Best Local Moving Companies

For our two-bedroom, 1,000-mile sample: about $1,400 in a rented truck plus fuel and your labour; $2,000–$3,000 with a freight trailer or container you load yourself; $4,500–$7,500 with a full-service van line that packs, loads and delivers. Add 10–25% in summer and for short notice.

A binding estimate fixes the price for the inventory surveyed; a non-binding one can rise on moving day and federal rules let the mover collect up to 110% at delivery. Insist on a binding or not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey — the van lines and container companies here all offer one.

By default, interstate movers are liable for only 60 cents per pound per item — a $1,500 TV pays out $30. Full-value protection, which costs 1–2% of the declared value, makes the mover repair or replace. Homeowner's policies rarely cover goods in transit; check.

We request quotes for the same move from each company, note whether a survey was required and whether the estimate was binding, and read the tariff and protection terms. We check USDOT registration and safety records on the FMCSA site, BBB rating and complaint counts against company size, and published claims data. We do not accept payment or discounts from movers.