Wherever you’re moving in the Mountain State, you’ll have some great options for moving companies. Our top pick is International Van Lines , but there are several other strong full-service, moving container, and truck rental companies to compare. Whether you’re headed to Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, or anywhere in between, we’ll help find the right company to get you there.
Compare West Virginia moving companies
Moving company | Move type | Move.org rating | Cost | Learn more |
| Full-service (long distance) | 
| $$$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Full-service (local) | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Moving container | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Truck rental | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Hourly labor | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices |
International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.
Pros
Transparent pricing
Local and long-distance moving
15% car shipping discount
15% senior discount
30 days of free storage 
Cons
Below-average customer reviews
Annoying pop-up ads First National Van Lines—Best local moving company
First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.
Pros
Services most U.S. cities
Excellent customer reviews
In-home and virtual quotes
30 days of free storage
Remote video storage Cons
Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company
PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.
Pros
Low prices
Multiple container sizes
Lots of storage options
Positive customer reviews
46-state availability Cons
Confusing prices Penske—Best moving truck company
Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.
Pros
Lowest moving prices
Local and long-distance rentals
Excellent customer reviews
Moving discounts
Reliable reservations Cons
No service in Alaska HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company
HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.
Pros
Professional contractors
Packing and loading services
4,750+ locations
50-state availability
Positive customer reviews Cons
High prices
Two-hour minimum Move.org's top pick
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?
What type of moving company is right for you?
Professional movers
They handle it all.
Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.
Containers
You load, they ship.
You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.
Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.
Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.
What to know about living in West Virginia
Population
West Virginia is one of the least racially diverse states in the US, with 93% of its 1.76 million citizens reported as White. African-Americans account for about 3.8% of the population, followed by a 2% Hispanic population.1
On average, about 2.5 people live in each household in the Mountain State and the median age across the state is about 43 years old.2 88% of citizens in West Virginia have a high school diploma, and about 22% have earned at least a bachelor’s degree.1 English is the most widely-spoken language, with only about 2.5% of people reporting that they speak a different language at home.1
Employment
West Virginia has an estimated workforce of about 542,148 with an unemployment rate of about 4.1%—or about 32,000 people.1 The most common industries for employment include truck driving, sales, retail, and early education.2
About 16.6% of West Virginians live below the poverty line, with the highest concentrations of impoverished people in Huntington, Morgantown, Martinsburg, and Parkersburg.3 The median household income for West Virginian households is $50,884.1
Cost of living
West Virginia has the ninth-lowest cost of living in the United States.4 A typical house in the Mountain State costs about $117,768, and median gross rent is around $770 per month.1 More affluent parts of the state, like North Hills, Kabletown, and Shepherdstown have a slightly higher cost of living and a higher median household income.
Politics
West Virginia is a solidly red state. Since the year 2000, West Virginia has awarded its five electoral votes to the Republican candidate. In fact, it was one of Donald Trump’s largest margins of victory in the 2016 and 2020 elections, trailing only behind Wyoming.5 West Virginians are represented in the US Senate by Republican Shelley Moore Capito and Democrat Joe Manchin.6
On a state level, Republicans control the Senate and the House. Governor Jim Justice, while now Republican, ran as a Democrat in 2015 and defeated Republican nominee Bill Cole.
Which long-distance movers have the best quality?
American Van Lines is our pick for the highest-quality interstate moving company. It’s expensive, but the company has decades of experience moving high-value items like pianos and artwork.
Best West Virginia movers FAQ
No matter where you move, moving costs will depend on several key factors. Distance, the size of your home, and time of the year will affect your final price. On average, local moves using full-service moving companies cost $7,600. This number can be much higher or lower depending on the variables mentioned above, so get as many quotes as you can.
SafeWise reports Oak Hill, Weirton, Charles Town, and Bridgeport as the safest cities in West Virginia. Statewide, the West Virginia violent crime rate (3.6 incidents per 1,000 people) is slightly lower than the national average (4 incidents per 1,000 people), while the state’s property crime rate (14 incidents per 1,000 people) is much lower than the national average (19.6 incidents per 1,000 people).7
Our pick for the best moving company is International Van Lines. Their positive customer reviews and strong communication help create an easy moving day. There are other top moving companies that can get you there if you want more options—it’s best to get as many quotes as possible, anyway.
The average cost for a storage unit is about $180 per month. There are several top self-storage companies that will likely be able to help you store your belongings, but no matter who you choose, ask about climate-controlled storage. You’ll want to keep your belongings safe during cold West Virginia winters.
Methodology
We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor:
- Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.
- Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.
- Mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
- Site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
- Regular review. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.
Sources
- US Census Bureau, “QuickFacts: Rhode Island,” Published July 2022. Accessed January 25, 2023.
- Data USA, “Rhode Island,” Published November 2020. Accessed January 25, 2023.
- Stacker, “Cities in West Virginia with the most living in poverty,” Published January 2022. Accessed January 25, 2023.
- World Population Review, “States with Lowest Cost of Living in 2023,” Published January 2023. Accessed January 25, 2023.
- 270toWin, “West Virginia,” Published January 2023. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- Ballotpedia, “Party Control of West Virginia State Government,” Published January 2023. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- SafeWise, “West Virginia’s 5 Safest Cities of 2022,” Published March 2022. Accessed January 25, 2023.
