Horror stories abound, like the (now out-of-service) Texas-based moving company that agreed to help a retired member of the U.S. Navy move, then jacked up the price from $2,700 to $6,700<\/a> after the truck was loaded. When the customer tried to negotiate, the company essentially held his belongings hostage.<\/p>\n Because we want you to end your home sale on a high note, we\u2019ve done some of the legwork for you and rounded out the best and most reputable moving companies<\/a>. We compared companies across the country based on their experience, awards, Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, and online reviews.<\/p>\n Then, we sorted them by the type of move you\u2019re undertaking, whether it be local, cross-country, full-service, or DIY with the help of a truck. HomeLight can\u2019t guarantee any operation\u2019s level of service, and we encourage you to vet each recommendation further. But, based on our extensive research, these 9 top moving companies are worth your consideration.<\/p>\n In business since 1995, American Van Lines<\/a> is a dependable, consumer-trusted choice for local, full-service assistance nationwide.<\/p>\n A member of the American Moving Storage Association (AMSA)\u2014which is known for its long history of consumer advocacy and improving industry standards\u2014American Van Lines also has a ProMover designation<\/a>, an initiative launched by AMSA in 2009 to help consumers differentiate between authentic movers and those running a con operation.<\/p>\n Ranked as one of \u201cAmerica\u2019s Best Customer Service 2019\u201d<\/a> in the Moving Services category with a 4.5 out of 5-star overall satisfaction rating<\/a> from BBB-accredited website ConsumerAffairs, American Van Lines offers a wide range of services<\/a> for local, long-distance, corporate, military, international, business, storage, and piano and antique moves.<\/p>\n Although many moving companies charge by the hour, American Van Lines offers a Flat Rate Pricing System<\/a>, which includes disassembly and reassembly of your furniture, packing, and specialty moving for fragile items. Locking in a rate at the beginning helps you avoid sticker shock, and you can rest assured the cost won\u2019t change at any point, offering you \u201cpeace of mind<\/a> throughout the entire relocation.\u201d<\/p>\n A family owned and operated business with over 50 years of experience and over 200 service agents<\/a> in their network, Colonial Van Lines<\/a> is equipped with the right resources for your long-distance or cross-country move<\/a>.<\/p>\n As a full-service moving company, Colonial Van Lines handles your belongings with the respect, care, and attention they deserve, especially considering the anxiety you\u2019re likely feeling about your cross-country move.<\/p>\n For example, the company has a network of professional movers and packers who are experienced in the process, promising every customer<\/a> \u201cprofessional care, reliability, cost-effective services, efficiency, and friendliness.\u201d Whether you need short- or long-term storage services or just a smooth and straightforward cross-country move, Colonial Van Lines handles all the details.<\/p>\n With a 4 out of 5-star satisfaction rating<\/a>, customers appreciate the company\u2019s professionalism and its ability to set transparent expectations regarding price and process at the onset, based on the dozens of reviews we pored over. In fact, over 70% of verified customers \u201csaid they were happy or satisfied with their experience<\/a> or would recommend Colonial Van Lines to a friend.\u201d Rated as one of the nation\u2019s top moving companies and undertaking at least 19,000 moves a year<\/a>, Colonial Van Lines also has a B+ from the BBB.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s service offerings are customized depending on the size and distance of your move, and you\u2019re assigned a personal relocation assistant<\/a> so your experience\u2014from initiating a booking to delivery at your new location\u2014is seamless and conducive to your needs.<\/p>\n Customers can also use Colonial Van Lines\u2019 app<\/a>, an industry-first moving service tool<\/a>, to get in touch with moving specialists, take photos and videos of your items to obtain an accurate estimate, order moving and packing supplies, and use a built-in moving checklist to streamline your experience.<\/p>\n As a bonus, Colonial Van Lines partners with Move For Hunger<\/a>, \u201ca non-profit that provides hunger relief by delivering unwanted non-perishables to food banks via relocation companies.\u201d<\/p>\n Think about all the non-perishable foods you\u2019ll likely leave behind on moving day<\/a> and the impact they can have on local families in need. All you need to do is set aside your unopened nonperishables, and Colonial will deliver them to your local food bank.<\/p>\n Unlike a DIY move, which means filling up your own vehicles and driving them from Point A to Point B, shipping containers involve a company delivering containers to your home.<\/p>\n You load the containers with your belongings, the company picks up the containers and ships them to your new home or a nearby storage facility, and you unload it from there. The biggest perk of using a shipping container is that you don\u2019t have to do the driving, which can be stressful if you\u2019re not used to handling more than a sedan. Though you should note that using a shipping container is generally more expensive<\/a> than a truck rental.<\/p>\n Based on our research of the competitors in this space, we think U-Haul\u2019s U-Box Containers for Moving and Storage<\/a> offers a few advantages worth noting. For one, the company\u2019s been in business since 1945 and has 15,000+ locations across the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\n Earning top sustainability awards<\/a> from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, Alliance to Save Energy, Platts, and Valley Forward for U-Haul as a whole, the company\u2019s U-Box service in particular is an excellent choice if:<\/p>\n The U-Box containers are made of \u201cpremium, pest resistant plywood<\/a>, which provides your belongings with a stable and chemical free environment to store and transport your belongings in\u201d so you can rest assured they will be protected from mold, mildew, and the elements.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also something comforting about using a service created on the shoulders of an iconic, well-established company that invented the DIY move<\/a>. With a 3.53 average review<\/a> rating from Moving 101, and the least expensive option<\/a> compared to the competition, you can get a one-way quote online<\/a> that includes the entire cost of your move, in one transparent format.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re unsure how many shipping containers you\u2019ll need, it\u2019s best to overestimate. U-Haul will pick up any unused containers<\/a> and credit you back the full cost.<\/p>\n Penske\u2019s<\/a> two biggest upsides, other than frequent discounts and deals<\/a>, for the DIY moving truck driver worried about safety and reliability<\/a> are:<\/p>\n The company was founded in 1969, so it\u2019s got some clout in the transportation services industry. With more than 308,000 vehicles, over 745 service locations, and more than 2,400 truck rental locations in North America, it \u201cbecame the first company ever in North America to put an electric<\/a> commercial vehicle into its fleet\u201d\u2014cementing its reputation as an organization that continues to invest in the latest technology.<\/p>\n With a myriad of customer and industry awards<\/a> under its belt, from supplier and logistics to sustainability and innovation, the company also has an A+ rating from the BBB and a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on reviews.org, a digital resource in reviewing and testing home- and tech-related services.<\/p>\n Penske has five vehicle options\u2014a cargo van and a 12-, 16-, 22-, and 26-foot truck\u2014depending on the size of your home.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re unsure what size you\u2019ll need, you can use the Penske Truck Wizard<\/a>. With illustrations of furniture and household items, and a user-friendly design, it\u2019s an easy digital tool to help you visualize your belongings and how much space they\u2019ll require in order to get you the most accurate quote.<\/p>\n Getting your car from New York to California can be a real pain if you don\u2019t want to drive it.<\/p>\n Of course, you can ship your car but with that comes concern over nicks and dents.<\/p>\n Where other car transportation services don\u2019t cover the cost of damage, Ship a Car Direct<\/a>\u2019s Damage-Free Guarantee program<\/a> means that \u201cin the very rare case of damage, the carrier\u2019s insurance will cover it. If they don\u2019t, we\u2019ve got your back.\u201d What does this mean for you? Peace of mind, security, and confidence.<\/p>\n Since the broker launched in 2008, originally under the name Honesty First Auto Transport, customers have flocked to its reliability, honesty, transparency, and fair prices.<\/p>\n With an A+ rating from the BBB<\/a> and an overall 4.8 out of 5-star rating, Ship a Car Direct\u2019s customer service and FAQ user videos<\/a>\u2014delivered directly from the owner Michael Strickland\u2014offers customers a personal perspective that eases any concern or anxiety over damage to their car.<\/p>\n Ship a Car Direct takes great measures to ensure your experience from point A to point B is a smooth one for your conscience and car.<\/p>\n For example, all of the company\u2019s car carriers are pre-screened for required licenses, insurance, and hidden fees, leaving you with peace of mind that your car will be in safe hands. Every order comes with $500 in added insurance<\/a>, free of charge to you.<\/p>\n If you need assistance, the company is available at flexible hours<\/a>, via phone or email, to answer any of your vehicle transportation questions. One common concern, for instance, is whether to choose an open carrier or enclosed carrier<\/a> for your car; if you\u2019re unsure, the company can walk you through the pros and cons depending on your type of car, the distance traveling, and your budget.<\/p>\n Plus, Ship a Car Direct doesn\u2019t require an upfront deposit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Operating since 2000, International Van Lines<\/a> primarily began as an international moving and logistics company<\/a>. Handling 10,000 moves a year<\/a> and providing overseas moving to over 180 countries<\/a>, with availability in all 50 states, it ranks as one of the best companies in the industry.<\/p>\n With a 4.5 out of 5-star overall rating from Move.org<\/a>, an expert-driven and research-based recommendation guide on moving and storage companies, the company offers moving services worldwide\u2014thanks to more than 3,200 global partnerships.<\/p>\n Ranked #1<\/a> by Consumers Advocate in the \u201cTop 10 Moving Companies of 2018\u201d list, it\u2019s also licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission<\/a> and has a customer satisfaction TrustPilot score<\/a> of 8.4\/10.<\/p>\n When you choose IVL for your international move, the following service offerings are included:<\/p>\n If you have pricey or treasured items, you can purchase full-value protection<\/a> \u201cwhich covers damage to your belongings at a higher rate per item.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, other than the basic professional moving services you\u2019ve come to expect, IVL has specialty offerings<\/a>\u2014like cranes\u2014to lift heavy furniture or oddball items from your home.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve given you some ideas of where to start your search for top moving companies based on the research and information available to us. But we recommend you do your own homework before signing any paperwork.<\/p>\n Beware of the red flags<\/a> of moving company fraud, like initial quotes that seem too good to be true. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration\u2019s Protect Your Move website offers an educational\u2014and downloadable!\u2014checklist<\/a> of your consumer rights<\/a> and what to be aware of before, during, and after the move, and how to report if you\u2019ve been victimized.<\/p>\n Generally, you should look for:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/top-moving-companies-movers.jpg\")
<\/a>Your top moving company for local, full-service help: American Van Lines<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/top-moving-companies-highway.jpg\")
<\/a>Your top moving company for a cross-country move: Colonial Van Lines<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/top-moving-companies-container.jpg\")
<\/a>Your top moving company for a shipping container: U-Haul<\/h2>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/top-moving-companies-truck.jpg\")
<\/a>Your top moving company for when you just need a good ole\u2019 truck: Penske<\/h2>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/top-moving-companies-car.jpg\")
<\/a>Your top moving company for transporting your car from A to B: Ship a Car Direct<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/top-moving-companies-ship.jpg\")
<\/a>Your top moving company for an international move: International Van Lines<\/h2>\n
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The keys to finding a dependable and professional moving company<\/h2>\n