We recommend Allied Van Lines for long-distance moves to or from Louisiana. If you’re booking within Louisiana, Allied’s Elmwood location near New Orleans offers highly rated service plus access to full-service packing, short- and long-term storage and dedicated small-move solutions via its Allied Express service plans.
If you’re planning a local move, start your quote process with Atmosphere Movers, our top-rated local Louisiana moving company. After more than a decade in the industry, this provider has a track record of providing well-reviewed basic and customized service packages, including antique moving and specialized packing options.
Whether you’re moving to Louisiana to take advantage of the warmer climate and mild winters, diverse cuisine or lower-than-average cost of living, you’ll want to plan out your relocation carefully. This is equally true whether you’re moving to a more rural area or the bustling heart of New Orleans.
We’ve researched the best moving companies for local and long-distance relocations in the Bayou State to help you plan your upcoming move. All the movers we reviewed received high scores on our grading scale for quote process, services offered, customer review scores on key platforms and more.
Our top moving companies for Louisiana
Based on our research and rating process, the following long-distance and local movers are the best options for your Louisiana move.
Long-distance:
Compare top long-distance movers for Louisiana
Compare our top national moving companies based on our rating and their deposit requirements:
Best national long-distance movers in Louisiana
Each of the following long-distance movers offers highly rated service in Louisiana, with Allied Van Lines providing direct service as a carrier in the state.
Allied Van Lines
American Van Lines
International Van Lines
Best movers for a local Louisiana move
The following Louisiana-based moving companies offer quality service for in-state relocation packages.
All My Sons Moving & Storage LA
A guide to professional movers: Making an informed choice
Before you get quotes from professional movers, consider key factors such as which services you need and whether you want to purchase insurance. Knowing your requirements before calling for estimates will help you stay within your budget and find a mover that offers the necessary basic and add-on services.
Before hiring movers, you should know how to vet them. We guide you through the process below.
Moving services
One of the first steps in any successful move is determining the services you’ll need from your moving company. To do this, compile a full inventory of your belongings, including everything you need the movers to transport to your new home. Communicate this list to your rep during the quote process.
Add-on services can include the following:
- Packing and unpacking services
- Packing supply delivery
- Crating for antiques, fragile items and fine art
- Short- or long-term storage
- Vehicle shipping
- Junk removal
- Additional coverage for your goods
Carriers vs. brokers
Before booking your move, be aware of your moving company’s service model. Movers operate as one of two business types: carriers and brokers. Carriers directly provide all moving services they book. This means they provide their own moving crews and moving trucks for jobs.
Moving brokers, however, act as middlemen between customers and carriers. They more commonly coordinate long-distance moving services and take a large upfront payment as a deposit and booking fee when scheduling your move. If you book with a broker, they will not assume liability for loss or damage to your goods.
Ask your moving company whether in-house crews or third-party movers will be handling your relocation before you sign a contract.
Moving regulations
Check any moving company’s registration status before booking. Such regulations and registration requirements will vary depending on the scope of the services provided.
Regulations for interstate and long-distance movers
Interstate moving companies are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Such movers must maintain active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. Use these to check a moving company’s registration status on the FMCSA’s website.
Regulations for intrastate and local movers in Louisiana
Moving companies offering primarily intrastate service within the Bayou State must have an active carrier number from the state Public Service Commission (LPSC). Avoid movers that appear to operate without such authority; registered providers will typically have proof of registration on their trucks and written estimates.
Moving costs
Knowing how your move bill will be structured can help you follow your moving budget and accurately read any quote you’re given. See how different moving companies charge for service.
Long-distance moving costs
Moving companies offering interstate service charge all-inclusive rates that take move distance and shipment weight into account. Add-on services, such as packing, can increase your rates. Long-distance moves are eligible for binding estimates, which will not shift unless you add services or inventory to your move between quote day and moving day.
Local moving costs in Louisiana
Local relocations are almost always quoted at ballpark rates, which shift based on hourly costs. Your hourly cost of service is set by the number of movers and moving trucks needed for your move.
Most local movers have minimum charges, which equal two to four hours at your set hourly rate. The hourly rate may also change based on the day of the week, with weekend moves typically costing more.
Moving insurance
All moving companies must provide coverage in case your goods are lost or damaged in transit. The minimum amount is called released-value protection, which offers 60 cents per pound per item in these cases. This comes at no additional cost to you.
Beyond this, almost all moving companies provide full-value protection. For this, you’ll pay an extra amount equal to a low percentage of the total dollar value of your shipment. You’ll have to coordinate this coverage with your move coordinator during the quote process.
Final take: Start your Louisiana move with a quote from Allied Van Lines or Atmosphere Movers
We recommend getting moving quotes from at least three professional movers before booking your move. For long-distance service in Louisiana, we recommend starting with a quote from Allied Van Lines. Its multiple locations in the state offer easy access to one of the nation’s largest moving networks.
If you’re in the market for a local relocation, then starting your quote process with Atmosphere Movers will set you up with a qualified crew of experienced movers for anything from basic packing to antique moving.
To help give yourself the best chance of success in your upcoming move, begin getting quotes at least four to six weeks before moving day. This way, you’ll be able to secure the lowest rate for your move while thoroughly evaluating all of your options.
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.
Google Reviews and BBB ratings are accurate as of June 2024.
Top local movers in Louisiana
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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