Best Long-Distance Movers | 2024 Guide (2024)

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It takes tremendous trust to let long-distance movers into your home to handle and transport your belongings. However, with many companies to choose from and limited time to make a decision, it’s not uncommon to simply select a mover based on word of mouth and minimal research.

You deserve to have more confidence in your choice of mover. In 2024, our team has conducted more than three months of interviews, focus groups, and surveys to understand what matters to more than 1,280 consumers who have recently shopped for a moving company. We learned that when it comes to trust, you want proof that a moving company hires background-checked employees. You also want to know that a mover is willing to go the extra mile to protect your home, keep your belongings safe, and communicate throughout the moving process.

Best Long-Distance Moving Companies of 2024

We spent over 100 hours researching the moving industry and months speaking to consumers who have used or plan to use professional moving services within the last year. We crafted a ranking system based on the factors we learned were most important to consumers, including cost and price transparency, trustworthiness, customer reviews, and services offered.

Here are the best long-distance movers according to our rating methodology:

• International Van Lines: Our Top Pick
• American Van Lines: Best for Antiques
• Safeway Moving Inc: Best for Condos and HOA’s
• Interstate Moving & Relocation Group: Best for Major Cities
• Allied Van Lines: Best Customer Experience
• United Van Lines: Best for Home Office Moves
• Moving APT: Best for Coordinated Moves
• North American Van Lines: Best for High-End Appliances
• Mayflower Moving: Best for Expedited Moves
• JK Moving Services: Best Mobile App

Compare the Best Long-Distance Movers

We rated movers on their service offerings, insurance coverage plans, reputation with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and extra benefits such as online resources and quote tools. Then, we ranked each mover on a 100-point scale and converted those points into a star rating.

*Sample quotes above represent the average cost for a 2-bedroom move of 700 miles.

How to Choose the Best Long-Distance Moving Company

The right long-distance moving company for your friend or neighbor might not be right for you. Below, we cover how to choose a mover based on your specific needs, detailing pricing structures, moving timelines, offered services, and the expected customer service level.

We also explain what to look for in customer reviews so you can feel confident in the mover’s reputation.

Pricing Factors and How To Save

Pricing structures for long-distance moves are similar throughout the industry.The mover will generate an estimate based on a combination of factors such as the move distance, total weight of your belongings, and selected services.This similar price model makes it easier to compare quotes across providers.

There are additional fees associated with moving bulky items such as exercise equipment, pianos, and large pieces of furniture. You may also pay more if your home has multiple flights of stairs or an inaccessible driveway that requires the company to use a shuttle to load the moving truck.

Every moving company provides released liability coverage with all moves. You can choose to add valuation insurance that covers high-value items, but it will come at an added cost.

You should also factor in the cost of tipping the movers. A general guideline is to tip $5 to $10 per mover per hour. Or, $20 to $40 per person for a half-day move, and $40 to $80 per mover for a full-day move.

If you’re trying to stay within a strict moving budget, we recommend the following:

• Downsize first to reduce your total inventory weight and use less boxes
• Do some or all of your own packing to avoid paying for packing services on top of standard loading and transportation costs
• Don’t move during summer months when most moving companies charge higher fees due to increased demand

Below are the baseline cost ranges to expect when booking your move through a long-distance moving company. These costs apply to a standard move with no additional services. The pricing factors above, such as bulky item fees, can add to your total expected cost.

Moving Timelines

Moving logistics aren’t as cut and dry as you might expect. Route planning typically involves coordinating multiple moves for customers within a region. Depending on your move’s size, it will likely become a consolidated shipment with another customer in the area.

Fifty-percent of panelists we spoke to in a recent focus group expressed concerns over moving timelines, fearing that delays could cause significant stress. An unfortunate reality of the moving industry’s complicated logistics is that delays occur from time to time, even with the most reputable providers. We understand this may be stressful to learn, especially if you need an expedited move because of an upcoming closing date or lease expiration.

If you have a strict moving date, many companies offer a guaranteed delivery date for an additional fee. Josh Morales, president of International Van Lines, told us that in this case, they give a dedicated moving truck to the customer:

“Say you’re moving from Utah to California. We’re sending a driver and a crew just to pick up your move, hopping on the road, and going straight to deliver your stuff, so there’s not going to be any consolidations. Typically, that will cost a customer, depending on the size of the move, anywhere from $1,000 up to $5,000 in additional charges, depending on the size of the move.”

– Josh Morales, IVL Founder & President

Customer Service

If customer service is top of mind, there are some key details to look out for when evaluating moving companies.

First impressions often color an entire experience. If a sales agent takes the time to understand your situation and walk you through the process rather than pushing you directly into a transaction, it’s a good sign of reputation. The same remains true into the contract phase. Your moving representative should encourage you to read through the contract and answer any questions to ensure you’re not caught off guard by any fine print.

In our conversations with homeowners, we learned that communication lapses were major sources of stress during the move.“The lack of clear communication about when the movers would arrive caused a lot of anxiety. We were left in the dark for hours, not knowing if they would show up on time or at all,” said one focus group panelist we interviewed about the issue.

We recommend asking the company’s sales representative about what to expect in terms of communication throughout the move and about the general availability of the company’s customer support teams.You may want to inquire what hours they offer support during, and what help they’re able to offer if you encounter an issue during your move.

Customer Reviews

We’ve read more than 10,000 customer reviews for long-distance moving companies around the country to determine which companies deliver best on their commitment to customers. While you might not want to read through so many reviews yourself, we highly recommend reading several recent reviews for any moving company you consider.

According to the data we collected in our recent consumer survey, Google Reviews and Yelp are the go-to review platforms for many people researching a company. These sites aggregate the most reviews in a single place, making it possible to evaluate both negative and positive sentiments before deciding. Look for any common themes to establish a clear picture of what to expect from a company.

Look for well-reviewed companies with positive ratings and satisfied consumer feedback, like the ones in this review. Words to watch for when looking for a solid company include “satisfied,” “peace of mind,” “professional,” and “communicative.” We also suggest looking for companies with more than 100 reviews whenever possible to ensure an established reputation.

Services, Packing, and Insurance

When we asked consumers about their packing preferences, we found a nearly even split between consumers who prefer the moving company do the packing, prefer to do their own packing, or prefer to divide packing duties between themselves and the movers. Fortunately, most long-distance movers have flexible packing options.

If you want a hands-off moving experience, opt for a mover with full-service packing. Keep in mind that this will add to your bill, but according to Morales, the value is worth it. “Having your stuff professionally packed by a moving company just makes sense. The cost isn’t far off. You’re talking a few hundred dollars, it would almost be the same as somebody buying packing supplies except they have to put in the time, the effort, and the labor. Self-pack also raises the level of insurance that you can get,” says IVL’s founder.

Additionally, some moving companies in this review offer add-on services, such as vehicle shipping to your new location and junk removal.

Another consideration is moving insurance. Moving insurance provides financial protection for your belongings in the event of loss or damage during transit. By law, interstate movers must provide limited liability coverage that protects your items up to $0.60 per pound. However, this won’t amount to very much reimbursem*nt if you have to file a claim.

You can also pay an additional fee that varies among movers for full value protection. Although it provides added assurance, note that the mover can choose to repair an item, replace it with a similar item, or payout in cash. Full value protection only applies to high-value items in most circ*mstances. If you want a more all-encompassing protection plan, ask your mover about third-party moving insurance plans.

Our Recommendation

We recommend International Van Lines as our top overall pick. Excessive prices were a dealbreaker for 58% of participants in our survey of nearly 1,300 recent moving company customers. IVL has average costs compared to competitors, with a consistently high-quality standard of service that makes it one of the best values we’ve seen in the industry. Expect IVL to provide a wide range of moving services tailored to your moving needs and preferences. It also offers responsive customer support and hires background-checked movers with extensive training to handle your most fragile belongings.

During our interviews with consumers who had used moving companies in the past, a frequent complaint was the reckless handling of items. American Van Lines is a solid pick if you have concerns about how a moving company will move and haul your most valuable belongings. AVL teams undergo specialized training to move fine artwork, antiques, and other fragile items that may benefit from specialized packing and positioning in a moving truck.

We recommend requesting quotes from at least three top moving companies to find the best fit for your needs.

Best Long-Distance Moving Companies for Your Move

What to Expect When Getting a Quote

Most long-distance moving companies have similar means for getting quotes. You can either call the company directly or fill out a form on the provider’s website to request a pricing estimate. In most cases, the online forms won’t display an instant quote but instead result in the company calling you the same day to go over more details. However, some companies, such as IVL and Allied, have forms or calculators that will provide you with a ballpark pricing range before the company calls your phone.

In our experience of secret shopping for moving quotes, these phone calls have taken up to 45 minutes to go over the full inventory of household furniture and other items. However, many companies are making the switch to virtual surveys, which is a quicker and easier way to provide inventory details to moving companies.

Common Questions

The most common question about the moving quote process concerns the types of estimates that are available.

When a mover provides a quote, the estimate will state whether that quote is binding or non-binding. Consider a non-binding estimate, a ballpark price that will likely fluctuate as you communicate more details about your move. However, even when an estimate is binding, it doesn’t necessarily mean the price is set in stone.

If your inventory ends up larger than reported during the quote process or other factors such as shuttle fees or bulky item fees come up during the move, you may end up paying more.

Another common and understandable question is whether hiring movers for a long-distance move is worth the cost. While it may cost less to do it yourself, you might find the peace of mind, reduced workload, and structure that professional movers provide are worth paying for.

The best moving companies can relieve the physical stress of moving by assisting with loading and unloading, packing and unpacking, and disassembling and reassembling large items. This allows you to reach your new destination at your own pace and convenience.

In our consumer survey of 1,000 individuals who had moved in the last five years, we found that transporting artwork and mirrors was the top concern. Professional movers are trained to handle fragile items and can properly wrap, pad, and load these pieces to prevent any damage en route.

Our survey also found that over 90% of respondents who stated they hired a full-service moving company said they were satisfied with their experience using a professional moving company.

How to Prepare

Here’s how you should prepare for getting a quote:

1. Prepare to address questions about your home and inventory

Movers will want to know whether you have bulky items, such as a piano, gun safe, or extraordinarily large piece of furniture. They will also want to know whether your home has an inaccessible driveway, has multiple flights of stairs, or requires elevator access. Communicating this information from the outset will ensure that your moving estimate is as accurate as possible and you don’t experience unexpected costs later in the process.

2. Provide details about your requested move date

If you must be out of your current home by a specific time or date, you need to mention this to your prospective mover. Some amount of flexibility for requested moving dates is often necessary, and it’s better to have a range of potential dates rather than a fixed date. However, if your move must happen on a certain day, you can discuss this with the moving company to explore options for guaranteed scheduling.

3. Plan to contact three or more moving companies

We encourage you to request quotes from at least three moving companies. Doing so allows you to compare pricing to ensure that each company offers competitive rates. You will also get a read on the different moving services each provider offers to streamline your move as much or as little as you prefer.

4. Ensure that the moving companies on your list are licensed
   The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA) requires that all interstate and long-distance moving companies be licensed. To ensure a company is registered and licensed, check its U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers on the FMSCA’s website. The mover should have proof of licensing available on its website.
   

Carriers vs. Brokers

When researching moving companies, be sure to check whether the company is a carrier or a moving broker. A carrier provides a service directly with its own moving crews; a broker outsources your move through partnerships and does not have its own moving trucks or crews. Some reputable brokers contract through vetted moving service providers. However, if a broker uses misleading language that gives the company the appearance of being a carrier, you should view this as a red flag.

You can search for a moving company on the FMCSA website to see its registration information and determine whether it’s a carrier or broker. The mover should also list on its own website whether it’s a carrier or broker. You can typically find this information at the bottom of the moving company’s homepage.

Remember that every interstate moving company must have a DOT# registered with the FMCSA and prominently displayed on its website. If a company does not have this number listed or does not have an active registration with the FMCSA, it could be a moving scam.

Planning Your Move

Getting your long-distance moving process started early is the best way to ensure you have a successful move when the big day arrives. Here’s a basic timeline to help inform your moving checklist and keep you on track: