How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Trailer?
Trailer rental prices are set by each owner. Here is what affects the price, exactly how your total is worked out on Trailer To Go, and how to keep the cost down.
“How much is it to rent a trailer?” is the first question most people ask. The honest answer: it depends on the trailer and the owner. On Trailer To Go, each owner sets their own day rate, and you always see the full total before you book. Here is what drives the price and how the total is worked out.
What affects the price of a rental trailer
- The type of trailer. A small open box trailer and a double-axle car trailer are very different pieces of equipment, and are priced differently.
- Size and load capacity. Bigger, heavier-duty trailers usually cost more per day.
- Features. A lockable lid, a winch, ramps, brakes or a spare wheel can all add value.
- How long you need it. You pay per day, so the number of days matters most.
- Where and when. Owners set their own rates, so prices vary between areas and owners. Compare a few listings.
How your total is worked out on Trailer To Go
The formula is simple and the same everywhere on the platform — the website, the app and your booking confirmation:
Total = the trailer’s day rate × the number of rental days
- Every started 24 hours counts as one day. Collect at 09:00 and return at 10:00 the next day, and that is two days.
- The minimum is one day.
- The total is shown on the booking screen before you confirm, and the same figure appears on your confirmation.
Worked example (illustration only)
If a trailer’s day rate were R and you collected it on Saturday at 08:00 and returned it on Monday at 07:00, that is 47 hours — two started 24-hour periods — so you would pay 2 × R. Return it at 09:00 on Monday instead and it becomes 49 hours, which is three days: 3 × R.
Other costs to plan for
- Fuel. Towing uses noticeably more fuel than normal driving.
- Straps, a tarpaulin or a padlock if the trailer does not come with them.
- A tow bar if your car does not have one yet.
- Tolls on some routes. Toll fees for a vehicle towing a trailer can differ from those for a car alone — check the toll operator’s published tariffs for your route.
How to keep the cost down
- Plan your times. Because every started 24 hours counts, returning an hour late can add a whole day.
- Pick the right size. A trailer that is too small means two trips; one that is far too big costs more and is harder to tow. See What Type of Trailer Do You Need?
- Compare listings near you on Find a Trailer.
- Take handover photos at collection and return, so there is never an argument about damage that was already there.
Ready to compare? See trailers and their day rates near you.
