As the sixth-most-populated state in the country, Illinois is a busy place for local and long-distance moving companies. After researching dozens of companies and gathering multiple quotes, we trust Allied Van Lines, North American Van Lines and Pack-Men Movers LLC to handle your Illinois move.
Allied and NAVL have highly rated locations within the state and a range of service offerings to make your long-distance move customizable. If you’re moving locally, consider Pack-Man Movers. Our review of hundreds of customer reviews revealed that the provider has a solid reputation for providing high-quality service and competitive pricing within Illinois.
We put each of our selections to the test with our comprehensive grading scale. We scored each mover on services offered, customer feedback, pricing and more. Here is an overview of each top Illinois mover and tips to help pair you with the best and most qualified company for your move.
Get started with no-obligations quotes from the providers below.
Popular moving companies
Here are Illinois’ best long-distance and local options, according to our objective review standards. Each provides customizable service options and high customer satisfaction.
Long-distance:
Our top choices for moving companies in Illinois
The following moving companies scored highly on our proprietary rating scale that evaluates service options, geographical reach, customer service, client feedback and more. See how they stack up.
Best long-distance movers in Illinois
The following are our top picks for long-distance moving companies that serve Illinois. Here’s what we like and dislike about each company, plus their services and insurance information, pricing and more. Companies that can handle local and long-distance moves, offer great customer service and have a good reputation scored best.
Best movers for a local Illinois move:
We dug into customer reviews, service options and pricing to rate and rank the top moving companies for in-state service in Illinois. Each mover has a solid reputation for providing quality moving services in the state.
Making an informed choice: A guide to professional movers
Before choosing a company for your next move, verify that it’s licensed, offers the required services and fits within your budget. Select your ideal move date at least a month ahead of time to ensure the company’s availability.
Here are several other factors to keep in mind when finding a reputable mover.
Moving services
Identifying the specific services you’ll require from a professional moving company before you begin your search is crucial. Start by performing a walkthrough of your residence and create an inventory list of all the items you plan to bring to your new home. Make a note of any items that will require extra heavy lifting, such as pianos.
Organize the inventory by room and identify any extra services you might require. These services could include the following:
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Crating
- Fragile item packing
- Debris removal
- Storage services
- Vehicle shipping
- Packing supplies
Carriers vs. brokers
Ensure you understand a company’s service model before booking. Movers operate as two general entity types: carriers and brokers. Moving carriers own a fleet of moving trucks and operate by directly handling each move booked through them.
Moving brokers act as the middleman between customers and moving carriers. They don’t have any trucks or movers and instead serve as booking agents that schedule moves for clients. They’ll submit your job for carriers to bid on and take a fee as a deposit upfront. If you schedule with a broker, your carrier will assume liability for broken or damaged items.
Moving regulations
Every moving company must adhere to particular regulations based on the extent of their moving services. You should confirm a mover’s registration status before you book.
Regulations for interstate and long-distance movers
Long-distance and interstate moving companies are subject to federal regulations. They are required to adhere to the regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and possess active Motor Carrier (MC) and United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) numbers. Use these to verify a mover’s registration status by consulting the FMCSA database.
Regulations for intrastate and local movers
All Illinois moving companies must obtain a Household Goods License from the Illinois Commerce Commission. Companies must operate in compliance with the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law.
Moving costs
The structure of your moving estimate varies based on your move distance. Long-distance moves are typically quoted with more comprehensive rates, whereas local moves are often charged on an hourly basis.
Long-distance moving costs
For long-distance relocations, two factors primarily determine price: the weight of the shipment and the distance of your move. Additional services, such as storage, packing or vehicle transportation, can increase your final invoice.
Generally, your quoted rates remain unchanged unless there are changes to your inventory between the day of the initial quote and your actual moving day, so be sure to provide an accurate inventory to the company.
Local moving costs in Illinois
Local moves are typically priced at hourly rates. Costs will likely vary based on the number of movers assigned to your job. One mover we spoke to, Illinois Movers Inc., charges based on the estimated volume of your inventory. Some companies include additional fees for truck rental and a fuel surcharge.
Moving insurance
All moving companies are required to provide a base level of moving coverage at no additional cost. Federal law requires released-value protection to cover 60 cents per pound per item and should be included in all full-service moving packages.
Some moving companies provide additional coverage options, such as full-value protection, for an additional fee. With most full-value coverage plans, you can establish a declared value for your entire shipment and pay a premium based on a percentage of that value before your move. This type of coverage typically ensures complete reimbursement for any damaged or lost items.
Final take: Get quotes from Allied Van Lines and Pack-Men Movers before making your final selection
While there are several solid options for moving companies in Illinois, we recommend beginning your Illinois moving journey with national company Allied Van Lines or reputable local business Pack-Men Movers. Allied’s highly-rated locations throughout the state and its high score via our rating system make it a great choice for long-distance moves.
Local moves are best booked with local carriers such as Pack-Men Movers. The company’s pricing, service options and customer reviews make it one of our top choices for an Illinois move.
As a rule of thumb, we suggest gathering at least three quotes before booking your moving company. This process will help you find the best price and ensure the company can meet all your service needs.
Our rating methodology for moving companies
Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.
Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points. We then divide the final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
BBB and Google Review ratings are accurate as of April 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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