The 5 Best Long-Distance Moving Companies of 2023

Moving is stressful as it is, let alone moving long distance. While there are thousands of moving companies to choose from, it makes a difference choosing one with fair prices and a proven track record of quality service. What's more, many customers fall prey to moving scams. That's why we vet our top movers for things like binding estimates, strong customer reviews, affordability, and proper industry credentials. 

Our top pick: International Van Lines’ long list of services, worldwide availability, and unbeatable customer service make it the best long-distance moving company in the biz. All of our top five picks are excellent, though, and some of them may be a better fit than IVL for your long distance move.

First, you should look for a company that offers binding estimates. If a company’s estimates aren’t binding, it can increase your price at a moment’s notice, even on moving day. When you get a written estimate from a moving company, it should say the words “binding estimate” on it. If it doesn’t, don’t agree to it.

You should also check a company’s coverage options. Great coverage costs extra, but every reputable moving company offers basic liability coverage for free. Basic coverage won’t do much if your stuff gets broken or lost, but it’s a good litmus test of a company’s quality. If a company doesn’t have basic liability coverage, do not use it.

Lastly, you should look for positive customer reviews online. Pay special attention to what customers are saying about a company’s pricing and punctuality. There will always be a few bad reviews about any company, but if the majority of reviews are positive, it’s a good sign that you can trust that company.

Bottom line: International Van Lines (IVL) does it all and with great customer service. Since it's a carrier, you'll have full access to their personal moving van fleets and in-house moving staff, which means you'll be in direct contact with the company facilitating your move. You can rest easy knowing that the people you hired are the same people ensuring the safety and care of your belongings.

To learn more, read our full International Van Lines review.

Bottom line: Safeway Moving is a moving broker that provides long-distance moves for competitive rates anywhere in the country. And although it won’t handle local moves, it provides one month of free storage.

To learn more, read our full Safeway Moving review.

Bottom line: American Van Lines uses flat-rate pricing based on weight and distance to predict your move cost accurately. You won’t pay extra if the loading process takes a couple of extra hours or the moving crew has to take a detour because of construction.

If you want to learn more, read our full review of American Van Lines.

Bottom line: Mayzlin Relocation is the best-reviewed company on our list. Their sales agents provide helpful tips, like how to avoid common moving scams, and they do what they can to pass along discounts to customers. If customer service is your priority, Mayzlin Relocation is tough to beat. Because you can't get an online quote with Mayzlin, you'll need to give them a call or fill out the new customer form on their website.

If you want to learn more, read our full review of Mayzlin Relocation.

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Julia Campbell also contributed to this article.