The 7 Best Moving Companies for Military Moves 2023

Moving to a new military base for a permanent or temporary change of station can be stressful–and even a bit scary if this is your first time away from home. Thankfully, the United States armed forces understand that moving even locally can be an intimidating process, which is why they provide allocations for you to hire a moving company to help with your relocation. While there are tons of moving companies located across the country, only a few have the familiarity with the military moving process that you need.

At House Method, we understand that no one wants to book a moving date without as much information as possible. This is especially true when it comes to a move as important as one to a new military base. We’ve created a comprehensive moving guide to the best military movers to help you rest easy before your stationing. 

7 Best Military Movers in 2023 

Our top recommended military moving companies for 2023:

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

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Compare The Best Moving Companies for Military Families

Company	Website	Our Take	Our Rating	BBB Rating	Local Cost
International Van Lines	Site	Best Full-Service Mover	9.8	B	$600 – $1,200
American Van Lines	Site	Most Transparent Pricing	9.7	N/A	$500 – $1,000
Moving APT	Site	Most Moving Partners	9.6	B
JK Moving Services	Site	Most Customizable Moving Experience	9.5	A+	Call for a quote
Allied Van Lines	Site	Most Vehicle Shipping Options	9.4	A+	$750 – $1,350
U-Pack	Site	Most Widely-Available Container Service	9.3	A+	N/A
North American Van Lines	Site	Best Pricing Options	9.2	A+	$750 – $1,350

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International Van Lines – Best Full-Service Military Mover

Why We Recommend International Van Lines

IVL is licensed and insured with the FMCSA as a Government Military Relocation Mover. Because IVL facilitates moves in every state of the country as well as in over 150 countries, they’re an excellent choice for your next military relocation. They can pack, load, and ship all your household goods by land, air, or sea.

International Van Lines is a full-service mover that has been in the moving industry for two decades. They have been awarded Newsweek’s Best Customer Service Award for several years, including in 2022. You can get a free quote online by calling International Van Lines’ toll-free phone number or by using their MoveOne software. The MoveOne software allows you to do a virtual walkthrough with an IVL representative, all through your phone.

IVL is available in all 50 states.

Services Offered

International Van Lines is a full-service moving company, which means that they offer an enhanced range of services over what you might typically expect from a moving company. IVL provides packing and unpacking services, loading and unload services, furniture reassembly, storage solutions, packing supplies, and more.

Cost

Like most moving companies, International Van Lines uses the distance you’re traveling and the size of your property as the two primary factors in determining how much you’ll pay for your move. To help you estimate what you’ll pay for service, we’ve rounded up information on pricing from past International Van Lines customers and summarized it in the table below.

	<250 miles	500 miles	1,000 miles	2,000 miles
Two-bedroom home	$1,400 to $4,400	$1,900 to $4,900	$2,100 to $5,100	$2,400 to $5,400
Four-bedroom home	$3,200 to $6,200	$5,100 to $8,100	$5,700 to $8,700	$6,200 to $9,200

Get a quote from IVL by filling out this form.

Read more with our in-depth International Van Lines Review.

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American Van Lines – Most Transparant Pricing

Why We Recommend American Van Lines

American Van Lines background checks all its employees, and all employees are drug tested as well to ensure that your things are in the best hands. They also receive annual training in new techniques and developments in the moving industry so that each employee can stay on the top of their game and limit the possibility of breakage during your move as much as possible American Van Lines employs a flat-rate pricing system, which means that you should receive more expedient and efficient service than you would with other movers. This is because American only gets paid a flat rate, so the more happy customers they have, the more business they will get. It’s a win for them and especially a win for you.

Military relocation plans include packing materials, appliance disassembly, reassembly, and reinstallation, full-service packing, and short-term or long-term storage. American Van Lines packers and movers make an itemized list of your belongings and which boxes they’re packed in, and they individually wrap each item so that your belongings are kept safe during the moving process to your new home. This streamlined process allows you to relax during the oftentimes stressful military relocation process. 

AVL is available in 48 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

Services Offered

American Van Lines currently offers a variety of add-ons including packing and unpacking services, storage unit arrangement, specialty packing services for items like pianos and antiques, furniture disassembly and reassembly, crating for large items (like pianos), and provides moving supplies.

Cost

The average cost for a move with American Van Lines is around $2,900.

	<250 miles	500 miles	1,000 miles	2,000 miles
Two-bedroom home	$1,700 to $4,500	$2,300 to $5,300	$2,600 to $5,600	$4,200 to $7,200
Four-bedroom home	$4,800 to $7,800	$5,600 to $8,600	$7,400 to $10,400	$10,800 to $13,800

Get a quote from American Van Lines by filling out this form.

Read our in-depth AVL Review for more information.

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Moving APT – Most Moving Partners

Why We Recommend Moving APT

Moving APT is a broker that connects you with military movers all over the country. In fact, they specialize in setting up cross-country moves for their clients, especially those with specialty moving needs like a permanent change of station. Because they’re a broker, they can search through their immense database of partner companies and compare them to find the best deal for your needs and budget. Services that Moving APT offers to connect you with include full-service moves like the ones mentioned above, fragile-only moves, single-item packing and shipping, a moving checklist, packing materials, and overnight storage.

If you’re moving long-distance and trying to find the best moving services for your budget, you can use Moving APT and their list of more than 2,500 partners. If you do discover a moving plan with a different company that is cheaper than the one Moving APT found for you, they have price matching in place to be sure that you’re getting the best possible pricing on your upcoming move. 

Moving APT is available in all 50 states.

Services Offered

The specific add-ons that you’ll be able to book alongside your moving process might vary depending on where you’re located, but some include piano moving and crating, car and truck shipping, packing services, and furniture assemly and disassembly. 

Cost

Detailing exact pricing for Moving APT’s customers can be difficult, as many customers take advantage of the price matching policy offered by the broker.  As a general statement on pricing, movers can usually expect to pay around $7,800 for a 1,000-mile move of a four-bedroom home.

Get a quote from Moving APT by filling out this form.

Read more with our Moving APT review.

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JK Moving Services – Most Customizable Mover

Why We Recommend JK Moving Services

JK Moving Services has been working with government agencies like the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Census Bureau, and U.S. Agency for International Development, and more for years. They are a trusted military mover and an excellent choice for military members to use for their next move. JK Moving Services may have a lengthier and more intense quoting process than competitors, but you are assigned your own personal moving coordinator to help you through the hassle of moving, every step of the way.

Your personal moving coordinator will be in touch through each step of your move: scheduling, planning, packing, loading, moving, and unloading. You can reach JK’s 24/7 customer service with any questions or concerns about your move through JK’s mobile app. The mobile app also allows you to track your shipment. You can make your move as customized and detailed or as simple as you need — JK provides any moving service you could think of, and if they don’t, they have contractors who do.

JK Moving Services is available in all lower 50 states.

Services Offered

JK Moving Services offers the basic services such as packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, crating, and vehicle relocation services. In addition, JK offers more unique services like fragile-only packing, climate-controlled storage options, furntiture wrapping, GPS shipment tracking, financing assistance, and archival services.

Cost

Unfortunately, like Moving APT, JK Moving Services does not currently provide online estimates for its services. As a general rule, when you’re moving a two-bedroom home a distance of about 500 miles, you can usually expect to pay between $2,500 to $5,500 for service. While this figure is a bit higher than competitors, be sure to click on the link below to get your free quote before you choose a moving company. 

Get a quote from JK Moving Services by filling out this form.

Read our full JK Moving Services review to learn more.

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Allied Van Lines – Most Vehicle Shipping Options

Why We Recommend Allied Van Lines

On their website, Allied Van Lines states that they have the largest moving network in the world. They have close to 50 years of experience in the moving game, and they can move you anywhere in the country as well as to more than 130 stations abroad. You don’t have to worry about tricky customs declarations or overseas shipping — your Allied move coordinator will handle all of those details of your moving experience so you can have as stress-free a move as possible.

Allied Van Lines is a full-service mover specializing in interstate moving and long-distance moving, but they can move you locally or internationally efficiently and professionally. They offer custom crating services for things like motorcycles, large electronics, or anything else that needs extra protection during transportation that doesn’t fit into traditional moving boxes. Allied does not outsource vehicle shipping to other companies — it handles all services in-house.

Allied is available in all 50 states.

Services Offered

Allied Van Lines currently offers packing services and unpacking, fragile-only packing, storage for in-transit items, arrangement of long-term storage units, shipment tracking, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and basic liability and full-value coverage. Allied also offers not only car and truck relocation services, but boat transport as well.

Cost

Browse the table below to learn more about pricing from Allied Van Lines. 

	<250 miles	500 miles	1,000 miles	2,000 miles
Two-bedroom home	$1,800 to $4,500	$2,400 to $5,400	$2,700 to $5,700	$4,400 to $7,400
Four-bedroom home	$3,300 to $6,000	$5,700 to $8,700	$7,500 to $10,500	$10,900 to $13,000

Get a free quote from Allied Van Lines by filling out this form.

Read more with our Allied Van Lines review.

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U-Pack – Most Widely-Availble Container Service

Why We Recommend U-Pack

U-Pack is a moving container company. You can use them for your DIY move, but U-Pack drivers do the pick-up and drop-off of your items. The way it works is that you first figure out how much space you will need to pack up all your stuff. You then select the appropriate moving containers (and number, if you need more than one), and a U-Pack driver will bring the container to your home. You then pack everything and load it up yourself. The driver returns and your belongings are now on their way to your new home.

Because you are doing the packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking, the only thing you’re paying for is the square footage your stuff occupies and the transportation. You have no hassle of driving a large moving vehicle that you may not feel comfortable driving, especially on unfamiliar roads. If you need assistance with anything, you can use U-Pack’s Moving Staffers network to find people to hire for a specific job, like appliance installation or piano moving.

U-Pack is also available in all 50 US states.

Services Offered

In order to use U-Pack, you must be moving at least 200 miles. U-Pack allows military members to do a PPM move, which means that you handle all the planning and the government pays you 100% of what they would have paid for a government mover! U-pack offers a variety of equipment, delivery, and storage options.

Cost

U-Pack offers a military discount plus a bundled discount rate for using moving equipment, transportation, fuel, and liability coverage.

	<250 miles	500 miles	1,000 miles	2,000 miles
Two-bedroom home	$600 to $1,600	$1,200 to $2,200	$1,600 to $2,600	$2,100 to $3,100
Four-bedroom home	$800 to $1,800	$1,800 to $2,800	$2,800 to $3,800	$4,100 – $5,100

Get a free quote from U-Pack with this form.

Learn more with our in-depth U-pack Review.

North American Van Lines – Best Pricing Options

Why We Recommend North American Van Lines

North American Van Lines is a full-service mover that not only provides services to all 50 states but can also help you move to 175 countries all over the world. They have been in the moving business since the 1930s, and North American is a company of firsts. They were the first long-haul movers to traverse the Alaska Highway. They are also the first moving company to create a simulator for their drivers so that they can be trained on how to handle inclement weather conditions and all types of terrain.

North American Van Lines offers appliance disconnection and reinstallation, fragile-only packing, crating, and they have predictable pricing so that you don’t have any surprises when it’s time to pay for your move. They also offer “not to exceed” pricing, which can be particularly beneficial for men and women who are planning a DIY military move and who need strict control over their bottom line before reimbursement. 

NAVL is available in all 50 US states.

Services Offered

North American Van Lines offers full-service and fragile-only packing, moving supplies, appliances disconnection and reconnection, furniture assembly and reassembly, loading and unloading, short- and long-term storage, and crate vans. For specialty moving processes, NAVL offers custom crating options, satellite shipping tracking, auto transport, and full-valuation coverage on all moves.

Cost

Browse the table below to learn more about pricing from North American Van Lines. 

	<250 miles	500 miles	1,000 miles	2,000 miles
Two-bedroom home	$1,800 to $4,500	$2,400 to $5,400	$2,700 to $5,700	$4,400 to $7,400
Four-bedroom home	$3,300 to $6,000	$5,700 to $8,700	$7,500 to $10,500	$10,900 to $13,000

Get a quote from North American Van Lines by filling out this form.

Read more with our full North American Van Lines Review.

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What To Look for in Military Moving Companies

What should you look for when checking out military moving services? The General Services Administration (GSA) is a government department that supports the basic functions of other government agencies. However, they also manage federal properties like duty stations, and they work with companies that have contracts with the government. You can look to see if a mover is connected with the GSA to ensure that you’ll be getting a quality moving service. You can also consider the following when searching for companies to help.

• Personally procured moving services: If you choose to pay for your move upfront rather than waiting on a military relocation planned and provided by the Armed Forces, you should make sure that you and the company you’re using are eligible for a personally procured move (“PPM”). The company may work with you to provide some services under the PPM, so you can pay before the move and get your reimbursement later. You may not be able to swing all your moving needs through a PPM, but you can pay for some of the expenses and rely on your service provider through the military to cover the rest of the moving expenses.
• Military approved: Check to see which movers are approved by your branch of the United States armed forces before booking your move date. Many moving companies may give military discounts, but you should also make sure that they are associated with the military officially. You can check this by asking for different registrations from the moving company you’re considering, such as approval with the Department of Defense.
• Customer reviews: It’s best to look at third-party websites that are unbiased when comparing customer reviews because moving companies will only show the glowing reviews on their homepages. You can ask around to see if any friends or acquaintances have used the moving company that you’re interested in, and you can also check out what the Better Business Bureau has to say about the company to get a full idea of the type of service you can expect. 

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What Factors Affect the Cost of Military Movers

When you get a PCS, or permanent change of station, the military typically provides a dislocation allowance (DLA) that covers miscellaneous moving costs. Usually, not all of the expenses you’ll incur are covered by this DLA, but it does help to cover some of the expenses associated with moving, like fuel costs and some insurance plans. Here are some other costs that you may encounter during your military move

Additional Services

There are plenty of services that are not included in a cross-country or international move; household items in the house are included, but bulky items like appliances and pianos cost extra to move. Other costs you may see on your move invoice are things like fees for each flight of stairs the movers have to traverse, fees for tight spaces and awkward corners, charges for reinstallation of appliances, and crating services for specialty items like antiques or fine art. The more services you schedule, the more costs you’ll incur on your move. 

Transportation

A DLA will pay for some expenses of the move, and you may also get a MALT, a monetary allowance in lieu of transportation if you and your family transport yourselves to a new PCS. However, depending on the mileage of your trip, the fuel costs, and how many vehicles you’re moving with, the MALT may only cover part of your transportation, so you must chip in for the rest.

Last-minute services

If you’re on a tight schedule but you really need to hire moving help, many relocation services will charge extra for expedited moves. You can avoid this by doing a DIY move or moving with U-Pack, but it’s understandable if you face unexpected changes or difficulties.

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Final Thoughts

If you’ve never been stationed away from home, it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed by the moving process. However, understand that the Department of Defense aims to make moving services as easy and affordable as possible for the men and women who serve. Still, even with your moving allocation, it’s important to know that you’re getting the best possible deal on your upcoming services — especially if you have specialty moving needs. We recommend getting a quote from each one of our recommended moving services listed above before booking your move date to be sure that you’re getting the best deal possible for you and your family.

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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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