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Moving companies may have different definitions for what qualifies as a long-distance move, ranging from more than 50 miles to more than 400 miles. However, the FMCSA defines a long-haul or long-distance move as one that’s more than 450 miles. This means that a long-distance mover can provide intrastate, interstate and cross-country moves.
Check out our guide on the Best Interstate Moving Companies for more information on companies that can provide moves across state lines.
Moving companies are easy to find, but which ones are reliable and offer the services you need? Start the process of looking for your mover by reading the Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move pamphlet.
Also, “visit the Protect Your Move (PYM) website to check the registered mover database,” says Cicely L. Waters, director of the Office of Communications for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “The website helps consumers check whether the mover or broker has FMCSA authority to operate interstate. There is also a moving checklist, red flags to avoid, and a way to check the company’s complaint history.”
Here are some factors to consider:Locations, Timing and Availability
Check which moving companies are located in your area and what type of moving services they provide. Some offer only local and in-state moves, while others focus on long-distance interstate moves.
Next, determine if you want to focus on hiring your top choice for its moving service or one that can move on a particular date or that offers expedited service. Decide which is more important, and ask companies that you’re interested in about their availability and service offerings.
Summer is the busiest time of year for movers, and weekends are the busiest days of the week, so availability will be tighter during these times.
It's best practice to schedule a move at least two months in advance, but the sooner, the better, particularly during high-demand seasons like the summer. If you wait too long, you may have a much smaller pool of moving companies available for your preferred dates.
Services Offered
Determine what services a moving company offers so you can get what you need. Loading, transportation and unloading are typically provided, but extras like packing, unpacking, furniture disassembly and reassembly, debris removal and storage vary by company and may be available for an added cost.
Here's more on other services you may want to consider or may need:
Costs
Expenses for a long-distance move will vary based on the weight of belongings, distance of the move and any extras added to the basic service, such as packing and unpacking. Get a quote from at least three moving companies and compare them on price and value.
Moving company estimates – available as nonbinding or binding estimates and sometimes as not-to-exceed binding estimates – are based on each moving company’s tariff. This is “a document that contains all of a moving company’s rates, charges, and service terms for moving a customer’s household possessions,” according to the federal Surface Transportation Board. “A tariff must be made available for a customer’s review.”
While household goods movers crossing state lines are required by federal law to have a published tariff, some states don’t regulate household goods movers for intrastate moves.
License, Valuation Coverage and Insurance
Interstate movers (those that cross state lines) are regulated by the FMCSA and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Long-distance interstate movers must be registered with the FMCSA, have a motor carrier and USDOT transportation number and provide proof of insurance.
They also must offer two types of valuation protection for belongings – Released Value Protection (RVP) and Full Value Protection (FVP).
Moving companies may also offer third-party insurance, but this will be an added cost. For more information on this option, see our Do You Need Moving Insurance? guide.
If you’re moving a long distance within your state, check with your state’s department that oversees intrastate moves to find out what valuation protection is offered. Adina Dunn, a transportation industry analyst with the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Police Section, says valuation coverage will vary by state. For example, in Illinois, no-cost valuation coverage is only 30 cents per pound per item, according to Dunn.
4.2 U.S. NewsRating
Best for Long-Distance Moves
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Atlas Van Lines services all types of long-distance moves – intrastate, interstate and cross-country – in 50 states. More than 430 agent-owners in the U.S. and Canada service long-distance moves, and the company offers all the extras expected of large moving companies, including storage, car shipping and other specialty services.
Established as a cooperative, Atlas agents own the company and operate independently under the Atlas brand.
Other key benefits:
• Customer portal with simple shipment tracking for U.S. moves
• No Stranger in Your Home pledge, which states that all moving crew members and drivers go through pre-employment background checks
• Requires crew members to complete professional training and wear a uniform
Costs:
When we compiled rough estimates from companies in our 2026 Best Moving Companies rating, we found Atlas’ pricing for a 500-mile long-distance move was on par with the pricing from other companies we researched, but it's pricing for a cross-country move was higher than many other companies' quotes we sourced. Atlas doesn't require a deposit. Costs include:
4.1 U.S. NewsRating
Best for Interstate Moves
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JK Moving Services is another excellent choice for long-distance moves, and it’s our pick as the best for interstate moves in this year’s Best Moving Companies rating. JK Moving also offers long-distance intrastate services.
Getting a moving estimate is easy with JK Moving Services, as it offers three options for completing a survey of your belongings: an artificial intelligence-guided self-survey using Yembo technology, a virtual consultation using the Shyft Moving app or an in-home consultation with a company representative. The company also offers an online quote tool, which can offer a good starting point for determining costs.
Other key benefits:
• GPS-enabled fleet of trucks for app-based tracking
• Basic and full services offered, including climate-controlled storage units and vehicle storage, as well as auto transport through third-party companies.
Costs:
Pricing for JK Moving was competitive among the companies we reviewed. Along with a $250 deposit, costs included:
4.8 U.S. NewsRating
Best Overall
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Our choice as the best overall in our Best Moving Companies rating, Mayflower is a van line that offers service across the U.S. with its partner agents. It’s now owned by UniGroup, which is parent company to United Van Lines as well.
Mayflower offers a Snapmoves program for streamlined long-distance moves. It can be customized to handle anything a customer might need for a move of any size, including a moving coordinator.
Other key benefits:
• Availability of full-service packages that include features like identity theft protection and extra valuation protection
• Add-ons like custom crating, debris removal and car shipping
• Online shipment tracking and a mobile app
Costs:
Mayflower's ballpark estimates we collected were competitive with the other companies we reviewed. Mayflower doesn't require a deposit. Costs included:
4.7 U.S. NewsRating
Best Full-Service Moving Company
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United and its sister company Mayflower offer many of the same services, but United is our pick for best full-service moving company in our Best Moving Companies rating. It has more than 500 agent locations and can service full- or partial-service long-distance moves in all parts of the U.S.
Similar to Mayflower, United also offers the Snapmoves program, a simplified long-distance moving service for moves of all sizes, as well as convenience packages with added services.
Other key benefits:
• Shipment tracking
• Mobile app and online portal with move organization tools
• Add-ons like custom crating, debris removal and car shipping
Costs:
The company doesn't require a deposit. Costs we collected included:
4.6 U.S. NewsRating
Best Discounted Moving Services
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Colonial specializes in long-distance and interstate moves in the contiguous U.S., and it’s our pick for the best discounted moving services. Its ballpark estimates for long-distance moves came in lower than many of the companies in our rating.
Other key benefits:
• Colonial Van Lines University, a two- to four-week program that trains Colonial's movers in all aspects of a residential move
• Colonial Cubes portable containers, with transport-only and full-service options that can be used for storage needs as well as moving
Costs:
Costs we collected from the company included:
Colonial also charges an up-front deposit, which is calculated as a fairly large percentage of the total move cost. For our interstate move estimates above, the deposit amounts came out to $2,763 to $3,448 for standard service.
4.5 U.S. NewsRating
Best Storage Options
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Bekins covers all 50 U.S. states, with more than 350 affiliated agents performing long-distance moves. It's our choice as having the best storage options in this year’s Best Moving Companies rating. It offers secure and climate-controlled short- and long-term storage, with only 24-hour notice needed for the return of belongings. It also provides storage-in-transit for up to 180 days.
Other key benefits:
• Online shipment tracking provided
• Offers add-on services like vehicle shipping and special handling
• Requires professional training and background checks for moving crews
• Specializes in senior moves, with many agents certified through Bekins’ Silver Certified Program, endorsed by the National Association of Senior Move Managers
Costs:
Bekins’ rough estimates we gathered, with no deposit required, included:
4.4 U.S. NewsRating
Best for International Moves
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Our choice as the best for international moves, International Van Lines covers the entire U.S., as well as international moves to 150 countries. It offers full or partial services, including add-ons like specialty packing and shipping for all types of vehicles, even boats and campers.
Other key benefits:
• Free month of storage and 24-hour customer support
• Online tracking and shipment status updates
• Yembo AI tool for virtual survey of belongings
• 100% money-back guarantee for deposits if you cancel up to 48 hours before a scheduled move
• Eco-friendly practices to minimize environmental impact
Costs:
The company's long-distance costs were on the lower end of the pricing we gathered from other companies in our review. Ballpark estimates from IVL included:
However, to book a move with IVL, you’ll need to put down a deposit of 25% or more of the estimate.
4.3 U.S. NewsRating
Best Budget
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National Van Lines offers moves of any distance and provided us with some of the lowest pricing for long-distance moves, making it our pick for the best budget long-distance moving company. It's employee-owned, with more than 400 agents providing its services.
You’ll be able to track your long-distance shipment online at any time with National, but it will cost you $150 extra, as it requires purchasing a tracking device that will be placed with your belongings.
Other key benefits:
• Requires background checks for its moving crews
• Offers optional add-ons like specialty moving services and shipping for cars, motorcycles and recreational vehicles
Costs:
The company's pricing for a 500-mile move was the cheapest among all of the companies in our Best Moving Companies rating, and its costs for a cross-country move were among the lowest. National doesn't require a deposit. Ballpark estimates we received included:
4.0 U.S. NewsRating
Best for Customized Pricing
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Allied Van Lines specializes in long-distance moves and offers an array of services to suit consumers' needs. The company is now owned by Sirva, which also owns North American Van Lines.
With Allied, you can book long-distance moves across the U.S. with partial- or full-service options. It's our choice as the company best for customized pricing in our Best Moving Companies rating, and it has an instant quote tool on its website to get a broad estimate for a move. A more accurate quote requires a survey of belongings.
Other key benefits:
• Comprehensive optional services, including portable storage units and vehicle shipping
• Virtual survey option via mobile app
• Online shipment tracking
Costs:
Allied's pricing for a cross-country move was on the lower end of pricing we sourced from other companies in our rating. Allied doesn't require a deposit.
3.9 U.S. NewsRating
Best for Shipment Tracking
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North American Van Lines offers long-distance moving services of any size in the U.S., with more than 250 agent locations around North America. It’s our pick as the company Best for Shipment Tracking, as both domestic and international online tracking are provided.
Other key benefits:
• Mobile app option for virtual surveys for cost estimates
• Optional extras like custom crating and stretch-wrapping, as well as furniture and appliance assembly and vehicle shipping
• Average moving costs and free moving quotes provided on website
Costs:
The company's pricing was on the higher end for the shorter long-distance move among companies in our rating, but its cross-country pricing was more competitive. North American doesn't require a deposit for long-distance moves. Costs we collected included:
Moving Company Prices
Pricing for long-distance moves varies greatly, considering that the weight of goods and distance heavily affect the cost, as does location.
For example, according to data provided by moveBuddha, moving the contents of a home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, can start from about $1,900 to $4,200 for a one- to two-bedroom home and from $3,300 to $7,300 for a home with five or more bedrooms. The same scenario in Austin, Texas, will range from about $2,500 to $5,300 for a smaller move, up to $4,500 to $8,400 for a larger move.
The final price quote will include:
Remember that you can request a copy of the company’s tariff to ensure the prices on it are reflected in your moving cost estimate. “They cannot charge for it unless it's in their tariff,” says Dunn of the Illinois Commerce Commission.
Other considerations when determining how much a move will cost include:
Moving companies often provide discounts. The table below lists the discounts, if any, offered by our Best Moving Companies.
Moving Company Discounts
A long-distance move requires planning, coordination and keeping on top of the process so you don’t fall behind and have to scramble at the last minute. Here are some tips to help:
Before the Move
On Moving Day
At the Destination
"When determining how much to tip movers, the general rule of thumb is to tip 10 to 20 percent of the total move cost for each mover,” says Ross Sapir, president of Roadway Moving. He recommends considering the “quality and the level of service, the size of the relocation, [and] the number of movers involved. Additionally, the complexity of the move, such as navigating stairs or handling fragile items, should also be factored into the tip amount.”
For more advice, check out our Moving Checklist – Tips for Moving.
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Will my mover use a dedicated truck for my belongings?
Yes, full-service household goods carriers will use a dedicated truck or trucks for residential moves, so your items shouldn’t be commingled with anyone else’s.
Freight moving companies, which solely provide the transportation and not other services like loading and unloading, typically offer full truckload (FTL) or less-than-truckload (LTL) services. LTL service involves shared space on a truck, but it’s usually a much cheaper option than going with a full-service mover, although it also amounts to much more work for you and possibly a longer delivery time.
What additional services do some movers offer?
Transportation and loading and unloading household goods are the services typically associated with residential moving companies, but some carriers offer much more.
Additional services that generally don’t cost extra include: virtual or self-surveys, tracking capabilities and online portals or mobile apps for better communication and move coordination.
Services that usually do cost extra include:
How can I move my vehicle cross-country?
If you don’t want to drive your vehicle across the U.S. when you’re relocating due to a move, you can ship it. Some carriers will provide this service themselves or via a third-party car shipping company, but you can also hire a car shipping broker for this service. Much like a moving broker, a car shipping broker will search for the best price with the services you want, but it won’t provide the transportation. To check a car shipping broker’s license with the FMCSA, visit its carrier search page.
For more options, see our Best Car Shipping Companies guide.
How do I cancel moving services?
Moving companies have different policies regarding cancellations. If the terms aren’t noted on their websites, be sure to ask about this to avoid any possible fees. In general, however, you have three days to cancel a move without having to pay a cancellation fee. After that, some companies will charge a fee for cancellations.
What are some things I should think about when moving?
There’s a lot to do and consider when moving, particularly when moving a long distance. Here are some tasks you’ll need to do:
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