Sean Donnelly is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront. His content draws on more than three years of experience in the moving industry. He started as a laborer and was quickly promoted to moving crew leader. Sean also served as a move coordinator, where he conducted in-home and virtual estimates for customers. During his time in the industry, Sean assisted more than 500 clients with their relocation needs. Thanks to his years of hand-on experience, he understands all aspects of moving — from proper preparation to the quote process to effective packing techniques. Sean studied English literature and creative writing at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is still located in the greater Springfield area. When he isn’t writing, Sean is a cohead coach of the boxing team at his alma mater.
Editorial note: Homefront (defined in the Disclosure below) may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured on our site. This commission does not influence our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Long-distance moves take more than one day due to the drive time. These moves often come with unique challenges, such as vehicle shipping, storage for your belongings between homes and transporting antiques or fragile items. Hiring a professional moving company for long-distance moves — especially if it’s cross-country — saves you the hassle of dealing with these challenges on your own and helps ensure a much smoother experience.
International Van Lines (IVL) and Allied Van Lines are the best long-distance moving companies. Long-distance moves are expensive, and IVL is transparent about pricing online and with free estimates. It also provides 30 days of free storage, relieving you of complicated logistics.
Allied offers the best service range as a carrier, making it easy to book direct service for vehicle shipping, handling bulky items and more without having to extend your trust an extra layer as you might with brokers that outsource your move to third parties.
After extensively researching popular movers, we outlined the best moving companies with nationwide presence to help you find the mover that can provide the best experience for your specific relocation needs.
No single factor makes a long-distance moving company good or bad. You should consider reputation, range, services, cost and customer service when selecting the best mover for your relocation. Compare top movers using the table below.
Embarking on a long-distance move is more than packing boxes. Navigating the quote process and decoding moving contracts is intimidating if you don’t have much prior experience.
Our top providers offer a comprehensive selection of moving services with operational ability across state lines. We’ve listed several of the best options for long-distance relocations to help start your shopping process.
International Van Lines (IVL) has nearly unmatched availability for domestic and international moves. It currently has locations in California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas as well as brokers moving services out to the rest of the country. It also provides international service to more than 150 countries. However, IVL requires large deposits, and some reviews mention spotty customer service.
What we like
IVL’s all-encompassing service profile and network of vetted partner companies give you peace of mind that your needs will be met. Additionally, IVL provides a cost calculator tool and transparent rates for add-on services. It also features quick quotes from its reliable customer service team.
What we don’t like
IVL can provide binding estimates but doesn’t exclusively advertise this on its website. When we called for a quote, we weren’t promised a binding bottom-line price. This is something that could make you pause before signing a moving contract.
This carrier and broker offers long-distance service in all 50 states with the widest available range of international options in more than 150 countries. This includes licensing for both ocean and air freight. Its domestic basic and add-on services include the following:
We called IVL for a quote and got a ballpark estimate for a long-distance move in less than 20 minutes. While a video call estimate or in-person consultation will take longer, the representative took a full verbal inventory before providing a rate. The three-bedroom, 2,880-mile relocation requested totaled $14,600 with packing. All moves include 30 days of free storage at the destination.
IVL offers long-distance service to all 50 states and over 150 countries.
IVL maintains an overall positive reputation. Its Better Business Bureau (BBB) page shows a customer review rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars based on 175 reviews. Customers who leave positive reviews comment on efficient moving crews, while those who write negative reviews mention difficulty contacting customer service representatives after booking. If you’re planning a move near one of its brick-and-mortar locations in California, Florida, Illinois, New York or Texas read reviews for those specific locations.
Allied Van Lines offers comprehensive long-distance service to all locations in the United States. It operates a fleet of more than 1,000 trucks with 500-plus affiliate locations and is one of the most easily recognized moving companies in operation today. Like many moving companies of its size, moving service quality can vary among locations, but this is outweighed by generally positive reviews that cite honest pricing and consistent customer service.
As a carrier, Allied doesn’t require a deposit to book a move. This is a huge plus if you’re moving on a budget or your money is tied up in an apartment security deposit or closing costs on a new home. It also provides expedited service for small moves via its Allied Express service plan, which helps streamline long-distance moves for those in small homes.
Some Allied Affiliates operate dually under their own branding and under Allied. This makes Allied responsible for anything that goes wrong during a move. Despite this, some reviews report denied claims for damaged or lost items when they contacted Allied, which may deter those with high-value items from booking with this mover.
In addition to standard moving services, Allied offers expedited service through Allied Express. This provides customers with a moving container, full-value protection and labor at one bottom-line price. It’s a great stand-in for do-it-yourself moves for smaller residences.
Allied also provides in-house vehicle shipping services, which removes the hassle of dealing with third-party carriers. Allied’s other services include the following:
We called Allied for a quote and got a quick pricing estimate. While the company representative was clear that we couldn’t get a binding estimate without an in-person or video call evaluation, we got a ballpark quote within 15 minutes on the phone. The three-bedroom, 2,880-mile quote totaled $12,175 without packing. Adding full-service packing to my moving package would increase the rate by $2,500.
Allied operates in more than 500 locations throughout all 50 states.
Allied has a customer review rating of 1.1 out of 5 stars on BBB that is somewhat misleading. Many of its individual locations are highly rated. In this case, BBB serves as a sounding board for complaints and grievances — a common platform for customers of all nationwide moving companies.
Customers who leave negative reviews mention that Allied damaged items and failed to compensate them. However, many positive customer reviews on other platforms, including Google Reviews and social media, mention quality service for both simple and complex moves.
JK Moving Services is a moving carrier and broker based in Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metro area. Its movers are trained in an industry-leading facility at its headquarters. We like that each of its moving packages includes full-value protection for all goods. As a downside, some of its moves seem overpriced due to the coverage and experienced labor this company provides.
All movers are background-checked and fully vetted before being hired. After this, each employee undergoes a training program in a fully-furnished house at JK Moving’s headquarters. There, training managers show workers how to handle various moving scenarios before they head out to your home.
JK Moving’s somewhat higher rates are mainly the result of its included valuation coverage. While this is something you can opt out of, it isn’t explicitly stated during the quote process. This can catch some potential customers off-guard.
JK Moving offers a comprehensive suite of services, including antique packing and crating and climate-controlled storage. JK Moving can offer a secure moving plan regardless of your move type, size or distance. Its services include the following:
We called JK for a long-distance quote. Within 20 minutes, we got a ballpark quote despite not submitting availability for a video call estimate. The 2,880-mile, three-bedroom quote included a full inventory overview and totaled $13,100 with packing. Without packing services, it would be $10,700. Both price points require a $250 deposit.
JK Moving offers long-distance moving services to all 50 states.
JK Moving’s home location has a customer rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Many customer reviews mention specific movers or crew leaders by name, citing personalized care, punctuality and positive attitudes, plus specialized care for customers with unique moving needs.
Customers who left negative reviews mentioned damaged goods and added fees on moving day, but many of these reviewers don’t specify whether they added inventory or requested extra services after they received a quote.
North American Van Lines (NAVL) features bottom-line and not-to-exceed pricing options. This means that quoted price ranges won’t change unless inventory or service needs shift, making it easier for you to stay within your defined budget before moving. Due to its 500-plus locations, you might have a different moving experience than someone in another area, but its customer care team makes up for this with responsive service.
If you have a somewhat inflexible budget, NAVL’s variable pricing structure is a definite selling point. This, plus NAVL’s lack of a deposit requirement, makes it easy to book a move of any scope without significant upfront costs or fear of additional fees on moving day. NAVL partners with Allied Van Lines under a global relocation service provider, Sirva Worldwide, to offer domestic service to all 50 states and international moves to 130 countries.
NAVL’s 500-plus locations are both a selling point and a drawback. Each location is independently run and has its own set of testimonials on Google Reviews and other platforms. Look up location-specific reviews before you book your move to ensure your closest NAVL location offers quality service.
NAVL provides long-distance service throughout the U.S. and international moving options in 130 countries. These move packages can include the following:
We called NAVL and got a ballpark estimate for a three-bedroom move in about 20 minutes. Its customer service representatives were friendly and took a thorough inventory of the goods described. The quoted price for a 2,880-mile relocation was $16,757 with packing. Without packing, it was $13,450. Neither price point required a deposit.
This moving carrier offers long-distance service to all 50 states via more than 500 brick-and-mortar locations.
NAVL’s BBB profile is replete with negative reviews and customer complaints. A customer review rating of 1.13 out of 5 stars is less than ideal, but many of the individual locations where this carrier operates receive overwhelmingly positive feedback. Customers who leave negative reviews here mention nonadherence to defined delivery windows and inflated rates for service.
Moving APT is a moving broker that offers full- and self-service options and transparent pricing. While it offers relocation services through third-party carriers only, it provides fast quotes and great visibility into its pricing and moving partners.
Moving APT is upfront about its moving partners and features company bios on its website. It also supplies moving checklists and guides to help you prepare for the moving process and get through it smoothly.
Moving APT’s operates solely as a broker. This means that it only handles moving services through other partner companies. For this reason, we recommend that you do your own research on its partners after you get a quote. Quality varies from location to location, so you should read customer reviews for the company Moving APT assigns you before you sign a contract.
Moving APT offers everything from small, local moves to large-scale, long-distance relocations. Its provided moving packages can include the following:
While this broker offers fast online quotes, you’ll need to call to get a more accurate idea of your move’s cost. We had a 20-minute call with a Moving APT company representative and got a quote of $10,600 with packing for a three-bedroom, 2,880-mile move. The deposit to book would be $3,402. This is a large amount to pay upfront, but the quote also included 30 days of free storage at my destination.
Moving APT has more than 2,500 partners throughout all 50 states.
Moving APT’s BBB profile features a high review score relative to most movers on this list. Its customer review rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars results from positive reviews from customers who speak on mover quality. However, a recent negative review mentions an unnecessarily time-consuming process due to the movers’ lack of information about the move.
American Van Lines (AVL) is a carrier with hub offices in Florida, North Carolina and Texas. It employs movers that average 10 years of experience in the industry, which adds increased quality to its packing and antique moving services. Its hubs and other offices in the U.S. offer long-distance service to 48 states. AVL also provides flat-rate pricing for all moves, meaning your cost won’t increase unless you add service needs or inventory to your move. While this adds peace of mind when getting quotes, it can lead to somewhat higher rates.
AVL’s experienced workers offer comprehensive service for basic moves plus add-on services and fragile-only packing. In addition, its warehouses offer secure storage space and access to moving supplies. This mover’s flat-rate pricing makes for a clear and concise pricing breakdown at the beginning of your moving process, which can help you set a more defined moving budget early on.
Flat or binding rates can sometimes lead to higher charges for service. This is because companies overbill to account for overages or unforeseen circumstances during a move. As a result, the rate we received for service from this provider was higher than many of our other moving partners.
This carrier’s experienced movers can assist with more complicated moves. This includes the following:
AVL gave us one of the more thorough moving quotes we’ve experienced. After nearly 40 minutes on the phone with a company representative, they gave a full inventory run-down, which included questions about stairwells and dresser contents. The quoted rate with packing included was $17,330. This didn’t include storage; 30 days of storage with associated labor costs would drive the price to $21,742.
AVL provides long-distance service throughout the lower 48 states.
With roughly 400 reviews, AVL has a customer review rating of 4 out of 5 stars on BBB. Despite high rates for service, many former customers seem happy with how their moves turned out. Some even mention movers by name, which demonstrates the quality of AVL’s employees.
Mayflower moving is a moving carrier with decades of experience in the industry. It offers a highly comprehensive service range that includes Snapmoves, an expedited program for small moves. It also includes valuation coverage in all moving quotes, providing full reimbursement for goods lost or damaged. This can lead to elevated rates, but you may benefit from it if you’re moving high-value items.
Mayflower’s Snapmoves service makes booking expedited relocations for students or those with small apartments easy. It includes insurance protection and flat-rate pricing as well as provides a concise estimate and assurance that your items will be safe in transit.
Some negative reviews of Mayflower mention that the company brokers out moving services without fully disclosing this before you begin the move. This leads to confusion on moving day and a lack of communication between Mayflower and the partner companies regarding services rendered. This isn’t unheard of in the industry, but it is a definite negative.
Among Mayflower’s moving options is Snapmoves, which offers speedy service for small moves. Beyond this, this carrier offers the following:
We called Mayflower to receive a quote for a cross-country move of a three-bedroom home, but the representative wouldn’t ballpark the quote and we had to convince them to give us a barebones estimate. In all, the call lasted a little more than five minutes, and the quoted 2,880-mile rate fell in the range of $11,600–$12,900. Most customers who leave positive reviews report transparent pricing, which leads me to believe quotes are typically thorough if you can conduct a video call or in-home estimate with a moving coordinator.
Mayflower is available in 46 states. It doesn’t provide service in Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island or Virginia.
Mayflower’s low BBB customer review rating 1.3 out of 5 stars isn’t alarming. This BBB page shows joint complaints for both United Van Lines and Mayflower due to their partnership under UniGroup and is not indicative of the quality service most Mayflower affiliates provide.
Customers who left negative reviews mentioned damaged goods and unresponsive claims personnel, while those who wrote positive reviews touched upon reasonable pricing and professional crews.
Proper preparation for moves of all scopes and sizes is the key to a stress-free experience. To choose a long-distance mover, research licensed companies, read reviews, consider insurance options, and compare multiple quotes. Prepare a detailed inventory six to eight weeks before your move for accurate estimates. You can follow our step-by-step guide for vetting movers:
Take a thorough inventory of your home between six and eight weeks ahead of your move. Go through your residence room by room and write down all the furniture and other items you plan to take. This should include anything that will be in boxes on moving day. Keep a rough count of how many boxes you think you’ll need, and note any additional services you may want.
When you get a quote from a mover, keep these lists handy for review with your move coordinator. Note that you might not be able to move some items, such as live plants and certain cleaning products. Make proper arrangements if your move involves pets.
All long-distance moving companies are federally regulated. Movers must be registered with the FMCSA. Beyond that, most movers carry state-level registration, which differs from state to state. Check your mover’s federal licensing on the FMCSA before you book.
Customer reviews on multiple platforms are a valuable source of information about any moving company you consider. BBB, Google Reviews, Trustpilot, Yelp and social media sites such as Facebook are all sources to consider. When you research each provider, look for positive and negative trends to determine how a given full-service mover operates aside from its stated policies. In our reviews above, we dive into the customer reviews for each mover and pull out key themes we find.
All moving companies provide you with released liability coverage for damaged or lost items during a move. This comes at no additional cost but only covers your goods at a rate of 60 cents per pound per item. So, if your movers lost or broke a 10-pound television that originally cost $250 to $400, you’ll receive $6 in compensation.
Most moving companies offer valuation coverage for the full value of your goods. This coverage goes beyond the 60 cents offered by released liability coverage. You’ll pay extra for this add-on, but it may be worth considering if your move includes high-value items or antiques.
Sometimes, you can also purchase temporary moving insurance through your homeowners or renters insurance policy. While most insurance providers don’t offer this, it’s worth looking into when considering added coverage.
Long-distance moves are expensive. We got cross-country moving quotes for a three-bedroom home that ranged from $10,000 to $17,000. Getting multiple quotes well before your moving date will help you better prepare and fully survey your options. Submit full inventory lists and service requirements when getting quotes to have the best possible idea of how much it will cost.
It’s important to note that moving brokers and moving carriers are different. Moving carriers perform the move, while brokers work with partner carriers to complete the job.
If you’re working with a moving broker, you will pay a deposit to that company which acts as a payment for its booking services. The final payment for your move will be paid to the carrier that performed the services.
It’s important to note that brokers do not assume liability for loss or damages during the move, so any coverage claims need to be submitted to the carrier.
If you’re wary of working with a broker because you won’t know who will be handling your belongings, don’t worry. All moving brokers must be registered with the FMCSA and each broker must hire carriers that are also FMCSA-registered.
Long-distance moving costs are determined by total shipment weight and move distance in miles. A moving coordinator can give you at least a ballpark quote using these numbers and any add-on services.
We got several quotes from leading nationwide moving companies. The costs for a two-bedroom, 634-mile move from Portland, Oregon, to San Francisco, California, ranged from $2,500–$6,600, depending on add-on service requests. The average quote for a move without packing service was $4,164 but $5,364 if packing was included.
Moving customers are never required to tip. However, it’s a nice consideration when the full-service moving crew has handled every step of the moving process carefully and professionally.
If you decide to tip your movers, the general rate is $5 per mover per hour. Multiday moves typically entail tips of $40 to $50 per mover per day.
Moving a shorter distance can significantly reduce your estimate. But that’s typically not a feasible option. Thankfully, a few things are in your control if you need to cut back on your moving expenses.
When evaluating a mover, your first step should be to ensure the company is properly registered. Long-distance or interstate movers must carry federal registration via the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and have a USDOT and Motor Carrier (MC) number.
Using these identifiers, you can check a mover’s registration status and complaint record on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) website. Our first step when reviewing moving companies is to check for their FMCSA pages.
Some less-than-reputable moving companies are harder to sniff out than others. But sketchy moving companies tend to have a few red flags in common red flags.
Before signing a contract, we recommend asking an employee of the moving company these questions over the phone or in person.
Every moving company’s license and insurance information is publicly available on the FMCSA. To find a moving company’s insurance information, simply search for the company using its USDOT number. But it doesn’t hurt to confirm this information when you’re speaking with an employee.
A binding estimate provides peace of mind by ensuring the price quoted is the amount you will pay, unless you request a change in services.
If the estimate is not binding, it’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it is crucial to discuss this with the moving company.
Depending on the company you work with, there are some items your moving company won’t move, including items such as valuable antiques, flammable materials and even live plants. If you have any belongings on a company’s do-not-move list, you’ll need to hire a different mover or transport them yourself.
Moving companies like IVL and Safeway are both brokers and carriers. In a scenario such as a cross-country move, a company that provides both services may opt to work with a partner carrier rather than use its movers.
If the idea of a broker’s partner carrier handling your items doesn’t bother you, the answer to the question might not be a concern, but we still advise asking it.
A reputable moving company will detail in your contract what services are included and which services cost extra — like packing and unpacking, for example. Knowing about potential additional charges from the start is beneficial before proceeding beyond an initial discussion with the mover.
An inadequately trained mover is more likely to damage your belongings than someone who knows the ins and outs of the moving industry. Verifying that a moving company trains its employees in-house is one of the most effective ways to ensure you’re working with pros who will deliver your belongings safely.
One of the things we liked most about Allied Van Lines is that it offers a mobile app that provides real-time updates on the progress of your move, so you’ll know if there’s a delay in your shipment. This is very convenient in cross-country moves where slowdowns due to traffic jams or inclement weather aren’t uncommon.
Booking the best long-distance mover can expedite your relocation regardless of where you’re heading. By doing the necessary research and getting free quotes, you should be able to choose the right moving company for your needs and budget requirements.
IVL’s wide reach makes it a prime option for lengthier moves due to its partner network that spans the country and the world. If you’re shipping a car or large furniture items, Allied’s fleet of moving trucks and service offerings make doing so easy. Finally, JK Moving’s vetted crews and training programs for workers make it the best choice for moves with antiques or valuables.
You should aim to get at least three quotes before booking a move to a new home. Evaluate several moving options and see whether you’re able to get a binding estimate with defined added costs for insurance coverage and add-ons, such as crating and packing services.
Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.
Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points; that total is then translated into the 5-star rating we use in our reviews.
BBB and Google Reviews ratings are accurate as of March 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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