around three core components:

• Damage Waiver (helps cover accidental damage to the rental equipment, subject to exclusions and deductibles that can vary)
• Cargo Protection (typically applies to loss or damage to your belongings from covered events like collision, fire, windstorm, or overturn—subject to limits and exclusions)
• Medical/Life Protection (limited benefits for injuries in an accident involving the rental truck; amounts vary by location and rental type—ask at checkout or pickup for the exact limits)

Then there’s SafeMove Plus, which generally includes everything above plus additional liability protection and better protection for the truck itself (including no-deductible damage coverage in many cases).

SafeMove Plus is especially worth a close look if your personal policy doesn’t cover moving trucks or if you want stronger protection against lawsuits and large third-party claims involving property damage or bodily injuries.

U-Haul SafeMove vs. U-Haul SafeMove Plus

To recap, the table below compares the two common U-Haul coverage levels, SafeMove and SafeMove Plus. (Exact terms, deductibles, and availability can vary by state and rental type.)

Important: Liability Coverage and State Minimums

Many drivers assume the rental company automatically provides “good” liability coverage. In reality, rental liability can be limited—and in some cases may only satisfy state minimum liability requirements, which are often not enough after a serious crash.

If you don’t have liability coverage that clearly follows you into a moving truck rental, consider SafeMove Plus (or ask your insurer about options) so you’re not relying on bare-minimum protection.

What Isn’t Covered by SafeMove?

SafeMove can be very helpful, but it’s not a “covers everything” button. Exclusions and limitations vary by state, but common examples include:

• Cargo theft (damage protection is often limited to specific causes like collision, fire, windstorm, or overturn)
• Damage from improper packing or normal shifting of cargo inside the truck
• Anything outside the truck (for example, if you’re towing a vehicle behind the truck, your towed vehicle is generally not covered by SafeMove)
• Mechanical damage caused by misuse (like rocking the truck aggressively to get unstuck)

Because exclusions vary from state to state, always review the terms shown during checkout and ask the pickup location to confirm what’s covered before you drive away.

FAQs on Renting a U-Haul and Insurance

Final Word: Do You Need Car Insurance to Rent a U-Haul?

You can often rent a U-Haul without personal auto insurance—but that doesn’t mean you should drive unprotected. Many credit card policies and personal auto policies won’t cover moving truck rentals (or may only cover limited situations).

Before you rent, ask your insurer whether your policy covers the specific U-Haul you’re renting. Drivers with comprehensive coverage may have more protection than drivers with liability-only coverage, but moving trucks can still be excluded. If you can’t confirm coverage clearly, buying U-Haul’s SafeMove (or SafeMove Plus) is usually the safest route.