Best Out-of-State Moving Companies

What To Look For In Out-of-State Movers

Proper Registration

Any legitimate mover will be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and have a mandatory USDOT number, both holding them accountable and making them credible under the rules and regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Insurance

Sentimental or not, you work hard for your possessions, and moving them can be stressful, to say the least. The mover you choose must offer released value or full-value protection to protect your belongings. Accidents happen, and in those moments, you’ll want to make sure you’re completely covered.

Wide Range of Services

Moving is a multifaceted process with many tasks to manage before you reach your final destination. You want to make sure that the professional moving company you choose offers everything you need to get from “Point A” to “Point B,” whether you’re in need of packing and unpacking, storage, or debris removal services.

What Costs Are Involved With Out-of-State Moves?

Move Distance and Shipping Weight

It might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to consider the distance of your move and weight of your belongings when evaluating the cost of any moving service. The longer distance and/or the more items you move, the more expensive the move will ultimately be.

Move Type

Much like the distance of your move and the weight of your belongings, the cost of your move will also be dependent upon the type of move it is. If you need an interstate or international move, the process is inherently more intricate, and it will be higher in cost. So, use our helpful moving cost calculator and prepare accordingly.

Seasonality

There are more expensive times of the year to move than others. In fact, 80% of all moves in the U.S. occur between April and September, typically when kids are out of school for the summer. If you want to save money during your move, consider moving at a time of year with less demand.

Booking Date

Like seasonality, it’s vital to take into the account the day of the week and/or time that you book your movers. Since they’re higher in demand, weekends are more expensive to book than weekdays. The time of day might also dictate the final cost of your move, so be sure to inquire about this when you’re getting estimates.

Service Requirements

You will save more money if you keep your service requirements down to the bare minimum. If you decide it’s worth it to purchase extra services — like packing and unpacking, for example — and take some of the pressure off yourself, then you’ll pay more for your move.

Average Costs

A local move is typically around $1,250, while the average cost of a long-distance move — like the one you’re looking into — is $4,890. These estimates are based on a distance of 1,000 miles for a 2-to-3 bedroom move with personal belongings weighing approximately 7,500 pounds.

Out-of-State Moving Costs

Average Out-of-State Move Costs – 2500+ miles

Other Cost Factors

While the following factors above majorly contribute to the cost of your move, they aren’t the only ones to consider. Access points and the obstacles associated with moving to and from the front door to the moving truck will also add to the final bill.

For example, if you’re on the third floor of an apartment building with no elevators, your movers will have to expertly maneuver boxes and furniture up and down the flights of stairs. The same can be said for narrow doorways or hallways.

Speaking of access points, the overall difficulty of the move can also affect what you end up paying — dismantling and reassembling items, moving heavy or delicate objects, or hauling personal belongings for a long distance — will likely result in additional charges.

For moves that require additional packing materials (i.e., moving boxes, bubble wrap, and corrugated cardboard) or special equipment to move your items, your movers might expect you to foot the extra bill.

Finally, if you have multiple stop points to visit on the way to your destination, like a storage facility or another home, to retrieve extra belongings, a charge could be added for extra gas or labor.

10 Tips To Prepare For an Out-of-State Move

1. Research your new city, town, or area.
   You’re probably curious about your new home. What are the popular nearby neighborhoods? Are there plenty of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife? How are the schools regarded, or what job industries are popular, if you don’t have one already? There’s a lot that you can discover with a few Google searches!
2. Start budgeting for your move.
   Once you begin researching the logistics of your move, it’s smart to start saving money right away, even if you haven’t nailed out all of the details yet. If you need to, start a separate bank account with the intention of only touching it for moving expenses.
3. Consider your living expenses.
   When moving to a new area, you will likely have to reconsider your cost of living expenses. Whether those expenses increase or decrease, you’ll want to have a general idea of what you’ll be paying for housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and so forth. This way, there will be no surprises once you arrive at your new destination (and adventure).
4. Take inventory of your belongings.
   If you’re moving more items, it will inevitably cost more money. Since there are undoubtedly belongings you’ll need to purge, give yourself enough time to consider what you’d like to sell, donate, or toss. Fortunately, there are many apps available where you can sell items like household goods, clothing and other belongings that no longer “spark joy,” in the words of Marie Kondo.
5. Consider your moving options.
   After taking into account your new location, moving budget, living expenses, and belongings, it’s time to get down to business and plan the logistics of your move. This can often be the most daunting part of the process.
   Should you invest in full-service movers, or take a DIY approach? The good news is there isn’t a wrong choice — just a right one for your individual needs!
6. Move your utility services to your new address.
   When you arrive at your destination, the last thing you want to discover is that the utilities aren’t turned on. Since you’re moving out of state, it likely won’t be as easy as transferring your water, gas, electricity, and cable and/or internet to a new address through the same vendor, either. You’ll need to plan ahead to ensure that all your newly registered accounts are covered.
7. Give yourself plenty of time to pack.
   There’s nothing worse than getting in over your head with a move, and the easiest way to do this is by not leaving enough time for yourself to pack. For an out-of-state move, especially, you should begin packing no later than three weeks ahead of time.
8. Don’t forget to pack a bag with essentials.
   With all of your personal items stowed away on a rental truck or moving pod, you won’t have easy access to all of your belongings. That’s why you should pack a bag with clothes, toiletries, electronic chargers, and other necessities.
9. Throw an awesome goodbye party or outing.
   Parting is such sweet sorrow. It’s also the perfect excuse to throw yourself a goodbye party. Invite all of your favorite people, visit some of the best local landmarks, and soak in everything you love about the place you’re leaving. It’s the best way to say goodbye, gain some closure, and ready yourself to embrace what’s next.
10. Update your license, registration, and address.
    Don’t think the moving process is finished once the truck has been unloaded. Even as you settle into your new place, there is still work to be done! For instance, don’t forget to update your driver’s license and registration. Some states require you to change it as soon as 10 days after moving. While you’re at it, make sure the post office has your new address to forward your mail, too.

Our Rating Methodology

We conducted in-depth research, comparing multiple out-of-state movers. We found that these seven moving companies have services and qualities that set them apart from the competition, including large fleet sizes, wide availability, solid reputations, accurate websites, a myriad of moving services and customer-friendly offerings. We are confident that any of these companies will be able to meet the needs of your next out-of-state move.

Our seven best out-of-state moving companies have been thoroughly vetted and researched by our moving experts. When assessing and comparing moving companies we looked at a number of key factors, including:

• Services offered. We looked at the complete range of services offered by the company.
• Availability. How many states is the moving company operating in?
• Valuation coverage options. Does the company offer full value along with the released value? Is the full-value coverage customizable?
• Price transparency. Are the prices for the services the company offers easily obtainable upon request?
• Customer service. What is the average customer service experience with this provider? Are the customer reviews overwhelmingly positive?
• Website accuracy. Does this company have an up-to-date website that’s easy to navigate? Does it provide the information you’ll need to decide whether you want to use their services? Can you schedule a move online?
• BBB ratings and overall reputation. What’s the company’s standing with the Business Better Bureau (BBB)? Are there any alerts, pending lawsuits or red flags?
• Moving quote process. How easy is it to get a quote? Is there an option to do it online? By calling? Both?
• Costs. What is included in the estimate? What isn’t? Is financing available? Is a moving deposit required?
• Types of estimates offered. Does the company offer binding estimates? Fixed rates?
• Shipment tracking abilities. Does this moving company have GPS or online tracking options?
• Fleet size. Does the company have a range of container sizes and trailers to offer?