Affordable Long Distance Movers With Honest Prices

Q: What are red flags when hiring movers?

Very low quotes, thin-content websites, overwhelmingly negative reviews, fake reviews, and brand-new moving companies all raise red flags. Make sure your quote is accurate and that your movers have a professional website and a strong reputation built over five or more years to improve your chances of a positive experience.

Q: Are there cheaper options than U-Haul?

Not usually, though Budget may offer lower truck-rental rates. If your long-distance move exceeds 1,000 miles, a partial shared-load move with full-service movers can be more cost-effective. Shared-load moving costs range from about $2,700 to $5,000, which is similar to U-Haul once you factor in the miscellaneous fees of renting a truck.

Q: What should I expect to pay for a long-distance moving company?

Based on industry averages, out-of-state moving costs generally run $2,700 to $4,000 on the low end and $7,000 to $15,000 on the high end. Your total depends on move size, mileage, and the mover's experience and reputation. Finding an affordable long-distance mover matters, but it is important to choose a company with realistic pricing to ensure your household goods are handled properly.

Affordable long distance movers in Denver, Chicago, Valencia, NC, Los Angeles, CA, VA, Georgia, Ohio, Maryland, DC, and nearby states.

American National Movers is a great choice for consumers looking for a cheaper long distance moving company that doesn't have a ton of negative reviews. If you have done your due diligence (we have), you'll find that many long distance moving companies quoting affordable prices don't typically have good reviews. Brands like PODS or U-Pack offer an affordable alternative to renting a U-Haul, but their reviews aren't the greatest.

To be transparent, even American National Movers has gotten some negative feedback online, but it's not more than a handful of experiences. With us, it would never reach the point where we have several pages of unresolved disputes with previous customers registered online. This is why we are one of the best affordable long distance movers. We keep our costs reasonable to meet most of your budget expectations while still providing a professional service with minimal complaints online.

Is Your Quote Honest Or Deceptive?

The video below shows a common situation: a consumer looking for an affordable long distance moving company is given two options — an honest $7,000 quote and a deceptive $4,000 one. They chose the cheaper quote, but when the movers arrived, they tripled the price.

This is the trap of chasing the lowest number. When you hire a disingenuous mover who inflates the price and holds your belongings hostage, your hands are tied — and so are your local police department's. Billing disputes with movers are civil, not criminal, which means the company can legally keep your items until you pay or take them to court.

Be Weary Of Fake Affordable Quotes

Another video we generated below illustrates just how dishonest the moving industry can be when it comes to pricing. In it, a salesperson and his partner openly admit they underbid a quote to win a customer's business. The coworker says, "You closed a 3-bedroom for $3,800? That's a $6,000 job." The salesperson responds, "We'll double it on move day — the customer will already be packed. What are they going to do?"

If you hire a company that engages in this type of deceptive business practice, not only do you have to worry about the budget, but your furniture is also in the hands of an unethical brand. At that point, I would be more worried about how your furniture will be handled and about potential theft than about a price increase.

Can Movers Legally Raise My Price Significantly?

Yes — and this is where it gets tricky. If your actual shipment takes up more space or weight than your estimate, a mover can legally charge more, sometimes double or triple. That part is fair when it's honest. The problem is that disreputable movers exploit it: they deliberately lowball the space on your original quote to win your business, then "discover" the real volume on move day — when your back is against the wall. Because the higher price is now tied to actual volume, you're stuck. That's why a cheap quote means nothing if it's not from a reputable mover who measures your inventory honestly up front.

If you find yourself in this situation, you have two options:

Pay the Money:

This is what most people do — they have to vacate, and there's no time to find another mover. Unfortunately, that's exactly what shady companies are counting on. It's why a low price means nothing if it's not coming from a reputable mover.

Cancel & Secure Last Minute Moving Services

Companies like American National Movers can sometimes help if you need a last-minute long-distance mover after a price dispute with another company — but only if you can push the move back a day or two and have time to reach out for a quote.

Are There Hidden Fees With Long Distance Moving?

Ever notice the pattern with moving companies advertising suspiciously low rates? Their reviews scream hidden fees and big price changes. Consumers who focus only on price when hiring long-distance movers often report that their estimates jump by 50% or more on moving day. Many brands get away with this through clauses buried in a non-binding estimate. However, in some cases, an estimated increase can be legitimate, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk of a price increase:

Reviews

Finding a long distance moving company with an affordable price is great, but you should ensure they don't have a history of complaints about price increases. The keyword here is pattern. Almost every moving company will eventually receive complaints about price disputes, especially on long distance moves, due to how estimates work. However, if you notice an overwhelming number of such complaints, it may indicate a problem. Negative reviews indicate bait and switch practices, suggesting that the affordable price is not real; it's bait.

Your Estimated Volume

Do some research and get familiar with how to determine the approximate weight or cubic feet of your items. If you found the most affordable long distance movers, but their estimated volume is much less than the more expensive options, they are low-balling your quote. A low-ball estimate will always get changed eventually, and you may end up paying a couple of thousand extra once your movers arrive on loading day.

Accurate Inventory

Contacting several brands to find a long distance moving company that can meet your needs and budget is overwhelming; we get it. But if you're going to call a mover for a quote, you need to do things right and provide an accurate inventory list. Otherwise, you are going to be setting yourself up for failure because movers charge per item, and if you omit items, you will be charged more. Some people see this as hidden fees, but honestly, it's not. Do your part and tell the movers everything that needs to be shipped.

Binding Estimates

If you have a small long distance move, then you don't need a binding estimate. However, if your home has three or more bedrooms and you're on a budget, get a binding estimate. This guarantees the price os that you can budget accordingly and avoid billing disputes/hidden fees. Be advised that binding estimates may incur an additional fee or be charged at a higher rate to protect the mover from potential losses.

How We Are Able To Have The Most Affordable Prices On Long Distance Moving.

Here is how we can be a legitimate cheap long distance moving option on your out of state relocation:

Shared Load Moving.

To make moving to another state more affordable for you, we have the option where you can truck share your load with our other customers. This will cost you about $3,000 to $4,000 on average.

Piggyback Moving.

The goal is to keep our trucks and movers on the road as much as possible. A truck that's stationary in a warehouse is bad for any long distance moving company. So, we are constantly looking for loads to pick up after a recent pickup or delivery. Since we are a national moving company, doing this is easier than it would be for a brand limited to a couple of locations.

Nationwide Coverage.

We have trucks and movers in nearly every state: Washington, Arizona, Minnesota, Georgia, California, North Carolina, New York, you name it. This gives us the advantage of having cheaper fuel and transportation rates because we generally always have a nearby load to pick up, or we can leave the truck at your delivery state, instead of driving back empty.

Making Sure Your Affordable Long Distance Moving Costs Are Realistic.

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When getting multiple estimates, the easiest way to spot a bait-and-switch long distance moving quote is to compare the price to industry averages. A legitimate long distance mover won’t promise to move a 3–4 bedroom home cross-country for $3,000 — that’s simply not possible given fuel, labor, and logistics costs.

No matter how small your shipment is, if you're moving several miles away, many legitimate movers cannot quote rates below $2,700-$3,000. If you don’t have a minimum budget of $2,700 for small moves and $5,000+ for larger shipments, hiring a professional mover is not your best option. You can consider U-Haul or PODS instead, but even with those cheaper long distance moving options, you are still likely to spend a minimum of $2,500.00

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are frequent questions people ask when moving long distance on a budget:

What Are Red Flags When Hiring Movers?

Very low quotes, thin content websites, overwhelmingly negative reviews, fake reviews, and new moving companies all raise red flags. It’s important to ensure your moving quote is accurate and that your movers have a professional website and a strong reputation built over 5+ years to improve your chances of a positive experience.

Are There Cheaper Options Than U-HAUL?

Not really, but Budget may offer lower rates on truck rentals. Also, if your long distance move exceeds 1,000 miles, it may be more cost-effective to arrange a partial shared-load move with full-service movers. Shared load moving costs range from $2,700 to $5,000, which is similar to U-Haul after factoring in miscellaneous fees associated with renting a U-Haul.

What Should I Expect To Pay For A Long Distance Moving Company?

Based on industry averages, your budget for out of state movers is generally $2,700-$4,000 on the low end and $7,000-$15,000 on the high end. Your total long distance moving costs are based on move size, mileage, and the movers' experience and reputation. While finding an affordable long distance mover is crucial for many, it’s important to hire a brand with realistic pricing to ensure efficient handling of your household goods.

Get A Quote: Best Affordable Movers Long Distance Moves.

Compared to other budget options, American National Movers shines for its professionalism, great reviews, and transparent pricing. We tell you exactly what's included, and we train our estimators and movers to be upfront about everything. We don't tell you what you want to hear, but what you need to hear to be well-informed and prepared.

Moving cheaply has its benefits, but it also has its drawbacks. American National Movers has budget long distance moving options and premium options, too. Give us a call, and we will develop a relocation plan that fits your exact needs and budget.

Call (800) 936-3086 or (718) 540-5073