Best Out Of State Movers Near Me

Almost 10% of Americans move home each year. That’s over 31 million people, which sounds like a lot but is actually the lowest number since 1948 when the Census Bureau started tracking moves. It’s less than half of the number during the 1960s. Still, over 3 million Americans made an interstate move last year.

Are you considering moving out of state? If so, you might be trying to find "out-of-state movers near me" to assist you with the relocation. A new state move might be thrilling, but it can also be stressful, particularly if you have a lot of possessions to pack and move. Out-of-state movers near you can help in this situation.

Most Popular States For Out Of State Moves

The most popular states to relocate to are these (according to the American Moving and Storage Association):

• Idaho
• Nevada
• Vermont
• Arizona
• Oregon
• North Carolina
• Tennessee
• Montana
• South Carolina
• Alabama

And the states they are abandoning? The same source points to this list:

• Illinois
• New Jersey
• West Virginia
• New York
• Alaska
• North Dakota
• Connecticut
• Kansas
• Michigan
• California

If you are joining the great American migration, moving your home and family can be intimidating. You may be moving out of state to a new area, or back to a familiar, comfortable environment. Either way, there is a lot to do to get to that finish line and settle in.

Which companies provide out-of-state moving services?

There are different types of moving companies. Some operate local moving services, some statewide, and there are also van lines that operate interstate, regional, and national moves. When it comes to out-of-state moves, you need to work with companies that have a federal license and have a presence both in your current state and the state you are moving to. Here are the types of companies you can contact when moving out of state:

Long-distance moving companies

Although a long-distance moving services company can operate within a state, it can also undertake interstate moving as long as they are licensed to operate out of state.

Interstate moving companies

As the name implies, they assist with state-to-state moves. Some interstate movers only ply some specific routes or operate in some parts of the US. You need to confirm first if an interstate moving company covers the state you are moving to.

Cross country movers

If you are making a really long distance move between different parts of the US, cross-country movers are the best fit for that kind of move. They can typically assist with moving services anywhere in the continental US. Some moving companies like Three Movers are long distance movers, interstate movers, and cross-country movers altogether. These companies have the experience, resources, and equipment for every kind of interstate move. You can rest assured of a stress-free moving experience when you work with such companies.

Are out-of-state movers regulated?

Any interstate move which crosses over a state line (interstate) is subject to regulations made and enforced by the Department of Transportation as interstate commerce. Within the DOT, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) supervises the industry and publishes guidance for brokers, consumers, and movers out of state near you. All moving companies must register with the FMCSA and display their DOT number in advertising. Registered movers near me out of state and brokers must provide the consumer with a copy of the FMCSA brochure, which outlines the rights of consumers when engaging a moving vendor. A critical requirement for interstate moves is a written estimate for every customer. If the customer is within 50 miles of the mover's business, the assessment must be based on a physical survey of the items included in the move, unless the customer waives that requirement. Pro tip: don’t forgo the visual inspection—it’s essential. The FMCSA recommends that consumers avoid movers or brokers not registered with the FMCSA, refusing to perform the physical survey of the household, or requiring cash payments. FMCSA maintains a database that identifies registered companies and also tracks information regarding safety history and customer complaints.

Top 8 Tips For Finding The Right Out Of State Moving Company

Consider your Budget

Before you do anything else, consider your moving budget. If you have a tighter budget, you might not have all the options available. A complete moving services company will be the best option while renting a moving truck is usually the cheapest. A freight company and a moving storage container company will fall in the middle of the average price range.

Check the License and Insurance

You can use the FMCSA website called protectyourmove.gov to check the U.S. DOT number for any moving company. Any company providing moving services across state lines must have the proper U.S. DOT license and insurance. Make sure they offer what’s necessary and check to see if claims have been filed against the company in the past.

Do Your Own Research

Now that you have a list with some of the best out of state moving companies, it’s time to start doing a bit of digging. Use the to see if the company you are considering is certified. Research the company on Google, Facebook, and directories like Angie’s List and read the reviews to see if other customers were satisfied with the services offered. Make sure that the companies you are considering are licensed and legitimate.

Interstate moving companies near you that travel across state lines must have a Department of Transportation number issued to them. You should be able to easily find this information on their website. When you find the number, go to the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and check for their license, insurance coverage, safety records, and history of customer complaints.

Check for Public Reputation

Organizations like Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredit businesses and award grades that represent their confidence that a business is operating in a trustworthy manner. It shows how a company is likely to proactively resolve customer complaints without coercion.

The BBB grade scale is from A+ – F. A+ being the highest and F being the lowest score. The calculation of the BBB score is largely based on customer-reported complaints that have been verified and evaluated by BBB. The accreditation and grading of BBB help customers decide on the best companies to work with. There are other sites like Yelp where you can also read reviews about the moving companies on your list.

Look at the Better Business Bureau Website

The BBB will tell you whether a company has a good reputation or not. If a company has a solid rating with the BBB, you can trust it will likely provide good moving services.

Know How to Spot Scams

When searching for an out of state moving company, you want to know how to spot moving scams. While reading reviews and checking the BBB website can help, you should also know that any company asking for a deposit of more than 20% of the total cost is likely a scam. Moving the company out of state will likely require a deposit, but it will be closer to 10% of the total cost than 20%.

Never pay a cash deposit, either. It’s best to use a credit card to dispute the charges if you get scammed.

Use these tips to ensure you can find the right out of state moving company for your needs. There are plenty of options, and you want to ensure you get a company to serve your needs. Whether you want a full-service option ready to help with packing and loading or you just want a company to handle the transportation, there’s an out of state moving company ready to help you.

Check for Team Profiles

When researching the best interstate moving companies, also look at the people that comprise the team. A professional moving company will have members who specialize in different areas associated with moving including experts in scheduling, insurance, local moves, long-distance moves, overseas moves, business relocations, etc. A company without a robust staff profile is probably just coming up.

Contact a Few Moving Companies

By now, you should have a narrowed list of professional movers you want to work with. The next step you should take is to schedule an appointment with each of them and ask for quotes for your out of state move.

Ask for Referrals

Perhaps the easiest way to find a long-distance moving company that you can trust is to ask your friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors for recommendations. You can also use Facebook groups or forums to ask for recommendations. Be wary, however, of posts that seem to praise too much a company.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Business organizations and government agencies also work with moving services, and they usually follow a strict vetting process before selecting cheap out of state movers near you. If you get referrals from decision makers in organizations and agencies about any moving company, the chances are high that such a company would really be a good one.

How Do I Choose the Best Out of State Movers Near Me?

Finding a moving professional moving company for an out-of-state or long-distance move is different than picking a company for a local move. Chances are you have moved locally, perhaps even more than once. But for a local move, you have more options and more control. You can watch, you can be there, and the process is shorter. If something gets left behind, it's pretty easy to go back for it. You could most likely make several trips before the "big event," dropping off small items and staging for the final move day. With an out-of-state relocation, you will rely more on your moving company's skill and professionalism for the entire process, making the decision more important.

Qualities of a reputable moving company

When looking for reputable out of state movers, here are some specific qualities you should look out for.

License and insurance coverage

As earlier mentioned, such companies should be registered with the FMCSA and comply with safety regulations and best practices. They should also have insurance coverage for their moves.

Standard practice

Reputable out of state movers near you follow standard practices in the moving industry, such as home visitation or surveys, and provide free in home estimates. They are also not expected to demand large sums of money as a deposit before the move is completed.

Willingness to Provide In Home Estimates

If one or more companies claim that they can give you an accurate estimate without physically examining your belongings first, then that's a major red flag. While it's normal for moving companies to give you information about their rates via phone calls, a reputable moving company will provide a quote only after walking through your home and making an inventory of the items you need to move.

Transparent pricing

Estimates should be based on your moving requirements and every item and fee on the estimate should be clearly stated. The best out of state movers near you are obligated to explain and clarify the estimates they give until you understand. Any form of ambiguity in the estimate or hidden fees and unwillingness to provide an explanation can be a red flag.

Recognition and endorsement

An experienced and reliable moving company would have received recognition or endorsement from organizations such as the American Trucking Association and Better Business Bureau.

Local Presence

While you don't need local movers for your out of state moves, you need to be sure that the interstate moving company you want to deal with has a local presence both in your current state and in the state you are moving to. With local presence, you can easily walk into their office to lodge complaints and there are times you might need temporary storage before your new home is ready. It's better to get storage that is close to your new location than having to move a long distance again when the home is ready.

Client testimonials and customer reviews

Check if the mover has good track records with previous clients and customers. Check websites like Yelp and Nextdoor to see what people are saying about their service. When checking, don't just look at the ratings, read the reviews as well and be discerning to identify genuine reviews. Read both recent and past reviews, and try to avoid a mover with too many recent bad reviews.

Responsive Customer Service Agents

A reputable mover will provide quality customer service and one of the ways to be sure about this is how responsive their customer service agents are. Do you wait too long before you get your phone answered or do you have to make frequent phone calls before reaching them?

What are the different kinds of estimates?

There are three kinds of estimates from which to choose. A binding estimate or a binding not-to-exceed estimate both assure the consumer that the moving prices will not go up. In the case of the not-to-exceed estimate, it could go down. In either case, the price could increase if items not on the inventory are presented for shipment, or additional services are requested or necessary.

Binding estimate

If you have a binding estimate (which the company can charge a fee to provide), you must ensure that the inventory is accurate. Anything not on the list yet included in the move will increase the price beyond the estimated amount. Also, if there are conditions at the destination which require additional labor, the price will go up. Examples of such conditions include a steep driveway, unexpected stairs, or a requirement to shuttle the shipment from a distance due to parking restrictions.

Binding not-to-exceed

Unplanned storage will result in additional labor charges as well as storage costs. If your estimate is the binding not-to-exceed, the delivery's weight is less than the forecast, and no services are added, your final price will be reduced. Ask for this type of estimate if you are downsizing but haven't fully completed your process at the walk-through.

Non-binding estimate

A non-binding estimate is still based on weight and must also include an inventory of all items included. The difference is that the long distance mover providing the assessment offers an assessment based on experience, but you are acknowledging that the final price will depend on the actual weight. This situation is where less-than-honest operators can seek advantage. If you are attracted by the lowest estimate, without fully understanding the potential for an increase in the final cost, you may end up with a higher price. Suppose that vendor A estimates the weight at 7500 pounds and gives you a non-binding estimate of $4500 (average cost for an interstate move). Vendor B estimates the weight at 5000 pounds and provides a non-binding estimate of $3000. That sounds like the way to go, but it may not be. Ask both vendors for an estimate based on the competition's weight value so that you can compare apples to apples. That way, you will know what Vendor B will charge if the weight comes in at a higher amount, and it will be a fair comparison.

What services do Out of State Movers Provide?

Many times, the service you get from movers is based on your request. Movers can take care of the entire process or a part of your move depending on what you want. Here is a highlight of the services you can request for when working with an out of state mover.

Packing services?

You can ask each moving company to include a quote for packing and unpacking in your estimate. You may decide you want to add this service, and it's best to have the cost in writing. Also, check with each vendor whether they require you to use their packing services for any expensive or specialty items. You don't want to find out later that the damage isn't covered because you packed something on your own.

Temporary storage

If you are moving out of state, things can happen that you can't get to your new location ahead of your belongings or it may be that your new home is not ready yet. In this case, you will have to use temporary storage. Whether you are requesting this service upfront or not, be sure that your long distance moving company can provide temporary storage in the case of eventualities.

Full Service Moving

If your home is large or you have so many things to move, you may want to go for a full service moving company where professional movers take care of the entire moving process which includes the provision of packing and moving supplies, packing and unpacking, loading and unloading from the moving truck, and storage if required.

A couple of movers

If you want to cut costs by handling some aspects of the move yourself. If you want to use a moving container or truck rental and also handle packing but you need a couple of movers to help with loading and unloading, it is possible to get that service as well. With that, you will only pay based on the number of movers you are using, and pay for their accommodation as well, if the move will require spending the night.

How Do I Get Surveys And Estimates From Out Of State Movers Near Me?

Move industry experts recommend that you have at least three estimates to compare. If you are moving your entire house full of furniture and boxes, the weight can be anywhere in a wide range, depending on what you will move. If possible, do some sorting and downsizing before you call the long-distance movers providing full service out of state to give you estimates—there’s no sense in moving stuff you don’t need. The packing and unpacking are a lot easier if you dispose of unwanted items ahead of time. Once you are ready, invite your potential vendors to come and do a walk-through of the house or apartment and look at what is involved. Federal regulations require this step. Some cheap out of state movers may suggest that you skip the visual survey, but it’s a bad idea. They can't give you an accurate estimate of the shipment's weight unless they look at what you are moving. So spend time going through the process, reviewing the inventories for thoroughness, and comparing the estimates. Double-check that you are comparing apples to apples – binding or nonbinding estimates. As noted above, a nonbinding estimate is not a guaranteed price. If the mover underestimates the weight, the price you pay will be more. If one quote is much lower than the others, you should be wary and ask questions about why the weight is lower and how much of an increase you would pay if they were inaccurate. Also, compare prices for extra services like packing. The long distance movers will quote an hourly rate for packing. They will add a fee for any items that need special preparation, such as furniture disassembly and reassembly at the destination. If you have artwork that requires special crating or heavy objects like pianos, check that the charges for long distance moving services for those are reasonable.

Do I need insurance for my out of state move?

Yes! The written estimate must also include notification of the two choices regarding insurance: the default option of the full replacement value of the items in the shipment (which the customer pays for) or the lesser amount of a valuation of $0.60 per pound. The mover provides the $0.60 per pound at no charge to you, but it is literally a payment of 60 cents per pound for whatever is broken or lost. This option would mean that your brand-new flat screen, which weighs 20 pounds, will be reimbursed at a value of $12.00 even if it is worth $1000. Consider this carefully, since moving often results in losses. If you have something that is worth moving, it is worth insuring. The price of the full value coverage insurance should be part of your evaluation of the moving bids. Keep in mind that even with the full replacement coverage, movers can limit their liability for items of extraordinary value, unless they have been expressly noted in the shipping documents. Possessions valued at more than $100 per pound (jewelry, silverware, china, furs, antiques, oriental rugs, and similar items) should be highlighted in advance so they will be covered. Consider using a third-party provider for insurance if you have expensive or specialty items in your shipment. Ask your mover or insurance provider if they need to be specially packed to protect the coverage.

How much does out of state move cost?

Out of state moves can be expensive and it can get more expensive if your home is large and moving to a far state from where you are. According to Home Advisor, the average cost of an out of state move is $4,557. You can budget between $4,000 to $10,000 or more for your move. It could be lesser if you are moving to neighboring states and have a moderate home size.

Factors That Affect The Cost Of Out Of State Moves

These are some of the factors that will affect the price of out of state moves:

Distance Of The Move

The cost of out of state moves is higher because you have to travel a longer distance.

Impracticable Operations

Conditions that prohibit a moving company from completing loading or delivery with their standard equipment or that require additional labor. These terms are delineated in a moving company's tariff, and movers may add them to the final invoice.

High-Value Articles

High value articles that need extra attention will increase the cost of the move.

Inventory

A list of goods included in the move. This list is the basis for the weight estimate. The inventory should be compiled based on a physical survey of the household items designated to move.

Line-Haul Charges

The transportation portion of the moving bill. In conjunction with the accessorial charges, it makes up the total bill.

Long Carry Charge For Out Of State Moves

An extra fee is applied when a mover carries goods a long distance from a residence to the moving truck or vice versa. The applicable length and the charge are identified on the tariff.

Peak Season Rates

Quotes for moves requested during high demand times for moving companies are higher. The peak season for moving is during the summer.

Full-Value Protection Insurance

You have to pay extra for full coverage.

Additional Services

Additional services like packing services, storage services, loading/unloading, and furniture assembly/disassembly will cost extra.

What's the cheapest way to move out of state?

When it comes to moving out of state, everyone wants to avoid the high costs and look for cheaper alternatives. However, care has to be taken to avoid falling into the hands of inexperienced movers, scammers, or people with shady practices. There are ways you can avoid high out of state movers costs when dealing with professional movers. Some of them are highlighted below:

Hire a Reputable Movers Out of State Near You

Talk only to movers who are reputable for giving clear estimates and transparent pricing without hidden fees. While the final cost of your move can be higher than the estimate you are given, the disparity shouldn't be too obvious. In fact, you should be able to anticipate what the final cost will look like based on the estimate, any dramatic change is an indication that something might be fishy. By working with a reputable mover, you can rest assured that they will deal with you fairly.

Reduce Loading

The amount of load and distance are what primarily drive moving cost. While you can't change the distance, you can reduce the loading. The amount of loads you are moving is totally within your control. So what can you do to reduce your loads?

• Sell off some items for cash
• Give items to family and friends
• Donate items to charity
• Trash irrelevant items

Pack Moving Boxes Yourself

If you have grown kids or other family members that can help, you can handle the packing aspect of the move and save money. Also rather than purchasing packing supplies such as moving boxes, look for ways to get them for free.

Schedule Your Move Rightly

Don't schedule your long distance move during peak periods such as holidays or peak days like weekends. Most movers advise scheduling the move between late September and April and of course, weekdays to save cost.

Contact movers early enough

Start talking to movers for an in-home estimate at least two months before your planned move date and strike a deal with a mover four to six weeks before your move. Also, allow the movers some flexibility about your actual move date, this can earn you discounted rates for your move.

Get Free Estimates From Three Movers

When it comes to the cheapest moving company out of state, Three Movers is one of the most experienced and trusted relocation companies you can find. We have professional movers all around the country and we provide all services that your move may require including full service packing and provision of packing supplies, loading and unloading and temporary storage, and movers. Our team are well trained to handle all your moving requests professionally and getting the job done nicely to your satisfaction is our utmost priority. Contact us online or give us a call at (888) 202-0036 to get started with a no-commitment quote, or to get more information about what we do.

What Are the Steps to Move Out of the State?

It can be thrilling and stressful to relocate to a new or out of state. There are different steps to the success out of state moves, such as starting a moving plan early, researching your new location, finding a new place to live, notifying relevant parties of your activity, Changing your address, making a list of everything you need to do, pack up your belongings, arrange for transportation, set up utilities and other services, and Take some time to explore your new surroundings and make yourself at home in your new location.

How Long Does it Take to Move Out of the State?

The distance you are relocating, the number of belongings you have, and the amount of support you have with the move all affect how long it takes to relocate out of state. You can relocate in a single day if you’re moving a short distance and only have a few items. The relocation, though, can take several days, maybe even a week or more, if you’re going a long way and have a lot of stuff.

How Do I Find Reliable Out of State Movers Near Me?

There are several ways to find out-of-state movers near you, such as asking for a recommendation, Checking online reviews of moving companies, Requesting estimates for your move, Asking about their experience, Considering the services they offer, and Don’t be afraid to negotiate, etc.

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