?While any move can be difficult and stressful, long-distance moves come with their own set of complications. These moves generally demand more preparation, and unique problems can arise during the trip. Fortunately, long-distance moving companies are equipped to handle it all. They’re also subject to more rigorous regulations than local movers, such as being registered with the federal government.
Our picks
Atlas Van Lines: Best long-distance mover
North American Van Lines: Best for flexible pricing
Mayflower Transit: Best for large moves
United Van Lines: Best for liability coverage
Suddath Relocation Systems: Best for military moves
Solomon & Sons Relocation Services: Best for East Coast moves?
Allied Van Lines: Best for full-service moves
Atlas Van Lines: Best long-distance mover
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Deposit required: No
Availability: 50 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, Mexico (Not available in Puerto Rico)?
Storage available: Yes
Why we picked Atlas Van Lines
With 75 years of experience, Atlas Van Lines earns high marks for providing full-service local and long-distance moves, full-service packing and unpacking and vehicle shipping for longer-distance moves. It offers binding and non-binding quotes, but note that nonbinding estimates — which are estimates calculated based on the suspected weight of the items and the services provided — may cost you 10% more than binding estimates, agreements made ahead of time to lock in a rate.
Who should use Atlas Van Lines
We recommend Atlas Van Lines to anyone moving more than 100 miles away. There are 430 independent Atlas companies across every state and Canada and 1,500 global partners in 17 countries. It also offers storage, antique shipping and oversized hauling to make long-distance moves easier.
Pros
- Available in all 50 states and 17 countries, more than any provider on our list
- Full Value Protection is offered at no extra cost for AAA members
- More than 300 warehouses coast to coast can store your items as long as you need
Cons
- Not available in Puerto Rico
- No option for self-service moving
North American Van Lines: Best for flexible pricing
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Deposit required?: No?
Availability: 50 states, Washington, D.C., Canada and Mexico (not available in Puerto Rico)
Storage available: Yes
Why we picked North American Van Lines?
North American Van Lines has more than 500 agent locations, making this company particularly accessible in all 50 states. Customers can choose the services they do and don’t want to use depending on their budget and needs. No deposit is required, and consumers choose between:
- Bottom-line pricing, a guaranteed price
- Not-to-exceed pricing, which means the cost may go below the estimate but never above it
- Customized pricing, which offers a combination of guaranteed and separate service costs
Who should use North American Van Lines?
You should consider North American Van Lines if you want as much control over pricing as possible. In addition to three pricing structures, the company offers a range of a la carte moving services — including full-service packing, junk removal, storage and vehicle shopping — and doesn’t require an upfront deposit.
Pros
- Three different pricing options provide more customer control over the final cost
- No deposit is required, making it a more budget-friendly choice overall
- 90 years in business with an A+ BBB rating
Cons
- Despite having 500 agent locations, it doesn’t service Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories.
- Self-service moving is not a choice.
Mayflower Transit: Best for large moves
Star rating: 4.4 out of 5
Deposit required?: No
Availability: 46 states, Washington D.C., Canada and Mexico (not available in Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories)
Storage available: Yes
Why we picked Mayflower Transit
With 100 years in business and a massive nationwide fleet with a large team of service agents, Mayflower is our top choice for large moves. With more than 500 locations, it helps move customers in over 150 countries. The company offers customizable packages, including storage, vehicle shipping, junk removal and oversized hauling.
In addition, Mayflower provides binding estimates to lock you into a firm price, with no upfront deposit required. Every quote automatically includes Full Value Protection, which will compensate you if something happens to your belongings during the moving process, and is calculated by multiplying the estimated weight of your shipment by $6 per pound.
Who should use Mayflower Transit?
Mayflower is a great choice for homeowners moving a large house with oversized belongings. Short- and long-term storage is available, as is the ability to move larger objects like hot tubs and boats.
Pros
- Vehicle shipping, large-object moving and short- and long-term storage options mean nothing has to be left behind
- 100 years in business and is one of the oldest providers on our list
- Wide availability across 500 locations
Cons
- While impressive for its vast number of locations and countries that it services, it doesn’t service Hawaii
- Protection is built into the quote you receive, which will increase the price
United Van Lines: Best for liability coverage
Star rating: 4.2 out of 5
Deposit required?: No
Availability: 46 states, Washington, D.C., Canada and Mexico (not available in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont or West Virginia)
Storage available: Yes
Why we picked United Van Lines?
United Van Lines is another exceptional long-distance moving company with nearly 100 years of experience. The company offers local, long-distance and international moving services through 500 locations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. It also provides full-service packing and unpacking and GPS tracking of your move for an added feeling of control, making it an excellent choice for people looking to feel protected.
Who should use United Van Lines
We recommend United Van Lines to homeowners with more valuable possessions. The company offers its Full Value Protection with every move at no additional cost. Calculated by multiplying the weight of the shipment by $6 per pound, this liability protection means the company will pay to repair or replace anything damaged within this limit. Filling out a High-Value Inventory Form for expensive but lightweight items (like jewelry) ensures you get the most out of this protection. Additional protection options to increase your coverage are also available.
Pros
- Full Value Protection with the option of a higher valuation means you can more thoroughly protect your valuables
- GPS tracking available
- Car shipping is offered
Cons
- Doesn’t offer appliance disconnection and hookup
- Not available in Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia or Puerto Rico
- Getting a quote can be time-consuming
Suddath Relocation Systems: Best for military moves
Star rating: 4.2 out of 5
Deposit required?: No
Availability: 48 states, Washington, D.C., Mexico and Canada (not available in Hawaii and Alaska)
Storage available: Yes
Why we picked Suddath Relocation Systems?
Suddath Relocation Systems has operated since 1919, growing to service more than 180 countries. It has 45 locations and 3.5 million square feet of warehouse space. One caveat: Suddath can help move your car through one of its affiliates, but it doesn’t offer vehicle shipping or oversized hauling.
Who should use Suddath Relocation Systems
Of the more than 80,000 households Suddath moves yearly, more than 38,000 are military families. With the frequent moves that can come attached to being in the military, Suddath looks to alleviate that stress with helpful tools like a military move checklist, military moving tips, live chat, customer phone support and shipment tracking, all specifically catering to the needs and based on the feedback of military families.
Pros
- Moves more than 38,000 military families each year
- Offers military-specific resources like a military move checklist and military moving tips
- 104 years in business, making it the oldest on our list
Cons
- Doesn’t service Alaska and Hawaii
- Doesn’t offer appliance hookup
- Doesn’t offer oversized hauling
Solomon & Sons Relocation Services: Best for East Coast moves
Star rating: 4.1 out of 5
Deposit required?: Yes
Availability: 43 states and Washington, D.C. (not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico)
Storage available: Yes
Why we picked Solomon & Sons?
Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Solomon & Sons Relocation Services is a family-owned business offering local and long-distance moving. Solomon & Sons employs its multilingual, background-checked moving teams year-round, unlike many nationwide movers.
The company offers everything from full-service packing and unpacking to oversized hauling, appliance disconnection and hookup and junk removal, among other services.
Who should use Solomon & Sons?
Solomon & Sons specializes in residential and commercial relocation services throughout Florida. It also offers special pricing for those moving to a major metropolitan area along its consistent routes to cities like New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina. Unfortunately, it’s not available in the northwestern United States.
Pros
- Special pricing available if going to certain major metro areas
- Full-service, appliance disconnection and hookup and junk removal available
- Allows customers to have third-party insurance if they prefer
Cons
- At 9 years old, it is younger than the competition
- 20% deposit required
- Doesn’t service parts of the western United States
Allied Van Lines: Best for full-service moves
Star rating: 4.1 out of 5
Deposit required?: No?
Availability: 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories, Canada and Mexico
Storage available: Yes
Why we picked Allied Van Lines?
Allied Van Lines is a reputable and well-equipped long-distance moving option that will do the work for you. With 500 agent locations in North America, and 175 countries across the globe, Allied Van Lines serves all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories, Canada and Mexico. Additional helpful tools include a virtual assessment, a moving supply calculator and GPS tracking for shipments.
Who should use Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines is an excellent choice for stressed movers looking to lower their workload. This full-service mover offers everything from planning and organizing, to disassembling and reassembling furniture, to packing and moving items. Allied also provides vehicle shipping, shuttle service to nearby cities, storage and move-out cleaning (through a third party).
Pros
- Will cover everything from planning to disassembling and moving your furniture
- Virtual assessments available
- Vehicle shipping, storage and oversized hauling offered
Cons
- Quote process can be tedious
- No junk removal offered
- Customer service not 24/7
Our picks at a glance
|
Our rating (out of 5)
|
No. of states available
|
Years in business
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Van Lines | 4.5 |
50 |
75 |
| North American Van Lines | 4.5 |
50 |
90 |
| Mayflower Transit | 4.4 |
46 |
100 |
| United Van Lines | 4.2 |
46 |
95 |
| Suddath Relocation Systems | 4.2 |
48 |
104 |
| Solomon & Sons Relocation Services | 4.1 |
43 |
9 |
| Allied Van Lines | 4.1 |
50 |
95 |
What didn’t make the cut
Some readers may be surprised to see a handful of major moving companies that didn’t make the list. Here are a few that didn’t make the cut and the main factors for us leaving them out:
- International Van Lines provides local, interstate, and international moves and services all 50 states. However, it doesn’t offer services like junk removal and appliance disconnection or hookup.
- American Van Lines provides helpful tools like GPS tracking, virtual assessments, oversize hauling and storage. However, our research uncovered a high number of FMCSA Database Complaints.
- Colonial Van Lines provides interstate moving with features like full-service packing and unpacking, junk removal, and vehicle shipping. However, it doesn’t offer local or international moving.
What is a long-distance moving company?
- A company that is willing to travel out of state or more than 100 miles within a state.
- A company that will travel internationally.
- Companies that are able to handle delicate items and over-sized items alike.
- Legally, an interstate mover must offer both Full Value Protection and Released Value as liability protection.
How to choose a long-distance moving company
Pro tip
While all legally bonded movers will offer liability protection, you may consider getting outside insurance for additional security. And don’t forget to check your homeowners or renters insurance policies to see what, if anything, is covered.
When it comes time to move, it can seem daunting trying to decide on which moving company to go with. It is wise to shop around and to see what is on the market. In particular, you should seek out the following:
Check licensing and insurance
Companies can’t legally move you interstate unless they have a USDOT number. Avoid companies without the proper credentials. Additionally, examine the company’s available liability coverage. The government requires companies to offer released value liability at 60 cents per pound.
Ensure it fits your budget
Determine your budget beforehand, and get quotes from at least three companies. Binding estimates lock you into a fixed price, so you won’t be surprised with extra charges, but they require in-home or virtual inventory surveys. Also, make sure to account for tipping the movers.
Look for years of experience
Companies that have been around a long time will not only have more experience to prepare themselves for moving variables and curveballs, but they will also likely have more customer reviews to help you make a decision.
Verify reliability and reputation
Don’t just assume that years being open equates directly to overall quality. Using tools like the BBB and checking customer reviews can be invaluable to ensure you get the best company for the job.
How much does a long-distance move cost?
The average cost for a long-distance move is between $1,600 and $12,700, determined by a few different factors. The distance of your move and the total weight of your belongings are the two largest drivers of the cost of your long-distance move. You should also consider the following:
- Gas/lodging: If you move a longer distance, a substantial amount of fuel will be used, and movers can charge you for it. If the trip takes multiple nights, you may also be responsible for covering the cost of the movers’ lodging.
- Season of the move: Generally speaking, the peak season for moving is between May and September. Moving during these months can drive up the cost.
- Specialty Items: Larger items, or more delicate ones like a piano, will require additional attention and some moving companies can charge more for these items.
- Tolls: Traveling between states will require paying tolls, and you must cover these.
How to save money on a long-distance move
If you’re on a budget, here are some tips to lower the overall cost of your move:
- Do some of the work: You can cut costs by handling one portion of the moving process, like packing everything. Or do the inverse: drive yourself and pay someone to pack your items.
- Move during off-peak months: Peak moving occurs between May and September, so consider moving outside of these months to help reduce the cost.
- Get affordable packing supplies: Consider reaching out to people you know who recently moved to get your hands on some boxes and other moving items for free or at a discount.
- Sell things ahead of time: Many moving companies suggest eliminating clutter before the move to lower the weight of your total move.
- Consider shipping: If you are moving a small space with limited items, it may make sense to ship your belongings using the U.S. Postal Service.
Methodology
To determine the rankings for moving companies, the CNN Underscored Home editorial team analyzed 52 companies, with each company’s star rating determined by a variety of factors, including:
