Searching for a small load moving company can be challenging since there are so many options. Moving is time-consuming, and a professional moving company for small moves can do wonders in freeing up your time and effort.
We have reviewed the 5 best small movers for long distances to help narrow your search for small cross country movers. Our research consists of the benefits, disadvantages, services, and costs for small load moves.
International Van Lines
Best Overall
Pros
- Offers local, interstate, and international moving
- Provides custom moving packages depending on your needs
- Offers many protection plans
Cons
- Outsources moves to a third-party service in Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Montana
International Van Lines is the best overall moving company for small moves. They allow you to mix and match their services between full-service and partial-service moves.
There are multiple protection plans in place to ensure your belongings are safe. International Van Lines offers full-service packing, moving supplies, online quotes, and extensive insurance options to all customers. When scheduling your move, a 25 percent down deposit is required.
When canceling your move, you have up to 48 hours before your scheduled move to cancel for free. In certain states, like Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Montana, International Van Lines outsources to a third party to handle the moves.
1-800-PACK-RAT
Best Self Service
Pros
- Has an extensive range of online tools and resources
- Offers three different sizes of easily accessible and weatherproof containers
- Provides $10,000 for long-distance moves in content protection
Cons
- Available in only 30 states
- Online moving quotes or scheduling are not provided
1-800-Pack-Rat is the best self service moving company for small load moving. They offer an extensive section of self service moving options that you can pair with moving services from HireAHelper.
This moving company will deliver a moving container to you so you can pack up your belongings at your own pace. Once your container is fully loaded, you must notify 1-800-Pack-Rat when their movers for small loads should pick up and deliver your belongings to your new home.
Once you get to your new home, you can unload the container at your rate. Their containers come in three different sizes and are weatherproof and easily accessible. You can get a quote online and have the option to receive temporary or long-term storage.
Allied Van Lines
Best for Vehicle Moving
Pros
- Offers vehicle shipping for cross country moves
- Provides up to $100,000 insurance for vehicle shipping using enclosed carriers
- Generous cancelation policy
- Offers container moving service
Cons
- Limited customer service support when outside of business hours
- Online moving quotes are not provided
Allied Van Lines is the best small load moving company for vehicle moving. They provide two different types of vehicle carriers at different costs. The open carrier, which is less costly, can transport multiple vehicles simultaneously but does not protect from damage during transit.
The more costly option, enclosed carriers, are the best because the vehicles are protected from damage during transit on the highway. Allied Van Lines has about 100 years of experience in the moving business, so it is assured that your vehicle is in good hands when with Allied.
Their generous cancellation policy allows you to cancel your move for free as long as the movers have not begun your services yet. Container moving service is offered, and they have excellent customer reviews.
Safeway Moving Services
Best for Military
Pros
- United States Veteran owned company
- Specializes in military relocations
- Offers vehicle shipping
- Assembles and disassembles the furniture
Cons
- Does not provide much pricing information online
- Communication can be a challenge because you cannot directly contact your carrier until your moving date
Safeway is the best moving company for small moves for those in the military. They are a United States Veteran-owned company specializing in military relocation.
According to their reviews, they have mastered both residential and commercial moves and are highly recommended. Safeway offers vehicle shipping, assembling and disassembling furniture, crating, and complete packing services. They offer a 100 percent guarantee on all moves because they have high customer satisfaction standards.
While their website does not offer much pricing information, Safeway will walk you through their moving process and provide pricing information over the phone.
U-Pack
Best for Containers
Pros
- Charges only for the container space that you use
- Affordable
- Provides GPS tracking on your containers
Cons
- Provides only three days to load and unload your belongings for your move
U-Pack is the best for containers during a small move that is long distance. They offer affordable pricing and have a unique policy where you only have to pay for what containers you use.
This policy is excellent for small moves because you can pay per footage for a container and only pay for the space you need for your belongings. U-Pack has over 240 locations across the United States and provides long-distance moving services to all 50 states.
All moves must be at least 150 miles and must cross state lines. They provide GPS tracking on your containers to ensure you know where your belongings are at all times. The only con of using U-Pack is that you have only three days to load and unload your belongings for your move.
Choosing the Best Small Load Moving Companies
Choosing the best small load moving company for long-distance moving requires some research before making a definitive choice. You should get estimates from multiple companies before choosing and comparing prices.
While one company may offer container moving services, another may not. One may require a deposit when scheduling the move and another requires a deposit. Ensure your mover has verified credentials and is licensed by the Department of Transportation.
Check all small cross country move reviews and complaints to know if other customers were satisfied with the company. If there are a large number of unhappy customers, it is best to steer clear of using that moving company. Consider creating a moving checklist to note the services needed for your move, and choose a company that offers those services.
Final Thoughts
Our top choices for the 5 best small load moving companies should help you to know which moving companies for small moves are the most reputable for small moves. Agoyu can help you find the best small load movers. Agoyu is a free online tool to find and compare mover pricing and customer reviews for small load moving near you.
