Compare Top Interstate Moving Companies At a Glance
Company | Star Rating | Estimate Info | BBB Rating | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|---|
$2,500–$4,300 | B | |||
$3,200–$3,500 | A+ | |||
$2,800–$4,000 | B | |||
$4,000–$7,500 | B | |||
$7,550 | A+ | |||
$4,730–$5,380 | A+ | |||
$4,700–$5,350 | A+ | |||
$2,968–$5,668 | B |
Company | BBB Rating | Estimate Info | Star Rating | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|---|
B | $2,500–$4,300 | |||
A+ | $3,200–$3,500 | |||
B | $2,800–$4,000 | |||
B | $4,000–$7,500 | |||
A+ | $7,550 | |||
A+ | $4,730–$5,380 | |||
A+ | $4,700–$5,350 | |||
B | $2,968–$5,668 |
The Top Interstate Moving Companies of 2024
After in-depth research, we scored and ranked the best providers according to our objective rating methodology. Here are the top interstate moving companies to consider for your trek across state lines.
- International Van Lines: Our Pick for Insurance Plans
- American Van Lines: Our Pick for Long-Distance Moves
- Safeway Moving Inc: Our Pick for Seniors
- Interstate Moving & Relocation Group: Our Pick for Informational Resources
- Moving APT: Most Flexible Payment Options
- JK Moving Services: Our Pick for Financing
- North American Van Lines: Our Pick for Easy Claims Process
- Allied Van Lines: Our Pick for Convenience
How Should You Calculate Moving Costs?
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How To Choose an Interstate Moving Company
To help you narrow down your search for an interstate moving company, here are three major considerations to think about while you shop.
- Services offered: Make sure a prospective mover renders all services you hope to use. Research online or call a company representative to inquire about packing, storage, crating, moving special items like pianos and any additional services you may need.
- Compare pricing: If you like a company’s offerings, compare it against other providers to ensure its estimate is trustworthy. It may be a red flag if the company doesn’t provide clear and transparent pricing broken down by service.
- Read customer reviews: If the services and price are right for you, learn from the experiences of other customers. Any worthwhile mover will have plenty of customer reviews on third-party aggregators like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews and Yelp. Read multiple reviews across different platforms to form a solid baseline on the average customer experience.
How Do I Know if an Interstate Moving Company Is Legit?
To determine if a moving company you are considering is legitimate, obtain its USDOT number and visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. Input that USDOT number toward the bottom of the page, which will allow you to access the company’s licenses and certifications. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General offers a public guide about common indicators of moving fraud.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire an Interstate Moving Company?
The average cost of an interstate move is $4,890, according to moving.com. This estimate is based on moving a two- to three-bedroom home (7,500 pounds of cargo) across 1,000 miles. However, your quote may look different based on the weight of your belongings and the distance you need to travel.
Typically, interstate moves include a flat rate based on weight and mileage. Here are several factors that impact the cost of your interstate move:
- Weight of your belongings: The more your contents weigh, the more you can expect to pay for your interstate move. Understandably, a moving company will charge more to move your three-bedroom home than a studio apartment.
- Distance of move: The farther a mover must carry your belongings, the more it will cost. Interstate movers calculate your “line haul fee” based on the cargo weight and moving distance.
- Additional services and labor costs: You’ll pay more if you hire your mover for additional services like packing, crating or vehicle shipping. These may be additional flat fees or rolled into your estimate. Since you’re moving into another state, your mover may also factor in changes to local labor costs.
- Timing of your move: Booking far in advance will save you money on your interstate move, which gives providers ample time to line up drivers and schedule the trip.
- Contents coverage: Interstate movers must legally offer basic liability protection and full valuation coverage. While basic liability protection is free, you’ll have to pay extra to upgrade to full valuation coverage.
Which Interstate Moving Companies Offer Discounts?
Consult the chart below to find out which interstate moving companies have available discounts:
Provider | Military | Senior | Early Reservation | Differently-Abled | Short-Distance Move | American Legion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IVL | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
AVL* | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Safeway | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
IMRG | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Moving APT | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
NAVL | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Allied | No | No | No | No | No | No |
JK Moving | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Coleman | No | No | No | No | No | No |
*Offers a price-matching policy, so it may be beneficial to obtain a few quotes from competitors when negotiating costs.
What’s The Difference Between Full-Service vs. Self-Service Interstate Movers
Other than moving truck rentals, there are two major types of moving companies in the current home movers market. To get a better understanding of what each mover entails, read over the descriptions below.
Full-Service Movers
This mover is perfect for anyone who wants a moving company to handle practically all parts of their move. A full-service mover offers services such as furniture disassembly, packing, crating, loading, transportation, unloading, unpacking and furniture reassembly. Often these companies can provide specialty services for difficult and fragile items like pianos and antiques.
Customers can typically mix and match these services to create partial-service moving packages, which saves some money.
International Van Lines and North American Van Lines are examples of full-service movers.
Self-Service Movers
A self-service mover is a better option for those looking to save money on your move and those who enjoy taking the DIY approach to things. Self-service movers are also referred to as portable storage container movers.
This service model has the company deliver a portable storage container to your home, and you then load your belongings into that container in a certain time frame. Once loaded, you notify the company when to pick up and deliver your belongings to your new home. You then unload the container at your own pace.
This option tends to be significantly cheaper than full-service movers, and you can utilize the containers for long-term storage or short-term storage depending on your needs. PODS is an example of a self-service mover.
The Bottom Line on the Best Interstate Moving Companies
International Van Lines is our top pick for the best insurance plans and overall interstate moving company. We also like Allied Van Lines because of its flexible payment options, comprehensive moving packages, wide availability and quality full-service moving options.
Each professional moving company brings something different to the table for an interstate move. It is important to take some time to learn what you value in a mover. Do you prefer comprehensive insurance options or customized packages? Do you prefer full-service over self-service?
Once you figure out the answers to questions like these, gather free quotes from at least three different movers to accurately compare costs and services.
Frequently Asked Questions About Interstate Moving Companies
A contents protection plan acts as insurance for your belongings while in transit. Moving companies are legally required to provide at least two insurance options. The minimum legal requirement is 60 cents per pound for your belongings. So if any damages occur, you receive 60 cents in reimbursement for each pound of damaged belongings.
These plans can be problematic for expensive yet lightweight items like computers or other electronics. Alternatively, many companies offer a full-value coverage plan that allows you to receive reimbursement based on the declared value of your items.
You are by no means expected to help your movers. Some companies actually prohibit customers from helping.
You should book an interstate move at least four to six weeks in advance to give a company ample time to schedule a truck and driver and plan the route. Some movers will charge extra if you book within one week of your expected departure date.
There are some items that interstate movers won’t transport, such as flammable, hazardous and dangerous items. Aerosols, acids, batteries and solvents are among the blacklisted items.
Other Home Service Resources From MarketWatch Guides
Learn more about your home services options in our top reviews to see how you can keep your peace of mind.
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Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Moving Companies
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.