($660+) McAllen, TX to Montgomery, AL Movers
Moving from McAllen, TX, to Montgomery, AL, runs anywhere from $653 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,146 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 980 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,206, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,146 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,172 - $3,939, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $653 - $1,903.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from McAllen, TX, to Montgomery, AL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,487 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from McAllen, TX to Montgomery, AL
Moving options from McAllen to Montgomery fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $2,487 - $6,053 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 30% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 60% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 980 miles, this route usually takes 2 to 7 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 980-mile route from McAllen to Montgomery, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $2,206 for a studio up to $8,146 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,172 - $3,939 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $653 - $1,903, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,098 - $3,346, billed by the space you actually use.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from McAllen, TX to Montgomery, AL
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 980-mile move from McAllen, Texas, to Montgomery, Alabama, with prices running from $2,206 - $8,146. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $232 - $1,544 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between McAllen and Montgomery are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, McAllen movers tend to run around $160 as a base rate plus $80/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from McAllen to Montgomery:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,206 - $5,022
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,487 - $6,053
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,483 - $8,146
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from McAllen to Montgomery.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Texas to Alabama. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from McAllen, TX to Montgomery, AL
Specialty needs vary by market — 57% of McAllen movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Montgomery, 100% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing71% of local movers | $386 - $3,860 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready57% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Jones Moving & Storage Co., Inc. | $154 - $926/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $232 - $1,853 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs43% of local movers | $772 - $2,316 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $1,930 - $7,720 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $578 - $1,099 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items29% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Rick's Moving & Storage LLC | $772 - $1,930 |
| Piano | Any piano type71% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Jones Moving & Storage Co., Inc. | $618 - $2,702 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling57% of local movers | $232 - $1,158 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect22% nationallyTop pick: | $502 - $1,544 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $232 - $11,580+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $232 - $2,702+ |
What are the best full-service movers from McAllen to Montgomery?
Alabama Trucking Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Alabama, on top of the picks below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in McAllen, TX, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.
Moving container costs from McAllen, TX to Montgomery, AL
Moving containers from McAllen, Texas, to Montgomery, Alabama, cost between $1,172 and $3,939. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Montgomery. If you go over that window, storage in McAllen adds around $55/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from McAllen to Montgomery:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,172 - $2,266
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,555 - $3,120
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,053 - $3,939
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $540 in McAllen, TX. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $58 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $116 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Montgomery, AL, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Texas to Alabama move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,172. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,555 - $3,120, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers McAllen to Montgomery?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in McAllen to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in McAllen:
- Groves Moving and Storage (3.5/5), 27 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from McAllen, TX to Montgomery, AL
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 980 miles from McAllen, Texas, to Montgomery, Alabama, running $653 - $1,903. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $241 - $275
- Daily insurance: $23/day
- Equipment rentals: $5 - $15
- McAllen daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.69
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from McAllen to Montgomery based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $653 - $1,303
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $714 - $1,580
- 4+ bedrooms: $931 - $1,903
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $653 - $1,903 does not include fuel ($241 - $275) , lodging ($116/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from McAllen to Montgomery typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $58 and $270.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $116.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $241 and $275 for the 980-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $540 for 2 movers in McAllen, Texas, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from McAllen to Montgomery?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from McAllen, TX to Montgomery, AL
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from McAllen, Texas, to Montgomery, Alabama. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.
Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $695 and $2,520.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from McAllen to Montgomery:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,098 - $2,080
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,181 - $2,520
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,609 - $3,346
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in McAllen, Texas, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $540.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $58 and $116 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from McAllen to Montgomery?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
- Royal Freight Lp (4.66/5 stars): Royal Freight Lp is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Montgomery fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: McAllen, TX vs Montgomery, AL
Good news for your budget: Montgomery isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than McAllen. Cost of living index runs 79 there against 76 here, and rent, income, and tax rates all fall in a comparable band. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores land in a similar range too - 41/100 and 63.74/100 here versus 26/100 and 34.75/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Montgomery, AL to McAllen, TX guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Texas to Alabama, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 289 movers licensed in Texas, useful context for sizing up this 980-mile move.
Our take
The 980-mile move from McAllen, TX, to Montgomery, AL, costs between $2,206 and $8,146 with full-service movers, $1,172 - $3,939 with a moving container, and $653 - $1,903 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,487 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Alfa and Colonial Banc Group.
FAQs: Moving from McAllen, TX, to Montgomery, AL
How do I know a mover is licensed in Alabama?
To guarantee the safety and reliability of local moving services in Alabama, it is essential for moving companies to possess a registration number issued by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC). Trust your move to registered professionals for a secure and dependable experience.
What do local movers charge in McAllen?
Local movers based in McAllen typically start around $160 as a base rate, plus $80/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Montgomery run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 3 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
How much does it cost to move from McAllen, TX to Montgomery, AL?
Costs on this route range from around $2,206 to $8,146, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,206 and $8,146, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What is the cheapest way to move from McAllen, TX to Montgomery, AL?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $714 - $1,580. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of McAllen movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 71% of movers in McAllen handle piano moves, and 29% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
