An interstate move is a huge commitment of time, possessions, and money. To help you feel confident on the big day, we’ll walk you through each step of finding the best moving company to take you to your next home.
A new city, new people, maybe a new workplace: we get it, making a big move can feel daunting. If you’re moving soon, there’s a lot of financial and logistical concerns on your plate right now.
We’ll cut through the red tape and lay out what you need to know so you find the right professionals for your move. From how to check out your mover’s credentials, how to prepare for an estimate, to what red flags to look for, we’ll help you be ready for your move, no matter how far you’re going.
Already prepped and ready to move? Compare estimates here.
Moving companies offer a variety of services designed to meet your unique needs. Think about how much help you want from your moving company when choosing a service package:
While your budget will play the biggest factor in deciding on what service you choose, also weigh the costs and benefits of paying your movers to handle all of the packing for you.
Next, it’s time to gather a list of potential moving companies. We have a great list of companies to get started with in addition to family and friend referrals. Once you have your list but before you schedule an estimate, there are a few recommended gut checks to do first.
While it’s unusual to encounter a moving scam, if a moving company fails one of these three checks, it’s smarter to dig deeper or avoid them entirely.
Once your prospective moving companies have passed the initial gut-check, it’s time to dig a bit deeper into their credentials by checking their USDOT status.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a branch of the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) responsible (in part) for regulating and monitoring interstate moving companies. They require every legitimate interstate moving company to be registered and have an active license to carry household goods.
Checking on a moving company’s DOT status is easy. If you know their USDOT number (hopefully listed on their website), you look it up directly in the FMCSA's Company Snapshot tool. If you don’t have it, you can also use the tool to search by company name.
To go the extra mile, you ask your moving company for customer referrals or look up their rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Ideally, get estimates from 3–5 moving companies before making a decision, but at least make sure to get more than one. When you request a quote from only one company, you don’t know if they’re quoting you a fair price for your move.
With multiple quotes, you can compare moving company estimates side-by-side and see how much they think your move will cost given how much stuff you’re moving and the level of service you ask for.
When getting an estimate, there are three important things to know:
Estimates should be performed in-person. The final cost of your move is largely calculated based on distance and weight. It’s critical that your mover knows exactly how much you’re moving and gets an idea for how much it weighs.
Even with modern video and photo technology, most professionals cannot accurately estimate the cost of transporting your belongings virtually. In order for them to give you an accurate quote (and not have to charge you more money when they realize your sofa is a hardwood antique and not from IKEA), you’ll need to do a walk-through with them and point out everything that’s going on the truck.
Always require a written estimate. Once a legitimate company representative views and estimates your belongings, they will send you an estimate in writing. A written estimate protects both you and the moving company in ways that a verbal agreement doesn’t.
Understand whether you’re getting a binding or a non-binding estimate. There are three kinds of moving estimates:
If you choose a non-binding estimate, you’ll probably get a lower initial quote. That’s because the moving company knows they don’t need to be perfect at estimating how much each chair weighs or exactly how many boxes you’re moving. They’ll still try to get close, but if they estimate light, they can charge you up to 10% more than the original quote.
If you choose a binding estimate, you’ll know exactly how much you’ll pay from the start, but your quote will be higher. The moving company wants to make sure they’re paying their workers fairly for the work involved, so they’re more likely to err on the side of “you have heavy furniture” and charge you accordingly.
Ready to get moving on collecting estimates? Start with our three top-rated moving companies:
You and your moving company are a team with a common goal: getting your belongings safely from your old home and into your new one. To have a successful and stress-free move, be completely upfront with your mover with exactly what you need moved and what the moving process will be like.
In return for being upfront, you’ll receive a fair and thorough estimate–which has more benefits than just being a good teammate to your moving company. Your estimate will include details about your inventory and specify how the move will go. If your moving company shows up expecting an elevator and finds stairs, you might get charged for the additional time and labor required.
To guarantee a fair transaction for you and for the moving company, leave nothing to chance on the day of your estimate.
When you hand over your furniture, appliances, clothes, and everything else that makes your house a home to a professional mover, it’s important to understand that all of those things may not survive the trip intact. Long-distance relocation is inherently risky, even when everyone is trying their best to protect your belongings.
Luckily, you can protect yourself financially with liability insurance. Most moving companies offer two types of moving insurance:
You can also choose to seek insurance from a third-party company (and if you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, it’s a good idea to ask your agent about it).
There are several important documents to keep track of when moving: the written estimate, the order for service, the inventory, and the bill of lading. For each one, it is critically important that you read it entirely for completeness and accuracy before signing it.
Never sign off something that is blank or incomplete. It’s like signing a blank check; a moving company could add any detail and say you agreed to it. If your mover asks you to do this, strongly consider walking away.
Additionally, never sign a contract when you have questions about or disagree with its contents. If a company representative has taken the time to estimate your belongings in person, they have the time to answer every single one of your questions. If a representative of the company pressures you to sign when you’re not quite ready, that may be a sign to drop the company.
Unfortunately, being asked to sign a blank or incomplete document is not the only red flag you might encounter when looking for a moving company. If you experience any of the following scenarios, we recommend you refuse services entirely and find a new company:
Moving is complex, strenuous, and time-intensive. To help answer common questions, your moving company or broker will give you a copy of the DOT booklet “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.” That said, it’s normal to encounter more questions during the process and one of your best resources for answering them is your mover.
Here are some good questions to ask as you get ready to hire a moving company: