Best Local Moving Companies

What separates the best local moving companies on this page?

The three picks split by how much of the move you do yourself. U-Haul scores 8 and costs $1,400 for a one-way 20 ft truck on our route, before fuel. You drive it 1,000 miles and buy about $350 of fuel. Two Men and a Truck scores 7.7 at $4,900, with local crews from about $120–$180 an hour for two movers and a truck. PODS scores 7.7 at $3,400 and drops a container in your driveway.

U-Haul wins on price and reach: 20,000 locations, one-way drop-off, and a Moving Help marketplace for loading labour. The trade-offs are real — you drive the truck, and a reservation does not guarantee the exact truck size. Two Men and a Truck brings trained crews and a 96% referral rate the company publishes, plus packing and junk removal. Long-distance runs as a container service priced like a van line, and quality varies by franchise. PODS lets you load over days or weeks, store the container for a month or a year, and load at ground level with no ramp. Quotes come only by phone — ours took two calls — and it is slower and pricier than U-Pack for the same move.

What should you check before booking a local mover?

Our scoring puts reliability and complaints at 30, pricing transparency at 25, services at 20, value at 15, and coverage and scheduling at 10. Ask each company how it handles those five things before you sign.

• Complaint history: check federal complaint data for the exact branch, not the brand.
• Written pricing: U-Haul's $1,400 excludes about $350 of fuel; hourly crews bill from about $120–$180 an hour for two movers and a truck.
• Who does the work: U-Haul means you drive; Two Men and a Truck sends a crew; PODS means you load and unload.
• Scheduling: a U-Haul reservation does not guarantee the exact truck size, and PODS quotes only by phone.
• Franchise variation: Two Men and a Truck quality varies by franchise, so check the one near you.

U-Haul

For anyone who wants the lowest cost by far — roughly a quarter of a van line — and will drive a 20 ft truck 1,000 miles. Best if you can load with hired help through Moving Help.

Two Men and a Truck

For in-town moves where you want a crew, packing and junk removal handled, and a franchise with consistent training. Check your local franchise first.

PODS

For a move with flexible timing: load over days or weeks, store the container between homes, and avoid a ramp. Expect phone-only quotes and a slower schedule.

U-Haul suits the mover who will drive a 20 ft truck and wants the lowest cost by far. Two Men and a Truck suits in-town moves where you want a trained crew, packing and junk removal. PODS suits a move with flexible timing, storage between homes, and ground-level loading.