Compare the Best Long Distance
Moving Companies of 2023

Moving from one location to another can be stressful and time consuming. If you want to save time and energy, consider hiring a professional long distance moving company. You should choose a reputable moving company that offers quality service at affordable rates. The following are some things you should look out for when comparing long distance moving companies.

Company Company Name Local and Long Distance Offers
Auto Shipping
Rating Details
North American Van Lines
Yes
Yes
4.8
Allied Van Lines
Yes
Yes
4.7
Colonial Van Lines
Yes
No
4.5
American Van Lines
Yes
No
4.3
Gentle Giant Moving Company
Yes
No
4.2
Author: Helen McKenzie
January 09, 2023

Writer & Researcher

8 Min Read

What Is Considered a Long-Distance Move?

Today, the moving sector has many moving companies that can help with your long-distance move. Sometimes, selecting the best moving firm from the many options you have can be overwhelming. So, unless you have a detailed updated review of moving companies near you or perform in-depth research, you might have difficulty finding the best option. And that’s because the moving process is usually a stressful and difficult time and can get more complicated, especially if you are moving cross-country or long-distance. From packing to sorting and storage, there are no shortages of tasks to complete in a long-distance move, which begs the question, what is a long-distance move?

What is a long-distance move? If a move exceeds 400 miles, it qualifies as a long-distance move — for example, from New York to Las Vegas. Interstate-moving, long-haul moving, and cross-country moving are the other terms people use to refer to a long-distance move. But it also depends on the distance and destination. Technically, you can have long-distance interstate and long-distance intrastate moves. As the names suggest, interstate and cross-country moving are when you are relocating from one state and moving into another or those involving crossing state borders. However, not all long-haul moves usually cross state borders as they can exceed 400 miles but within the same state. 

Any other moves traveling fewer miles than 400 belong to the local or intrastate moves bracket. For example, a move can cover 100 miles, 50 miles, or even 200 miles. According to moving firms, such moves don’t qualify to be in the same category as long-distance moves.

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What To Look for in a Long-Distance Moving Company?

Moving is one thing, and long-distance moving is another, as it often requires true grit. It doesn’t matter if you are long-distance moving for pleasure or work. You will want to hire the most competent long-distance moving company as it is vital for a smooth shift from one place to another. But do you know what is worth looking for in a long-distance mover? Continue reading to explore the following questions.

  • Does the mover provide binding estimates?

Always go for a moving company that provides binding estimates to their clients. This should be the first thing to consider when determining which long-distance mover has the right attributes to make your long-distance move the best possible. If a long-distance mover’s estimates are not binding, you might be surprised at the moving firm increasing your fee at short notice, even on the moving day. Usually, when a long-distance moving firm gives you a written estimate, you should see the words “binding estimate” on it. If the written estimate doesn’t have the “binding estimate” words, don’t agree to hire that particular mover. 

  • What are the moving firm’s coverage options?

It’s also recommended you check the moving company’s coverage options. Although an excellent moving company’s coverage might cost you extra dollars, most reputable long-distance moving companies provide fundamental liability coverage at no cost. Although basic liability coverage will not mean much if your household items disappear or break during transit, it acts as a great litmus test of a mover’s quality of services. So, if you encounter a long-distance moving company that doesn’t feature basic liability coverage, avoid it. 

  • Does the mover incorporate online positive customer reviews?

What are people saying about the moving company you want to use for your long-distance move? The best way to explore other clients’ opinions on a mover’s services is to look for customer reviews on various online platforms. To find the most reliable long-distance mover, we would advise you to pay particular attention to what previous customers said about the mover’s punctuality and pricing. While you are likely to find a few bad reviews about any moving company, it doesn’t always mean that they are not reliable. If most online reviews are positive, praising the mover for their excellent services, it’s a potential indication you can trust them. A red flag is when most reviews are negative, meaning you should not use the moving firm’s services. 

How Much Does a Long-Distance Move Cost? What Factors Impact Quotes?

First, a long-distance move can take approximately ten to 14 days. Depending on several factors, you can now calculate what your long-distance move is likely to cost. Remember that shipment deliveries arrive in three days, three weeks, or even longer. In most cases, shipment deliveries depend on the time of the year and the degree of your moving services. Also, remember that ideally, a truck driver can only be legally behind the wheel up to 650 miles per day. 

Considering all that, a full-service long-distance move will usually cost you around $2,000. So, you can expect a long-distance move to cost you from as low as $1,250 to as high as $5,000, with most of these long-distance moves costing about $4,000. Add-on services, move distance, move type, and seasonality are some factors that may make this figure fluctuate, as discussed below in detail.

Factors Impacting Long-Distance Moving Quotes

Usually, more than one factor can affect the overall cost of a long-distance move, whether intrastate or interstate. And these factors are common among most long-distance moving companies when adjusting their quotes. 

Without wasting time, your long-distance moving package quote is likely to change depending on the following most common factors.

  • Your original home’s location: The pick-up location is a vital element of a long-distance moving quote. Some long-distance movers will likely add some extra dollars to your moving quote if your original residence is quite far from the company’s headquarters. Additionally, the moving price will also be higher if the moving company realizes it might be harder to reach your original home’s location. 
  • Your new home’s location: Equally, the drop-off location is an essential part of the moving quote. The moving firm is likely to raise the overall cost if it’s difficult to reach your new destination. For instance, if you are moving into a tight street where the moving truck won’t easily fit, your long-distance moving quote might include an extra fee. 
  • Move time and date: The day and time of the moving matter as much as the date itself. The most well-known months for long-distance moving are spring to late summer, meaning movers will start imputing higher figures on their moving quotes as the moving demand skyrockets. Weekends and national holidays are also likely to see you pay more for your long-distance move. If you want to save, we recommend choosing a random weekday in the winter or fall. 
  • Size and the overall move distance: The primary factors in moving quotes are the size and overall distance the move will cover. Take for example a three-bedroom home that features a living room, bathroom, and dining room. The size of such a home means more possessions, translating to a higher cost than a simple studio with one bathroom and small living space. 
  • Labor costs: Usually, every state has different labor costs, so your moving quote will depend on the location of the moving company. This charge applies mainly to long-distance moves, internationally or cross-country, because short-distance moving quotes are primarily local. 
  • Materials: Most long-distance movers also provide their clients with packing and unpacking materials as an extra charge on a standard moving quote. If you prefer a full-moving service, you will dig deeper into your pockets than if you were to provide your packing and unpacking services and materials.
  • Storage fees: Storage fees don’t always apply to long-distance moving but are sometimes necessary. Sometimes the moving firm may have to hold onto your belongings before the final delivery date. In that case, your long-distance moving quote will feature some additional storage fees. So, you can avoid such ex

Tips on Preparing for a Long-Distance Move

We understand that it can be challenging to keep everything orderly as the set moving day approaches. You must figure out and take many essential steps when embarking on a long-distance move. But don’t worry, because we have highlighted some of the major steps and top tips that will help you keep everything in order as you wait for the moving day.

  • Establish the move type that you need

Way before scheduling with a long-distance moving firm, ask yourself if you want a self-service moving service or a full-service moving service. You may want to use a full-service firm if you would prefer to have a moving company that will handle every aspect of your long-distance move as you take care of other things. In that case, you must be willing to pay a higher cost.

However, if you are on a tight moving budget and can get plenty of help from family and friends, then the recommendation would be to take a DIY approach to your long-distance moving process if you don’t mind it at all. And hiring a self-service moving firm is the best way to take this approach which will ultimately save you money that you can use on other things. 

  • Reducing your inventory

Do you need to take everything with you during a long-distance move, including unwanted possessions? No! A long-distance move should be an excellent reason to do away with unwanted or underused belongings. The best approach is to develop two piles as you organize and pack for the long-distance move. Label one pile as the “throw-away-pile” and the remaining one as the “donate” pile. With a few days remaining before the moving day, please spare some time and use a truck to transport your labeled items to their correct drop-off locations. 

  • Inform people around you about your long-distance move

Like your family members and close friends, people around you will already know about your long-distance move. But also, don’t forget other significant organizations, parties, and individuals that are worth your long-distance notification. While you are free to notify whoever you wish, it would be best if you don’t leave out the Social Security Administration, tax agencies, insurance firms, the post office, your internet service provider, and utility companies. 

  • Confirm essential details with your long-distance moving company

It is essential to always check with your mover if it features all the legal requirements, with the most important ones being insurance and licensing. But if you have selected a long-distance moving company from our list, whether a full-service or a self-service, there is no need to worry about this essential tip. We strive to ensure that all the movers recommended in this piece are bonded, insured, and licensed. In case you decide to hire another moving firm that doesn’t feature in this list, we highly recommend that you take a step and ensure that they are properly insured and licensed.

Wondering how you will confirm if your long-distance mover is licensed and insured or not? It’s pretty simple! Obtain the mover’s USDOT number and then visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website. You can use the mover’s USDOT number from the website to confirm that it is authorized to transport your household belongings safely.

  • Creating a detailed inventory

In most cases, most long-distance movers will help you in this area. Some moving companies will go the extra mile and offer you a tool that helps clients develop a detailed inventory of their belongings, ensuring you don’t leave anything out. And while creating a detailed inventory as described above, make short notes about your items’ conditions and take pictures. You will need these short notes and photos of your household belongings if an incident happens during transit, damaging some of your items and forcing you to file a claim for reimbursement.

Author: Helen McKenzie
January 09, 2023

Writer & Researcher

8 Min Read

Helen McKenzie is a writer with more than 10 years of experience. She has always loved writing and started writing for her school newspaper and eventually became a staff writer for a major metropolitan publication. More recently, Helen has been a member of the iMove Research Team, where she seeks to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information about products and services available to consumers. In this role, she has conducted extensive research on topics such as moving companies, storage solutions, and real estate.

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