7 Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
The moving process can be time-consuming and stressful, and with greater distance comes greater challenges. Long-distance moving is no small task, but a professional moving company can ease some of the stress. We reviewed 20,000 customer reviews, compared 21 national and local companies, and surveyed 1,000 real customers to fine tune our recommended list.
- International Van Lines: Our pick for insurance plans
- American Van Lines: Our pick for long-distance moves
- Safeway Moving Inc.: Our pick for seniors
- Interstate Moving & Relocation Group: Our pick for informational resources
- United Van Lines: Our pick for corporate relocations
- Mayflower Moving: Best for large moves
- MovingAPT: Most Flexible Payment Options
Our team aims to recommend legitimate and trustworthy service providers to readers. When comparing long-distance moving companies, we focused on transportation availability, pricing and common add-ons and inclusions for cross-country moves, such as:
- Fragile-item moving and specialty crating
- Loading and unloading
- Packing and unpacking services
- Storage services
- Vehicle relocation
Explore our team’s full review methodology and criteria for long-distance moving companies to learn more.
Compare Top Long-Distance Movers
Use the table below to compare costs, our team’s star ratings and Better Business Bureau (BBB) scores for our top-rated long-distance moving companies.
Our Top Recommendations for Long-Distance Moving Companies
International Van Lines
Our top pick
American Van Lines
Best for customer service
Safeway Moving Inc.
Best for seniors and retirees
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
Best for long-distance moves
United Van Lines
Our pick for corporate relocations
Mayflower Moving
Best for large moves
Moving APT
Best for flexible payments
How To Pick a Long-Distance Moving Company
With so many options, you may feel overwhelmed when selecting a moving company. Our team recommends you start by exploring companies offering long-distance moving services near you. The BBB’s local business search can help you learn more about companies in your area. Reach out to collect a few quotes to learn more about pricing, and note it can help to have photos of your complete shipment or an inventory list of major items for more accurate estimates.
Once you start contacting companies, take a look at each quote and compare it in terms of pricing and services included. Request a sample contract from each provider to review specific terms and ask exactly what deposit is due before you move. To ensure your mover is operating within the bounds of the law, you can also request each company’s USDOT number and verify it with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
It is best practice to compare more than just price when you think about which mover you want to work with. You can use resources such as third-party customer reviews, available services and a company’s customer helpline to get a more in-depth look at how each mover operates. Once you make a final choice, request a binding quote from your mover and review the terms of your contract. Our team does not recommend signing a contract you don’t understand or one that doesn’t outline deliverables — you need to know what is due and when.
We recommend getting a quote from each one of our listed long-distance providers before booking your move. This way, you can compare which companies offer the most affordable pricing for the services you need.
Researching the Best Moving Companies in Your Area
The most important part of preparing for a successful long-distance move is to make sure that you have found the best mover. Our list provides you with top long-distance movers that are licensed and insured.
If you want to look for moving companies available in your location, check our guides for each state. Don’t see your state linked yet? Come back soon, we are constantly adding to our content.
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
What Is the Average Cost of a Long-Distance Move?
The average price that out-of-state moving companies will charge for a long-distance move is between $1,000 and $7,500, based on our research. This pricing is for a self-service move, which means the customer will provide their own loading, unloading and transportation services. If you plan to move with full-service movers, expect to pay between $4,200 and $12,000 for a complete moving package.
Five Factors That Can Impact Moving Costs
Understanding what influences the price of your move can help you save money when planning your long-distance move. Some of the main factors that can affect the cost of your move include:
- Distance: The further you move, the more resources movers use to ensure your things arrive on schedule. The longer the distance, the more you can expect to pay. If you’re moving an exceptionally far distance, considering a do-it-yourself (DIY) move may help you save money.
- Home size: The more items you’re moving, the more money you’ll pay. You can try to downsize as much as possible before setting your moving date and getting quotes to reduce the total bill — which can also save time when unpacking at your new home.
- Time of the year: Summer is the most popular time for moves because children are out of school, meaning you’ll pay higher rates for moves scheduled in June, July and August. If you can afford to wait until fall or winter to move, you’ll likely save money on moving costs.
- Day of the week: Fridays and Saturdays are two of the most popular days of the week to move, meaning you could pay a higher premium for a Friday or Saturday move. Mid-week moves can save you money if a viable option.
- Your selected add-ons: Add-ons such as packing services and furniture wrapping are convenient but also increase the total cost of your move. Planning your move far enough in advance can help ensure you have more time to handle these services yourself.
What is the Cheapest Option for Moving Long Distance?
While the cost will vary for you depending on the factors mentioned above, we found that on average International Van Lines was the cheapest option for moving long distance as it had a lower quote than other competitors for the same type and distance of move. Other more affordable ways to move include doing a DIY move with a U-Haul or budget rental truck company. The down sides are that you will be doing more of the manual labor in packing, moving, and driving your personal belongings. Often time long-distance moves also require multi-day commitments but could save you thousands.
How to Save Money on Moving
- Sell items you don’t need to reduce the amount of space/packing materials
- Pack your self, and go with a moving company that does not offer a full-service move
- Get free packing materials by asking neighbors, local stores, and community groups
- Move during the fall-winter months as it is often considered off-peak moving season
- Understand your tax deductions for a year when you move
- Do it yourself!
Calculate Your Moving Costs
You will want to make sure you can trust the moving company you hire. To view the company’s licensing, obtain its USDOT number and visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. Input that USDOT number toward the bottom of that page, which will allow you to access the company’s licenses and certifications. For more information on how much a move could run you, use our calculator below.
How Far in Advance Should I Schedule Movers?
Our team recommends making a reservation for your move as far in advance as possible — ideally two months before the date you’d like to move. The key to planning an affordable long-distance move is planning far enough ahead. For example, waiting until you’re less than a month out can impact mover availability and pricing. Our team created the following moving timeline to map out a long-distance moving timeline with the help of partial or full-service movers.
Two Months Before
- Consider downsizing: If you are looking to downsize your belongings, you can start sorting through items and getting rid of anything you no longer need. You can donate or toss possessions you no longer want. Downsizing can help lower the total cost of your move and help you save time when unpacking.
- Create a moving inventory: Regardless of whether you downsize or not, our team recommends creating an inventory of all items you plan to move with. Movers may request an inventory list when collecting quotes.
- Set a moving budget: We recommend creating your moving budget as a range, giving you more flexibility when comparing moving quotes. If you need help, you can use our moving calculator above to estimate expenses before setting your budget.
- Request moving quotes: We recommend getting a quote from at least three competing movers. Submit your email address and phone numbers to a few moving companies or if you’re on a budget, affordable moving truck rentals.
Six Weeks Before
- Keep track of offers: After submitting your contact information to movers, you should start getting calls from representatives. Keep track of your offers, and ask if each quote is binding or non-binding. Ask for a copy of the quotes so you can try to lock in prices after fielding all offers.
- Consider add-on needs: Now is also the time to start pricing add-on services such as packing, furniture wrapping, or crating and storage.
- Assess your budget: If the quotes you’re receiving are out of your price range, you may reassess your moving plan. Consider a moving container company or DIY truck rental if quotes for moving teams are coming back too expensive.
One Month Before
- Lock-in your moving date: Our team recommends having your moving company booked at least one month in advance of the date you want to leave. Read everything in your contract before signing, and arrange to pay your deposit in advance if you have one.
- Continue packing: Continue packing up your home room-by-room. You can label each box with its contents to make unpacking easier.
- Research and secure parking permits: If you don’t have a driveway or live in a major metropolitan area such as New York City, you may need to apply for a special permit or authorization to park a moving truck in your street. Research permits as early as possible so you can prepare for the date of your move.
- Disconnect your utilities: Our team recommends contacting your utility companies one month before your move to disconnect your services by the date you leave.
Two Weeks Before
- Confirm your moving date: Double-check the date of your move and ensure anyone who is helping you move has the right date and time. If you have any last-minute questions about your move, you can ask your service provider.
- File a change of address form: You can complete a change of address form with the U.S. Postal Service to finalize your move.
- Arrange child and pet care: If you have pets, moving companies will not help you move live animals unless you’re moving with a specialty animal mover. Make plans for how your furry friend will travel on moving day.
One Week Before
- Send permits to your moving team: If you need to give your moving company a parking permit, we recommend arranging this before the date of your move. Let your movers know where to park if you have special instructions and confirm your time over the phone.
- Separate items you need to bring on your own: When you move, it’s a good idea to take any important items or documents with you in your vehicle. Pull out items such as birth and marriage certificates, passports and jewelry before your move. Keep these documents safe and closeby on your moving day to prevent loss.
- Leave one box open: As you reach the last few days in your home, it can help to leave one box open for last-minute items. This tactic makes it convenient to store items such as cooking implements and clothing. You can also create a “first-day” box filled with items you’re likely to need immediately after moving. This might include a change of clothing, work equipment or cleaning supplies.
What Is the Difference Between Carriers and Brokers?
There are two major types of moving companies you might encounter when shopping for an interstate moving service — carriers and brokers. A moving carrier is what most people likely think of when they imagine professional movers. The Department of Transportation authorizes carriers to operate commercial moving trucks and carry and deliver belongings to your new home. These companies can also offer a la carte services such as packing and furniture crating.
Brokers are not authorized to perform moves. Instead, these companies maintain partnerships with local movers and broker a lower price for you. On the date of your move, brokers will pair you with a local provider that is available.
The source you use to book your move can affect the quality of your moving experience. Booking through a broker can help you access more affordable rates, which can be beneficial if you’re looking for a lower-priced move.
However, service quality can vary by the company that a broker matches you with. Booking with a moving company allows you to review certifications and previous customer testimonials directly before scheduling your date.
What Is the Cheapest Way To Move Long-Distance?
Moving can become expensive, even if you collect quotes ahead of time. In our analysis of moving industry trends, we found that most people ended up paying thousands of dollars more to move than originally planned. So, even if you find an affordable quote, you could end up paying more if you choose a less-than-reputable provider.
However, there are multiple ways to try to decrease the price, including:
- Schedule your move on a less popular date: As with other service-based providers, movers have busy seasons and off seasons. If you can afford to move during the fall or winter seasons, you may pay lower rates. Summer is the most popular time of year to move, so you will likely pay higher rates to move during the warmer months.
- Collect multiple quotes: Moving companies base rates on local competition and in-house underwriting. It’s possible to find the same move from 10 companies at 10 price points. Gathering multiple quotes helps you learn more about the average price of your route so you can lock in the lowest rate.
- Downsize your belongings: The federal government places strict restrictions on the total load size of each moving truck on the road. As a result, if you have an extra-heavy shipment, a company could require you to pay for a second truck and moving team, increasing your total price. You can try to prevent this by downsizing your belongings before you move, especially when it comes to especially heavy items such as furniture and books.
- Consider a DIY move: If professional movers are out of your budget, a DIY move could offer an alternative. However, this would mean more work packing, loading, driving and unpacking.
Explore a few of the cheapest moving companies if you require full-service transportation but do not want to overpay.
Frequently Asked Questions
A contents protection plan acts as insurance for your belongings while they are in transit. Every moving company is required by law to provide at least two moving insurance options.
A popular option is to receive 60 cents per pound for your belongings. If any damages occur, you receive 60 cents in reimbursement for each pound your belongings weighed. This can be problematic for expensive yet lightweight items like computers or other electronics.
Because of this, many companies offer a full-value coverage plan, which allows you to receive reimbursement based on the declared value of your items. This option makes the process of filing a claim and getting proper reimbursement easier.
If you are needing to really watch your budget, the cheapest way to move long-distance is by utilizing rental trucks and moving container companies. However, you will not benefit from the luxury of a full-service mover handling the labor-intensive work.
We recommend you check with the mover you are considering to see when they suggest you schedule. Overall, providing two months in advance of moving day is suitable for most moving companies.
Yes, there are items that professional long-distance movers won’t move. These items include flammable chemicals, batteries or explosives. Moving services may also have a list of questionable items, such as large house plants or precious family heirlooms. If you have items that you are unsure of, we suggest asking before you book your move.
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Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Moving Companies
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