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Best Moving Companies in South Carolina 2024

We compared 26 companies and chose the top movers

    • Colonial Van Lines
      4.3(2,603)
    • PODS
      4.5(3,713)

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      Best Moving Companies in South Carolina 2024

      If you live in South Carolina and are planning to move, you might be considering hiring movers. To help, we’ve chosen our top picks for South Carolina by comparing some of the top movers on ratings and reviews, price, discounts, availability, additional services and other factors.

      Read our full methodology below for all the details. 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.

      Our editor’s top picks

      1. Best overall: Colonial Van Lines
      2. Moving containers: PODS
      Why trust ConsumerAffairs?
      • Our recommendations are based on what reviewers say.
      • 4,536,144 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
      • We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
      • We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
      • Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.

      Compare moving companies in South Carolina

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      Our top 2 picks for moving companies in South Carolina

      To help find the best options for you, our research team started by comparing 80 moving companies. We analyzed ratings and reviews from customers in South Carolina as well as other factors, like packing services, storage options and price, and we ultimately chose two companies as our top picks in South Carolina.

      Colonial Van Lines

      4.3
      2,603 reviews
      Highlight
      Climate-controlled storage options
      Types of moves
      Commercial, residential, military
      Discounts available
      Seasonal
      Special Offer

      SAVE up to $500!

      SAVE up to $500 on your long-distance move with Colonial Van Lines.

      Colonial Van Lines is a carrier that provides moves to and from South Carolina. It offers binding quotes, so your price is locked in as long as your initial inventory is accurate.

      Highlights

      • Broker vs. carrier: Carrier
      • Packing services: Single items, kitchen, full packing
      • Storage options: Climate-controlled facilities and modular cubes

      Kaycee from Charleston said about her experience: “My coordinator, Lauren, was with me every step of the way. She answered every single one of my calls, especially at the most important time. She was phenomenal. I had heard so many sad stories about part of the moving company and how they leave you high and dry once you book with them. But Lauren didn't do that. She gave me a really, really amazing price. She was honest with me from the start.”

      Patrick from Charleston also had a good move with Colonial: “The person I first talked to walked me through everything and he was great, but the movers were the best part. The driver helped me pack some last-minute things up, got me there quick and walked me through everything as well. He was great. From the time they picked up to when they dropped off, it took four days, which was perfect. The only thing was they came a day early, but we were ready, so it was fine.”

      Barbara from Greenville ultimately didn’t have a good experience: “On or about August 1st, four days before our scheduled moving date, I began calling our Moving Coordinator, Faith ** to see when the movers would be coming to pack up our fragile belongings. … For many days I was led to believe that they were trying to coordinate with dispatch and that our move was still on their schedule. Finally, at the last possible moment, another representative called and callously announced that they didn't have a truck for our move and that they had exhausted all possibilities.”

      PODS

      4.5
      3,713 reviews
      Highlight
      Flexible timelines
      Types of moves
      Local, long-distance, international
      Discounts available
      Military

      PODS is a carrier and broker with a focus on portable storage containers. It offers local, long-distance and international moves to and from South Carolina and professional third-party packing services.

      Highlights

      • Broker vs. carrier: Carrier and broker
      • Type(s) of quotes: Phone
      • Storage options: Various container sizes for short- or long-term storage

      Lisa from Cayce said about her experience: “All three of the PODS reps were great. They helped me out and allowed me to understand everything and how it works. I didn't know the dates and they explained it to me. They give you the date they pick up and what day the pod arrives.”

      She was also happy with the cost and delivery: “They also gave me great military discount. They had the least price that I received. The people who dropped off and delivered gave me the time and told me when they were coming. One guy was coming early and asked me if he could. I was very pleased with them. I still have stuff in New York and might need them again. My cousin did her move three weeks ago from Jersey to Florida. I told her to get PODS and she went for it.”

      Ensure upfront the company can deliver to your exact location. Sue from Buffalo was happy enough to move with PODS on multiple occasions, but she warned that it’s not available in all parts of all states it operates in: “Strictly limited to pretty much close to an interstate. They need to up their ante totally. Either just be a storage facility or a real moving company.”

      What to consider when hiring a moving company in South Carolina

      Choosing a reliable mover is crucial to a smooth and stress-free relocation. To ensure you select the right company, focus on these factors:

      • Reputation: Read customer reviews on third-party sites and ask about the company's experience and training. If reps come to your house for an in-person survey, see how professional they are.
      • Service area: Confirm the company can handle your move's distance (local, regional, cross-country, etc.).
      • Pricing, fees and policies: Seek clear, transparent pricing (ask if you’ll pay hourly or by a flat rate). Inquire about hidden fees, add-ons and policies for lost/damaged items and cancellations.
      • Additional services: Ask upfront about packing, unpacking, storage and moving of specialty items — these can affect cost.

      Cost to move in South Carolina

      The cost of moving depends largely on distance and how many belongings you have. Local movers typically charge by the hour, averaging $80 to $100 per hour for two movers. Long-distance movers often charge a flat fee, averaging $5,000 to $10,000, for moves over 1,000 miles.

      Other products and services, like packing, storage and additional insurance, add to the cost. Factors like home size, location, extra stops, specialty items and time of year can also affect pricing. Tipping movers is customary (usually 10% to 20% of the total cost). To save money, consider decluttering, moving during an offseason and asking about discounts. You can also move yourself, but this may make an already stressful relocation more difficult.

      Estimates for moving services from Charleston (29401)

      The figures below are based on current (as of publishing) industry estimates for a three-bedroom home with no additional services.

      Tips for a successful move in South Carolina

      There are ways to simplify the process and make a move less stressful — it just takes some planning.

      1. Think about how much time, energy and money the move will require

      Evaluate your time frame, how much you need moved and your moving budget. Set aside extra funds for unexpected costs if you can.

      2. Declutter

      To save on costs, try reducing the weight and volume of your belongings. Consider donating or selling items you no longer need — your city or town may have local or national charities that offer donation pickup.

      3. Get a head start on packing

      Start packing seasonal or less frequently used items first. As you get closer to your move-out date, aim to pack one room per day and label boxes clearly.

      » MORE: How to pack for a move

      4. Have essentials ready

      Pack a box or bag for each person in your household that has essentials for moving day and the day after. Include a change of clothes, toiletries and any necessary medications — you don’t want to be without these during the move, especially if you’re driving a long distance.

      5. Have a plan for contacting your mover

      Ensure you have a reliable contact for the moving company so you can communicate logistics, ask questions and track your move. Some companies offer tracking via an app; find out if yours has this ahead of time so you can download it and be ready for moving day.

      » MORE DETAILS: Moving checklist

      FAQ

      How much does it cost to rent a moving truck?

      The cost of renting a moving truck varies widely, from under $100 to several thousand dollars, depending on the truck's size, the distance traveled and the rental duration. For local moves, expect to pay around $20 per day plus mileage fees.

      How much should I budget for moving boxes and other supplies?

      New moving boxes for a large home can be expensive. Consider reusing old boxes or getting them from friends, family or grocery/liquor stores to save money. Additional moving supplies, like packing paper and cushioning, can add up, so budget around $100 for these.

      How much does it cost to ship a car?

      Long-distance car shipping typically costs between $500 and $1,700. The exact price depends on factors like the distance traveled and the type of vehicle you need shipped.

      Does South Carolina have a high cost of living?

      While health care coverage, utilities and auto insurance tend to be a bit more expensive than average in South Carolina, housing and food costs in the Palmetto State are relatively low.

      Methodology

      ConsumerAffairs carefully collects in-depth, verified reviews to tell each customer’s experience with a company. We believe customer experiences are a crucial indicator when evaluating companies, so these reviews are a significant factor when selecting our top picks.

      To choose the top moving companies in South Carolina, we started with the 80 popular providers listed in our main moving guide. First, we narrowed it down to the ones available in South Carolina. We then weighted several key features to get our final rankings:

      • Storage options: We looked at the availability of storage units and any free storage periods.
      • Packing services: We considered the types of packing services offered, including whether a company offers packing services and whether it offers both full and partial packing.
      • Deposit requirements: We prioritized companies that ask for 20% or less down versus those with higher deposit requirements.
      • Discounts: We outlined how many discounts each company offers and what types (e.g., senior, military, student).
      • App: We gave a company preference if it has an app with a useful service, like requesting a quote or tracking a move.

      Not sure how to choose?

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