Moving is stressful as it is, let alone moving long distance. While there are thousands of moving companies to choose from, it makes a difference choosing one with fair prices and a proven track record of quality service. What's more, many customers fall prey to moving scams. That's why we vet our top movers for things like binding estimates, strong customer reviews, affordability, and proper industry credentials. 

International Van Lines is our favorite long-distance moving company. It's a nationwide moving company, has an established reputation, offers 30 days of free storage for those who need it, and even provides discounts for seniors and military families.

• Reasonable prices. You want your full-service move to be expensive. Maybe not Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous expensive. But pricey enough to feel confident your movers didn’t skip steps that could lead to late delivery or damaged items.
• Binding estimates. Pay special attention to nationwide companies like American Van Lines that offer binding quotes. The guarantee means your price won’t change after signing on the dotted line—as long as you don’t add any more items to the home inventory you and the movers agreed on during the quote process.
• Affordable deposit. Most moving companies charge a deposit of up to 50%. Do your homework (or let Move.org do it for you) to know whether you can afford the upfront fee.
• Customer reviews. Positive customer reviews are a critical trust signal. Look for company reports about moves that mention things like safe delivery, professional movers, and helpful telephone brokers. (Customers give the highest praise to Safeway Moving.)
• Legit credentials. Make sure your professional long-distance movers are properly licensed and insured. You don’t want to fall victim to costly moving scams.
• Perks. Look for companies like International Van Lines that go the extra mile by giving you 30 days of free storage. Other worthwhile perks include real-time GPS tracking, supplemental insurance, and special discounts.

An interstate move is when you move home from one state to another. Interstate moving is less complicated when you know what to expect. Before shopping for the best interstate moving company for your move, there are a few things you should know:

Be prepared to talk with a company rep before getting an estimate. It takes a little time, but you’ll get a moving quote tailored to your situation. Be sure to get at least three quotes to see how prices for your move compare by company.

To get an accurate quote, you’ll need a complete inventory of all your household belongings (and anything in storage, as well). Remember: if you add more items to you inventory after the fact, your final cost will be higher.

Some interstate moving companies are brokers. Brokers take your call and act as middlemen, but usually hand you off to third-party carriers to coordinate your move's details. Learn more about the differences and interplay between brokers and carriers and check the FMCSA database if you’re unsure which type of company you’re dealing with.

State to state moving companies do everything from packing and loading to transportation and furniture assembly. You tell them what needs to be done—and they can do it.

Every professional moving company can take you from almost anywhere to virtually everywhere. A few companies like Safeway Moving don’t offer moving services for local moves. But many of the best interstate moving companies don’t have many limitations, providing household moving services in the US, across the border to Canada, and to more than 150 countries worldwide.

Not all of the best state to state moving companies are full-service movers. Moving containers and rental trucks are also popular moving options for long-distance moving. These moving options cost less but require more work. DIY customers also commonly use car shipping companies and rent storage units.

International Van Lines is our pick for the #1 long-distance moving company. It offers nationwide moving services, gives seniors a 15% discount, and even throws in 30 days of free storage. International Van Lines can also trim hundreds of bucks off car shipping services if you can be flexible about timing. On the downside, the company gets lower-than-average customer reviews and has a lot of distracting online pop-up ads that can take away from the online experience.

International Van Lines doesn’t try to hide its prices. The company’s website is filled with sample moving quotes. Plus, IVL is transparent with us about how its pricing works. That’s a huge trust signal.

Pricing for full-service moves doesn’t work the same way as services like moving container companies or truck rentals. In those cases, you typically look for the most affordable service since you do much of the work yourself. However, it’s different with pros. You often want a higher price tag to ensure your belongings stay safe.

You don’t want a company that hems and haws about costs. We’ve seen those movers—and they make us wary. International Van Lines will tell you anything you want to know about costs. That gives you the power to make an informed decision.

International Van Lines can also ship vehicles to your new home. This long-distance mover offers two types of vehicle transport services and can often trim hundreds of dollars off the going rate:

1. Open transport. Your car ships on an open-air truck (think of a semi-truck without walls). It picks up dust along the way but is so affordable that 90% of customers opt for this service. IVL also offers insurance to protect against driver negligence.
2. Enclosed transport. Your car ships inside of an enclosed semi-truck. This typically costs about $400 more than open transport, so it’s primarily recommended for high-value automobiles like custom cars, antique cars, and luxury vehicles.

IVL can save you 15%–20%, depending on your flexibility. That means if you can hang tight until it can load a full truck along your route, you could save hundreds of dollars on average car shipping costs.

Want to save up to 20% on car shipping?

International Van Lines offers one free month of storage in your home city. So, for example, if you’re moving from Washington, D. C. to New York City, the company will keep your belongings in D.C. at no cost for up to 30 days. It’s a great perk if your new home isn’t move-in ready.

Storage services are still available in your new city. IVL charges 50 cents per cubic foot. So, if you have a 1,200-cubic foot home, your storage costs would be $600 per month ($0.50 x 1,200 cubic feet).

IVL is our #1 rated company

Safeway Moving gets positive customer review scores unheard of in the moving industry. For example, its 4-star rating is a full star higher than some of the companies on this list. The company also claims to offer price-matching services and 30 days of free storage. In addition, we love how it advertises that a portion of your moving cost will be donated to St. Jude’s in an effort to defeat childhood cancer. On the downside, company information is difficult to verify.

Safeway Moving says that each move comes with “up to 30 days of free storage.”¹ You’ll want to check with the company for more details, but we’ve found that moving storage is helpful in a many situations:

• Home staging
• Remodel
• Late closing date
• Emergency relocation
• Corporate relocation
• Downsizing

If you're wondering which moving company on this list has the best reviews, it's Safeway Moving. Safeway gets the best reviews of any long-distance mover we’ve seen. Although it comes with caveats (for example, most of Safeway’s reviews come from a single site), the company’s resulting score is nearly one full star higher than the best companies in the business.

Safeway Moving was founded by a military veteran who believes in giving back to the community. The company boasts a partnership with St. Jude’s hospital and says it donates “a portion of your total move cost to St. Jude upon completion of your move.”²

Looking for a company with some of the best customer reviews?

American Van Lines is our pick for high-quality moving services. These long-distance movers don’t skimp on the costs necessary to keep your belongings safe. American charges a flat rate and lets you use all of its many moving services (including piano moving). The company also background checks its workers (including drug tests and background screenings). The catch? American doesn’t have GPS tracking, and its customer service reps are available only on weekdays.

You shouldn’t trust your piano to a run-of-the-mill moving company. Instead, look for a long-distance mover like American Van Lines, which specializes in moving large and heavy instruments. They know all the tricks of the trade to ensure that your piano arrives undamaged—and in tune.

For example, did you know that professional movers should disassemble pianos before moving them? It’s a lot different than mental images of workers loading the full monty onto a moving truck. American Van Lines trains its staff to disassemble, load, transport, unload, and reassemble your piano in working condition.

You don’t pay extra thanks to AVL's flat-rate pricing.

American Van Lines’ flat-rate prices can save you time and money. Unfortunately, some moving companies try to nickel and dime you. The idea is that you don’t get charged for things you don’t need—and they can make some extra cash by charging for services other companies include. It’s a solid idea in principle but doesn’t always work. Sometimes you simply pay more for less.

Not so with American Van Lines. The company charges a single upfront rate based on the weight of your belongings. Then, you use all of the services you want. It’s kind of like a buffet. You pay for a pricey meal but can load up on as much dessert as you like.

For example, let’s say you get a quote from American Van Lines—and another company that doesn’t use flat-rate pricing:

It’s easy to see how your invoice looks cleaner (imagine a bill with two dozen extra line items). Plus, you can save money if you use enough high-end services.

AVL’s movers are top-of-the-line professionals. The company puts every potential long-distance mover through an intense pre-hire screening process, including background checks and drug testing. Those that make the cut arrive at your home wearing uniforms that identify them as AVL professionals.

Bottom line: American Van Lines goes the extra mile to ensure that you and your belongings are safe when moving across the United States.

Looking for premium quality?

North American Van Lines lets you pick and choose moving services. That’s a big deal because most companies charge you for everything whether you need it or not. It even has plans for supplemental insurance coverage. Not surprisingly, North American gets exceptionally high customer review scores. Regarding drawbacks, the company’s website is a bit clunky, and it’s tough to nail down the cost of your deposit.

North American Van Lines lets you pick and choose which moving services you want. For example, do you want to save a couple of thousand dollars by packing your belongings yourself? North American is okay with that (most companies aren’t). The same thing goes for other moving services too. If you’re up to the task of unloading your items, the North American Van Lines crew is happy to let you do the work.

Put it all together, and you can choose which local or long-distance moving services want to pay for:

• Packing services
• Packing supplies
• Loading
• Unloading
• Climate-controlled storage
• Installation and assembly services
• Debris removal

North American Van Lines makes it easy to know where your household goods are. Once your move is in progress, the company will provide you with a six-digit registration number. Just plug that number into North American’s tracking website, and it will tell you where your belongings are.

Did you know that about one-third of long-distance moving companies don’t have weekend customer service? It’s almost unheard of for a company to offer 24/7 support. And yet, that’s what North American Van Lines brings to the table.

Let’s say that your belongings arrive on a Saturday—but that some things are missing or damaged. Normally, you’d call and talk with a company rep to sort things out. But that’s tough to do if no one’s in the office.

North American makes sure that someone is always available to take your call. It’s just one reason the company has some of the highest customer review scores in the industry.

Want to customize your move?

Mayzlin Relocation is the best customer-reviewed company on our list. Their sales agents provide helpful tips, like how to avoid common moving scams, and they do what they can to pass along discounts to customers. If customer service is your priority, Mayzlin Relocation is tough to beat. Because you can't get an online quote with Mayzlin, you'll need to give them a call or fill out the new customer form on their website.

Mayzlin Relocation is a younger (and smaller) company than others on the list, but there's no denying customer feedback. People who choose Mayzlin on moving day report dependable movers, helpful sales agents, and solid discounts. While Mayzlin doesn't have the same volume of online reviews as companies like IVL or North American Van Lines, they're off to a strong start.

Many long-distance movers charge a hefty deposit to reserve your move—sometimes up to 50% of your total cost. Mayzlin Relocation requires a much more affordable 25%. When you're trying to budget for an expensive cross-country move, a lower initial deposit makes a big difference. On top of that, if you need to cancel your move, you can call Mayzlin up to seven days before your move to get a full refund deposit.

Mayzlin Relocation sales agents do everything they can to secure discounts for your move. Before you even get to discounts, Mayzlin will price match any reputable carrier with a Better Business Bureau grade of B+ or better. If you reserve a move early enough, you'll likely get a discounted rate. You may also be in luck if another customer cancels their move and Mayzlin needs to fill that slot. Ask your sales agent about potential savings while you're getting your quote!

Is customer service your focus?

Check out our reviews of some other companies that can help if you’re moving long-distance:

• United Van Lines
• Atlas Van Lines
• First National Van Lines
• Bekins Van Lines

International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts.

Want to move with Move.org’s #1 pick?

Anyone who has moved knows about the laundry list of essential moving tasks. We like to recommend the first thing you do when moving long distance is get a moving binder or download an app where you can organize all your important documents and checklists. That way, you can chip away at your to-dos without doing it all in one stressful haul and be ready to rock on moving day.

Here are a few things you might want to include on that list:

• Get moving supplies.
• Declutter and donate unwanted items.
• Set up utilities.
• Notify important parties of your change of address.

A home inventory allows you to identify the items that you’re taking from your old home to your new one. It’s a great organizational tool, but it’s also recommended in case you need to make an insurance claim should something happen to these items. 

You can use a notebook, spreadsheet, or specialized home inventory apps to make your home inventory. Go room by room to survey your belongings. Provide a detailed description of each item, the date of purchase, where you bought it, and any receipts you have to approximate the item’s value.

Determine which moving service is right for your situation, how convenient you want your move to be, and how much money you’re willing to spend. Whether you’re moving DIY or hiring full-service movers for your long-distance move, now is the time to look at your budget, consider what work you will do and what you will pay professionals to do, and weigh the pros and cons of each option.

The whole moving process takes on average about six to seven weeks. Ideally, you should already be scoping out moving companies at least eight weeks before your move. If you wait too long, you may experience less availability and/or higher costs. 

When beginning the moving estimate process, it’s important to get at least three moving quotes so that you can compare costs and services that match your needs. 

Here are some of things to consider when reaching out to companies:

• Company history: The inception, growth, achievements, and reputation of a company matter.
• Customer service: Scope out customer reviews on multiple review sites.
• Proper credentials: Check to see if the company is licensed and insured.

Doing research on any company you’re considering ahead of time also makes you less susceptible to common moving scams. 

For more moving preparation tips, check out Move.org’s Ultimate Moving Checklist.

International Van Lines and North American Van Lines are the best commercial moving companies. IVL has the best overall commercial movers, while North American allows you to customize your moving package. Both companies will handle your interstate move with care and expertise.

Moving insurance is critical to ensure the safety of your belongings. The federal government requires that all cross-country moving companies provide moving insurance (called “valuation”). You can also purchase additional insurance from third parties to be extra safe.

Cheap movers can be safe or dangerous, depending on how low their costs are. We recommend getting quotes from several relocation services and avoiding prices that seem especially low in comparison. For more information, take a look at our best cheap moving companies.

The cost to move internationally ranges from about $1,500 to more than $10,000. Professional international moving companies typically include packing, transportation, and delivery in your final bill.

The best way to do a long-distance move depends if you care about cost or convenience. Moving container companies are your best bet if you need to move on a budget, and professional cross-country movers are ideal if you want to minimize stress.

You should schedule your movers at least four weeks before your move. During this time you should also coordinate a moving permit if you need one, gather any remaining supplies, contact utility providers, and make any travel arrangements.

You may need to provide upwards of eight weeks’ notice if moving to another state during the peak moving season (late spring to early fall). However, some companies can facilitate short-notice moves for an extra fee.

Most professional moving services have local movers. However, some companies like IMRG and JK Moving Services assist with cross-country moves.

You can find a reputable mover by searching for the top local movers near you. You can also head over to our local movers hub, where we've narrowed down the highest-rated movers in cities across the US. 

Be sure not to pack commonly prohibited items for moving like matches, batteries, and nail polish when traveling long-distance. It’s also a good idea to keep some clothing, food, and toiletries until you know you have someplace to stay.

You should start packing about two months before you move. Or, if you hire one of the best long-distance moving companies, their crews need only about one day's notice to pack all of your belongings.

The top-rated moving company is International Van Lines. It has an established reputation, an extensive moving network, and transparent pricing.

Moving containers from PODS cost about $4,660 to move 1,000 miles or more across the state line. Cross-country moving costs are as low as $1,800 for small apartments and up to $6,520 for large five-room homes.

U-Pack is an exceptional company for cross-country moves. It has the best combination of positive reviews and nationwide availability. Just be prepared to pay a premium for the high-quality service.

We recommend tipping movers about 15% of your total bill for large homes and 5% for smaller homes. If the math is tricky, you can also ballpark and give each mover $40.

JK Moving Services is a reputable long-distance moving service with excellent customer reviews. The company caters its services to high-end customers, and can even charter you a private flight to the new city you're moving to.

Move.org evaluates and identifies the moving industry’s best full-service movers using a fivefold research approach:

• Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy. 

• Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.

• Mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.

• Site visits.  We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
• Regular review. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.

• Best Moving Companies
• Cheapest Moving Container Companies
• Best International Moving Companies
• Best Car Shipping Companies
• Best Moving Containers Companies

• Is American Van Lines a Reputable Company?
• What’s the Cheapest Way to Move Cross Country?
• What’s the Cheapest Way to Ship My Car?
• Should I Hire a Commercial Mover?
• How Much Does it Cost to Move Internationally?