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If you’re planning your next move, you may be considering whether you want to hire a professional mover. While the do-it-yourself route can be appealing from a cost-effective standpoint, the ease of having professional movers handle your belongings can take the stress out of moving.
We conducted in-depth research on moving and storage companies nationwide and selected International Van Lines, American Van Lines, and Interstate Moving & Relocation Group as our top three choices. In this article, we will discuss our list of top moving companies based on in-depth research. Keep reading to learn more about these movers and our other choices for the best properly licensed and insured professional moving companies.
The Best Moving Companies
Of the moving and storage companies we researched, these are the top 11 that we think you should consider for your move:
- International Van Lines: Best Overall Mover
- American Van Lines: Best for High-Value Goods
- Interstate Moving & Relocation Group: Best for Major Cities
- Moving APT: Best for Coordinated Moves
- Safeway Moving Inc.: Best for Condos and HOAs
- JK Moving Services: Best Mobile App
- North American Van Lines: Best Appliance Movers
- Allied Van Lines: Best Customer Experience
- 1-800-PACK-RAT: Best for Self-Service Moves
- uShip: Best for Custom Shipments
- U-Pack: Best for Small Moves

Comparing the Best Moving Companies
See how our top movers compare in several categories that can make or break the customer experience:
Moving Company | Storage | Car Shipping | Free Cancellation | Mobile App |
---|---|---|---|---|
IVL |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✘ |
American |
✔ |
✘ |
✔ |
✘ |
IMRG |
✔* |
✔* |
✘ |
✘ |
Moving APT |
✔* |
✔* |
✔ |
✘ |
Safeway |
✔ |
✘ |
✘ |
✘ |
JK Moving |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
NAVL |
✔ |
✔ |
Varies** |
✔ |
Allied |
✔ |
✔ |
Varies** |
✔ |
PACK-RAT |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✘ |
uShip |
✔* |
✔* |
✔ |
✔ |
U-Pack |
✔ |
✘ |
✔ |
✘ |
*These companies are either brokers or an online marketplace and do not handle moves directly. However, companies in their network may provide these services.
**These companies broker out services and cancellation policies may vary.
Note: Cancellation policies for many companies vary depending on the agent location and the time at which the customer cancels services. Fees may apply if cancellation occurs close to your moving date.
Is a Moving Company Worth It?
Hiring a moving company is worth it when you consider the time and stress it will save you during an already turbulent time. A moving company can streamline the physical moving process, freeing you to focus on other important tasks. Interstate moving companies also have contents coverage options available for financially protecting your shipment.
Many movers offer full-service packages that will allow you to step aside as professional moving crews handle all packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking responsibilities. This often includes using special protective packing materials for your fragile and high-end belongings.
A moving company handles all transportation for you, with long-distance specialists offering to haul household goods thousands of miles when necessary. For small moves or local moves over extremely short distances, it may be a better option for some people to use a moving truck rental. If you’re uncomfortable driving a large moving truck, a moving company is a worthwhile option.
Our Best Moving Company Recommendation
International Van Lines is our best overall mover for a well-rounded, full-service moving company. In addition to maintaining a reputation for superior customer service, the company offers a wide selection of personalized moving services. North American Van Lines is a great pick if you have high-end appliances to move as part of your relocation. If you want to ship a single item with high-quality handling and care, then uShip is an excellent service.
We recommend you obtain at least three quotes from different movers and compare their service options, availability, and reputations carefully.
How to Choose a Moving Company
There are a few significant factors to consider when picking the right moving company for you and your family. Below we have listed some major steps to take to help you pick the right mover for your specific moving needs.
1. Find the Experts You Need
One important factor to consider is whether you want a full-service or self-service mover. Also pay close attention to the types of services each mover provides. Here are some key terms to know when choosing a moving company:
- Full-service mover: A full-service moving company aims to handle as much of your move as possible. Service options include furniture disassembly, packing, loading, transportation, unloading, unpacking, and furniture reassembly.
- Self-service mover: A self-service moving company typically drops off portable storage containers that you will load with items you also packed. The company will still transport your belongings to your new home, but you will be responsible for unloading and unpacking in an agreed-upon time frame.
- Local mover: Local movers will conduct moving services within the same city or an adjacent city, never crossing state lines. These companies typically charge hourly rates and must comply with state regulations.
- Long-distance mover: Long-distance movers will transport household goods between cities any distance apart. The term is often used interchangeably with interstate mover, but an important distinction is that long-distance movers do not always operate across state lines.
- Interstate mover: Interstate movers must comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) regulations to transport household goods across state lines. These movers can legally conduct moves to neighboring states or all the way across the country.
- International mover: International movers can relocate your belongings to countries around the globe. Each international moving company has a different coverage area, and some will outsource services to international freight services.
2. Research Its Reputation
An excellent method to gauge a moving company is to research its reputation on popular customer reviews sites, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Yelp. If you know friends that have previously used a particular mover, then ask them about their experience. These avenues provide a glimpse into the customer service experience with each company.
3. Check That It Is Licensed
There are many scammers in the moving industry. One way to ensure you are dealing with a legitimate moving company is to obtain the company’s Department of Transportation (USDOT) number and visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website to look them up. This step lets you know whether or not the company is a legitimate carrier, broker, or both.
4. Make Sure they Service Your Location
It’s always best to make sure you are choosing a moving company that will work well in your location, see the top recommended moving companies for your state:
5. Get Quotes
Once you know what type of move you want and whether or not a company that interests you is legitimate, contact the company to request a free quote, preferably a binding estimate. A binding estimate helps you lock in a price that will not change on your moving day unless major items are added or subtracted from your inventory. Typically, you’ll need to conduct an in-home or virtual survey with the moving company to receive a binding estimate.
What Factors Influence Your Move’s Cost?
Various factors influence the overall cost of a moving service. Local movers calculate rates differently than long-distance and interstate movers, often charging based on the number of movers and their total hours worked.
A long-distance move involves different cost factors, often including the following:
Weight and volume of the shipment
Distance from pick-up and drop-off locations
Contents coverage or third-party insurance
Specialty services
Booking deposit or broker fee
Additionally, you should expect to pay extra for the following:
Heavy, bulky, or difficult-to-move items
Driveways with limited access for moving trucks
Multiple flights of stairs
Full-service packing
Tipping the moving crew on your moving day
Out of 1,000 movers we surveyed, the second-highest surprise cost was for large and difficult-to-move items.
Of 1,000 movers we surveyed, the second-highest surprise cost was for large and difficult-to-move items.
What Is Moving Insurance?
Moving insurance provides financial protection for your move in the event of a lost or damaged shipment. These insurance policies differ from the contents coverage options offered by interstate moving companies as required by law. Moving insurance is a contract between you and a third-party insurance agency that typically affords more comprehensive coverage. Contents coverage is a contract between you and the mover that may be more limited in scope.
Long-Distance vs. Local Moves
Before booking moving services, it’s important to understand the primary differences between local and long-distance moves. See a breakdown below of the main differences between these two types of moves.
Local | Long-Distance | |
---|---|---|
Mileage |
50 miles or less |
100 miles or more |
Billing |
Hourly rate |
Flat-rate |
Regulated By |
State |
Federal |
Best Moving Companies FAQ
How do I find the best movers in my area?
To find the best movers in your area, look at customer testimonials from several third-party sources to get a firm grasp of each company’s overall reputation. You should consult the FMCSA’s website to ensure that the company is actively licensed and insured. We also recommend contacting a company representative to ensure that your origin and destination cities fall within the mover’s standard coverage area.
Is paying a moving company worth it?
Paying a moving company is worth it if you want to relocate homes without the hassle of packing, loading, and transporting items. A full-service mover can help with each phase of your relocation efforts, allowing for a completely hands-off moving experience.
What are some benefits of hiring a moving company?
In addition to streamlining the packing, loading, and hauling responsibilities during a move, moving companies offer various specialty services. Depending on the company you choose, you can request assistance with tasks such as vehicle shipping, piano moving, junk removal, and storage.
How We Chose the Top Moving Companies
We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and formulated a moving review methodology based on a number of factors, including package options, pricing, and reputation. We also identified customer pain points based on customer-review analysis, proprietary consumer surveys, and interviews with former and current moving professionals.
Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined the number of package options available, the coverage provided, the types of moves available (long-distance, local, and international), and any extra perks offered, such as mobile apps, moving checklists, and 24/7 customer service.
We also gathered pricing data from each of the companies and determined whether they provide ballpark estimates or binding quotes. To determine reputation, we evaluated companies based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as their overall score on Yelp.