No single move is able to tick every box. The van lines offer national agent networks, while Cross Country Movers offer a single carrier at a fixed price. Which trade you prefer decides the winner. Each company below is compared on the same factors. Before you decide on a single moving company, confirm the USDOT number on the FMCSA’s ProtectYourMove website. This September 2026 guide will offer guidance to individuals looking to pack their bags.
United Van Lines
Pricing/quotes: United quotes $8,469 for standard services and $10,820 for full services on a 960-mile, three-bedroom relocation. There are no deposits when requesting a quote; however, the price might be adjusted after a walk-through inspection.
Service tiers: Provides standard and full services. Packaging and transportation are additional services offered.
Timeline and scheduling: Each agent will provide the potential customer with possible move dates. Customers should book their move prior to the peak period of June, July, or August.
Insurance and liability coverage: According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the released value pays 60 cents per pound. Customers also have the option to purchase Full Value Protection at an additional cost.
Licensing/credentials: USDOT license number: 77949. Parent company UniGroup has maintained its Better Business Bureau accreditation, earning it an A+ rating.
Packing and materials: Agents hired by United will pack the belongings of the Customer; therefore, the level of quality among crews will vary depending on the individual agent hired.
Storage-in-transit options: Offers short- and long-term storage options available through the network of agents hired by United.
Interstate regulations and mover rights: Since agents represent United, customers must verify which entity bears responsibility for providing the customer with liability protection.
Customer experience factors: Consumer reviews for United tend to be scattered and/or attributed to the name of the particular agent performing the relocation.
Use cases: Corporate relocations, military moves (a discount exists), and large family moves.
Allied Van Lines
Pricing/quotes: Allied’s online calculator has estimated that a typical cross-country move of a two- to three-bedroom home will be between $6,700 and $9,250 when the distance of the move is greater than 400 miles.
Service tiers: Allied offers full-service moving and Allied Express shipping containers for smaller moves and temporary storage.
Timeline and scheduling: Prior to the scheduled date of the move, Allied requires either a virtual or in-person survey at the consumer’s location. This provides another scheduling factor, as during peak season (June through August), some consumers may face longer wait times.
Insurance and liability coverage: The minimum liability insurance provided is 60 cents per pound, as per federal guidelines.
Licensing/credentials: USDOT number 76235, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau.
Packing and materials: Allied offers fragile packing, custom crating, and furniture disassembly services.
Storage-in-transit options: Both short term and long term storage are offered, including climate-controlled units and in-transit storage.
Interstate regulations and mover rights: Operates as both a hybrid carrier and broker under a single motor carrier number. It is therefore essential to identify which companies perform each segment of the customer’s move.
Customer experience factors: There have been complaints made by customers of lost/damaged items during transport and disputes regarding labeling issues of stored items.
Use cases: Perfect for military moves and small loads shipped in containers.
Cross Country Movers
Pricing/quotes: Quote process involves creating an itemized inventory list using their system, as they do not base prices on weight. It is estimated that moving a home of 2-3 bedrooms will cost around $2,500 to $7,500.
Service tiers: Their full-service option includes packing, loading, transporting, and unloading your belongings. Cross-country car shipping services and cross-border moves require additional requests.
Timeline and scheduling: Advises customers to book their move 8-12 weeks prior to the scheduled move date, and estimates a coast-to-coast relocation can take anywhere from 10 to 14 days.
Insurance and liability coverage: Cross Country Movers provides cargo insurance and liability coverage on all interstate relocation services. Released value is their default level of liability coverage, and full value protection is available as an upgrade.
Licensing/credentials: USDOT number 2552260. There are multiple independent movers operating with the same name but under different USDOT numbers. Customers must ensure that they have the correct one listed.
Packing and materials: Crew members hired through Cross Country Movers are responsible for packing your belongings. They also provide standard packing supplies and will handle delicate items.
Storage-in-transit options: While storage-in-transit is available, Cross Country Movers does not provide detailed information about this type of service. Therefore, it would be prudent to request these terms in writing after completing your quote.
Interstate regulations and mover rights: Request Cross Country Movers for the rights provided to consumers by the FMCSA’s brochure regarding your consumer rights and obtain a written order for service prior to signing.
Customer experience factors: Cross Country Movers has a 4.5-star rating based on 61 customer reviews on Yelp and is rated by the Better Business Bureau.
Use cases: Clients requiring apartment-to-house moves, particularly those involving long-distance moves, such as coast-to-coast relocations, will benefit from having a fixed price.
Mayflower
Pricing/quotes: Mayflower has a requirement that an in-home or virtual estimate be done, influencing the price of a move.
Service tiers: Offers a full-service tier (with packing and unpacking), a smaller move option, and labor-only moving services across local, long-distance, and international moves.
Timeline and scheduling: Local agents schedule pickups; therefore, availability will vary depending on your location. The peak season is the summer period.
Insurance and liability coverage: Released value coverage is available at 60 cents per pound. With full value coverage costs $8.50 per $1000 of declared value.
Licensing/credentials: Mayflower has USDOT number 125563 and has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
Packing and materials: Packing, unpacking, and custom crating are available for all fragile or oversized items. Debris removal is also provided.
Storage-in-transit options: Storage-in-transit and long-term storage are ideal when the customer’s new home is not yet available.
Interstate regulations and mover rights: Federal regulations provide the consumer with the right to receive the FMCSA rights booklet. Ensure that the agent’s contract does not contradict the information stated within Mayflower’s quote.
Customer experience factors: Mayflower has a low 2.2-star rating on Trustpilot.
Use cases: Best for complex household moves with crating, multi-stop shipments, or storage-in-transit options available.
North American Van Lines
Pricing/quotes: Local agents will use your free home survey as a quote, and you’ll receive no price until after speaking to an agent. The pricing can be lowered when the final shipment weight comes in lighter than estimated.
Service tiers: Full-service moving includes the option to have the movers pack your belongings, store them in a secure facility, and ship your vehicles to the new location.
Timeline and scheduling: There is no deposit required to schedule a move; charges may appear on your account up to two days prior to pickup, and all payments must be made prior to delivery.
Insurance and liability coverage: Released value is 60 cents per pound, which is the standard for Federal Interstate Moving.
Licensing/credentials: Has USDOT number 70851 and is also a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating.
Packing and materials: Your agent will provide the labor and materials for packing and unpacking. Crating services for fragile items are available upon request.
Storage-in-transit options: Through your agent, storage-in-transit is available as well as various options for long-term storage.
Interstate regulations and mover rights: Customers can request the FMCSA rights booklet to become acquainted with the regulations and rights of moving.
Customer experience factors: Does not have as many reviews as may be the case with competitors.
Use cases: Perfect for households that want a price ceiling on weight-based quotes.
Comparison Table
Company | Pricing | Key Feature | Best For | Limitation |
United Van Lines | Quote-only pricing | Large agent network | Corporate and military moves | High quotes |
Allied Van Lines | Provides non-binding quotes | Allies Express containers | Small loads and military moves | Final cost set by weight |
Cross Country Movers | Flat rate | Direct carrier | Fixed-price family moves | No agent network |
Mayflower | Quote-only, above-average pricing | Custom crating | Complex household moves | Weak Trustpilot score |
North American Van Lines | Not-to-exceed pricing option available | Price ceiling on certain moves | Uncertain weight moves | Weak customer reviews. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a binding or non-binding estimate better when deciding to move?
If you obtain a binding quote, then the company will be locked into pricing for all of the items included on your list. If you receive an estimate from the movers that is non-binding, then the movers will weigh everything and can charge based on the weight instead of what was quoted.
How do I ensure that a long-distance mover is legitimate?
Look up the USDOT number in the FMCSA’s database, confirm active authority and check complaint history. Be wary of large deposit requirements and read customer reviews on independent platforms before deciding.
When must a long-distance move be booked?
Be sure to book around eight to twelve weeks ahead. The peak period for moving is usually between June and August. This is also when prices are at their highest.
Conclusion
The Problem: No single long-distance mover fits every requirement, forcing you to choose between vast agent networks and fixed-price carriers.
Key Takeaways: Mover options differ greatly in pricing models, service tiers, and liability coverage, requiring careful alignment with your specific relocation needs.
Next Steps:
- Verify USDOT credential on the FMCSA database.
- Request itemized binding quotes.
- Book eight to 12 weeks in advance.
