7 Best Interstate Moving Companies 2022
Best Customization
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Best for Antiques
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Best for Fragile Items
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Best Customer Support
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Best for Condos & HOAs
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Moving isn't easy. The planning, the packing, the heavy lifting. And if you are among the millions of Americans making an interstate move, it can be even more challenging. Luckily, there are interstate moving companies that can lighten your load so you can save your energy for the fun stuff, like decorating.
We've researched and ranked some of the best interstate moving companies in the U.S. Each company on this list is licensed, bonded, and insured for interstate moves and offers competitive rates, reliable services, wide availability, and reputable customer service. No matter where your move takes you, you'll have peace of mind that you made the right choice.
7 Best Interstate Moving Companies
These are our choices for the best interstate moving companies:
International Van Lines: Best Customization
American Van Lines: Best for Antiques
Allied Van Lines: Best for Fragile Items
North American Van Lines: Best Customer Support
Safeway Moving Systems: Best for Condos & HOAs
JK Moving: Best Full-Service Mover
U-Pack: Most Flexible Pricing
The price you see for each moving company below is based on quotes we received to move a three-bedroom home from Chicago to Dallas within three months, unless stated otherwise.
International Van Lines: Best Customization
State Availability: 50 states
Year Founded: 2004
Type of Mover: Full service
Moving Cost: $4,200–$6,150
International Van Lines (IVL) is a full-service mover that acts as both a carrier and a broker to handle moves throughout the U.S. and in 180 countries. Its popular full-service options include packing and unpacking, crating, furniture disassembly and reassembly, specialty services, loading and unloading, and more.
IVL works with customers to craft customized moving packages based on their budget and moving needs. If you need help with loading and transportation but prefer to pack on your own to save a few dollars, IVL will do that. IVL also offers adjustable contents protection (insurance) plans based on the amount of coverage you think you'll need for your belongings. This ability to mix and match gives customers more control over their move.
Customer's Take
I retained International Van Lines after getting quotes from about ten movers, and International Van Lines provided a fair price quote. They surpassed ** high expectations, packing and moving our furniture in driving rain and with great care for our antiques and fragile items. You should 100% choose them for your move!
—Eddie via BBB 10/18/2021
American Van Lines: Best for Antiques
State Availability: 50 states
Year Founded: 1967
Type of Mover: Full service
Moving Cost: $7,095*
*This information is an average price calculated on the American Van Lines website.
American Van Lines is a full-service moving company that focuses on providing highly skilled and experienced movers. In addition to hiring only full-time, background-checked movers, the company trains each of its employees in specialty moves at its own facility. This makes it a great long-distance mover for antiques, fine artwork, pianos, and priceless heirlooms.
In addition to full-service options, such as packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, and transportation, American Van Lines can also move all kinds of pianos, including grand and upright pianos. Its employees are able to dismantle and reassemble any piano, if needed or requested.
Like JK Moving Services, American Van Lines offers binding estimates. This means the free quote you receive at the end of the quote process remains the same during your move and isn't subject to change based on unexpected circumstances.
Customer's Take
We hired American Van Lines for an intrastate move four hours from our former home in the Fort Lauderdale area to the greater Orlando region. They were professional from the start....We had no mishaps and were very pleased with their professional approach. As for pricing, it was on a par with other companies. Basic insurance comes with the price but you can add more coverage. At our new house, they unpacked the furniture and placed it where we wanted. The boxes went into the garage. I would highly recommend this company for the ease of operation and the care they take of their customers.
—Nancy C. via Yelp 1/1/2021
Allied Van Lines: Best for Fragile Items
State Availability: 50 states
Year Founded: 1928
Type of Mover: Full service
Moving Cost: $5,638–$6,230
Allied Van Lines holds the most experience of any company on this list. With more than 90 years of professional moving experience, it makes a great choice if you have fragile items you are looking to transport.
In addition to popular full-service options such as packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking, Allied offers a fragile-only pack option. This option allows you to save money and have your delicate belongings professionally handled by Allied. Allied's skilled workers pack your fragile items, while you pack the rest of your belongings. This is a great option if you have heirloom china or other fragile items to move.
Similar to NAVL, Allied provides customers with a personal moving coordinator, who will help them determine a binding estimate for their move. Allied also allows customers to conduct a home walk-through virtually and track their shipments via GPS.
Customer's Take
This is a great company to move you. We recently moved from Seattle to Jacksonville. Communication was superb. The company communicated via phone and email. I especially like email as there is something in writing. The contract was clear and concise. The movers contacted us to let us know when they would arrive and they were on time. They were polite and efficient. This is a professional company and we were at ease with all the people we worked with. We had contacted three other moving companies: 2 never got back to us and the other constantly changed their price though nothing was changing on our part. Allied is reliable.
—Anne M. via Yelp 11/21/2021
North American Van Lines: Best Customer Support
State Availability: 50 states
Year Founded: 1933
Type of Mover: Full service
Moving Cost: $6,975–$7,705
Customers are often left in the dark by moving companies. North American Van Lines (NAVL) helps you avoid this situation with its thorough and extensive customer assistance. The company provides a personal moving agent for each customer and a mobile app that helps you conduct virtual surveys, create a detailed digital inventory, and receive a binding estimate.
In addition, NAVL provides GPS tracking on all shipments along with a wide array of online tools and resources, such as a moving calculator, a space calculator, relocation guides, checklists, info on shipping wine, and information on tariffs and regulations.
Should anything go wrong with your move, NAVL also provides easily accessible claims forms for domestic, international, and intra-Texas moves. It also provides separate customer support lines for domestic and international moves.
Customer's Take
Had my move booked with another local mover and they forgot my move day. [NAVL] not only sent a crew out to help, they were the kindest people and handled my belongings as if the furniture was theirs. [They] put nice blue blankets on every piece in my house and then brought it into my new house with the same blankets on my stuff. This was really impressive and I believe showed how much [they] take pride in their work. I high recommend this company.
—Ernie N Bree F. via Yelp (Birmingham, Alabama branch)
Safeway Moving Systems: Best for Condos & HOAs
State Availability: 50 states
Year Founded: 1987
Type of Mover: Full service
Moving Cost: $7,000–$10,000
Safeway Moving Systems is a veteran-owned full-service moving broker that aims to bring military precision to the moving experience. Safeway customers get services like packing and unpacking through its network of carrier partners, while receiving Safeway's comprehensive insurance options.
The company requires all of its moving partners to carry a $1,000,000 insurance policy, which is 25 percent higher than the industry standard. This is because Safeway knows that some HOAs and condo associations often require a larger insurance policy for movers. If you own a condo, Safeway may be a great choice for you.
In addition to its solid reputation for professionalism and speed, Safeway stands out for allowing its customers to earmark a portion of their payment for donation to St. Jude's Children Hospital.
Customer's Take
Excellent, excellent! Amazing and friendly team. I have used Safeway Moving moving multiple times, and each service has been quick, efficient, and punctual. Excellent customer service.
—Ivan via BBB 12/3/2021
JK Moving Services: Best Full-Service Mover
State Availability: 50 states
Year Founded: 1982
Type of Mover: Full service
Moving Cost: $9,200
Based out of Sterling, Virginia, JK Moving Services is our pick for the best full-service mover. The company brings more than 40 years of experience and top-tier full-service options, including furniture disassembly and reassembly, loading and unloading, and transportation.
JK Moving Services is also one of the few companies on this list that provides financing options. Thanks to its partnership with Enhancify, customers are able to apply for a loan and choose from a variety of loan providers offering different repayment terms and interest rates. Based on your credit rating, you can receive rates as low as 0 percent.
In addition to this unique perk, JK Moving Services has a useful mobile app for GPS tracking, managing inventory, and conducting a virtual survey for an accurate, binding estimate. This is an estimate that won't change over the course of your move.
Local moves with JK Moving are only available in MD, VA, and Washington, D.C.
Customer's Take
5-Star Experience with J.K. Moving! I was so impressed with every interaction with the JK moving team, they were amazing. The whole experience exceeded my expectations! J.K. Moving deliver extremely good customer care and service at a very reasonable price. I moved from a 3-bedroom townhouse to a 1-bedroom apartment, including an additional stop to a storage unit. There was no damage whatsoever, and not one mark on any of my walls - amazing! Every furniture item was carefully wrapped and protected. This is the third time I've used JK Moving and they continue to wow me. I would definitely use their service again.
—Helen W. via BBB 11/25/2021
U-Pack: Most Flexible Pricing
State Availability: 50 states
Year Founded: 1997
Type of Mover: Self service
Moving Cost: $2,411
U-Pack is a self-service mover with affordable pricing. Its 6x7x8-foot ReloCubes are typically cheaper than PODS's and 1-800-Pack-Rat's containers. Plus, they fit into a single parking spot, which makes U-Pack a great option for in-city apartment moves.
Customers can also take advantage of U-Pack's pay-for-what-you-use policy. This policy allows customers to pay per square-foot for the space their belongings occupy in a larger moving trailer, offering greater flexibility in pricing.
U-Pack does require that moves be at least 150 miles in distance. Additionally, U-Pack offers in-transit storage solutions, but customers will not be able to retrieve belongings while they are stored.
Customer's Take
I utilized Upack (ABF Trailer) for my move from RI to AZ and the service I received was superb on both drop off and pick up of trailer. In RI the employee who dropped off showed us how to open and latch the doors and reminded us not to include our locks on the door because it will be clipped off. Transportation went smoothly for the most part except they missed the initial drop-off day by 1 day but I quickly called once I noticed it was in NM for two days with no movement, they got it moving at night and the trailer arrived the next afternoon. We also informed them the storage unit for drop off the trailer could not stay overnight the local dispatch was able to pick it up later in the day or the next morning I am not too sure but when I arrived the next afternoon it was gone. The person who dropped off the trailer also waited for us to arrive and showed us how to take the privacy door down and he set up the ramp for us. Very pleased with their service in our cross-country move!
—Nakesha E via BBB 11/6/2021
Types of Movers
There are three main types of professional moving companies: full service, self service, and moving brokers. Here's what you need to know to decide which type of mover is best suited for you and your needs.
Full-Service Mover
A full-service moving company handles practically every part of your move for you. Full-service movers provide services such as furniture disassembly, packing services, loading, crating, transportation, unloading, furniture reassembly, and unpacking. A full-service moving company provides an all-inclusive experience, so its customers can focus on other important aspects of their move.
International Van Lines, and American Van Lines, are examples of full-service movers.
Self-Service Mover
If you enjoy taking things into your own hands, then a self-service moving company might be a better choice for you. Self-service movers tend to be cheaper than full-service movers, so you can save money as long as you are willing to put in some elbow grease.
U-Pack is an example of a self-service mover.
Moving Broker
A moving broker is a company that partners with a network of carriers to provide moving trucks and labor for your move. Carriers bid for your job with the broker, which can be a benefit if you're looking to compare a variety of estimates easily. However, since pure brokers don't actually conduct your move, communications can be more complicated. Many interstate movers act as both carriers and brokers.
Safeway Moving Systems is a moving broker.
How to Prepare for an Interstate Move
We know that pulling up roots can be stressful. Here are a few pro tips that can make the moving process a little easier:
Order all moving supplies: Just like the Scouts, you need to be prepared. Full-service movers should show up with blankets and protective pads, but you should make sure to order sufficient boxes, tape, bubble wrap, foam, and other necessary supplies in advance.
Consolidate your belongings: A move is a great time to declutter all those tools in the garage and ornaments in the attic. Create two piles as you pack your belongings. Place items you are going to take to the dump in one pile and items you can take to donation centers like Goodwill in the other pile. Drop them off a day or two before your moving day.
Pack an 'essentials' package: Put a few days' worth of clothes, toiletries, medicine, phone chargers, and any other items you deem necessary into a bag to carry with you since you may be waiting for your belongings to arrive at your new home. This step can save some serious headaches if your shipment takes longer than expected.
Notify important people: You are most likely already telling your friends and family about your upcoming move, but there are some other important people and organizations that need to know about your relocation. Make sure to update your new address with the post office, credit card companies, banks, your insurance provider, the IRS, and your cellphone provider.
Transfer utilities: Check to see if you can transfer your utilities. If not, go ahead and see which provider you'll want to use at your new home and arrange to have electricity, water, and internet ready when you get there.
Interstate Moving Companies FAQs
Which is the best interstate moving company?
This will depend on what type of moving company you're looking for. We find that International Van Lines is a great choice for a full-service professional mover. If you want to go the DIY route, we recommend U-Pack.
What is the average cost of an interstate move?
Based on our research, most interstate moves tend to cost around $5,000–$7,000, depending on the distance of your move and what services you choose.
What is the most affordable interstate moving company?
On our list, U-Pack is the most affordable mover overall, while International Van Lines is the most affordable full-service mover.
How can I find out if an interstate mover is legit?
To find out if an interstate mover is legit, you can check out the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) website and find the company's USDOT number. A legitimate mover should be fully licensed, bonded, and insured.
Methodology
Southern Living strives to provide objective, unbiased reviews for home services and products. Part of doing so involves being transparent about our methodology in assessing each provider we review. We evaluate each provider on a 100-point scale, broken down as follows:
Service Type: Does the provider offer its services for local, long-distance, and/or international moves?
Additional Perks: Does the company provide additional perks and resources with its services, such as moving calculators, checklists, packing supplies, GPS tracking, and financing options?
Quotes Process: Does the company provide ballpark estimates, or does it provide binding, fixed-rate quotes for its services? What information does the company require to provide an estimate?
Availability: How many states does the company provide its services in?
Service Options: Does the company provide services such as packing and unpacking, crating, vehicle transportation, loading and unloading, specialty services, and storage solutions?
Customer Service: Does the company feature a positive customer reviews satisfaction rating on popular review sites, such as Yelp and the BBB?
