Best Antique Moving Companies (2024)
Moving can be stressful for anyone, but it’s especially nerve-wracking if you have expensive or heirloom antiques to move. These items are often fragile and irreplaceable, so you don’t want to leave them in the hands of just anyone. Fortunately, there are professional moving companies trained to move antiques with care.
We reviewed the best moving companies nationwide, scoring them on their services, customer reviews, prices, and more to see which offers customers the most value. We recommend the six antique moving companies below to handle your most precious treasures.
6 Best Antique Moving Companies
Based on our in-depth analysis, we find the following providers to be the best antique moving companies:
Compare Antique Movers
See how we scored antique moving companies and the estimates we got from each.
Our Pick
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#1 out of 10 companies | #2 out of 10 companies | #3 out of 10 companies | #4 out of 10 companies | #5 out of 10 companies | #6 out of 10 companies | |
A+ | A+ | B+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
FMCSA Licensing |
Carrier | Carrier | Broker | Carrier | Carrier/Broker | Carrier/Broker |
Average Price* |
$5,250 | $5,625 | $4,683 | $7,171 | $5,370 | $5,969 |
Deposit Required |
Up to 25% | Up to 50% | Varies | $250 | None | None |
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Cons |
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Summary |
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 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 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 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 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. |
Rating Categories |
International Van Lines | American Van Lines | Moving APT | JK Moving Services | Allied Van Lines | North American Van Lines |
Customer Service |
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Scheduling |
Company | Star Rating | BBB Rating | Estimate Info | Visit Site |
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A+ | $2,500–$4,300 | GET ESTIMATE | ||
A+ | $3,200–$3,500 | GET ESTIMATE | ||
B | $2,968–$5,668 | GET ESTIMATE | ||
A+ | $7,550 | GET ESTIMATE | ||
A+ | $4,730–$5,380 | GET ESTIMATE | ||
A+ | $4,700–$5,350 | GET ESTIMATE |
*BBB ratings are accurate as of October 2023.
**Costs are estimates based on a three-bedroom, long-distance move ranging 700–1,000 miles.
Our Reviews of the Best Antique Moving Companies
How To Pick a Good Antique Moving Company
A major part of properly transporting antiques is picking the right moving company for the job. Unfortunately, there are some scammers in the moving industry, but we are here to help. Here are some of the major factors to look out for and steps to take when picking a good moving company.
1. Look Up a Company’s USDOT Number
“The moving industry is heavily scrutinized and regulated. Generally, unlicensed companies are the ones who develop bad reputations for the industry,” Mike Scott, a partner of Capital Moving in Raleigh, N.C., told us. He advises customers check that moving companies are properly licensed, bonded, and insured for the type of move you are asking them to help with.
An easy way to check this information is to ask the company for its USDOT number. Once you have a company’s USDOT number, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website to look up the company’s licenses. All companies on this list are properly licensed, bonded, and insured.
2. Ask for a Binding Estimate
If a company does not offer binding estimates through either in-home or virtual surveys, this may be a red flag. A binding estimate is a price that will not change over the course of your move, given that your inventory remains the same.
A reputable company should have enough years of experience to be able to review your itemized list of belongings, as well as any barriers in your home (such as stairs or parking availability), estimate the time and cost of your move, and stick to the binding estimate.
3. Review Valuation Options
Your mover is liable for the value of the goods you ask to transport. However, there are levels of liability coverage which will determine the amount and type of reimbursement you will receive if an item is lost or damaged.
Under federal law, interstate movers must offer two different liability options referred to as valuation coverage: released-value and full-value protection. A released-value plan should cover $0.60 per pound per item. Companies should also provide a full-value plan that covers the actual value of your items either based on declared value or a higher coverage cap based on weight. Prices for these types of coverage will vary.
4. Read Customer Service Reviews
We read hundreds of customer reviews on popular reviews sites, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Yelp, TrustPilot, and more. This is an effective way to obtain a realistic perspective of what it is like to deal with a company’s customer service. We suggest you look through a few different customer review websites for both positive and negative reviews to understand what it is like to purchase services from a mover.
5. Vet Thoroughly To Avoid Scams
Moving scams can happen if you’re not careful. This often happens one of two ways. The most common is asking for a large deposit and never hearing from them once you pay it. The other is loading all your belongings onto a truck and disappearing with them. You don’t want this to happen with your irreplaceable antiques. As mentioned above, checking licensure is one of the best ways to avoid moving scams. Be wary of companies requiring deposits over 25%, and don’t pay or do anything with a company that won’t provide or sign a contract before your moving date. We also suggest checking BBB ratings.
How Much Does It Cost To Move Antiques?
We found that moving antiques averaged $4,000–$8,000 for a three-bedroom home and a multi-state move. You’ll need to go through the quote process to get a clear estimate of what your actual move will cost because prices vary greatly depending on several factors, including:
- Add-on services
- Amount of items and weight
- Insurance coverage
- Location (current and new residence)
- Move distance
- Moving container or truck size
- Type of items
If you are trying to save costs, check out our top choices for the best cheap moving companies.
Our Conclusion
Our top pick for antique moving companies is International Van Lines due to its industry reputation, specialty packing services, and protection coverage. You may end up paying more, but we feel the company’s expertise and professionalism are worth it when shipping antiques.
Don’t forget to carefully vet companies before signing a contract or paying a deposit. We recommend getting quotes from at least three companies to compare pricing.
FAQ About Antique Moving Companies
How do you move antiques?
Wrap small fragile and antique items in packing paper, and then place them into a box with other wrapped items. Use crumpled packing paper to fill any gaps that might appear between the items. Make sure the box is secure by using packing tape to seal it and properly label the box as fragile. For larger items, make sure that your moving company will supply moving blankets to secure them in the moving truck.
What is the best way to ship antique furniture?
We recommend hiring a professional moving company to ship your antique furniture. Antiques are often expensive, fragile, and irreplaceable. They’re not items to leave up to chance. Look for a reputable moving company specializing in fragile packaging and moving large antiques. You can even find companies specializing in moving antique cars, such as Allied Van Lines.
Should I purchase moving insurance through my moving company?
Yes. We strongly suggest purchasing moving insurance to protect yourself financially if something happens to your belongings while in transport. If your antiques are unfortunately damaged, you can’t get them back as new, but you can at least be compensated for them. Most moving companies require an appraisal before you purchase valuation coverage.
Other Moving Resources
We’ve done in-depth research on the best moving companies in the United States and have compiled these easy to digest comparisons:
- Best Interstate Moving Companies
- Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
- Best Moving Container Companies
- Best Moving Companies for Small Moves
- Best Moving Companies for Military Moves
Our Rating Methodology
We back 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 options, additional benefits and custom service options, and reputation among customers to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.