8 Best Long-Distance Moving Companies (September 2022) | Top Rated Reviews & Cost Guide

If you’re planning a long-distance or interstate move, you’ve likely already encountered some logistical and other challenges. Not the least of your worries will be hiring the best mover to help you transition to your new home. Whether you’re moving just over state lines or are relocating from New York to California, this is a crucial choice. We’ve done all of the necessary research to help you determine your exact needs and to help set priorities when looking into relocation services. In this article, you’ll learn:

• Who the best long-distance providers are in the moving industry
• How to effectively plan your long-distance move
• How much your move should cost

The 8 Best Long-Distance Moving Companies

Our top recommended long-distance movers for 2022:

• Best Full-Service Mover: International Van Lines
• Most Transparent Pricing: American Van Lines
• Best Overall Moving Broker: Safeway Moving Systems
• Most Moving Partners: Moving APT
• Most Vehicle Shipping Options: Allied Van Lines
• Most Customizable Moving Experience: JK Moving Services
• Best Overall Container Service: U-Pack
• Best Pricing Options: North American Van Lines

Compare The Best Long-Distance Movers

The comparison table below should help you determine some basic similarities and differences between our top long-distance service providers. We’ve included basic pricing information, BBB status, our rating, and links to get quotes from each. Read our provider summaries below to learn more about the movers listed here.

International Van Lines: Best Full-Service Mover

International Van Lines is one of the industry’s largest moving brokers and carriers. Though they only began providing domestic moving services in 2004, they now operate in all 50 states and handle more than 20,000 relocations per year. They have relatively few locations in the U.S. but partner with local moving companies and high-quality carriers to facilitate any moving need.

Why We Recommend IVL

International Van Lines’ customer satisfaction is primarily predicated on individual attention and service. With this mover, clients are treated to easily accessible service at all points, from pickup to delivery, which shows prominently in reviews.

Pros and Cons of International Van Lines

Pros:

• Available across the U.S. and in 180 other countries
• Their customer service features heavily in positive reviews
• One month of free storage included in moves

Cons:

• Limited locations in the U.S.
• Brokers out many of its American moves

Services Offered

International and its partners collaborate to provide the following basic and add-on services:

• Local, long-distance, and international moving
• Packing services
• Unpacking
• Storage services (short-term and long-term)
• Custom crating for fragile items
• Debris removal
• Auto transport
• Piano moving
• Air and ocean freight
• And more

How Much Does International Van Lines Cost

International’s rates are among the best for full-service relocations. It can provide consistently competitive rates for all services, which is reflected by the following rates:

State Availability: All 50 states

Get a quote from IVL here.

American Van Lines: Most Transparent Pricing

American Van Lines operates exclusively as a moving carrier and has more than 25 years of experience providing leading service to all lower 48 states. This Florida-based mover currently has hubs in North Carolina and Texas and numerous smaller locations throughout the country. Its well-trained moving crews provide a diverse array of services at up-front, transparent rates. As a carrier-only enterprise, your move will never be contracted out to a third party, which helps ensure uniformity of quality in all locations.

Why We Recommend AVL

American’s moving estimates provide only flat rates for all moves and services they undertake. This pricing model isn’t a total rarity in the moving industry but is uncommon enough to be worth noting. Your rates will not shift with this carrier unless inventory or service requirements do.

Pros and Cons of American Van Lines

Pros:

• Flat rate pricing
• Price matching available
• Frequent moving shuttles between major cities 

Cons:

• Large deposits (up to 50%) often required at booking
• Reviews mention spotty customer service at times

Services Offered

American provides the following basic and add-on services:

• Local, long-distance, and international moving
• Residential and commercial moving
• Full-service or partial packing
• Car shipping
• Storage
• Furniture assembly and disassembly
• Antique moving
• And more

How Much Does American Van Lines Cost

American’s flat rates often make for slightly elevated average costs for moves of each size. The following table illustrates some sample ranges for AVL moves.

State Availability: 48 States

Get a quote from American Van Lines here.

Safeway Moving Systems: Best Overall Moving Broker

Safeway Moving Systems is a Chicago-based moving broker with partner carriers across all 50 states. The diversity of services Safeway provides makes them a leader in the long-distance moving space. That aside, the flat rates offered for all moves carried out eliminate the possibility of hidden fees, which are always a chief concern for clients.

Why We Recommend Safeway

Safeway’s high scores across all platforms often point to superior customer service and the ease of dealing with bottom-line pricing estimates for all moves. That this provider can offer flat rates makes for happier clients overall since billing disputes are among the leading issues people face when moving.

Safeway’s flat rates include 30 days of complimentary storage at all locations. Storage unit availability can depend on partner carriers and storage facilities in a given locale. However, most larger movers partner with local storage facilities to expedite this particular need.

Pros & Cons of Safeway Moving Systems

Pros

• Offers flat rates for all moves provided
• Provides a range of specialized and basic moving services via a nationwide partner network
• Supplies 30 days of free storage (at destination) offered with each move
• Garners consistently high customer satisfaction ratings

Cons

• Website is somewhat lacking in information
• No local moving option available

Services Offered

Safeway’s provided services will vary greatly between locations. From state to state, or even city to city, you could see great differences in specialty add-ons offered. However, basic services like labor, packing and unpacking, and storage are offered by most Safeway partner carriers.

• Long-distance relocations
• Packing
• Unpacking
• Packing materials (as a retailer)
• Short and long-term storage
• Piano moving
• Car shipping
• Commercial relocations
• Liability insurance
• Full valuation coverage
• And more

How Much Does Safeway Cost?

Safeway only offers long-distance relocation services. While their costs for such moves are slightly above typical rates, clients get the added assurance that their flat rate won’t change unless service requirements do after an initial estimate.

State Availability: 50  States

Learn More: Read our full review to learn more about booking with  Safeway Moving Systems.

Moving APT: Most Moving Partners

Moving APT was founded more than 20 years ago as a small two-truck operation and is now one of the largest moving broker networks in the United States. With more than 500 local agents and partners spread across all 50 states, this mover can provide unmatched diversity of service. Its website offers detailed breakdowns of many of its partners by region, making finding your ideal moving company easy.

Why We Recommend Moving APT

Moving APT’s provider breakdowns and pricing information provided make planning and budgeting for a move reasonably straightforward. In addition, the number of different partners they employ makes even the most specialty moving request easy to fulfill. 

Pros and Cons of Moving APT

Pros:

• Their website includes complete profiles of many of their most-used partners
• Price matching and discounts offered
• The number of affiliates equals excellent diversity of service

Cons:

• Service quality varies depending on the local partner used for your move
• Some negative reviews and FMCSA complaints report price changing by local agents

Services Offered

Moving APT consistently regulates registration status and monitors customer satisfaction ratings among its providers to ensure quality. These partners can offer the following:

• Local and interstate moving
• Residential and corporate relocation
• Commercial and residential moving
• Storage (one free month included with all moves)
• Piano moving
• Car shipping
• Packing services
• Packing supplies (included for some moves)
• Appliance connection services
• Some furniture disassembly and reassembly
• And more

How Much Does Moving APT Cost

This mover’s price points meet industry averages across the board. The network of local agents provided each operate with a price matching guarantee. This means that if you’re able to produce a competing quote from another moving company, Moving APT will match your rate. For a two-bedroom home moving 1,000 miles, you’ll pay between $3,500 and $4,200, which is pretty typical.

State Availability: All 50 States

Get a quote from Moving APT here.

JK Moving Services: Most Customizable Moving Experience

JK Moving Services has been in the business for more than 40 years. With long-distance operational ability as a broker throughout the lower 48 states, this mover’s GPS-enabled vehicles provide clients in most locations with peace of mind throughout their moving processes. JK advertises attention to detail in all moves, which is evident in the strength of their customer service, which former clients report on in their reviews.

Why We Recommend JK

JK provides add-ons and basic services on an a la carte basis. This means that you’ll have full authority to craft your exact moving package to fit your needs, helping to eliminate any worry over hidden fees.

Pros and Cons of JK Moving Services

Pros:

• 24/7 customer support
• Financing options through Enhancify
• Excellent value protection and coverage options

Cons:

• Reviews vary across different regions
• Their limited range for local moves 

Services Offered

JK can provide a range of excellent services. When brokering out moving services, offerings could potentially vary between regions, which you should factor into your decision:

• Local moving in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC.
• Long-distance and international moving
• Residential and commercial services
• Packing (full-service or fragile-only)
• Climate-controlled storage options
• Furniture wrapping
• GPS shipment tracking
• Financing assistance
• And more

How Much Does JK Moving Services Cost

JK Moving Services employs an AI-assisted virtual estimate tool, making rendering accurate pricing figures to customers in any location reasonably easy. A typical cost of $4,300 for a two-bedroom, 500-mile relocation indicates average pricing with JK, but you should always opt for a personalized estimate when booking with any nationwide mover.

State Availability: All lower-48 states.

Get a quote from JK Moving Services here.

Allied Van Lines: Most Vehicle Shipping Options

Allied Van Lines has been moving clients through all 50 states since the 1930s. You may well have seen one of Allied’s bright orange and black moving vans on the road, as it is now one of the most easily recognized movers in the country. With transparent pricing, an extensive service profile for a pure carrier, and its InstaQuote feature, the relative ease clients experience with this mover is unmatched.

Why We Recommend Allied

Allied’s large moving vans allow for many special shipping tasks, including vehicle and boat shipping. Allied could be your best choice if you’re moving any special or overly bulky items.

Pros and Cons of Allied Van Lines

Pros:

• Transparent pricing
• Doesn’t outsource vehicle shipping
• GPS tracking offered for all moves

Cons:

• Reviews report negative experiences during the claims process
• Elevated costs for longer moves

Services Offered

Allied’s qualified crews and large moving vans can provide the following services. You should know that offerings could vary between locations. You can likely expect similar essential services across all areas throughout the U.S.

• Local and long-distance moving
• International moving
• Packing (full-service or partial)
• Unpacking
• Furniture assembly and disassembly
• Car shipping
• Boat and specialty vehicle shipping
• Storage
• Debris removal
• GPS shipment tracking
• Packing supplies
• And more

How Much Does Allied Cost

We’ve assembled average cost figures for Allied services here. Your exact service needs will dictate your pricing, so getting a visual estimate is always recommended before signing a contract.

State Availability: All 50 states

Get a quote from Allied Van Lines here.

U-Pack: Best Overall Container Mover

U-Pack is one of the most easily-recognized container movers in the U.S. today. It provides equally cost-efficient solutions for moves of any size, which makes it stand out relative to its competitors within the DIY moving space. U-Pack only provides service for moves of more than 150 miles but can offer delivery to most points in the country by virtue of its 240-plus service centers.

Why We Recommend U-Pack

U-Pack’s pricing structure — a “pay for what you use” model — allows this mover to offer cost-effective moving solutions for even larger relocations. If you opt for a trailer rental, which is necessary for anything more than a studio, you’ll only have to pay for the space you use. This differs from many container providers that charge flat fees for rentals.

Pros and Cons of U-Pack

Pros:

• 240 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada
• Only pay for what you use
• Three-day windows for loading and unloading

Cons:

• Finding parking accommodations for units and trailers can be difficult
• No local moving services (under 150 miles)

Services Offered

U-Pack moves come with the following options:

• Your choice of an 8-foot ReloCube or 27-foot trailer
• Short-term and long-term storage solutions at U-Pack shipping hubs
• Moving help can be hired if needed through the U-Pack site

How Much Does U-Pack Cost

U-Pack’s industry-leading price points fall around the ranges outlined below:

State Availability: All 50 States

Get a quote from U-Pack here.

North American Van Lines: Best Pricing Options

North American Van Lines has been one of the country’s best movers for decades and has provided its own brand of excellent moving help since 1933. It has since expanded to a national network that includes 500 local agents and affiliates. This means that NAVL likely has a viable long-distance moving option near you. The 24/7 GPS tracking and customer service North American provides ensure that you can always feel in touch with your move.

Why We Recommend NAVL

NAVL’s pricing options make for easy payment for clients on all budgets. Both “bottom line” and “not-to-exceed” structures for moves make dealing with such a large moving company far more straightforward than most would expect.

Pros and Cons of North American Van Lines

Pros:

• GPS tracking available for all moves and shipments
• Dedicated customer service via a personal move coordinator for all relocations
• Variable pricing structure helps clients on-budget

Cons:

• Many reviews report complicated claims processes for damage
• Specialty services can be based on local agent ability

Services Offered

NAVL’s service profile includes the following. Nearly all of its local agents can provide a full range of basic tasks, with more specialty offerings varying between locations.

• Local and long-distance moving
• International moving
• Packing and unpacking (full-service or partial)
• Furniture assembly and disassembly
• Debris removal
• 24/7 shipment tracking
• Appliance installation
• Storage
• Excellent insurance options
• And more

How Much Does NAVL Cost

North American’s costs tend to range a little high but are still reasonable. Here are some sample ranges for varied relocation sizes.

State Availability: All 50 States

Get a quote from North American Van Lines here.

What To Look For In Long-Distance Movers?

The first step in any moving process is vetting individual movers and evaluating your options. When you schedule free quotes with different moving companies, there are a few set factors you’ll need to consider. They are as follows:

Full Registration

Most movers have to maintain multiple forms of registration. Interstate and long-distance carriers must be federally regulated and carry appropriate permits to operate. Request proof of these when you get quotes.

• FMCSA Registration: Interstate and long-distance movers are all regulated by the FMCSA. This governing body requires that such companies carry active USDOT and MC numbers. They can be used to look up registration status and complaint history through this link.
• State Registration: Most individual states will have their own registration requirements, which must be adhered to. Some states that do not have their own regulating body will require movers to carry only local business permits with a USDOT number. A few states require only basic licensing, including Alaska, Arizona, Washington D.C., Delaware, and a few others, and do not have their own regulatory administration.

Insurance Coverage

All movers must carry multiple forms of insurance in order to function. Aside from basic vehicle coverage, they include the following:

• Workers’ Compensation: This policy protects your interests in the rare event of a work-related injury during your move. Without this policy in place, you could be held liable for all damages incurred.
• Released Liability: Released liability coverage provides for baseline reimbursement for lost or damaged goods. The $0.60 per pound per item provided is standard across the industry. Even though it won’t cover the value of most goods, it is included in your base price for a move of any size. Most moving companies will offer additional valuation coverage for an added fee if you need it.

Adequate Service Profile

Getting moving quotes prior to booking is entirely necessary to determine any mover’s service capabilities. Of course, most movers will include lists of service options on their websites. However, getting a visual or in-person estimate will give you a far better indicator of mover fit than an online quote could.

Customer Reviews

Any mover can make a positive impression during the limited interaction that a moving quote provides. However, customer reviews will be far more telling when determining any company’s competence. Look up reviews from the following sources:

• Google
• Yelp
• Social media
• Better Business Bureau

What Costs Are Involved With Long-Distance or Cross-Country Moving?

Setting a budget will be one of your key priorities on any moving checklist you draw up ahead of your move date. There are a number of factors which could affect your cost for long-distance moving service. They include but are not limited to the following:

• Shipping Weight & Distance: While local moving costs are calculated via hourly rates, long-distance and out-of-state move costs are calculated using move distance and shipment weight. Most movers will have defined processes for weighing in their trucks before and after loading, which you should ask about during your quote.
• DIY vs. Full-Service: Full-service moves come with higher price tags but added peace of mind. This is the most hands-off moving experience available to you, as your moving crew will handle any and all service requirements you could have. DIY moving will involve renting a moving container or truck and arranging for all necessary labor on your own.
• Booking Window: Any professional moving company’s schedule will fill up quickly, especially during the busy season. You should try to book your move at least a month ahead of time to avoid any added convenience fees or difficulty getting your desired time slot.
• Season: Moving season peaks between May and September. If you know your move will ultimately fall around this time of year, you should attempt to book even further ahead of time. Failure to do so could result in elevated rates or difficulty finding an available mover.
• Service Requirements: Obviously, a basic two-bedroom move will cost far more with add-ons such as full-service packing, crating, or other such requests. Keep this in mind when you budget for any move.

We’ve included some average costs for long-distance moves below. While these figures, establishing your own budget should be fairly straightforward.

Final Thoughts

Any successful move begins with advance planning. Around eight weeks ahead of time, you should research professional movers in your area and look into scheduling estimates with all who match your service needs. Aim to begin fielding company offers for a price around six weeks prior to moving day. You’ll want to give yourself ample time to thoroughly consider your options before booking.

To avoid the stress or hassle of last-minute booking, contact your mover of choice to schedule your relocation a month ahead of time. You should obtain a copy of your moving contract and estimate to ensure that all services are rendered properly when you do this.

House Method Rating Methodology

At House Method, our primary goals are to be a reliable source of information and to be totally transparent to our readers. With that in mind, we’ve developed the following formula to render objective ratings – on a scale of 10 points – for the moving companies we review.

• Transparency (3.0): Communication and being fully straightforward regarding company policies and licensing are incredibly important. A given mover’s willingness to display these, to supply quick quotes, and to provide clearly-worded moving contracts all factor into the three points within this single rating criteria.
• Cost (2.5): A mover’s cost relative to industry averages, as well as accessibility to cost data play a role in the customer experience as much as anything else. We know that being sure of what you’re paying – and being confident that you’re not overpaying – will ultimately make for a positive move. We’ve weighted cost factors accordingly in our ratings.
• Customer Service (2.0): Establishing an easy line of contact with your movers during the booking process or during the move itself is a huge asset for any moving client. The stress of moving, in general, can be greatly eased by knowing you can talk to a licensed professional whenever you need to, which is why we’ve listed this as a key rating category. This is where customer reviews come into play; since the majority of complaints stem from poor customer service, feedback from BBB, Yelp, Google, and other review platforms factor into this criteria.
• Services Offered (1.5): This rates lower on our priority list than many would think, simply due to the fact that many movers provide a similar line of services. However, breadth of service offerings does still vary to a degree.
• Customization Options (1.0): Having the autonomy to fully customize your move should rate highly on any moving checklist. Here, we’ve taken moving package customization ability, as well as pricing for more involved add-ons. Steep pricing for such services can provide something of a soft barrier for clients looking to add to their move, and we’ve taken this into consideration.

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