International Van Lines is the best mover in the business. IVL is a moving broker and carrier that cleared every test we threw at it, and the company pairs transparent pricing with unmatched customer service for a winning combo. If you want to hire a company that can professionally and affordably provide every service your move will require, you won’t find a better option than IVL.

IVL handles local (under 100 miles) and long-distance (over 100 miles) moves alike. And since IVL has nationwide availability, it can get you from point A to point B no matter where the two points are. IVL boasts over 3,000 global partners, so it’s even a great option if you’re moving internationally. We love a company that lives up to its name.

From crane lifts and piano transport to full-service packing and car shipping, International Van Lines can handle all aspects of your move. Additional highlights include easy online and over-the-phone moving quotes, both short- and long-term storage options (plus 30 days of free storage), and junk and debris removal.

Like IVL, American Van Lines has exceptional customer service. It only scored slightly behind IVL in Newsweek’s best customer service rankings. American Van Lines also brings deluxe moving services to the table and uses a pricing system that ensures you always know exactly how much you’ll pay.

In addition to typical moving services like packing, delivery, and storage, American Van Lines offers deluxe options that are a little harder to find. Some of the American Van Lines' more uncommon services include antique moving, fine art shipping, and professional piano delivery, making it a fantastic option if you’re moving with exceptionally costly items.

The company uses a flat-rate pricing system, meaning that once you get your estimate, your price won’t go up from there. Most companies won’t give you that same peace of mind.

North American Van Lines—also called northAmerican—has been in the moving business for over 88 years, and this wealth of experience really shows through in stellar customer reviews. Customers frequently praise the company’s reasonable pricing and friendly moving crews. The best part is that northAmerican lets you tailor your moving services to perfectly fit your unique needs and budget.

You can take on just about any task your move will require instead of paying northAmerican’s crews to do it, the only thing northAmerican won’t let you do is drive the truck. You can also hire northAmerican to do just about anything you don’t want to do yourself. Deluxe treatment like this costs extra, but it means you can sit back and relax while professionals do everything for you.

North American Van Lines also lets you track your shipment using its GPS system. Most movers don’t. If you’re the type of person who craves constant updates about deliveries—and who isn’t, really?—then North American Van Lines might be the best mover for you.

Allied Van Lines has been doing business for almost 100 years. Longevity like that is one of the best trust signals in the moving industry since scammy movers don’t stick around very long. Additionally, Allied makes it easier than just about any other moving company to get a virtual quote, so you can quickly determine if moving with Allied will work for your budget.

Unfortunately, Allied’s customer reviews are some of the lowest among those for companies on this list, and these reviews run the full gamut of bad experiences: late deliveries, damaged goods, bad customer service, etc. On average, customers are less satisfied with Allied’s service than that of IVL or northAmerican. That said, because moving prices can vary by region, Allied might be the most affordable option in your area.

Moving storage is one area where Allied pulls ahead of its competition. The company’s storage facilities are climate-controlled, equipped with alarms, and include 24-hour security. The best part is that you can store with Allied short-term (only a few weeks) or long-term (basically as long as you’re willing to pay for it). This makes Allied one of your best options if your move will require storage services and you want to ensure your stuff is in good hands.

PODS is the very best container company money can hire if you want some of the convenience of hiring a full-service mover mixed with some of the affordability of a DIY move. 

DIY movers love container moving companies because they offer the flexibility to pack and load your belongings on your own time without requiring you to do the actual driving your delivery will require. Moving containers can even double as flexible, on-site storage solutions (say, for home staging or renovation projects).

PODS isn’t the most affordable moving and storage container company. That would be Zippy Shell. However, PODS prices are still a little below the industry average. And when paired with PODS’ durable containers, wide availability, and great customer reviews, the company’s rates are honestly stellar.

Additionally, Move.org readers can knock 10% off their PODS price by calling (866) 229-4120 or using the promo code MOVEORG when they book online.

Penske is the best rental truck company in the country. Of all the moving services you can choose from, renting a moving truck will save you the most money, but you’ll have to handle all the packing, loading, and driving yourself. If all this labor doesn’t intimidate you, then renting a moving truck is a great option for you. 

If you’re moving over 100 miles, then renting a Penske truck is the cheapest way to get it done. The company’s rates for one-way truck rentals are about $130 below the industry average. Additionally, Penske has an impressive selection of discounts for seniors, students, military members, and first responders, so you might be able to snag an even lower price. If you’re moving locally, we recommend getting a quote from Budget as well as Penske. We’ve found that Budget’s rates are the industry’s best for moves under 100 miles.

Penske’s customer reviews are the best—or rather, the least bad—in this category. Its average customer score is more than one full star higher than almost any direct competitor. The only company that comes close to Penske’s customer ratings is Enterprise which only offers local truck rentals.

Montway Auto Transport is our choice for the best car shipping company. If you’ve already got a plan for moving your household goods but you’re not sure how to move your vehicle(s), we recommend hiring a car shipping company, especially if your moving company doesn’t offer auto transportation.

Montway’s auto transport rates are some of the lowest. They sit 5% below the industry average. And our favorite thing about Montway is that, despite its low prices, it doesn’t compromise on customer service.

Montway’s customer reviews are mostly positive, and the company even takes time to respond to every negative review, offering advice and options for rectification if something legitimately went wrong with a customer’s experience. Few companies in any industry match that kind of dedication to their past customers.

Services like the company’s guaranteed pickup dates (few auto shippers offer this), GPS tracking, and comprehensive carrier vetting can help put your worries to rest before and during your transport job. Montway also provides a lot of shipping coverage for your vehicle in case something goes wrong.

HireAHelper is our choice for the best moving labor company. Think of this company as an Uber-type service for hiring helping hands. Sometimes the most stressful part of a move is simply packing and loading your belongings into a moving truck or container. Professional moving laborers work fast and let you spend your energy organizing and planning instead of lifting furniture and boxes.

HireAHelper is quite a bit pricier than Dolly and TaskRabbit, two of its biggest competitors. Exact rates vary depending on which laborers you hire through any of the three services, but on average, HireAHelper’s rates are roughly double those of the other two. However, that extra cost does get you better service. All of the movers on HireAHelper are licensed and insured. The other two companies let amateurs register.

Of the three moving labor companies we’ve mentioned, HireAHelper is the most widely available. It connects users with movers in over 1,000 major cities, and it’s available in all 50 states. Dolly and TaskRabbit operate in less than 100 cities.

The cheapest way to move your household goods is to load them up in your personal vehicle and deliver them yourself. The next cheapest option is to rent a moving truck, load it, and drive it to your new home while towing your car.

The most sure-fire way to find great packers and movers is to look at reviews from past customers. If a company consistently provides sub-par service, that will show in its customer reviews. Pay attention to averages, though, instead of taking any one customer’s opinion too seriously. A company with a small handful of bad reviews and hundreds of good reviews is probably worth your trust.

Moving is so expensive because of how much is required for every move. Between the costs of fuel, the wages for moving crew members, and the upkeep for moving equipment, moving companies have to account for a lot in their pricing. And when you also factor in costs for certifications, trainings, and insurance, it’s really no wonder moving companies have to charge so much for their services.

Yes, typically van lines (or professional moving companies) offer the best and widest range of moving services. Other moving companies can handle interstate moves, but van lines are known for doing everything a move requires from start to finish. If you don’t want to worry about loading and unloading the moving truck or driving it to your new home, a professional moving company is the right option for you.

Finding the right movers in your area can be just as hard as finding the right interstate mover. There are likely dozens of local movers in your area, and it can be difficult to determine which ones are the best. Luckily, all the advice we’ve already given still applies: read customer reviews, check government accreditation, and get multiple quotes.

To find the best mover in your area, check out which movers we recommend in these states:

You can hire some professional movers for local moving services. Professional movers are often equipped to handle moves of practically any size or distance, though some companies might only accept long-distance jobs. Additionally, you might get better rates hiring local movers. And remember, it’s always best to get more than one quote!

You can find the best moving company by figuring out exactly what you need and researching the companies offering the best services and prices. For example, if you have a higher budget and don’t want to do as much work, a van line (or professional mover) might be for you. If you need to save as much as possible, though, you may want to choose a more inexpensive, DIY option.