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Hiring a qualified professional mover is key to reducing hassle and having a stress-free move. Full-service moving companies help expedite the process and provide quality protection for your household goods until they reach your new home.
We’ve outlined the best moving companies in the Bluegrass State for local and interstate moving needs. Read on to learn more about their pricing practices and service offerings.
The Best Movers in Kentucky
We’ve listed our picks for the best moving companies here. Get free quotes from each to learn more about your moving costs.
- Best Overall Mover: International Van Lines
- Best for High-Value Goods: American Van Lines
- Best for Major Cities: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
- Best for Coordinated Moves: Moving APT
- Best for Condos and HOAs: Safeway Moving Inc.
- Best Mobile App: JK Moving Services
- Best Customer Experience: Allied Van Lines
Best Overall Mover: International Van Lines
- Shipment tracking: Available
- Vehicle shipping: Available
- State availability: 50
Why International Van Lines Stands Out
International Van Lines (IVL) started as an international logistics and moving company in 1999. Since 2004, it has provided local and long-distance domestic moving services. IVL offers a full suite of basic and add-on services for residential and commercial clients.
Benefits and Drawbacks
IVL has a speedy quote process but mainly uses brokers for Kentucky moves. Here are all of its benefits and drawbacks:
Benefits
➕ Offers local and long-distance service
➕ Features a quick quote process
➕ Lists sample pricing for add-on services online
Drawbacks
➖ Brokers out most of its Kentucky moves
➖ Offers nonbinding estimates
Cost
IVL’s quote process is quick. When we called for pricing, we spent less than 20 minutes on the phone with the representative. Our call consisted of a quick inventory rundown and disclosure of the moving date and destination address. All IVL quotes are nonbinding, which means your rate can shift between quote day and moving day. You should consider this before booking.
- Deposit: 25%
- Payment options: Cash, credit card, check, or money order
Services
IVL was founded as an international mover but provides local and long-distance services in all 50 states. Longer relocations can feature logistics management service from IVL’s customer service team and customs clearance for international moving.
International Van Lines’ prominent service offerings include:
- Junk removal
- Office moves
- Packing
- Packing supplies
- Residential moves
- Storage services
- Unpacking
- Vehicle shipping
Best for High-Value Goods: American Van Lines
- Shipment tracking: Not available
- Vehicle shipping: Available
- State availability: 48 (all but Alaska and Hawaii)
Why American Van Lines Stands Out
American Van Lines (AVL) is a moving carrier based in Florida. It maintains central hubs in Texas and North Carolina, which provide long-distance moving assistance to all lower 48 states. AVL’s moves include flat-rate pricing and movers with 10 years of experience on average. This experience makes for quality add-on services, including fragile-only and antique packing and moving.
Benefits and Drawbacks
This mover’s operation as a carrier and its flat-rate pricing are two of the main reasons why clients book with them.
Benefits
➕ Offers flat-rate pricing for all moves
➕ Provides expedited service for moves between major cities
➕ Has movers who average a decade of experience on the job
Drawbacks
➖ Requires large deposits for booking
➖ Features higher rates than many competitors
Cost
American Van Lines features a thorough quote process, which we experienced when we called for pricing. We spent nearly 40 minutes on the phone discussing service needs and inventory, and the company representative was sure to log all furniture items and packing needs. This mover requires a deposit of 50% of your estimated total to book.
- Deposit: Up to 50%
- Payment options: Cash, credit card, or check
Services
American Van Lines’ moving crews have years of experience providing excellent antique and fragile-item moving services. These services include crating, storage, or basic heavy lifting.
AVL’s offerings include the following:
- Antique moving
- Crating
- Military moving
- Packing
- Piano moving
- Storage
- Unpacking
- Vehicle shipping
Best for Major Cities: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
- Shipment tracking: Location dependent
- Vehicle shipping: Available
- State availability: 50
Why Interstate Moving & Relocation Group Stands Out
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group (IMRG) is a moving broker based in Boca Raton, Florida. From there, its customer service team brokers out local and long-distance moving services to full and self-service relocation experts. Its partners include residential and commercial moving companies that can service various needs.
Benefits and Drawbacks
IMRG’s quick quotes and partner reach make it stand out.
Benefits
➕ Features a cost calculator tool online for quick pricing
➕ Partners with local and long-distance movers
➕ Operates in all 50 states
Drawbacks
➖ Offers nonbinding quotes
➖ Brokers out all moving services
Cost
IMRG’s quote process is straightforward. When we called, the representative mentioned price-matching options for all moves and fully logged our inventory and service needs before giving us an estimate. IMRG accepts payment in three stages. Your deposit can total up to 33% of your estimated final cost. Half the remaining total is due upon loading, with the rest due at delivery. The company bills local moves hourly and may have different payment policies.
- Deposit: Up to 33%
- Payment options: Credit cards or electronic checks; payment methods vary depending on the provider
Services
IMRG is an excellent option for moves in major cities due to its breadth of service offerings. If you’re moving to Lexington or Bowling Green, this broker is worth considering.
IMRG offers the following:
- Commercial relocations
- Crating
- Local moving
- Long-distance moving
- Moving checklists
- Packing
- Price-matching
- Storage
- Vehicle shipping
Best for Coordinated Moves: Moving APT
- Shipment tracking: Location dependent
- Vehicle shipping: Available
- State availability: 50
Why Moving APT Stands Out
Moving APT is a moving broker founded in 1999. It now partners with more than 2,500 individual carriers in all 50 states. These partners are among the best providers in the moving industry, each providing various basic and specialized services.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Moving APT’s partner network makes it a quality option for more complicated relocation needs. Here are some pluses and minuses moving clients should be aware of:
Benefits
➕ Partners with movers in all 50 states
➕ Offers price-matching service for all moves
➕ Has partner company bios on its website
Drawbacks
➖ Brokers out all of its moves in Kentucky
➖ Has negative reviews that mention price-switching by partner companies
Cost
Moving APT conducts quotes in two stages. The initial call involves a short discussion with a Moving APT representative, which includes a basic rundown of your moving service requirements and move date. Next, a follow-up call with one of Moving APT’s partners involves full inventory logging and an accurate pricing estimate.
- Deposit: Up to 33%
- Payment options: Credit card, cash, and certified check
Services
Moving APT’s moving partners can provide local and long-distance service. Many companies can also offer international moving and logistics management services for such moves.
Moving APT’s main services are:
- Crating
- Fragile-item packing
- Moving guides and resources
- Packing
- Price-matching
- Storage
- Unpacking
- Vehicle shipping
Best for Condos and HOAs: Safeway Moving Inc.
- Shipment tracking: Location dependent
- Vehicle shipping: Yes
- State availability: 50
Why Safeway Moving Inc. Stands Out
Safeway Moving Inc. is a moving broker based in Fort Lauderdale. It specializes in long-distance relocation services and provides flat-rate pricing for all moves it handles. This means your moving estimate won’t change unless your service requirements or inventory do before moving day.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Safeway’s transparency, flat-rate pricing, and thorough quote process stand out to clients during their moves with this broker.
Benefits
➕ Offers flat-rate pricing for all moves
➕ Requires partner companies to carry $1 million insurance policies
➕ Partners with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Drawbacks
➖ Brokers out most of its moves
➖ Has negative reviews stemming from price-switching and partner company quality
Cost
Safeway’s customer service representatives were thorough when we asked for pricing information. Our quote process with this mover lasted nearly an hour. The representative mentioned that all deposits were 100% refundable, which is reassuring for a company that requires large deposits for booking. All long-distance moves with Safeway include some light packing and 30 days of storage in the base price.
- Deposit: Up to 40%
- Payment options: You can pay deposits via credit card, check, or wire transfer. You can pay the remaining costs with cash, certified check, money order, or credit card.
Services
Safeway’s partners all carry $1 million insurance policies, which should grant clients with high-value inventory more peace of mind during moves. It provides 30 days of free storage with any long-distance move it carries out but also offers access to climate-controlled storage options for long-term use.
Safeway offers the following:
- Crating
- Fragile-item packing
- Long-distance and out-of-state moves
- Packing services
- Storage
- Vehicle shipping
Best Mobile App: JK Moving Services
- Shipment tracking: Yes
- Vehicle shipping: Yes
- State availability: 48 (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Why JK Moving Services Stands Out
JK Moving Services is a moving carrier based in Virginia. It provides excellent long-distance moving services to Kentucky and the surrounding states. It features a mobile app that offers quick move tracking and full virtual surveys of your home for remote estimates. As a bonus, JK features a fully furnished house at its headquarters for mover training. This helps ensure quality service for moves of all types.
Benefits and Drawbacks
JK’s mobile app and financing options are impressive, but its lack of local moving options in Kentucky is not.
Benefits
➕ Offers financing options as low as 0% for all moves
➕ Provides GPS tracking for long-distance moves
➕ Trains movers in a state-of-the-art, on-site facility
Drawbacks
➖ Offers no local moving option in Kentucky
➖ Provides no online pricing
Cost
JK Moving has low deposit requirements for booking, at only $250. The representative we talked to stressed that all quotes are nonbinding and inaccurate until a scheduled visual inspection of all moving items occurs.
- Deposit: $250
- Payment options: Credit card, cash, check
Services
JK Moving’s GPS tracking and accessibility via its mobile app make it a great option for cross-country and interstate moving. Its movers’ training should also put homeowners at ease, as all heavy or high-value items are safe when moving with this provider.
JK offers the following:
- Commercial moving
- Crating
- Fragile and antique moving
- Military and government moving
- Packing
- Residential moving
- Vehicle shipping
Best Customer Experience: Allied Van Lines
- Shipment tracking: Yes
- Vehicle shipping: Yes
- State availability: 50
Why Allied Van Lines Stands Out
Allied Van Lines has been in business since 1928 and features 500-plus locations in all 50 states. This includes affiliates in Kentucky, which provide local, long-distance, and international moving help. It offers GPS tracking and in-house vehicle shipping, which serves to improve overall moving experiences for its customers.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Allied’s vehicle shipping and small move options make it one of the best moving companies for any relocation. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of moving with Allied:
Benefits
➕ Provides expedited small moves via Allied Express
➕ Offers in-house vehicle shipping for cars, boats, trucks, and more
➕ Assigns a moving coordinator to all moves as a dedicated point of contact
Drawbacks
➖ Requires a call for binding estimates on larger homes
➖ Has more limited customer service hours for claims
Cost
The Allied Van Lines company representative was helpful and informative when we called for pricing information. They stressed that we would have to book an in-person consultation for all final quotes and that no pricing figure could be considered accurate without completing this step. However, they were able to give us some sample rates for packing and crating. They also mentioned Allied’s partnership with North American Van Lines and how they could connect us with the company for a supplemental quote.
- Deposit: None required
- Payment options: Cash, credit card, check, or money order
Services
Allied’s vehicle shipping options jumped out when looking into customer reviews and its service profile. It also offers Allied Express, a full-service moving container option for smaller moves.
Allied offers the following:
- Crating
- Debris removal
- Disassembly and reassembly
- GPS tracking
- Packing
- Storage
- Vehicle shipping
Compare the Top Moving Companies in Kentucky
We’ve broken down our top choices for Kentucky movers here:
| Star Rating | BBB Rating | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Van Lines |  | B | VISIT SITE | |
| American Van Lines |  | A | VISIT SITE | |
| IMRG |  | B | VISIT SITE | |
| Safeway |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| Moving APT |  | B | VISIT SITE | |
| JK Moving |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| Allied |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| North American |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| United Van Lines |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| Mayflower |  | A+ | VISIT SITE |
| International Van Lines | |
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| BBB Rating | B |
| American Van Lines | |
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| BBB Rating | B |
| Safeway | |
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| BBB Rating | A+ |
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| BBB Rating | B |
| JK Moving | |
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| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Allied | |
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| BBB Rating | A+ |
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| BBB Rating | A+ |
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| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Mayflower | |
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| BBB Rating | A+ |
Our Recommendation
We recommend getting free moving quotes from each provider you consider before moving forward with your relocation. Quality moving experiences start with research into moving companies in your area and free in-home estimates. Getting quotes from at least three moving companies we’ve listed should help things go smoother on moving day, whether you’re in the market for a long-distance or local moving company.
Kentucky Moving Companies FAQ
Which states are new Kentucky residents moving from?
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Kentucky gained more than 10,000 residents each from Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee from 2020 to 2021. Florida also sent more than 8,000 residents to Kentucky during that time.
How are moving Kentucky movers regulated?
Kentucky intrastate movers must register with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Vehicle Regulation, and state Division of Motor Carriers. Here is a full breakdown of registration requirements for movers in Kentucky.
What is the cost of moving labor in Kentucky?
According to U-Haul’s Moving Help database, Kentucky moving labor costs average $230. This accounts for two hours of labor from two movers.
What is Kentucky’s average cost of living?
BestPlaces.net lists Kentucky’s overall cost of living as 17.7% below the national average. This is because housing costs are more than 40% below the national average. The median home cost is currently $194,300, while the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $740.
How We Chose the Top Moving Companies in Kentucky
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 company and determined whether they provide ballpark estimates or binding quotes. Finally, to determine reputation, we evaluated companies based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and their overall score on Google Reviews.
