Cheapest Cross Country Movers in The United States
Selecting the appropriate cross-country moving company is important for your successful cross country move. A long-distance move is regrettably usually complicated and that is why hiring a cross country mover that has the necessary experience to take care of your particular moving needs is important.
Experience is so much important when choosing a long-distance moving company because a 3000 miles move is more complicated than a 30 miles move.
Having all part of your moving covered will certainly require a lot of logistical planning, so go through our moving guide to assist you in being organized from start to finish.
Pricing Van Lines team has researched top movers specialized in cross country moves to recommend the best among them.
Pricing Van Lines Top 3 Recommended Cross Country Movers
We’ve spent many hours performing research on more than 65 cross country moving companies so you don’t have to go through the stress.
We factored in general availability, quality service delivery, cost, reputation, and excellent customer service to come up with the best moving companies in the business.
All the movers on this list are great, though, you may find some of them a perfect fit than International Van Lines for your household moves.
Top 10 Cheapest Cross Country Moving Companies of 2021's
You can enjoy everything as regards your move when you have the relevant help available. Up to 65 professional moving companies that are rated by over 15,500 customers were researched by our experts.
We select the best moving companies by making a comparison of credentials, quotes, customer experience, and services. Read further to see the companies that survived the thorough screening as the best cross-country movers of this year.
1. Arpin Van Lines
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Arpin is one of the most reliable moving companies out there, they boast of many innovative concepts that are incorporated into their service delivery.
They have over 100 years of valuable experience in the business and as such they have carved out a niche as the trusted moving company for themselves.
Arpin garnered a massive 92% overall quality satisfaction rating in a poll conducted by the International Mover Association (IMA).
They are also highly rated in terms of logistics and they have an innovative initiative of reducing carbon footprint to reduce energy usage and thereby being more environmentally friendly. Going with Arpin Van Lines as your choice mover wouldn’t be out of place.
Pros ✔
- Most experienced in cross country move
- Overall quality services
- Excellent customer satisfactions
- Uses supplies that are environmental friendly
Cons ✖
- Low online presence
- No online shipment tracking
- No local moves
2. FlatRate Moving
Flatrate Moving offers world-class local and long-distance moves including secure storage facilities and international relocation.
Flatrate Moving also offers all-inclusive options that suit all your needs ranging from local moving to long-distance, and international relocation.
They have full storage facilities with the most advanced technology and protection for all your belongings across the globe.
You can go with Flatrate Moving for your on-demand pickups, door-to-door delivery, storage facilities with humidity and temperature control, domestic and international shipping among other value-adding services they have to offer.
Pros ✔
- World class moving services
- Secure storage facilities
- All-inclusive moving offers
- Uses advanced technology to protect belongings during storage
Cons ✖
- Mixed customer service
- Limited information about pricing
3. Bekins
Bekins Moving and storage is one of the foremost moving companies you can count on; they offer some unique cutting-edge services in the way they deal with logistics issues.
They use a cutting-edge GPS system that enables customers to know and track the whereabouts and progress of their belongings. Bekins also has an excellent customer service unit that are easily accessible and always attends to all customer’s complaints.
Pros ✔
- Moving and storage in one place
- Effective GPS system for real-time tracking
- Excellent customer service
- No hidden cost
Cons ✖
- Mixed customer service in some locations
- Damaged items may occur infrequently
4. Mayflower Transit
Mayflower transit was founded in 1927; that says a lot about their years of experience in the moving business. Mayflower is one of the oldest companies in the United States.
They boast of consistent delivery of excellent service in both long and distance moving and their dedication to personal service, integrity, and customer care is second to none.
They are licensed to move businesses and facilities cross country. You can’t go wrong with a company like Mayflower Transit that has been in business for over 90 years; not many companies can boast ot their longevity.
Pros ✔
- Mixed customer service in some locations
- Damaged items may occur infrequently
- Mixed customer service in some locations
Cons ✖
- All moving services available except international moving services
- Quoting processing long
5. Atlas Van Lines
Atlas Van Lines has over 3,000 trucks in their fleet and are capable of moving businesses and families to anywhere in the United States except Rhode Island and Nevada.
They offer exceptional services and have been able to minimize customer complaints through excellent quality service delivery.
Pros ✔
- Nationwide moving services
- Rates are transparent
- Availability of both short and long-term storage options
Cons ✖
- High final quote
- Improving on customer complaints
6. Graebel
Graebel is a moving company that offers both workforce and workplace mobility and relocation services locally and internationally.
They offer seamless workforce and workplace mobility that enables businesses owners, industries and multinationals such as Fortune 500, Global 100 move locally and internationally while they can focus on other more strategic aspects of their jobs to optimum productivity Graebel boasts of 96% customer satisfaction rating and they offer end-to-end moving solutions, global capabilities, and exceptional services among others.
Pros ✔
- Offers online near accurate estimates
- Customized moving services
- Transparent invoicing and pricing
- Excellent and on-time customer support
Cons ✖
- Limited information online
- Uses affiliate movers
7. United Van Lines
United Van Lines offer local, long-distance, international community, and auto transport moving services to their esteemed clients. They also offer storage facilities that are tried, tested, and certified based on reviews from clients that have used their services in the past. They were are also known for excellent customer satisfaction.
Pros ✔
- Availability of short & long-term storage
- On-time online moving estimates
- Wide service coverage
- Online tracking system
Cons ✖
- Mixed customer services
8. North American Moving Services
North American Van Lines has been in operation in the moving industry since 1933, and they have over 500 agent locations spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
They offer exceptional moving services in local household moving, long-distance, and corporate relocation. They also have experienced agents who will help you in loading, packing, and transporting your belongings wherever you desire to relocate to.
Pros ✔
- A wide network of cross country movers
- Accurate online pricing
- Excellent moving resources
- Effective GPS for belongings tracking
Cons ✖
- Not too good customer service
9. Wheaton Worldwide Moving
Wheaton Worldwide Moving has over 70 years of experience in the moving industry and offers a “Ballpark Estimate” to customers to which provides a non-binding rough estimate of the budget cost for moving based on your demands and location.
They have over 1,000 vans in their fleet, they offer household moves, corporate relocation, international, military, and specialized moving services among others.
You can rely on Wheaton Worldwide Moving’s expertise to handle all your moving tasks professionally.
Pros ✔
- Availability of packing supplies
- Available across the country
- Auto transportation
- Short & long-term storage
Cons ✖
- No online tracking of shipment
- Few customer reviews
10. Stevens Worldwide Van Lines
Stevens Worldwide Van Lines has over 110 years of experience in the moving industry and they offer quality moving services for households, cross country movers, and corporate moving with the help of their well-trained personnel.
Stevens Worldwide Van Lines also offer their clients the means of tracking the status of their belongings being moved so that you can rest assured that your items are safe with them.
Pros ✔
- Available throughout the nation
- Temporary and long-term storage
- Experienced movers
- Good pricing template
Cons ✖
- No online tracking for items
- Mixed customer reviews
Any of the moving companies discussed above can be trusted for quality delivery and customer satisfaction. However, I recommend that you should also do your findings and due diligence to select the one that will best serve your unique need.
The Following Table Displays the Cheapest Cross Country Movers
| No. | Cheapest Cross Country Movers | Website |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Arpin Van Lines | www.arpin.com |
| 2. | FlatRate Moving | www.flatrate.com |
| 3. | Bekins | www.bekins.com |
| 4. | Mayflower Transit | www.mayflower.com |
| 5. | Atlas Van Lines | www.atlasvanlines.com |
| 6. | Graebel | www.graebel.com |
| 7. | United Van Lines | www.unitedvanlines.com |
| 8. | North American Moving Services | www.northamerican.com |
| 9. | Wheaton Worldwide Moving | www.wheatonworldwide.com |
| 10. | Stevens Worldwide Van Lines | www.stevensworldwide.com |
How Much Does Cross Country Move Cost?
If you are getting ready for a cross-country move, you will have to contact a cross-country moving company to figure out the cost of your move. There is no general price, as every move is different.
Your cost will be determined by various factors, but there are always tips and tricks to reduce the cost. However, there are three available options when you are moving to another part of the country.
You can go for vehicle and trailer rental, use a container service, or hire a professional moving company to help.
Note, all the costs stated in this write-up are estimated for a three-bedroom move that is moderately furnished on 1,500 miles.
- Do-it-yourself with a truck or trailer rental is at $3,000.
- Moving container is a better alternative and cost around $4,500.
- Hiring professional movers with full moving services will cost about $1,000 per room, but this will greatly depend on the weight of belongings in individual rooms.
Some people will have many items to move while some are moving just a few household belongings. The best way to obtain a real and accurate estimate is to consult your pro mover with your inventory.
Calculate Your Cross Country Moving Cost Here
Average Cost to do A Self-Move Across the Country?
Moving yourself will be more expensive than hiring professional movers, but you will pay with your effort and time. Moving truck or trailer rental can be cheaper at about $3,000 to moving containers or professional moving companies.
If you are moving a few items that don’t need special handling, the DIY move might be worth considering. You should be aware that the protection and peace of mind offered by a moving company is no more on your move.
Relocating can be stressful, and partnering with an experienced mover can reduce the stress from your neck, offer you more moving and packing materials, get you storage when needed, and handle most demanding tasks.
Also, moving across the country requires that you know the type of protection on your belongings in case something bad happens to them while moving.
Average Cost of Moving With Moving Truck
U-Haul is a commonly known truck rental company and has many moving vehicles in its fleet specially made for any DIY move. They provide from pickup trucks for smaller moves to 26ft moving truck for three to four-bedroom house moves.
The company claims certainty of the lowest cost. You will usually see moving trucks from U-Haul with a green $19.95 price tag on its side. But, could that be a smart way of getting you to rent their product?
Moving to Florida from New York on 1,365 miles with small stops could cost you something similar to the costs below when you move for five days:
Truck size | House size | Final total |
10 | 1 bedroom | $2,298 |
15 | 2 bedroom | $2,551 |
17 | 3 bedroom | $2,736 |
20 | 4 bedroom | $2,984 |
26 | 5 bedroom | $3,717 |
Average Cost of Moving With a Container Company
Moving container services are a standard option to DIY move, and you can enjoy some of the advantages of a professional mover with no overhead cost by spending about $4,500.
Since there are differences in the offer and price on this option, this may not be the best choice if you are moving a beautiful artwork, large-screen TVs, or any special relocation needs.
You may discover that the help from these moving services is not a match to what a full-service moving company offer.
Average Cost of Professional Moving Companies
You may spend beyond $7,500 on professional moving companies, based on your home’s size and the number of possessions. The cost is usually about $1,000 for each room, including a full-service benefit right from the planning phase to the moving day.
The majority of national moving companies will provide checklist and planning aids, and many will offer you additional hands or packing materials to get you ready for the move.
Cross country moving companies provide protection for possessions on the move, and they are always ready to relocate items that need special handling or shipping instructions.
Some of them are likely to offer storage to prevent clutter when unpacking in your new home. In general, you may spend a bit more on hiring a professional mover, but the peace of mind as well as a dedication to quality service before, during, and after your move is worth the cost.
Professional moving companies are the most popular moving method. Even though it will cost you more, your household stuff will be handled by professionals who know exactly what they are doing.
The movers will come with their supplies and equipment relevant for the move to take your furniture and shipment to the destination properly.
There are differences in cost but are mainly focused on weight. For instance, if you are relocating 1,000 miles:
Move size | Price |
Studio | $1,000 and $2,000 |
2- bedroom | $2,500 and $4,000 |
3-bedroom | $6,500 and $9,000 |
5 Ways to Choose the Best Cross Country Movers
Choosing the right cross country movers for your relocation can be challenging because a lot of factors come into play in making a final decision.
Some of the things to consider is how safe your belongings will be transported, the experience of the moving company, the added value services, rates, and also you have to be sure if the company you decide to use has a proper insurance policy in place. All these are some of the things to consider.
In this write-up, I will list five important ways to choose the best cross country moving company:
1. Years of Experience:
Experience in any line of business can never be overemphasized, it cannot be bought in the market. Hence, one major thing to consider in your selection process is years of experience.
You need to know how many years of consistent delivery of quality services the company has in its kitty. You can find out this by reading reviews from people who have employed the services of the company in the past.
There are several companies in the moving industry that have span over 50 – 100 years. Do your research about these companies and choose the one that will best serve you based on what you want.
2. Licensing:
Make sure the moving company you want to engage is licensed, this will save you from any form of regret. The company should have a US DOT number, the DOT number is a unique license number that the United States Department of Transportation issues to registered moving companies.
Also, go a step further to verify if the mover’s DOT number is a valid one by searching for it on the US DOT database. If the moving company is licensed, then it means they are regulated and they will be mindful of safeguarding their reputation in the way they deal with their clients.
3. Insurance:
To ensure you are safe with your moving company, you need to make sure the company is insured in case of any eventuality. You can verify if the company is insured on the same site where you checked for their license number.
Avoid using a company that does not have a proper insurance policy in place. Make sure your personal belongings are covered during a move under your renter’s or homeowners’ policy. If it is not covered, then you might have to review your options.
4. Check for Online Reviews:
The best way to judge performance is through antecedent, check for what people are saying about the moving company. Check the company rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB), if their rating is fine on this external platform, then you can count on the company.
You can also check reviews and ratings of moving companies on social media platforms such as Citysearch, TrustLink, and Yelp; this will give you a good view of people’s experience with the moving company.
5. Review Rates:
Have a good understanding of the company’s cost and discounts, low rates were don’t always amount to a fair final billing of the entire service rendered. Study the different rates available for local, long-distance, international, and corporate relocation depending on your needs.
Make sure you ascertain if fuel charges are incorporated, check their rates for each season; do they offer better rates if you are moving over the weekend? What is their rate if you are move during the week? All these are some of the questions you should be asking while going through the rates.
If you can put all these factors together, then you are guaranteed to have a seamless relocation.
Pro Tips To Find Cross Country Movers
Get a jump start on finding affordable movers
As you can imagine, the moving companies with the lowest rates for moving will be booked in advance by other people looking to move on a budget. This is one reason it is so important to plan your move out ahead of time so you can get a move booked with an affordable company before the moving season rush begins.
Do you know anyone else who has moved on a budget?
If you have friends or family members who have moved recently, ask them for recommendations for a good, affordable moving company. If you feel comfortable with it, ask them what their budget was for the move and see if it aligns with yours. This could be a great way for you to get affordable recommendations from people you know.
Cross Country Moving Tips to Keep You Organized
There are many essential tasks to tackle when planning long-distance relocation. To give you a good start, we’ve compiled tips for relocating across the country, which will help you keep your sanity.
1 Give Yourself Time
Starting early is the most important thing to do when getting ready for a move. Ensure you have many additional times for your move if possible. Avoid underestimating the time it will take you to plan and pack up everything for your moving day.
Normally, about eight weeks to your move is a good time to start packing. It will also give you a calm feeling and light-headed all through the move.
2. Reduce the Load as much as you can
If you plan to hire a mover, then you should know that your interstate moving cost much depends on the weight of your load. This implies that the farther you move, the more you will pay.
You certainly want to save money as much as you can, understanding that interstate move costs thousands of dollars. To reduce the stuff, we recommend donating neatly used load to Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, and Salvation Army. You can also sell some of your stuff through an online marketplace or local consignment store.
3. Get Quotes from at least 3 or 4 Moving Companies
Moving prices and services vary from one mover to another. Contact at least three moving companies to make a quote comparison before you hire one of them for your moving job. Click here for relevant questions you can ask your movers during the interview.
4. Confirm to be certain a Moving Company is licensed and insured
One of the things you want to avoid is to hire a dishonest moving company. The good news is, you can easily fish out moving scams if you know the right thing to look for. Aside from the ridiculously low moving quotes, dishonest movers are almost certainly not licensed or insured.
To know for sure if a mover is licensed, run their USDOT number through the FMCSA’s database. Discover the moving company’s insurance status as well by requesting relevant documentation. Failure to provide you these documents can only mean one thing, so run from them.
5. Go through Customer Reviews and Movers’ Ratings
Be sure to read reviews and ratings before you select a mover to hire. You can access reviews on our Moving Company Directory where you will find customer reviews on over 600 movers across the nation.
You will find the moving company’s USDOT number, fleet size, moving services, BBB rating, membership status of the company with any association such as the American Moving & Storage Association, and any official complaints filed against the company with the FMCSA.
6. Think of renting a Portable Moving Container
Renting a portable moving container is a popular and nice alternative to hiring a professional moving service for your cross country move. These moving containers can also be used as storage pods and come in handy to those who cannot escape storage at any point on their move. U-Haul’s U-Boxes, PODS, U-Pack ReloCubes from ABF, and 1-800-PACK-RAT are the most popular moving container companies.
7. Choose a Moving Method
You surely need to pick a method in which you will follow to get all your belongings to your new home. There are many available options. You may decide to pack and haul your items to your cross country home using your vehicle. However, this might be impossible if you own large furniture or much quantity of belongings you are moving.
These items may not fit in your vehicle based on the size, and you will be driving several miles. A moving truck or vehicle rental may be another option you consider. This may give you the opportunity to move with everything you own just in one moving truck regardless of the size of your furniture or the number of your belongings.
Lastly, moving professionals are another option. Your entire household goods will be moved to another part of the country by professional moving companies without putting you through any stress.
Although the final option is considered the easiest, make sure you research multiple professional movers to get yourself the best deal.
8. Note the Condition of your Possessions
We recommend taking photos or making videos of your belongings as you pack them up to have a record of their conditions at the start of the move. This will give you enough evidence to show in case it gets damaged while in the care of your movers. This could be helpful when filing a claim and seeking compensation for your items.
9. Think of buying Moving Insurance
Carefully check your options for valuation coverage when hiring a mover. Only a few are being covered by the free, basic protection offered by the moving company.
Consider getting the Full Value Protection if you see the need to get more protection for your valuables as it holds the moving company responsible for paying the exact cash worth of your belongings. You can also buy moving insurance from a third-party insurance provider if you need a comprehensive coverage than the FVP.
10. Pack a Bag for Moving Day Essentials
It is very important to pack a bag for moving essentials to have it beside you all through the move. This bag should contain essential items that will be used in the days before the move and a few days after the move.
These might include toiletries, baby necessities, wallets, a tool kit, toilet paper, clothing, toothbrushes, paper towels, medications, extra shoes, trash bags, pet food, and bottled water. Collate a comprehensive list of items to pack in your essential bag before starting packing.
11. Get Moving
Now, you are set for the big move after successfully handling the steps above. You will need to plan your logistics for a DIY move carefully. Think of the routes you will be passing and the fuel costs. You will also need to prevent yourself from bodily injury when moving large boxes around.
You don’t have to worry about all of the vital moving tasks as it will be handled by your hired moving professionals. You just need to find your own way to your new home either by flight or driving your vehicle.
You must learn to remain composed as your moving day approaches. We recommend hiring professional movers as it’s the best choice for your cross country move.
12. Inspect Belongings for Damage after the Move
Make sure you carefully inspect your belongings as it is being unpacked, especially bulky items like antiques, furniture, and china. You may have the right to file a claim and receive compensation for your items that got damaged or broken in transit. Make sure you carefully make a comparison of the conditions of your belongings to the photos or videos you took before the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find genuine reviews of moving companies online?
There are plenty of resources online to help you find the best movers for your budget. Many of these resources have hundreds of reviews from previous customers, and if you can find reviewers bragging about how affordable and easy their move was, then you know you might be dealing with a great company.
Check social media sites such as Facebook, and business review sites, like Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, and Google My Business reviews to find even more customer reviews.
How can I find the cheapest price for me?
The best bet to find the most affordable movers in your area is to give them a call and tell them your situation. Let them know how far you’re moving, what services you require, and the budget you’re working with. Get more than one estimate, too, and then you can compare each estimate given and find the one that works best for the budget that you have in mind.
Is it possible to negotiate a lower price?
When you’re planning something like a move, you have a lot of things to juggle around at once, and adhering to a budget can be difficult if something unexpected comes up. If you need a lower price than estimated, you can always ask your movers if a lower price can be negotiated. You would be surprised at how many companies might just work with you on this. Just remember, it never hurts to ask.
What is a binding estimate?
If you’re looking at any sort of estimate, you will discover that a binding estimate is one of the most common options that you’ll find. In short, a binding estimate is an estimate from your movers that they have to be within a certain range of – typically, 10 to 15 percent. This prevents them from being able to overcharge you after your move has been completed.
How soon do I need to hire a long-distance moving company?
As soon as you have a moving date, you want to start getting everything in motion, including your connection with a long-distance moving company. The sooner that you are able to get your moving details set up and scheduled, the better prices than you’ll get, and the more likely that you can find a company to actually work it out for you.
What costs do I need to be aware of in relation to my cross-country move?
Not only do you need to consider how much your movers will cost, but you also want to be certain that you’re going to be able to take care of things like gas, hotel stays, food, and whatever else that you’re going to need while you’re traveling.
Also, have some extra money on hand so that you can pay for tolls and other charges that may come up on the way to your new home. In short, the cost of your move goes past just what your movers cost – there are other costs that you want to budget for.
What is a tariff?
In short, tariffs are complete lists of everything related to what a motor carrier of household good has to offer. This includes any regulations, any rules related to how you move, the services that they offer, and any additional charges related to the work that they are doing for you. If you’re going across state lines, your movers are required to provide you with the information that you find in a tariff.
You can always check out the tariff ahead of time and ask any questions that you may have about the process. Tariffs also apply to moving companies that are staying within the same state, but they often have fewer details and lower costs associated with them. Your movers should have the knowledge to help explain it all to you.
Should I purchase insurance?
Most moving companies are going to require you to have some sort of moving insurance for your move. Not only does this protect your stuff, but it protects them in case something goes wrong and liability becomes an even bigger concern for them and for you. The company has its own insurance (both business and liability insurance) to protect them in case someone were to sue them.
If you are concerned about the cost, you may want to talk to your home insurance company about your options. There are some home insurance companies that also offer moving insurance at a lower rate if you already have a policy set up with them. Your mover may have discounted insurance if you buy directly from them, or you can compare prices and find what is most affordable.
Should I move myself?
It all depends on your situation. In some cases, you may find that it’s easier and/or more affordable to deal with your move by yourself. But, in other instances, you may notice that it’s hard to get everything packed, loaded, hauled, and unpacked without some extra help. So, while it may reduce the costs that you’re looking at, it may not be worth it if you’re feeling stressed out or anxious about the process.
Conclusion
Looking for quality moving companies can be difficult on a budget. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be all that hard. When you know how much money you’re working with for your move, finding a moving company that can fit what you have to spend is just a matter of looking around, getting estimates, and finding a company that can work with you.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to get a budget-friendly move underway as soon as possible.