7 Best Moving Companies in Iowa
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People are moving to Iowa for the low cost of living and ample job opportunities. Whether you’re moving to the Hawkeye State or planning an interstate move away, a professional mover could help facilitate a hassle-free relocation. We researched and outlined the best full-service moving companies in the United States, and we’ve narrowed down our list to the best movers in Iowa. Read on to compare each mover’s strengths, quote processes, and service offerings.
The Best Movers in Iowa
Here are our picks for the best moving companies for local and long-distance moves:
- Best Overall Mover: International Van Lines
- Best for High-Value Goods: American Van Lines
- Best for Condos and HOAs: Safeway Moving Inc.
- Best for Major Cities: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
- Best for Coordinated Moves: Moving APT
- Best Mobile App: JK Moving Services
- Best Customer Experience: Allied Van Lines
388 movers requested and received a free no-obligation quote from one of the above companies in the last 30 days.
Best Overall Mover: International Van Lines
- Service model: Full-service carrier and broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
Why International Van Lines Stands Out
International Van Lines (IVL) is a nationwide moving carrier and broker that specializes in long-distance and international moving services. It services all 50 states and operates in more than 180 countries worldwide.
IVL offers a wide service range, a quick quote process, 100% refundable deposits, and competitive pricing. Its top-notch services include basic labor, full valuation coverage, and crating for your valuable goods.
Cost
IVL offers a price calculator on its site to provide quick domestic moving costs. While you shouldn’t consider price calculator figures to be binding, you can use the tool to establish baseline cost information for a basic move.
IVL offers a quick quote process. We spoke with a representative over the phone and received pricing information in 20 minutes. They told us to arrange a visual appraisal of our goods to get binding pricing. They also noted that all long-distance moves include 30 days of storage and all deposits are refundable until 48 hours before the move date.
Services
International Van Lines offers limited service as a carrier from locations in New York, California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas. It services the rest of the country as a broker. Many of its providers are highly rated and boast years of experience in the industry. IVL offers packing, crating, vehicle shipping, long-term storage, and dedicated service for antiques and heavy items.
Read more: International Van Lines Review
Best for High-Value Goods: American Van Lines
- Service model: Full-service carrier
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 48 (all but Alaska and Hawaii)
Why American Van Lines Stands Out
American Van Lines (AVL) is a moving carrier that operates primarily out of Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. This long-distance moving specialist provides flat-rate pricing for all moves and hires workers with an average of 10 years of moving experience. All of its moving crews are trained and certified to handle antiques and artwork to provide added peace of mind for your valuables.
Cost
AVL has an in-depth quote process. A move coordinator will break down your move room by room to determine an approximate shipping weight. AVL offers flat-rate pricing that can change on moving day if your goods weigh more than anticipated. Our moving coordinator mentioned that we would have to conduct a visual home survey in person or by video call to receive a binding rate.
Services
American Van Lines provides excellent long-distance service to Iowa residents. Its services include frequent moving shuttles between major cities; these routes routinely cross the state and provide expedited service for urban moving clients. AVL’s workers average a decade of experience to provide quality packing, crating, special antique handling, and other services.
Read more: American Van Lines Review
Best for Condos and HOAs: Safeway Moving Inc.
- Service model: Full-service broker and carrier
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
Why Safeway Moving Inc. Stands Out
Safeway Moving Inc. is a veteran-owned, Fort Lauderdale-based moving broker that operates in all 50 states. It offers flat-rate pricing for all moves, which helps clients maintain peace of mind when booking and paying their final bill.
This broker exclusively works with long-distance movers and operates with pledges of integrity, accountability, and communication in mind to ensure positive moving experiences.
Cost
Safeway featured the most comprehensive and thorough quote process we experienced. We spent nearly an hour on the phone with a representative going through possible service and inventory costs and reviewing pricing practices. Safeway offers 30 days of free storage at the move destination for shipments of all sizes. Its deposits are 100% refundable. As a bonus, this broker offers discounts for senior citizens and advance booking.
Services
Safeway is primarily a long-distance mover. Its broker partners offer light packing and free storage with each long-distance moving quote. Its insured movers also offer vehicle shipping, limited international service, relocation within exclusive HOAs and COAs, and specialized fragile-only packing.
Safeway Moving Inc.
Read more: Safeway Moving Inc. Review
Best for Major Cities: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
- Service model: Full-service broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
Why Interstate Moving & Relocation Group Stands Out
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group (IMRG) is a moving broker that has agents in all 50 states. Its dedicated customer service team in Boca Raton, Florida, books local and long-distance relocation services and is quick to respond to quote requests.
IMRG partners with both full- and self-service moving providers. This means that it’s a viable option for nearly any moving need regardless of service requirements.
Cost
Our IMRG representative was thorough and matter-of-fact when we called for pricing. They mentioned IMRG’s price-matching capabilities. However, its ability to provide this service could be limited by Iowa state tariff regulations.
Once we were informed of the need for visual logging of our inventory to receive binding pricing, we walked our move coordinator through our home room by room. The call took approximately 30 minutes. We were informed that our long-distance moving payment would be broken down into three stages and that about 33% of our final bill would be required up-front as a deposit.
Services
IMRG offers numerous moving solutions for local and long-distance moving clients in all locations. Its long-distance offerings come with 30 days of free storage. Its moving partners offer quality care from pickup to delivery. We recommend disclosing all service needs up-front, including packing, crating, and climate-controlled storage. Specialized service availability varies based on location.
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
Read more: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group Review
Best for Coordinated Moves: Moving APT
- Service model: Full-service broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
Why Moving APT Stands Out
Moving APT is a moving broker that partners with moving companies in all 50 states. Its 2,500-plus individual partner companies offer local and cross-country moving assistance for relocations of all sizes, including basic packing and more custom care when needed.
This broker shines thanks to its transparency. It provides partner company bios on its website and quickly connects you to partners in your area to get your moving process started as soon as possible. As a broker, it doesn’t transport household goods itself. However, we consider it to be a premium provider thanks to its transparency and numerous moving guides and resources online.
Cost
Moving APT gave us quick ballpark pricing when we called for our quote. Our initial call with a Moving APT representative involved us disclosing basic move details; our follow-up call with a local partner near us required logging our inventory. The two calls lasted 20 minutes combined. Long-distance moves require a 33% deposit up-front, which is refundable until a week before your move date.
Services
Moving APT’s partner companies offer local, long-distance, and limited international services. The scope of its service offerings depends on the partners available in your area. Most of these partners offer packing, storage, crating, vehicle shipping, and basic moving labor.
Read more: Moving APT Review
Best Mobile App: JK Moving Services
- Service model: Full-service carrier and broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 48 (all but Alaska and Hawaii)
Why JK Moving Services Stands Out
JK Moving Services was founded in 1982 and has assisted more than half a million individual clients with their moving needs. However, it is only available for long-distance and international moving services to Iowa residents. JK Moving comes highly recommended by clients thanks to its extensive customer service offerings.
This mover provides GPS tracking with all shipments, along with a best-in-industry mobile app that provides an easy-to-use interface for logging inventory and generating virtual estimates. As a bonus, its moving crews are trained at an in-house facility that includes a fully-furnished house. Your JK Moving movers will be able to handle any challenges your move entails.
Cost
JK Moving requires a visual inspection of all goods before it offers binding pricing. This can be done in person or virtually, as would be the case for most Iowa moves. Our initial call involved basic inventory logging and the collection of some moving details. Our contact told us that we would have to schedule a follow-up call with a move coordinator to get binding pricing.
Services
JK Moving’s qualified crews offer local moving services in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia and long-distance assistance across the rest of the country. JK Moving’s long-distance move packages include valuation coverage and 24/7 shipment tracking. Other add-ons include packing and unpacking, climate-controlled and secure storage, crating, and vehicle shipping through McCollister Auto Logistics.
Read more: JK Moving Services Review
Best Customer Experience: Allied Van Lines
- Service model: Full-service carrier and broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
Why Allied Van Lines Stands Out
Allied Van Lines is one of the country’s largest moving networks. With 500-plus local agents in all 50 states, it can offer direct service no matter where your move takes you within or around Iowa. It maintains partnerships and operational abilities in 130 other countries for international moving and logistics services.
Allied provides excellent in-house vehicle shipping service. This means you won’t have to deal with a third-party carrier when booking this or any other service. Allied provides 24/7 shipment tracking, so you’re never out of touch with your belongings.
Cost
Allied offers a cost calculator for moves below four bedrooms in size. However, you should never consider these prices to be binding. We spoke with a coordinator who recorded our inventory needs, origin, and move destination. We were informed that no deposit would be required to book our move.
Services
Allied offers a full range of services, including basic options and in-house vehicle shipping. As a bonus, it provides expedited service for small moves via its Allied Express offering. This service involves a moving container that can fit most two-bedroom homes. All Allied Express moves come with valuation coverage and labor included in the price.
Allied Van Lines
Read more: Allied Van Lines Review
Compare the Top Moving Companies in Iowa
If you’re deciding where to request free quotes, check out this quick comparison of our top moving companies:
| Company | Logo | Star Rating | BB Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | B | VISIT SITE | ||
 | A | VISIT SITE | ||
| B | VISIT SITE | ||
| A+ | VISIT SITE | ||
 | B | VISIT SITE | ||
 | A+ | VISIT SITE | ||
| A+ | VISIT SITE | ||
 | A+ | VISIT SITE | ||
 | A+ | VISIT SITE | ||
 | A+ | VISIT SITE |
Our Recommendation
It’s important to vet potential providers before booking your move. We recommend getting quotes from at least three companies whose service offerings meet your basic moving needs. International Van Lines offers quality service for interstate or international moves. American Van Lines is worth considering for moves that call for specialized packing and care for artwork and antiques. Interstate Moving & Relocation Group could be a good option if you’re moving to or within one of the state’s major cities such as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, or Davenport. Get a baseline idea of your budgetary needs early in the moving process to set the stage for a stress-free move.
Iowa Moving Companies FAQ
How much does moving labor cost in Iowa?
U-Haul’s MovingHelp data shows that Iowa has a statewide average cost of $282 for moving labor (two movers for two hours). Most professional movers have minimum charges for service, which often amounts to two hours of work.
How are moving companies regulated in Iowa?
Moving companies in Iowa are required to carry state-issued motor carrier numbers, which must be displayed on all trucks and moving estimates. Iowa movers also have to maintain active registration with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and submit a tariff with all services and rates.
Can I hire professional local movers to load my moving truck or POD?
Yes, you can hire professional local movers to load your moving truck or POD. Most local moving companies offer moving labor as a standalone service. You can hire movers for labor, packing, crating, piano moving, and more.
Should I ever have to pay for a moving quote?
No, you should never have to pay for a moving quote. Moving quotes are the first step in the sales process, and they should always be a free service from a reputable mover.
How We Chose the Top Moving Companies in Iowa
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.