Best Short-Distance Moving Companies (2024)
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Few people realize how much they own until it’s time to move, and it doesn’t take long for the frustration to mount trying to get those belongings into a new home. Your new home may be less than 20 miles away, but that doesn’t make your move less stressful. There are numerous moving companies that provide full-service packing assistance, and many extend their long-distance offerings to local moves.
To understand what a professional moving service will look like, we have researched and compared the best moving companies in the country. We’ve assessed how each company stacks up for local moves and have put together this guide to help you make a confident choice.
7 Best Short-Distance Moving Companies
These are our top picks for short-distance moving companies:
- Best Full-Service Mover: International Van Lines
- Most Efficient: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
- Best Customer Service: Moving APT
- Best for Claims: North American Van Lines
- Best for Vehicle Relocation: Allied Van Lines
- Best Overall Moving Labor: American Van Lines
- Best Specialized Packing: JK Moving Services
Compare the Best Short-Distance Moving Companies
Our Pick
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#1 out of 28 companies | #2 out of 28 companies | #3 out of 28 companies | #4 out of 28 companies | #5 out of 28 companies | #6 out of 28 companies | #7 out of 28 companies | |
A+ | B | B+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
FMCSA Licensing |
Carrier/Broker | Broker | Broker | Carrier/Broker | Carrier | Carrier | Carrier |
Average Price* |
$5,250 | $5,054 | $4,683 | $5,969 | $5,370 | $5,625 | $7,171 |
Deposit Required |
Up to 25% | Up to 33% | Varies | None | None | Up to 50% | $250 |
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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 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 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 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 Allied if you want to ship a vehicle due to the company’s in-house vehicle relocation services. |
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 JK Moving Services for its ability to offer financing options through its partnership with Enhancify and its high-end, white-glove packing services. |
Rating Categories |
International Van Lines | Interstate Moving & Relocation Group | Moving APT | North American Van Lines | Allied Van Lines | American Van Lines | JK Moving Services |
Customer Service |
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Our Reviews of the Best Short-Distance Movers
Factors To Consider for a Short-Distance Move
With some moving companies, the landscape changes for short-distance moves. Providers that operate as brokers and carriers may only conduct local moves with their own crews in limited coverage areas, outsourcing most local services to partnered companies. The costs for local moves may differ, using hourly rates and extra fees for moving labor in place of flat-rate pricing.
For any moving service, learn as much as you can about the company’s pricing structure. Find out whether the provider uses non-binding or binding estimates, and ask about add-on costs. Before booking a move date, ask about the company’s deposit requirements and cancellation policy to avoid potential issues at a later date.
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Our Conclusion
We researched the costs, services, online resources, and general business practices for moving providers from coast to coast. One moving company that we’ve circled back to time and time again is International Van Lines. IVL works to accommodate most relocation needs, including short-distance moves. Its full-service packing options are comprehensive, and we appreciate the inclusion of an online pricing list for extra services to avoid hidden fees.
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group and Moving APT are moving brokers, making each company a reasonable option for short-distance moves that are last-minute or on a budget. Moving brokers outsource services to third-party providers and, by doing so, can serve a greater coverage area for local moves.
Picking a moving company isn’t an easy decision. We’ve ranked the best movers using a thorough methodology to help you find the right fit. However, the decision is yours to make, and we recommend comparing quotes among at least three providers before you begin the booking process.
Compare the Top Short-Distance Moving Companies
Compare your top moving choices:
FAQ About Short-Distance Moving Companies
What is considered short-distance moving?
The definition of a short-distance move may differ among moving companies, but, generally, it’s a distance of 50 miles or less. If your move is greater than 50 miles, you may want to consider hiring one of our top recommended long-distance moving companies.
What is the cheapest way to move?
The cheapest way to move is to conduct the move yourself using a rental truck or a shipping container company. You can also opt for partial-packing services from full-service movers to save money, conducting some aspects of a move yourself and leaving the heavy lifting to professionals. If you are interested in hiring a full-service mover, check out our top picks for the best cheap moving companies
What are the benefits of using a moving company?
One benefit of using a moving company is that it eliminates much of the stress associated with a move. You can pay professional movers for full packing assistance, having the company pack, load, transport, unload, and unpack your belongings at your new home.
How much do movers cost?
The cost for movers varies considerably depending on the size of your shipment and the services you select. Because of reduced mileage and hazards, a short-distance move should be cheaper than a long-distance move.
What is the cheapest way to move from one city to another?
The cheapest way to move between two cities is to use a self-service moving company. There are several container shipping and storage companies that tend to cost less than full-service competitors.
Other Moving Resources
- Best Moving Companies
- Best Interstate 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, trailer and container options, additional benefits, and reputation to arrive at a final score out of 100.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.