As a Costco member, you’re likely accustomed to seeking out exclusive benefits and savings on a wide variety of purchases and services, from electronics to travel. When planning a move or needing to rent a truck, it’s natural to investigate whether your Costco membership can unlock a special discount with a major provider like U-Haul.
To address this common inquiry directly: Based on current information available from both Costco’s member benefits programs and U-Haul’s official partnership listings, there is no standard, ongoing agreement that provides Costco members with an advertised discount specifically for U-Haul moving truck rentals, trailer rentals, or their other primary rental services.
It’s understandable why members might expect such a deal. Costco, through its Costco Travel and Costco Services platforms, actively negotiates member-exclusive rates for numerous services, including vehicle rentals and even moving truck rentals with other specific companies. However, U-Haul is typically not included among these designated partners for rental discounts.
This guide aims to clarify the situation regarding Costco membership and potential U-Haul savings. We will confirm the details from official sources, highlight where Costco members can actually find membership-based truck rental discounts, and guide you on how to save money if you ultimately rent from U-Haul through their own standard methods.
Verifying Costco & U-Haul Partnerships
To get the most accurate picture regarding potential Costco member savings at U-Haul, it’s essential to consult the official information presented by both organizations about their partnerships and member benefits:
- Checking Costco’s Member Resources: Costco prominently features its exclusive member benefits and negotiated partnerships on its website, particularly within the Costco Services and Costco Travel sections. When you explore these areas, especially those detailing vehicle rentals:
- You will find clear partnerships offering specific discounts with companies such as Budget Truck Rental (for moving trucks) and typically Avis and/or Budget for regular car rentals. These are explicitly listed as Costco member benefits.
- Conspicuously, U-Haul is not included in Costco’s roster of official partners providing standard member discounts for truck or vehicle rentals.
- Checking U-Haul’s Official Information: Likewise, reviewing U-Haul’s own website, specifically their official Discounts page, outlines the company’s current promotions and formal discount partnerships.
- This page typically details collaborations that offer savings, such as those with specific hotel chains (like Choice Hotels and Wyndham Hotels), and other U-Haul specific offers related to storage or moving supplies.
- Costco is not listed among these official partners that grant standard discounts on U-Haul’s core rental services.
The Clear Conclusion from Both Sources: The consistent absence of any mention of a formal discount partnership on the relevant official pages of both Costco and U-Haul provides strong confirmation. It clearly indicates that no standard agreement is currently in place for Costco members to receive an exclusive discount on U-Haul truck or trailer rentals just by showing their membership card. Both companies are generally diligent about promoting such valuable partnerships when they exist.
Where Costco Members Can Find Truck Rental Discounts
While your Costco card won’t unlock special savings directly at U-Haul for truck rentals, your membership is valuable for getting a discount elsewhere! Costco has established official partnerships to offer savings on rentals, just not with U-Haul for this specific service.
The primary way Costco members can save on a moving truck rental is through the specific agreement Costco maintains with Budget Truck Rental.
- The Costco + Budget Truck Rental Partnership: This official collaboration, accessible via Costco Travel, typically provides Costco members with a significant percentage discount on Budget Truck Rental services. The discount amount is often substantial (historically around 25% off the base rates for time and mileage, though you should always verify the current percentage via Costco Travel) and applies to the various moving truck sizes Budget offers.
- How You MUST Book to Get the Discount: This is the crucial step. To receive the exclusive Costco member pricing with Budget Truck Rental, you generally must initiate and complete your booking through the official Costco Travel website. Simply booking directly on Budget’s site or showing your Costco card at the rental counter will likely not give you the specific Costco-negotiated rate. The savings are tied to booking via the designated Costco Travel channel.
- Access the Deal Here: Visit the vehicle or truck rental section on the Costco Travel website to make your reservation and ensure the Costco discount is applied.
- Verification: As you proceed through the booking steps on the Costco Travel site, the specific member rate and discount should be clearly displayed in your price summary.
Therefore, if using your Costco membership to secure a discount on a moving truck is a priority, booking a Budget truck through the Costco Travel portal is the official and effective method to achieve that saving. This presents a direct, valuable alternative for members comparing rental options.
(H2: Saving Money at U-Haul (Without a Costco Discount))
So, you’ve confirmed your Costco membership won’t provide a direct discount for your U-Haul rental, but maybe U-Haul remains the most convenient or suitable option for your specific moving needs. The good news is that you can still actively work to lower your U-Haul costs using their own standard saving methods and promotions!
Since a Costco-specific deal isn’t applicable, simply redirect your focus towards leveraging U-Haul’s established ways to save. This involves understanding their pricing and planning strategically:
- For Savings on U-Haul Truck Rentals: If your main goal is to reduce the cost of renting a U-Haul moving truck, pickup, or cargo van, the most effective tactics include booking during off-peak days and times, meticulously choosing the right vehicle size to avoid overpaying or needing extra trips, understanding how mileage charges work for your specific rental type (In-Town vs. One-Way), and getting quotes well in advance. All these crucial truck-specific strategies are covered in detail in our dedicated guide:
- Learn Truck Savings Tactics Here: Your Ultimate Guide to U-haul Truck Rental Coupons
- For Savings on Other U-Haul Services & General Deals: If you’re also interested in potential discounts on U-Haul self-storage, need savings on moving boxes and packing supplies, or just want a complete overview of all currently known U-Haul promotions across their range of services, our main coupon and deals page is the best resource:
- Explore All U-Haul Deals Here: U-Haul Promo Codes
By utilizing the comprehensive information and actionable tips found in these linked guides, you can effectively navigate U-Haul’s offerings and identify the most impactful ways to save money on the specific services you need, independent of any Costco membership benefits.
Conclusion: Use Costco for Budget Truck Rentals, Plan Smart for U-Haul
To summarize for Costco members investigating potential U-Haul savings: The essential point to remember is that no standard, ongoing discount partnership currently exists between Costco and U-Haul for truck rentals or other primary services. You should not expect to receive a special rate simply by being a Costco member when renting directly from U-Haul.
However, your Costco membership is valuable for securing savings on a moving truck rental, specifically through their official partnership with Budget Truck Rental. To access this benefit, remember that you typically must book through the Costco Travel website.
If, for reasons of convenience or specific needs, you still choose to rent from U-Haul, focus your cost-saving efforts on their generally available methods. This includes strategic booking during off-peak times, selecting the appropriate truck size, understanding their mileage and fuel policies, and checking for U-Haul’s own promotions, as detailed in our other linked guides.
Ultimately, knowing where your Costco membership offers direct value (with Budget Truck Rental via Costco Travel) versus where it doesn’t (with U-Haul) allows you to make the most informed and financially sound decision for your moving truck needs.