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Best interstate moving companies

Best interstate moving companies

Find a trusty mover to get your things safely across state lines

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Updated: 09/20/2023

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North American Van Lines, Allied Van Lines and International Van Lines

There are many reasons you might leave one state to live in another — maybe you have a new job, want to be closer to loved ones or simply need a fresh start. Crossing state lines with every single item your own can be challenging, though, especially if you move on your own rather than hire a mover.

If you have a family or pets, you’ll likely want to drive your own car or fly to your new home (most truck rentals only have one row for passengers, with either two or three seats). To save time and hassle, it might make sense to hire a trusted company to help you on moving day.

Our top picks for interstate movers:

Our top picks

To make our choices for the best interstate moving companies, we collected 17 data points each for 70 companies. We used this data to evaluate cost, availability and add-on services to make our final selections. We also looked at customer reviews on our site to see which companies have the most consistently happy customers.

Our picks may be Authorized Partners that compensate us — this does not affect our recommendations or evaluations but may impact the order in which companies appear. As of publishing, each company on this list has a rating of at least 3.6 stars out of 5 on our site.

International Van Lines

3.7

725 reviews

Availability: The continental U.S.
USDOT number: 2293832

International Van Lines performs local, long-distance and international moves. According to the company, it performs more than 20,000 moves a year.

IVL can perform virtual home tours using software called MoveOne — this means you can get an estimate based on your belongings without someone coming to your house. The company says it can provide “instant” quotes in some cases, though depending on your situation it may take up to one hour to receive your moving quote.

IVL has several moving scenarios and associated cost estimates on its website — this transparency makes the company a bit of a standout in the industry. And if you want packing help along with your move, IVL can provide full packing services (for 600 to 900 cubic feet of boxes and furniture, the company estimates an added cost of $750 to $1,125 for packing).

Happy customers on our site like IVL staff’s care, promptness and attention to detail. A reviewer from Florida highly recommends the company: “The movers are very professional and pleasant! I was very impressed that the movers wrapped my TV with some soft stuff to avoid collision. Also, the movers were pretty fast. … They finished the move within two hours. If I had to move by myself, it probably would take me more than a day. Great service!”

Allied Van Lines

3.9

741 reviews

Availability: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
USDOT number: 76235

Allied Van Lines offers local, long-distance, interstate, international, corporate and military moves, as well as moving container shipping. Its services include fragile packing, furniture disassembly and reassembly, short-term and long-term storage, and auto transport.

Allied is available nationwide (including Washington, D.C.), and it has discounts for seniors. According to its website, the company has completed 750,000 moves in the past 15 years. Though it’s not as transparent as IVL about its costs, it does claim to offer instant moving quotes online.

Allied Van Lines offers easy shipment tracking on its website so you can keep track of where your things are — all you need is your last name and registration number. Its site also has various moving resources, like general FAQ, information on how quotes work, moving cost calculators and moving timelines.

Allied customers on our site mention the company’s preparedness and simple process. A reviewer from South Carolina said: “Allied provided an in-home guaranteed quote. They were flexible on dates, and when moving day arrived the crew was on time and prepared. The move went like clockwork and we were well taken care of. I would highly recommend Allied/Excel to anyone looking for a solid, honest moving company!”

JK Moving Services

3.8

37 reviews

Availability: All 50 States and Washington, D.C.
USDOT number: 1065394

JK Moving Services’ wide range of services includes full-service packing, fragile packing, furniture disassembly and reassembly, short-term and long-term storage, and auto transport. It provides a dedicated moving agent for your relocation. The company can move you locally, across state lines, across the country or internationally.

In order to provide an accurate estimate, JK Moving requires a video call to survey your belongings. The company partners with Enhancify to offer financing plans, including zero-interest options (your rate depends on your borrower profile and is determined by Enhancify).

JK Moving reduces its carbon footprint by completing home surveys virtually. The company also provides free storage for seven days for any “small” move, and it claims it can get those in smaller living spaces (i.e., those with fewer belongings) anywhere in the country within nine days.

Reviewers on our site mention JK Moving’s efficient service and processes. One customer from Florida said about their experience: “They've always been responsive … always very accommodating, scheduling when it was convenient for me. … I've never had any concerns about billing. They also always answered my questions if I had any. The processes they have in place seem to work pretty well.”

How much does interstate moving cost?

How much an interstate move costs depends on several elements, including the distance of the move. According to Shannon Steinberg of Allied Van Lines, the following are the other biggest cost factors:

Packing quality: If you have well-packed boxes that aren’t too heavy and flat on top, you’ll have a smoother move — overly heavy boxes can break apart or close improperly, making your work pointless once the movers arrive. The same is true for poorly prepared furniture: If your furniture isn’t properly wrapped and secured, the movers will have to do this part, which adds time and money to your bill.
Volume of goods: How much stuff you have (and how much it weighs) affects the overall cost of your move. The more items you have, the bigger the truck you’ll need and the more time it will take to load and unload.
Laborers required: If you have a small home or few possessions, you won’t need as large of a moving crew, which will keep your costs down.
Demand for location: If you live in an area with a high demand for movers, you’ll likely pay a premium.

» COMPARE: Moving yourself vs. hiring movers

What to look for in a moving company

Start your search for the best interstate moving company by asking friends or family for recommendations and checking out interstate moving companies online. And look online for customer reviews. “Always take note of what other customers are saying about the company,” Steinberg from Allied said.

Every interstate moving company should be registered with the federal government and have a USDOT number; you can use this number to search the company’s safety and complaint record on the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

If you have bulky or fragile items or need to hire professional packers, check to make sure the interstate movers you’re considering provide the appropriate services.

» SEE OUR PICKS: Best packing services

Tips for interstate moving

There are some tricks of the trade to be mindful of while you’re planning your move. Here’s some advice for simplifying your move across state lines:

Book your interstate moving company up to two months in advance, if possible. Once you book it, start decluttering and downsizing.

About two months before your move, start a folder with a moving checklist. Now’s also the time to pick a moving company and lock down a time and date for your move. Once you select an interstate mover, have the company come to your home to give you an estimate.
Begin to think about what you want to take to your new home and what you want to donate, sell or throw out. Remember that you pay for everything you move, so it may make sense to get rid of furniture that won’t fit well in your new home and donate clothing you no longer wear. The kitchen is also a great place to cull gadgets you don’t use. You can also give any books you’re willing to part with to the library.
Begin to gather any packing materials you may need for your move. When you pack, label what’s in each box (and which room it’s going in).
A few weeks before the move, start thinking about changing your address and switching your utilities. You can call in advance for these switches and select the day you want them to take effect.
Be sure to research any parking restrictions at both your old and new home to ensure you’ll have no issues parking the moving truck.

» MORE: Moving checklist

FAQ

Is it cheaper to buy new furniture or pack it when moving to a new state?

Whether it’s cheaper to buy new furniture or pack it when you’re moving all depends on your situation. First, take a hard look at your furniture. Is it worn out, heavy or an odd shape that won’t fit into your new home’s layout? If so, it’s likely better to buy new furniture than pay to move your old furniture (unless your furniture is worth a lot of money). And if you have a lot of inexpensive furniture to disassemble only to reassemble in your new home, you may consider selling it prior to your move.

Another factor to consider is how far away your new home is. If you’re moving far and a piece of furniture takes up a lot of space on the truck, you may want to leave it behind. Your moving company can usually advise you on how much a piece of furniture will add to your bill.

Is moving insurance worth it?

The cost of moving with an interstate company includes basic insurance, which goes by the weight of your items, not the value.

“If you hire a professional and registered mover, by law all of your belongings listed on your bill of lading (the detailed list of goods transported) will be covered with free basic insurance coverage of 60 cents per pound per article (item) by default as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation,” Voyo Popovic, CEO of Piece of Cake Moving & Storage, a New York-based moving company, explained.

Your items will be bouncing along highways and byways and could suffer damage, so if you have valuable, fragile or sentimental items, full-value protection might be a good choice. How much additional insurance will cost comes down to what your items are worth and how far the move is. According to Popovic, very expensive items, like jewelry or valuable art, are usually excluded from this insurance.

What can you pack in a portable moving container?

You can pack almost anything in a portable moving container, from your couch to your smallest fragile glasses — if you pack correctly. Start by loading heavy and bulky items first. You might want to keep valuable or highly fragile items with you, and note that you can’t pack flammable substances or aerosols.

Bottom line

Hiring movers is usually more expensive than do-it-yourself moving, but it can save lots of time and hassle. If you’re looking for the best moving company to help with your interstate move, start by asking people you know for recommendations and search online for reviews by verified customers. Make sure the company you choose has a USDOT number and good customer reviews.

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