Planning a move of any size is stressful, especially if you’re moving across state lines. Professional moving companies provide services that help make your move as stress-free as possible. Our team conducted in-depth research on the best moving companies and narrowed down our list to provide you with the best interstate moving companies.
Best Interstate Moving Companies of 2023
Based on our methodology and research, the best interstate moving companies include the following:
- International Van Lines: Best Overall Full-Service Mover
- American Van Lines: Most Experienced Moving Labor
- Interstate Moving & Relocation Group: Most Efficient
- Safeway Moving Inc.: Most Customer-Oriented
- JK Moving Services: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover
- Allied Van Lines: Best for Vehicle Relocation
- North American Van Lines: Best for Claims
- Moving APT: Best Customer Service
Compare the Top Interstate Movers
Below, we compare our top-ranked interstate movers. Our team evaluated the pros and cons of each mover, analyzing services, average moving costs, customer experience, and more.
| Star Rating | BBB Rating | Estimate Info | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Van Lines |
|
B | $2,500–$4,300 | VISIT SITE | |
| American Van Lines |
|
B- | $3,200–$3,500 | VISIT SITE | |
| Interstate Moving & Relocation Group |
|
B | $2,800–$4,000 | VISIT SITE | |
| Safeway Moving Inc. |
|
A+ | $6,300–$7,500 | VISIT SITE | |
| JK Moving Services |
|
A+ | $7,550 | VISIT SITE | |
| Allied Van Lines |
|
A+ | $4,730–$5,380 | VISIT SITE | |
| North American Van Lines |
|
A+ | $4,700–$5,350 | VISIT SITE | |
| Moving APT |
 |
B | $2,968–$5,668 | VISIT SITE |
| International Van Lines | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Estimate Info | $2,500–$4,300 |
| American Van Lines | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | B- |
| Estimate Info | $3,200–$3,500 |
| Interstate Moving & Relocation Group | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Estimate Info | $2,800–$4,000 |
| Safeway Moving Inc. | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Estimate Info | $6,300–$7,500 |
| JK Moving Services | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Estimate Info | $7,550 |
| Allied Van Lines | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Estimate Info | $4,730–$5,380 |
| North American Van Lines | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Estimate Info | $4,700–$5,350 |
| Moving APT | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Estimate Info | $2,968–$5,668 |
*Note: The estimate info above is for a two-bedroom move from Chicago, Illinois, to Atlanta, Georgia.
**Note: BBB ratings are accurate as of May 2023.
International Van Lines
Best Full-Service Mover
American Van Lines
Most Experienced Mover
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
Most Efficient
Safeway Moving Inc.
Most Customer-Oriented
JK Moving Services
Most Customizable
Allied Van Lines
Best for Vehicle Relocation
North American Van Lines
Best for Claims
Moving APT
Best Customer Service
Interstate Moving Cost Factors
At first glance, your move estimate can be confusing. You may be wondering how the moving company breaks down its pricing. Here, we’ve listed two basic pricing structures for different interstate moves.
Single-Day Interstate Moves:
Shorter, single-day interstate moves are typically billed hourly. This is similar to local moving cost structures. Any added services you request, such as packing, are baked into the final total via more billable working hours. You could incur material costs for packing supplies or crating or be billed flat fees for piano moving, pool table moving, and similar add-ons.
Either way, you’ll likely be quoted a ballpark figure. This will include all services rendered, an hourly rate based on mover demand, and a rough estimate for the total time your move will take.
Multi-Day Interstate Moves:
Longer interstate relocations will be billed at flat rates or ballpark estimates based on the following factors:
- Move distance and shipping weight: These two factors are used to calculate “line-haul fees,” which account for the majority of any long-distance move’s cost. Movers should have defined weigh-in processes for their trucks and stable per-mile rates to determine these fees.
- Add-on services: Added services, such as packing, crating, vehicle shipping, and more will inflate your cost. These may have flat fees attached, or they may be folded into your line-haul fee. This will depend on the mover you use.
- Move date: This is a cost factor for all moves. Moving between May and September will often come with higher rates, which are raised in response to heightened demand.
- Advance booking: Booking your move at least six weeks to a month in advance will help ensure that you don’t incur higher rates. Some movers will bill higher rates when you book within a week of your move date.
How To Prepare for an Interstate Move
An interstate moving company streamlines your move to a new home across state lines, but you still need to prepare ahead of moving day for the most successful moving experience.
- Downsize: The less you have, the less your move will cost. When you create your home inventory list, keep track of the items you plan to sell, donate, or throw away.
- Create an inventory list: Write up an inventory list by room. If you’re packing yourself, roughly estimate how many boxes you’ll need for each room.
- Research moving companies: Start assembling a list of reputable moving companies that serve your area. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a great government resource to find a company’s insurance information and see whether it has any active red flags, such as revoked licensing.
- Get quotes and book your move: Get quotes from all of the moving companies you’re considering between six weeks to one month ahead of your move date. Aim to book your move at least a month in advance. Get copies of your moving contract when you confirm your move date. Also, read the FMCSA’s Rights and Responsibilities documentation; your mover should provide you with a copy.
- File a change of address: File change-of-address forms with your local post office. Then, change your contact information with your bank, place of employment, and any other relevant institution.
How To Choose the Best Interstate Moving Company
Here, we’ve listed a few key factors to consider when evaluating any mover.
- Provides necessary moving services: This can be assessed by getting a quote from a mover you’re considering. Inquire about packing, crating, storage, piano moving, and any other services you may need. The company representative will tell you if they can help and give you an estimated price for the services to be performed.
- Trustworthy quote process: Since you’re likely getting multiple quotes from moving companies, take note of the quote process. Solid moving companies will have transparent pricing and clear service costs.
- Positive customer reviews: Any mover you consider should have a wealth of customer feedback. Google, Yelp, social media, Better Business Bureau, and Trustpilot are all valid sources that will show you how a company conducts itself aside from its stated policies. Look for positive and negative reviews to assess the movers you’re considering. Also, read the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General guide on the common red flags that indicate moving fraud.
Our Conclusion
We recommend getting quotes from multiple companies before booking your move. Doing so is the best way to properly vet your options and get the best price for the job. International Van Lines gets our vote as the best mover for anyone crossing state lines, as its ample service profile should make for an easy move in any situation.
IMRG’s unmatched reach and partner network helped it rate highly on our list. If your move requires specialized packing or added protection for your goods traveling to another state, IMRG’s partner companies in your area could help.
Get quotes six to eight weeks before your move, and book at least a month in advance. This is the best way to ensure that you lock in a low rate and that all needed services will be handled.
FAQs About Interstate Movers
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our moving company ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each company. We conduct research by reading through the company websites, analyzing customer reviews, conducting consumer surveys, requesting quotes, and speaking with customer representatives. We then score each moving company against our review standards for services, contents coverage, scheduling, trailer and container options, additional benefits, and reputation to arrive at a final score out of 100. We translated this score to a star rating out of 5.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.