Local to Global Moving Made Easy

If you’re looking for long-distance movers, we're so glad you’ve come to the right place. Here at International Van Lines, we’ve built one of the best reputations in the industry by taking great care of our customers. With physical locations in multiple states, we’re equipped to help you move just about anywhere.

We make getting a quote easy with a quick virtual survey option for accurate pricing. No matter the size of your home, whether it's a one-bedroom apartment or a six-bedroom house, we're ready to help. We understand that you have a lot of choices for moving companies. We also know that out-of-state moving is stressful, which is why our team is committed to providing friendly, quality service every step of the way.

What is considered a long-distance move?

If you’re moving out of state, then you’re making a long-distance move. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is the governing agency for long-distance movers. We recommend checking their safer website for adequate licensing before you move. You will also find complaint history and whether or not a company is a mover or broker.

How much does a long-distance mover cost?

Below we will provide some guidelines that you can use to estimate your cost. However, we recommend contacting one of our relocation coordinators or using our moving cost calculator to get a more accurate estimate. Every move is different, and some variables can cause your assessment to be a little higher or lower. The size of your move will have the most significant impact on the cost. Remember moving is a great time to purge.

What's the cheapest way to move long-distance?

It's a common belief that renting a truck is the least expensive approach to moving. While that can be true for a local move, it's often not the case when you're moving across state lines. In fact, hiring long-distance movers can frequently help you save money.

When renting a U-Haul or similar truck, you have to pay for the rental, gas, and mileage, which can all add up to more than the cost of a mover. Professional moving companies can offer consolidation services, which help reduce your costs. They also handle all the labor and back-breaking work, helping you avoid common problems like damage and delays.

If you’re considering a do-it-yourself move but are still unsure, we highly recommend getting a moving quote from a pro. It’s a no-pressure way to see all your options clearly!

What is an inventory list?

An inventory list is the precise cost of your move. Your final charges will not increase or decrease regardless of the weight or volume. However, the word binding does not mean guaranteed. If you end up with more items then what’s on the list you will have to pay for the additional items. An inventory list is only binding to the list a mover either receives or takes. You can check out this article on what to expect on moving day.

The Moving Carrier

A moving carrier is the actual moving company. They are the asset-based business that owns the trucks, employs the movers and drivers, and maintains the necessary equipment to physically transport your household goods from point A to point B.

When you hire a moving carrier, the people you speak to for the quote, the crew that packs and loads your items, and the driver transporting them all work for the same company.

Key Characteristics of a Carrier:

• Owns Equipment: They have their own fleet of branded trucks.
• Employs Movers: They have their own crews who are trained by and accountable to the company.
• Direct Liability: They are directly responsible and liable for your possessions during the entire moving process, from loading to unloading.
• Single Point of Contact: You are dealing with one company from start to finish. If an issue arises, you know exactly who to call.
• In-Person Estimates: Reputable carriers will often perform a virtual or in-person survey of your belongings to provide a more accurate and binding estimate.

The Moving Broker

A moving broker is a sales intermediary or a "middleman." They do not own any moving trucks or employ any moving crews. Instead, their job is to sell moving services to customers, and then arrange for an actual moving carrier to perform the physical move on their behalf.

When you hire a broker, you book your move with their sales team. The broker then finds a carrier in their network willing to take the job for a certain price. The company that shows up at your door on moving day will be a different company than the one you booked with.

Key Characteristics of a Broker:

• No Equipment or Movers: They do not own trucks or employ moving crews. Their business is primarily sales and logistics coordination.
• Arranges for Transportation: Their service is to connect you with a carrier.
• Indirect Liability: The broker is not legally responsible for damage to your goods; that liability falls to the carrier they hired. This can create complications with claims.
• Multiple Points of Contact: You might deal with the broker for sales and a completely different company (the carrier) for the actual move, which can lead to communication gaps.
• Estimates are Not Binding: Broker estimates are often based on a list of items you provide over the phone or online. If the carrier they hire determines you have more items or weight, the price will almost certainly increase on moving day.

Are all long distance movers the same?

Unfortunately, not all long-distance movers are equal in terms of performance. A quality mover will have processes in place to ensure you have a positive outcome. They will also handle any issue and try to resolve it. The bad companies don’t care about the movers they hire, their equipment or the final outcome. There are many people in the moving business just to make money. You can do a simple Google search to find out more about companies complaints and how they conduct themselves.

Do long-distance movers offer insurance?

Most, not all long-distance movers offer insurance. Insurance is an important question you should ask your mover. You will always have the option of total value protection, but it’s not as it sounds. Total value protection only offers up to $6 per lbs per item. There are companies like Baker Insurance who will insure your household goods for the actual value. Their process is pretty easy and most quality movers work with them.

How long does a long-distance move take?

Transit time is a question that we get daily, and unfortunately, there is no definitive answer. By law, long-distance movers have up to 21 days to deliver your household goods without having to come out of pocket. However, transit times vary based on distance and size. The smaller the mover, the longer it will take. Small moves are put into a consolidation, which means there will be other pickups and deliveries along the way. If you’re moving cross country you can expect a transit time of 15-21 days. If you’re moving to a nearby state it will be closer to 7-12 days. We recommend speaking with your mover to get more details about transit times. Check out this article on moving tips for first time home buyers.

What should I do if I'm not sure what I'm moving, but need a quote?

Before contacting movers we suggest narrowing down what you want to move. Any mover can give you a ballpark figure, but in order to get an accurate estimate and leave no room for price increases, you should know what you’re moving. Moving is a great time to purge. Go through your home and figure out what you can live without and get rid of it. It will make your life easier and the moving cost will be less expensive.

What is the best time of the year to move?

Just like most service industries, there is a peak-season and off-season. Peak-season for the moving industry begins in May and ends in August. Rates tend to increase during peak season due to the shift in supply and demand. The average increase is about 25 percent. If your schedule is flexible we would recommend moving over the wintertime so you can save money and have a better pick of movers and moving dates. You can read this article on how to get an accurate moving estimate.