The Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
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Moving a long distance is stressful. It’s a hassle to change your address, coordinate logistics, and ensure your belongings arrive safe and sound across hundreds of miles. Fortunately, hiring a moving company can relieve some of these burdens so you can focus on other aspects of your move.
To make the process of finding a mover easier, we identified the 14 best national moving companies and scored them against our comprehensive rating system. Our team interviewed more than a dozen industry experts, surveyed 1,000 customers who recently used a moving company, analyzed more than 500 customer reviews, and built a ranking system to score the top brands. Five national long-distance movers made the final cut. If you’d prefer regional or local movers for your long-distance mover, check out our guide to highly rated moving companies near you.
Key Takeaways
Compare Our Top 5 Long-Distance Moving Companies
According to our ranking system, the top long-distance moving companies are North American Van Lines, Allied Van Lines, JK Moving Services, International Van Lines, and Safeway Moving Inc. The following table compares these long-distance moving companies and others based on their average price, deposit requirements, pros and cons, and more.
FMCSA Licensing
Average Price*
Deposit Required
Pros
- Climate-controlled storage facilities
- Expedited relocation services
- In-house vehicle shipping
- Budget-planning service
- No deposit
- Only provides binding estimates
- Background-checked movers
- Financing available
- Intuitive AI-assisted online quote tool
- Flexible insurance plans
- Free month of storage
- Upfront pricing
- Flat-rate pricing
- Free month of storage for all customers
- Light packing is available for long-distance moves
- Hires movers who average 10 years of experience
- Provides fixed-rate quotes
- Trains its employees regularly to efficiently handle special packing and crating
- Customized rental periods are available
- Offers price-matching for comparable services from competitors, such as PODS
- Containers are made entirely of steel to better protect belongings from weather damage
- Gives you a minimum of 30 days to pack and load a container at your own pace
- Offers short-term and long-term storage solutions
- Ground-level containers make loading simple
- Offers an online cost estimator
- Offers price-matching
- Provides quick service
- Mobile application lets you access your vehicle order and place new ones
- Quick and easy online reservation process
- Offers rentable trucks, trailers, and containers
- Focuses on providing binding estimates only
- Offers customizable moving packages
- Offers GPS tracking
- Offers a quick quote process for last-minute moves
- Prescreens all third-party movers in its network
- Provides full-service packing and crating for all moving customers
- GPS tracking is available
- Fast delivery times
- Less expensive pricing than full-service movers
- Provides door-to-door moving container services
- Galvanized steel mesh portable containers are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions
- Offers moving and storage solutions, allowing you to use the same container for both purposes
Cons
- Misleading quote tool
- No weekend support
- Slow claims process
- Items may take 10–14 days to arrive
- Limited storage services according to zip code
- Three-day requirement for cancellations
- Higher-than-average pricing
- Long quote process
- No refund on your deposit
- Below-average customer reviews
- Outsources some moves
- Requires up to a 25% deposit
- Can’t promise extra services, such as fragile packing and crating
- No upfront pricing
- Reputation for difficult communication during the first phase of a move
- Charges higher average prices
- Has limited customer service on weekends
- Requires a deposit of up to 50% of the total cost
- Can only do long-distance moves with an 8-foot container
- Requires a deposit for long-distance moves
- Services aren't available in all states
- Reviews mention difficulties in resolving billing issues
- Requires $150 if you cancel less than three days before delivery
- Doesn't supply containers efficently on short notice
- Not responsible for any damage due to broker status
- Service varies by location according to reviews
- Unwanted contact from partner companies may occur
- Customer must drive its trucks
- U-Box portable containers only come in one size
- Limits mileage for long-distance moves
- Long quote process makes it not ideal for quick moves
- Reviews vary by local branch
- Slow damage claims process
- No customer service on the weekends
- No refund on your deposit if it's more than 72 hours after booking
- Not responsible for damage due to broker status
- Cancelation fee charged if within a week of your service date
- Moves must exceed 150 miles
- Storage only available at a company facility
- Only has locations in 35 states
- Customer is responsible for packing and loading
- Largest portable container is 15 feet and only carries up to three rooms' worth of furniture and boxes
Summary
We recommend Allied if you want to ship a vehicle due to the company’s in-house vehicle relocation services.
We recommend North American Van Lines (NAVL) as the best long-distance mover overall because of its customizable insurance packages, highly rated customer service, and extensive service options.
We recommend JK Moving Services for its ability to offer financing options through its partnership with Enhancify and its high-end, white-glove packing services.
We recommend International Van Lines (IVL) if you want the most moving service options possible. The company boasts one of the most extensive moving service catalogs at highly competitive rates.
We recommend Safeway Moving Inc. for condo or HOA residents. The company has a special focus and training on the regulations and problems that may arise with these moves.
We recommend American Van Lines if you’re moving high-end items or antiques because it focuses on training its staff to move difficult and valuable items.
We recommend 1-800-PACK-RAT for partial-service moves because of its simple and affordable storage and transportation solutions.
PODS is ideal if you want to take the time to pack and load your belongings for your move. We also recommend it for its moving and storage solutions.
We recommend Moving APT because of its highly rated customer service and its ability to quickly provide you with multiple quotes for its partner companies.
We recommend U-Haul if you prefer to handle the entire moving process yourself, from loading to driving. The company offers several rental options that are perfect for moves of various sizes.
We recommend Mayflower for moves with more than five bedrooms. Its fleet, service areas, and specialized large-home service options offer more flexibility than other movers.
We recommend Interstate Moving & Relocation Group as a reputable broker if you need to move quickly. The company’s customer service is prompt, and its broker network helps you find a vetted mover fast.
We recommend U-Pack if you’re moving on a tight budget. You can save big if you’re willing to handle most of the labor yourself, but the company also offers third-party assistance with packing and loading services.
We recommend Zippy Shell if you’re seeking flexible moving and storage solutions at a competitive price—especially if your move is within the urban areas where Zippy Shell has its storage facilities.
Rating Categories
Customer Service
Reputation
Value
Service Offerings
Item Protection
Scheduling
*We calculated the cost by taking the averages from sample quotes for multiple two-bedroom moves that exceeded 500 miles.
**BBB ratings are accurate as of June 2024.
Video on How To Hire Long-Distance Movers
There’s a lot more that goes into hiring a long-distance moving company than getting moving quotes. The video below from News4JAX (WJXT4) features an interview with a Two Men and A Truck representative from a Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia branch. You’ll learn what to look for with a cross-country mover, such as how it should inventory your household goods and vital information to include for a free quote.
Our Top Moving Company Picks
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Best for Vehicle Relocation:
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Best for Claims:
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Best Specialized Packing:
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Best Full-Service Mover:
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Most Reliable Pricing:
How We Selected the Top Long-Distance Moving Companies
We identified six key factors that you should look for in a reliable long-distance moving company. These factors included customer service, reputation, value, service offerings, item protection, and scheduling.
Our chart below explores the average cost of the best long-distance movers versus their scores in our system. The most expensive doesn’t always equate to the best score, and neither does the cheapest.
Customer Service
The moving industry is prone to mix-ups, damages, and stress, especially with long-distance moves. There are many tasks to juggle to ensure a smooth long-distance move, so it’s crucial to find a company that provides attentive, responsive customer service. We believe that a quality mover responds to reviews–both good and bad–and background checks all of its employees.
Some standout companies in this category include NAVL, Allied, and JK Moving Services. We like that these providers are upfront about hiring only background-checked and insured moving crews. They all maintain A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) scores with complaint response rates above 90%. The customer service representatives we spoke to from each company were professional, friendly, and efficient.
Below is a breakdown of how each provider scored in this category:
Reputation
A long-distance mover with a good reputation means that the quality of service remains the same across multiple regional branches. Reputation is vital for moving companies no matter the distance, so when you find one with a solid reputation, you receive more peace of mind regarding the company’s practices and standards.
We checked with industry associations and accreditations, such as the American Moving and Storage Association, to glean more insights into every company’s reputation and commitment to upholding high standards for customer satisfaction. This organization has strict criteria for membership and accreditation, ensuring that only companies with a proven track record of ethical and professional conduct are recognized. A long-distance mover should also have average or lower-than-average inspection fail rates with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). We reviewed each company’s FMCSA profile to ensure its moving trucks and drivers have a less-than-average federal inspection fail rate. If not, it received fewer points in this category.
JK Moving, NAVL, and Allied have some of the best reputations. They're especially impressive for long-distance moves as they have to maintain standards set by various government entities and satisfy customers across multiple states.
Here is how our top-ranking companies performed in this category:
Value
It’s not wise to choose the cheapest option for long-distance relocations, as the value of a moving company isn’t solely wrapped up in its pricing. Finding the best long-distance moving company in terms of value is a challenge because you have to consider everything that goes into its pricing. Our survey results even showed that cost is the No. 1 concern for most moving customers, right above ensuring a company is legitimate. We found the value of a long-distance mover comes down to its cost, commitment to clear pricing, and flexibility to provide services that offer cheaper rates, such as a self-service model.
We requested an average of five sample moving estimates for every provider. All our sample quotes included two-bedroom moves that exceeded 500 miles, which we recognize as the average length of a long-distance move. This assessment allowed us to distinguish top-performing companies with more economical prices from those that fell short. We determined that any full-service mover charging $4,000–$7,000 for a two-bedroom long-distance move to be fair.
NAVL and Allied provided the best value we could find for a long-distance mover. We like that these movers provide additional financial flexibility through optional self-service moving services that offer even cheaper rates. We also awarded more points to companies focusing on giving binding estimates upfront rather than leaving the opportunity open for sudden price changes during the moving process.
Here is how each company did in this category:
Service Offerings
You ideally want a company that can fulfill as many of your long-distance moving service needs as possible. This also allows you to have your move handled by one company rather than finding a separate storage company, vehicle shipper, packing supplies storefront, and loading assistance.
When evaluating a cross-country mover, we prioritize the range of services they offer. The more comprehensive the services, the better equipped the mover is to meet your needs. For instance, NAVL and Allied stand out for their extensive service offerings, which include premove planning, full-service packing, loading, unloading, and post-move setup. These two companies also stand out in this category for their supplementary offerings, such as storage solutions for temporary or long-term needs and specialized services for transporting vehicles, boats, or valuable artwork and antiques.
One of the most important services for which we awarded points to every moving company is professional packing and unpacking. Besides Safeway, our top picks sell high-quality packing materials such as sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and moving blankets to help streamline the moving process and act as a one-stop shop. This service saves you time and effort.
See below how our top recommendations performed in this category:
Item Protection
You pay a lot when moving a long distance with a professional mover, so you want to ensure your movers handle your items properly and that you get financial compensation if they break or damage them.
Companies are legally required to offer you moving insurance, but that alone doesn’t always provide financial peace of mind. A mover that offers multiple levels of moving insurance is more helpful than one that limits its options to the two required plans: released value and full value protection. We gave additional points to companies that offer more customizable insurance, such as NAVL and JK Moving. Their insurance policies protect you against the financial burden of lost, damaged, or stolen items during the move, giving you one less thing to worry about.
The other valuable part of item protection is specialized service for fragile items. We checked that each provider has movers skilled in packing and securing various fragile items, including glassware and electronics, and that they also provide custom crating. This service involves custom-built crates or containers designed to minimize the risk of damage during loading, unloading, and transportation.
Our top five long-distance moving companies have implemented stringent security protocols to ensure the safety of your belongings throughout the entire process. This may include background checks on all employees, GPS tracking, secure warehousing facilities with round-the-clock surveillance, and advanced tracking systems to monitor the location and status of your shipment at all times. Almost every company in our review excels in this category except for Safeway, which features more limited options for item protection.
Below is how each company did in our assessment:
Scheduling
Nothing ruins a move more than a terrible scheduling experience. A long-distance move requires an even tighter schedule than a local move, given that everything needs to fall into place at just the right time. There’s also no opportunity for back-and-forth trips.
We simulated each mover’s quote process, which is the initial scheduling step. In this phase, movers often conduct surveys to assess a move’s scope and provide estimates outlining costs, timelines, and schedules. A good long-distance mover will offer multiple channels of communication—not just a phone number—as well as the option of either an in-person or virtual assessment for added convenience. We awarded more points to movers who provide their own smartphone app to help you conduct an evaluation and organize all necessary moving documents.
We found that NAVL, Allied, and JK Moving work closely with you to understand preferences such as moving dates and special considerations. They use this information to develop customized schedules that align with your needs while accounting for variables such as travel distances and resource availability.
JK Moving also uses one of the best mobile apps and online portals to streamline scheduling. Moving companies that offer these tools allow you to access move details, track shipments, communicate with coordinators, and adjust schedules. These tools facilitate real-time updates, alleviating concerns by informing you about delays or changes.
Here is how each company on this list did in this category:
Pricing for the Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
The total cost of a cross-country moving service depends on these main factors:
- Any items requiring special care
- Distance of the move
- Weight of your belongings
It's important to note that weight plays a significant role in pricing. Many companies base their charges on the weight or the space your items occupy. For instance, some companies (IVL) may charge around $1 per cubic foot for packing, while others (Safeway) may charge up to $1.50. However, the average cost is approximately $1.25.
Look for movers who provide a binding estimate upfront to avoid any unexpected charges. Remember, you're paying for the peace of mind and the expertise of professionals who will handle your belongings with care, so don’t be afraid to ask about pricing issues that may arise. Keep in mind that if you opt for partial packing, the price will likely fall between full packing and a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach.
We calculated the average price for a move based on various distances in the table below.
We also found average price ranges for one- to three-bedroom moves by nationwide providers in the following table.
We gathered and analyzed 84 cost estimates from 14 moving companies using key factors like inventory weight and move distance. We used this data to calculate an average cost per move. All estimates were binding, meaning the provider can't increase the price later.
Reviews of the Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
We identified our top five picks after scoring 14 long-distance moving companies against our rigorous rating system.
One important detail to remember is that van lines, such as NAVL and Allied, may use other movers they partner with to fulfill your moving needs. A van line is a type of moving carrier, which you can learn more about in our Moving Brokers vs. Carriers guide. Therefore, if the van line provides a partner company for your move, the van line you booked with is its parent company. The van line remains a carrier as long as the bill of lading, which is the collection of moving contract paperwork, states that the parent company remains responsible for any claims filed for damaged items.
Best for Vehicle Relocation: Allied Van Lines
What We Liked
- Provides in-house vehicle relocation services while other providers outsource
- Assists with downsizing through donation services with The Salvation Army
- Offers expedited relocation for small-load moves via Allied Express
What We Didn't Like
- Has no customer support on the weekends, while other major van lines do
- Customer service might vary based on your local Allied branch
- Has a slower-than-average claims process, according to customer reviews
Our Scores
Allied Van Lines is the top moving company in our ranking system with 4.9 out of 5 stars. Though it struggled in the “Reputation” category, it excelled in “Service Offerings,” “Item Protection,” and “Scheduling.”
Our Review
Allied (USDOT #: 076235) is our highest-rated long-distance moving company. We’re impressed that Allied offers in-house vehicle relocation services. Most other long-distance moving companies don’t commonly provide this service in-house and rely on a third-party company. You’ll get direct access to who is moving your vehicle and clear communication when you ship your car, boat, recreational vehicle, motorcycle, or other vehicle with Allied because there is no intermediary. We also like that it provides various services to simplify your long-distance move and offers tight communication around strict pickup and delivery timelines.
We appreciate that Allied provides binding estimates, unlike IVL and Moving APT. Allied costs around $5,370 on average, according to the sample quotes we gathered, but in our 2024 survey, 66 respondents who used Allied reported a significantly lower average price of $2,945 for all move sizes. This price is a steal compared to NAVL, which averaged $4,178 for the same move, or JK Moving, which averaged $5,868.
We like that Allied offers a moving container service (Allied Express) that provides speedy shipping for smaller moves, similar to NAVL. Allied Express lets you pack and load your belongings or request professional moving assistance, yielding a significantly faster relocation with a guaranteed delivery date. It’s also impressive that Allied states on its website that it will pay you $75 each day it’s late, unlike other movers that avoid the topic of late delivery altogether.
Customer Reviews
- Vehicle shipping
- Affordable pricing
- Mobile app
- Claims process
Just like NAVL and IVL, Allied has more than 500 agent locations across the country, each with varying levels of quality based on customer reviews we read. We recommend carefully checking local reviews before making a decision rather than relying solely on the nationwide consensus. The company headquarters’ BBB page has a low rating of 1.14 out of 5 stars, but other Allied locations have better scores. It’s worth noting that Allied has an A+ rating from the BBB, just like NAVL and IVL.
Allied generally receives high praise for its easy virtual quote process, which uses the company's smartphone application. This feature offers convenience as you can get a detailed quote without having to arrange an in-person visit. Many locations feature reviews describing excellent customer service teams and moving crews that are more than qualified to handle complex moving tasks such as navigating difficult stairs. This means your home’s layout is less of a hurdle for Allied than it might be for other movers.
Negative reviews mention Allied’s limited customer service hours and a slow claims process for damaged items. If you do have to file a claim, these issues might cause frustration when trying to get someone on the phone. Some customers cite subpar insurance coverage, while others report a lack of compensation for lost or damaged items even after contacting their local Allied office.
Best for Claims: North American Van Lines
What We Liked
- No deposit required for long-distance moves
- Offers a customized budget-planning service
- Only provides binding estimates, so your price won’t increase later
What We Didn't Like
- Requires three days' notice for cancellations
- Limits its storage services based on location and availability
- Doesn’t provide ongoing discounts like IVL or American Van Lines
Our Scores
NAVL is a close second in our ranking system with 4.8 stars out of 5. It scored the highest in “Item Protection” and “Service Offerings.” Its lowest score was in “Reputation.”
Our Review
North American Van Lines (USDOT #: 070851) is our second choice of top long-distance moving companies. You want vetted moving labor because you'll be covered if something goes wrong, and we like that NAVL makes it clear that it uses background-checked and insured moving labor to ensure you're extra protected. This is standard across the moving industry, but we appreciate that NAVL is upfront about this part of its service and doesn’t leave you guessing who it hires. Other providers don’t disclose or advertise this upfront because they simply don't consider it a highlight.
We think NAVL’s pricing is fair for a full-service moving company. The sample quotes we gathered averaged $5,969 to move a two-bedroom home 500+ miles away, and our 2024 survey showed an average of $4,178 among 64 NAVL customers. This is more than $2,000 less than JK Moving, which offers similar services but is one of the more expensive options on this list.
One unique company offering that stands out is NAVL’s complimentary stretch wrapping to safeguard your upholstered furniture during your move. This is often an additional charge with a similar mover, such as IVL, as part of its fragile packing service. A fragile packing service usually costs even more than a traditional packing one. Another feature we like that NAVL offers is its moving container service called Blue Express. This shows that you can customize your moving service package to fit your budget and needs more than others that only offer full-service options, such as JK Moving or IVL.
Customer Reviews
- Extensive services
- Flexible pricing
- Claims experience
- Inconsistent service
NAVL’s quality of service varies depending on your location, which we don’t love. Its headquarters has an A+ BBB rating and accreditation, but its customer review score is a low 1.12 out of 5 stars. Its headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, also features mixed feedback on Google Reviews and a 2.8 out of 5-star rating. As with many moving company customer reviews, you might want to take some of these ratings with a grain of salt. Customers typically only write reviews when something goes wrong because when a move goes well, there are plenty of other tasks to get to during the relocation instead of rating the movers they hired. Because of this, moving company ratings tend to skew toward a negative or mixed score.
Positive feedback mentions transparent and professional service with excellent pricing compared to other movers. Negative reviews cite challenges in communication and receiving some items damaged. We also discovered many recent Reddit threads with mixed comments about the company. Reddit users mentioned that communication challenges are a central issue, but many found their overall service to go well.
Communication issues aren’t uncommon for a major van line company such as NAVL. Because a van line might use another mover within its network, customer service can vary depending on that specific company. Fortunately, we had positive interactions with NAVL while gathering sample quotes and asking about specialty services. Our team also read many reviews that stated NAVL provided excellent customer support. We suggest checking customer feedback for your local NAVL branch before booking.
Best Specialized Packing: JK Moving Services
What We Liked
- Offers financing, which is rare in the industry, with options as low as 0%
- Uses an AI-assisted online quote tool that functions more smooth and efficiently than NAVL’s and Allied’s mobile apps
- Only holds a carrier license with background-checked movers
What We Didn't Like
- Doesn’t refund your $250 deposit, while many providers tend to refund deposits
- Has higher-than-average pricing compared to other full-service long-distance movers
- Features a long quote process
Our Scores
JK Moving earned 4.7 out of 5 stars. The company excelled in the categories of “Reputation” and “Item Protection,” but it lacked when it came to “Value” due to its high average pricing. Here’s how it did in all categories:
Our Review
JK Moving (USDOT #: 1065394) provides à la carte moving services in all 50 states with more financial flexibility than other carriers in our review. We like that the company offers financing services with Enhancify, which our other top picks don’t offer. You can receive a rate as low as 0% to finance your full-service move. According to the quotes we gathered, we found that JK Moving’s pricing can run higher than NAVL or Allied, with an average price of $7,171. Our 2024 survey revealed an average price of $5,868 among 56 JK Moving customers, so you might receive a lower price than we quoted.
The industry standard for moving insurance is the legally required released value coverage, which only offers 60 cents per pound per item in compensation. JK Moving goes beyond this by giving you $6 per pound per item coverage, with a minimum coverage amount of $15,000, for its released value plan. This ensures that your belongings are well-protected during the move without you having to pay the extra cost for a customized full value plan, which matches your items at their retail price. JK Moving also provides custom full value coverage, but it will cost more based on your shipment’s value. If you want the best item protection possible, JK Moving beats out every other provider in this review.
We also like that JK Moving prioritizes the vetting and training of its crews. We read on its official website that all JK Moving crew members undergo thorough background checks and drug testing during hiring. Additionally, they receive specialized training at an on-site facility at JK Moving's headquarters, where they practice packing and moving scenarios in a fully furnished two-story home, mimicking real-life situations. We find this training sets JK Moving apart due to its expertise in handling specialty items, such as pianos and antiques, as opposed to other companies that aren’t as directly involved with training its movers.
Customer Reviews
- Specialized services
- Mobile app
- Customer support
- Price hikes
JK Moving boasts an impressive A+ rating from the BBB and a commendable customer review score of 3.91 out of 5 stars. This score is high for the moving industry, surpassing many other industry carriers like NAVL. Unfortunately, there have been some reports of quality varying by location, which may hold the company back in instances of item protection. For example, some Reddit threads praise the company's reputable services, but other Reddit users mention instances of broken goods or damaged items during the moving process.
Negative customer reviews cite price inflation after delivery or tardy moving crews at the start of local and long-distance jobs. While these complaints shouldn’t be disregarded, they appear to be relatively isolated incidents and don't necessarily represent widespread dissatisfaction with the company's services.
Overall, we found that JK Moving has a strong reputation in the industry, backed by its excellent BBB rating, highly trained movers, and favorable customer reviews.
Best Full-Service Mover: International Van Lines
What We Liked
- Offers one month of free storage at the point of origin for long-distance moves
- Includes more price transparency than other movers
- Provides flexible insurance plans that you can adjust to your desired coverage
What We Didn't Like
- Outsources some moves to third-party carriers
- Requires up to a 25% deposit when booking a move, which is higher than many competitors
- Features below-average customer reviews on some popular review sites
Our Scores
We awarded IVL 4.5 out of 5 stars. The company did well in “Reputation” and “Item Protection” but struggled in “Scheduling” and “Value.” Below is how it performed across the board:
Our Review
International Van Lines (USDOT #: 2293832) provides the most comprehensive selection of moving services at competitive pricing on this list, including packing, loading, delivery, unpacking, and unloading. IVL generated our sample quotes swiftly and clearly, within less than five minutes. Its representatives also outlined potential additional charges transparently compared to a provider like JK Moving, which features a longer and more extensive quote process.
We like IVL for its commitment to pricing transparency and that it provides a rare visibility its competitors lack. In fact, there are price ranges listed on its website, allowing you to set a budget. However, that doesn’t replace the need for you to get a custom quote.
Through its quote tool, we found that most of IVL’s moves typically cost between $5,250 and $7,688. However, our 2024 survey of 85 IVL customers revealed an average price of $10,933. That number is higher than the range provided by the company’s cost calculator and is significantly higher by a few thousand dollars compared to NAVL and Allied. This also goes to show that you shouldn’t put all your bets on its calculator as the best signifier of what your move will cost.
We recommend you obtain a custom quote from IVL so you know exactly how much your move will cost. The services you require will influence your total price.
Customer Reviews
- Customer service
- Excellent packing
- Prompt service
- Poor communication
IVL has an A+ rating from the BBB with a 3.47 out of 5-star rating from users. However, it's important to note that IVL lacks accreditation from the BBB, meaning it hasn’t undergone the organization's accreditation process, which checks for ethical advertising and salesmanship. The other providers in our review feature BBB accreditations, but this doesn’t inherently mean those providers are better. Companies may opt out of BBB accreditation as it requires additional fees.
Reviews for IVL suggest that it generally provides good service, but there are instances where the quality can vary depending on the partner companies it books for specific moves. For example, in some recent Reddit threads, customers reported that IVL’s partners altered their initial quotes. This is not surprising given the communication breakdown that can occur between the customer and multiple movers.
We recommend you communicate clearly and with a ton of detail to ensure you get a binding estimate. This way, the movers don’t find any surprises causing a change in the contract. IVL's overall review profile suggests that such occurrences are relatively rare compared to other large movers we've reviewed, like Mayflower and Moving APT. While we don’t like that there are instances of dissatisfaction, most reviews seem to indicate an overall positive experience with IVL's services.
Most Reliable Pricing: Safeway Moving Inc.
What We Liked
- Includes light packing with all long-distance moves without you paying for it as a separate service
- Offers one free month of storage for long-distance moves in secure, climate-controlled facilities
- Focuses on flat-rate pricing, to avoid price hikes
What We Didn't Like
- Doesn’t disclose whether it background checks all its movers
- Features fewer extra services, such as fragile-only options, compared to other full-service movers
- Leaves room for communication issues when third parties are involved in completing your move
Our Scores
Safeway earned 4.3 out of 5 stars, with “Reputation” and “Item Protection” being its standout categories. The company lacked in “Customer Service” and “Value.” Here’s how it did in each category:
Our Review
Safeway (USDOT #: 3756000) is a reliable option if you have a fixed moving budget. The company only provides binding estimates, so your price won’t increase after your service. Other providers, such as Mayflower, might not offer a binding estimate upfront without you requesting one. We also like that Safeway gave prompt responses to any concerns we raised when gathering our sample quote.
Safeway is the only mover that specializes in relocation to a condo or homeowners association (HOA). We like how the company exclusively partners with moving carriers who possess the necessary additional licenses and certificates of insurance, unlike another mover, such as U-Pack, that might not consider how these moves alter your relocation. Most condo associations and HOAs require movers to carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance to protect other residents and properties in the HOA. While many moving companies carry around a $750,000 liability insurance policy, all of Safeway’s movers meet HOA monetary requirements.
Customer Reviews
- Comprehensive insurance
- Skilled movers
- Timely deliveries
- Pricing changes
Safeway has a B- BBB rating, which is a respectable score, though it's the lowest-rated provider in this review. The company holds a higher customer review score than other movers in this guide, with 4.3 out of 5 stars due to its helpful customer service staff, but some negative BBB reviews have mentioned bait-and-switch pricing tactics. This is surprising given how Safeway emphasizes its focus on flat-rate pricing on its website.
We don’t like that recent Reddit threads reported customers experiencing unexpected price increases during moving. Again, Safeway claims on its website to focus on binding estimates. Pricing discrepancies are common among moving companies that may subcontract certain aspects of the move, such as storage and loading services, but a binding estimate should prevent changes as long as you’re clear and detailed about all aspects of the move with your provider. If a mover shows up and you forgot to mention hundreds of pounds of items in your garage during the quote process, then the company can still change the price even with a binding estimate. This underscores the importance of thoroughly reviewing and understanding the terms and conditions in your moving contract before signing.
Despite these concerns, most testimonials across the BBB and Google Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with customers praising Safeway’s services. We like how positive reviews often highlight the company's skilled and professional movers, smooth moving days, and timely deliveries to new homes, contributing to stress-free moving experiences.
