To find the best long-distance moving companies, our research team looked at a variety of factors, including interstate and international services, packing options, tracking features, auto shipping capabilities, quote processes, and customer support. The result? An in-depth guide to the top teams in the business.
Best Long-Distance Moving Companies of 2022
Best Overall: Atlas Van Lines Best Interstate Moving Company: North American Van Lines Best for International Moves: Mayflower Best for Small Loads: Bellhop Best Partial-Service Movers: Wheaton World Wide Moving Best Moving Container Company: PODS Best Online Quote Option: Colonial Van Lines Best Car Shipping Company: United Van Lines Best Shed Moving Company: Allied Van Lines Best Commitment to Sustainability: Armstrong Relocation
Once you’re booked with Atlas, you’ll receive access to the customer portal, where you can make payments, track your truck’s progress, and contact your team of movers. If you’re worried about properly securing items for the long drive, Atlas offers full-service packing, meaning the crew will box up your entire home for you. DIY packers can also purchase supplies, such as boxes, mattress bags, etc., from the company directly. After discussing your specific moving needs, the coordinator will work with you to create a plan that fits your budget. This includes figuring out what add-ons—like packing, appliance installation, and furniture assembly—should make the list. In addition to traditional moving services, North American operates a fleet of open and enclosed car carriers that transport all types of vehicles, including antiques and boats. This is a particularly helpful option if you’d rather fly than drive to your new home. A personal consultant will arrange and manage the specifics, like compiling the correct documentation and confirming delivery dates. If you require additional services, such as unpacking assistance, short-term storage, or debris removal (meaning the movers will come back to collect empty boxes and other discarded packing materials), your move coordinator can set them up. Mayflower will also ship your car abroad, a service that many other moving companies farm out to third-party carriers. We found the quote process to be incredibly easy: Instead of waiting on a customer service representative to give you an estimate over the phone, you’ll receive an actual dollar amount through Bellhop’s online tool after answering a few questions about your move. For all long-distance bookings, the company provides fixed-price estimates, meaning you’ll pay the amount you’re quoted and won’t be subjected to additional fees. Another reason why Bellhop is recommended for lighter loads is that the company can’t transport individual items weighing over 300 pounds. So if you need to relocate a piano or a heavy-duty sectional, check out the other moving services on this list. The company will also transport furniture and appliances that require special equipment, such as pianos, pool tables, refrigerators, and stoves. To cover these types of moves, as well as its traditional moving services, Wheaton offers several protection plans, including one for extraordinary value items (anything worth more than $100 per pound). For customers who can’t move their belongings into their new home right away, Wheaton provides storage in transit, meaning the company will hold your things in one of its secure facilities for up to 180 days. Pricing is transparent due to the nature of the business: You rent a container for 30 days at a time, which allows you to keep it for as long as you like. Delivery, transportation, and pick-up fees add to the cost, but you’ll still be paying less than if you had hired a full-service mover—for reference, PODS’ prices start at $149 per month. If you’re unsure what size container to get, the company offers a moving and storage calculator that will make recommendations based on the amount and types of items you’re transporting. Customers can also purchase boxes and other supplies through the website, though PODS does not provide packing assistance. You can also connect with customer support through the app and order moving supplies at discounted rates. If you’d prefer to have the professionals pack for you, Colonial offers both full- and partial-service options, including single-item and single-room packs. Though the company doesn’t operate a live chat for quick inquiries, one of our research analysts noted that Colonial had “the most patient and well-informed customer service representative” of any provider he contacted. You can opt to have your vehicle shipped door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal depending on your budget, your pick-up and drop-off locations, and whether or not you want to keep the car in storage for a period of time. To find out how much the service will add to the total cost of your move, customers are encouraged to request a separate quote on the website’s car shipping page. One of the company’s move coordinators will work with you to set a firm deliver-by date, but you should plan to be without your car for eight to 10 business days if it’s being transported between states. If you’re unable to move into your new home right away, Allied provides in-transit storage for up to 90 days so that you don’t have to pack up your belongings multiple times. Vehicle and boat relocation is also an available service, and Allied allows you to track each shipment through its online portal. In addition to its sustainable on-the-job practices, Armstrong converted its warehouses to LED lights in an effort to reduce energy consumption. The company also decreased its paper usage by switching to online documentation. As for the services it provides, Armstrong offers packing and storage options as well as home staging assistance if you’re in the process of selling your house. You can even hire the company to help with decluttering and organization before the actual packing begins.
Methodology
Our guide to the best long-distance moving companies was compiled using more than 500 data points collected over a two-month span. BH&G’s research team reviewed nearly 20 companies, looking at services provided, customer support channels, quote processes, online tools, and more. Weights were assigned to each piece of criteria evaluated, then used to calculate an overall score. In order to receive a high rating, companies had to perform well in a handful of categories, including but not limited to:
Types of services offered (10%)Nationwide availability (10%)Company reputation (6%)Online quote system (5%)Packing options (5%)
The information presented here was accurate at the time of publication and confirmed by at least two data collectors. Verification was completed through customer service calls and live chat or email exchanges.
