5 Best Moving Companies in New York | 2022
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Best Overall
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Most Experienced
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Best Discounts
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Best for Storage
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Best for Financing
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It is a challenge to move in any capacity. Whether it is an interstate move, a move across a state, or a local move within your city, moving can be riddled with unexpected challenges, unexpected costs, and stressful events.
Moving anywhere across New York State follows this trend as well. Whether you are moving in New York City, Long Island, Buffalo, or Syracuse, utilizing a professional moving company is an excellent way to save money and reduce stress during a move. Moving companies can assist you and your family with packing, unpacking, transportation, delivery, and protection of valuable items. This will provide you with some peace of mind during what can be a difficult process.
Our research team has evaluated some of the best moving companies in New York State to help you in your decision-making process.
5 Best Moving Companies in New York
After thorough research here are the top moving companies in New York State.
International Van Lines: Best Overall
Allied Van Lines: Most Experienced
North American Van Lines: Best Claims Process
PODS: Best for Storage
JK Moving: Best for Financing
International Van Lines: Best Overall
International Van Lines is a great option for anyone looking for a more traditional approach to moving. It offers full-service packing services, as well as some specialty services for customers with unique items like expensive fine art or recreational equipment. International Van Lines holds an overall positive reputation, though customer experiences appear to vary according to location.
Pros & Cons
✓ Availability anywhere in the United States
✓ Specialty services available, like car and boat relocation services
✓ Offers full-service packing and unpacking services
✖ No sample pricing available
✖ Poor communication mentioned in some customer reviews
Services and Cost
International Van Lines provides crating, packing, upacking, storage solutions, transportation, and specific moving services. The disassembly and reassembly of basic furniture, standard moving supplies like protective pads and blankets, fuel, mileage, and toll fees are also included in your services. The company also offers up to $10,000 of liability coverage.
International Van Lines service options:
Partial or full-pack services
Short-term or long-term storage
Car relocation services
Corporate relocation services
Specialty services for recreational and sports equipment, large appliances, pianos, and more
Similar to other moving companies, International Van Lines' pricing depends on several factors.
Factors affecting cost:
Time and date of your move
Location of your original residence
Distance of the move
Size and weight of your move
The cost for moving a two-bedroom home from Syracuse, New York, to Garden City, New York, was estimated between $2,015 and $3,445. This estimate includes International Van Lines' team loading and driving the moving truck for you. We encourage you to use the company's Moving Cost Calculator to determine what you might pay for your move.
We also recommend receiving a more detailed quote by visiting International Van Lines.
Our Take on International Van Lines
If you want a traditional, full-service moving experience, International Van Lines is the choice for you. With its variety of services, International Van Lines can assist with your move, whatever the size or distance. Its specialty services can deal with fragile items like pianos and antiques.
We suggest that you receive more information about International Van Lines by getting a free quote from their website.
Allied Van Lines: Most Experienced
With more than 90 years of experience, Allied Van Lines brings a long history of customer service to your New York Move. Allied is a great choice if you prefer a hands-off moving experience and can deliver a high level skill and know-how to its full-service moves. You may also opt to handle more of your move on your own by choosing Allied's fragile-only packing service (a great option for packing kitchens) or go totally DIY with an Allied Express container move.
Pros & Cons
✓ Long history in the professional moving industry
✓ Provides GPS tracking on shipments
✓ Offers in-house vehicle relocation services
✖ Some customer reviews mention the claims department being difficult to reach
✖ May act as a broker if a move falls outside of its service areas
Services and Cost
Allied provides many full-service moving options, such as packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking services.
If you don't mind a DIY moving experience and want to save money you can use Allied's fragile-only packing. This service has Allied's workers pack only difficult and fragile items while you pack the rest. The company also offers a portable storage container moving service called Allied Express.
Allied Van Lines service options:
Partial or full-pack services
Short-term or long-term storage
Fragile-only packing
Loading and unloading services
Contents protection plans
Specialty services for difficult items like antiques and pianos
Transportation and delivery
Car relocation services
GPS tracking
Moving and packing supplies
Long-term and short-term storage options
Corporate moves
International moves
As with other companies on this list, Allied will weigh the following factors to determine the overall price of a move.
Factors affecting cost:
Time and date of your move
Location of your original residence
Distance of the move
Size and weight of your move
Allied requires a virtual survey to be conducted to provide an accurate quote that serves as a binding estimate. The company provided us a ballpark quote to move a two-bedroom home from Syracuse, NY to Boston for a total of $3,748–$4,259. This is considering an average amount of belongings on this house size.
To schedule your virtual survey and get a free, accurate quote from Allied, complete this brief survey.
Our Take on Allied Van Lines
With nearly a century's worth of experience, Allied makes a great option for anyone concerned about having knowledgeable and skillful movers. Though the company is also a broker, it acts as a carrier for many of its services, including vehicle shipping. This means you receive direct communication with reputable customer service. Allied adds further convence to its moves through GPS tracking, virtual surveys, and mobile app for digital inventory.
Get started with your move with Allied by filling out this online form.
North American Van Lines: Best Claims Process
With more than 500 agent locations throughout North America, North American Van Lines provides full-service or partial-service moves all across the Empire State. In addition to a full complement of moving services, North American Van Lines offers one of the easiest claims processes we have seen should anything go wrong with your move.
North American Van Lines offers full-value released coverage based on the declared value of your belongings. This means you are compensated for the value of each item in the case of accidental damage to your belongings. If not, you will receive limited liability coverage which covers each item at $0.60 per pound. The company provides accessible links for both domestic and international claims on its website that takes customers through a detailed form to submit a claim.
Pros & Cons
✓ Utilizes WorldTrac satellite to provide GPS tracking on shipments
✓ Offers an extensive network of personal moving agents
✓ Features a detailed and thorough claims process
✖ Storage may be limited according to location
✖ Selection of agents to work with may be limited by location
Services and Cost
North American Van Lines offers many industry-standard moving services, such as packing, loading, transportation, unploading, and unpacking. Customers can also receive assistance with self-packing by using tools and resources on the company's website, such as a moving supplies calculator. The company also supplies assistance with the installation of appliances.
North American Van Lines' service options:
Partial or full-pack services
Short-term or long-term storage
Loading and unloading
Installation and assembly for furniture and appliances
Transportation and delivery
Fragile-only packing
Assistance with self-packing (such as help choosing which type and quantity of boxes and packing supplies are needed)
Vehicle relocation services
Moving and packing supplies
North American Van Lines focuses on a couple of different factors to calculate cost.
Factors affecting cost:
The distance of your move
The total weight of your shipment
Services purchased
Time and date of your move
Moving insurance
Similar to Allied Van Lines, North American Van Lines requires either an in-home or virtual survey to provide a transparent, binding estimate. We received a ballpark estimate from the company to move a two-bedroom home from Boston to Syracuse, NY for a total of $4,090- $4,647. This quote considers a medium-sized load for the move.
To set up either an in-home or virtual survey with North American Van Lines, fill out this easy-to-use questionnaire.
Our Take on North American Van Lines
If you are concerned about receiving peace of mind knowing you are well-covered with a contents protection plan, we recommend North American Van Lines. The company provides customized moving coverage and an accessible yet detailed claims process. This is in addition to reputable full-service and partial-service moving options for both local and long-distance moves involving New York state.
To start your New York move with North American Van Lines, fill out this brief form.
PODS: Best for Storage
PODS is a self-service moving company offering enhanced DIY moving services. It is flexible and maintains a good reputation with its customers. If you run into any unexpected roadblocks, PODS will keep your belongings at one of their many storage facilities across New York State.
Pros & Cons
✓ Transparent pricing
✓ Flexibility to work around your schedule
✓ State-of-the-art storage facilities
✖ Discounts available only for military members
✖ Customer satisfaction varies according to location
✖ Loading and unloading services only available via third-party
Services and Cost
As a self-service moving company, PODS will deliver one or more of its moving containers to your point of origin. You are then able to load moving containers at your own pace and convenience, schedule a time for the company to transport your belongings to your new residence, and unload your moving containers according to your own schedule.
PODS can also connect you to packing and unpacking services through third-party providers if you need it. PODS allows you to order as many moving containers as you need.
PODS offers three different sizes of moving containers:
7-foot container: Ideal for studio apartment moves; packs area under 500 sq. ft.; similar to a 10' moving truck
12-foot container: Ideal for small apartment or 2–3 room moves; packs a 500-800 sq. ft. space; similar to a 15' moving truck
16-foot container: Ideal for homes with 3–4 rooms; packs approximately 1,200 sq. ft,; similar to a 20' moving truck
For a local move using just the storage pods, the company's website estimates it would cost between $349 and $549. For a full-service move, it estimates a cost of roughly $1,250.
Factors affecting cost:
Origin of your move
Distance of your move
Size of pods containers
Number of pods containers
We recommend that you get a free quote from PODS to make sure you have the most accurate pricing information for your in-state move.
Our Take on PODS
PODS is a well-rounded option for moving in New York. The company features competitive pricing, flexibility in your moving schedule, and excellent customer reviews. PODS is also up-front about its cost, and it allows you to choose between handling your items yourself or paying for professional movers to take care of everything for you.
But PODS really stands out for its storage options. With facilities throughout the state, you can choose to store your POD while you pack or unpack, or if there is a delay in your move. Not only does the company offer storage solutions during your move, but they act as a great personal storage company in general with features like climate control and 24-hour surveillance.
We highly recommend visiting PODS to get a free estimate and see how it can help with your upcoming move in New York.
JK Moving: Best for Financing
If you are making a long-distance move into or out of New York State, JK Moving is an excellent option. Though the company doesn't offer local or in-state services, it does offer a variety of services for a full-service, partial-service, or self-service interstate move.
If budget is a real concern for you, JK also has a partnership with the personal loan company Enhancify to allow you to finance your move at rates as low as 0%.*
Pros & Cons
✓ Custom moving plans based on your needs and budget
✓ Moves can be financed through Enhancify
✓ Offers moving coordinators to organize your move with you
✖ No online estimates
✖ Limited availability for local moves (VA, MD, and Washington D.C.)
Services and Cost
JK Moving is a full-service company that offers packing, crating, transportation, and storage services. Customers can customize their move with full- or partial-pack services. Long-distance moves are made using the company's extensive fleet of GPS-enabled trucks to ensure that your items arrive safely and on time.
JK Moving service options:
Partial or full-packing services
Short-term or long-term storage
Transportation
GPS tracking of your shipment
Freighting
Archive services
Corporate and government relocation services
JK Moving does not offer sample pricing online, but you can expect factors similar to other moving companies on this list to impact your overall cost with JK Moving.
Factors affecting cost:
Location of original residence
Distance of the move
Your moving date
The size and weight of your move
One of JK's standout features is its relocation financing partnership with Enhancify. Customers can complete an application online in 60 seconds and receive loan offers from a variety of lenders without affecting their credit scores. This allows customers to qualify for rates as low as 0%* to pay for an expensive move in monthly payments.
Our Take on JK Moving
If you're in the market for a full-service interstate move but are concerned about costs, JK Moving might be your best option. It offers a wide variety of services and products for you to customize your moving package and works with you to create a moving package that fits your budget. In addition, JK partners with third-party lender Enhancify to offer relocation financing so that you can pay for your move in monthly installments.
We encourage you to see how JK Moving can help you move to or out of New York by getting an instant quote from the company.
Moving Companies in New York FAQs
How do I change my residency to New York State?
New York features a residency change process similar to that of many other states. Some of the important steps to consider outside of the typical moving process include: establish domicile, change your mailing address and forward your mail, change your address with utility providers, change your IRS address, and obtain a new driver's license.
What qualifies you as a New York State resident?
You are a New York resident if you are domiciled in New York State or if you reside in New York State for more than 184 days during the taxable year.
How much notice do you need to give a moving company?
Though you can probably plan a move with a moving company in a week or two, in general, it is suggested that you provide a moving company with a month to two months notice to plan your move in order to have peace of mind during the entire process.
