My Florida to New York Move Cost Exactly What IVL Quoted
Fact Checked by: 
Miami, FL → New York, NY
$4,153.51
One-bedroom, about 900 sq ft
$4,153.51
Exact match to my quote
1,300 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared five quotes before I hired International Van Lines for my Florida to New York move.
- My final bill came out to the exact penny of my original quote, no surprise fees at pickup or delivery.
- I shared all of it, my quotes, my bills, and my ratings, as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
See what your move really costs before a mover tells you.
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This account is based on a conversation with Fabiana, who moved from Miami, Florida, to New York City in March 2023 using International Van Lines. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from Florida to New York
I’d had a bad experience with loss and damage on a long-distance move two years earlier, so I went into this one determined not to repeat it. This time I only got quotes from companies on moveBuddha’s list of best interstate movers, and I ended up hiring International Van Lines, a Florida-based, family-owned company. To take advantage of a $500 relocation stipend and help anyone planning a move like mine, I shared my experience through moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
My move was relatively small and had no specialty items like marble tabletops or pianos, but it was unique because my household goods were sitting in a storage unit in Miami. My movers had to shuttle everything from a small truck to a larger one because the storage facility’s parking lot wasn’t tractor-trailer accessible. Between that and my rough experience two years before, I worried this move would be stressful and that something would get lost or damaged again. I wanted to get the best bang for my buck, but effective communication, timely service, and all-around transparency mattered just as much as price.
I used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to check my budget before I started calling movers, and it kept my expectations realistic.
My International Van Lines experience at a glance
Here’s the short version of how it went.
- Communication: International Van Lines communicated adequately throughout my move.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: IVL’s quote was right on the money. My final bill matched it exactly.
- Professionalism: I was thrilled with my moving crew’s professionalism, care, and attention to detail.
- Timeliness: IVL picked up and delivered my household goods on time.
- Loss and damage: Nothing was lost or damaged on my move from Miami to New York City.
- Would I use International Van Lines again? Yes, I had a great experience working with International Van Lines.
Find out what a move from Florida → New York actually costs before a mover tells you.
Why I chose International Van Lines
International Van Lines’ sales and customer service representatives were very helpful and always got back to me quickly when I had questions about my quote or the moving process. My quote from IVL landed right in the middle of the five bids I collected, and the company had lots of positive online reviews, so I felt good about my decision.
The one thing I would have changed: I would have liked one point of contact throughout the move instead of switching between people, and there were times I would have preferred a phone call over an email.
rating
- 10% discount for veterans and seniors
- Very competitive rates due to their national coverage
- Services local, long-distance, and international moves
- Can service most domestic moves within 48 hours
- 24/7 customer service
My move at a glance
Here’s how the numbers broke down for my move from Miami to New York City.
| Move date | March 11, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Moved from | Miami, Florida |
| Moved to | New York, New York |
| Distance | About 1,300 miles |
| Move size | 1-bedroom apartment, about 900 square feet |
| Moving company | International Van Lines |
| Moving quote | $4,153.51 |
| Actual cost | $4,153.51 |
On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking. I compared five quotes before I chose IVL, and it’s a big part of why my final bill never budged from the estimate.
Quotes I compared
With my move date approaching, I spent nearly two weeks searching for the right company. I ruled out moving containers and rental trucks and focused on finding an experienced interstate mover with reasonable rates. I searched for the best Florida-to-New York movers and got a flood of results, since the I-95 corridor between the two states is one of the busiest moving routes in the country. Every carrier and broker claimed to offer the best service for the lowest price, which made comparing them frustrating. I leaned on moveBuddha to compare full-service movers with the resources and experience to handle my relocation and cut through the noise.
I reached out to IVL early in the process. Their sales representative couldn’t do a virtual survey because my items were in a storage unit, but I gave an accurate list of everything that needed to move during our initial phone call, and IVL emailed me a binding estimate shortly after. Here’s how my full-service quotes compared:
| Company | Estimated volume/weight | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| JK Moving | 351 cubic feet | $7,069 |
| Safeway Moving | 800 cubic feet | $5,991 |
| International Van Lines | 563 cubic feet/3,941 pounds | $4,153 |
| Colonial Van Lines | 3,000 pounds | $3,102 |
| American Van Lines | Undisclosed | $2,500 |
Pickup day
I got a confirmation email from IVL the day before my household goods were scheduled to be loaded, and the movers called on the morning of Saturday, March 11, to let me know they’d arrive around 8:30 a.m. After introducing themselves and taking a quick look around, the driver started an inventory while the crew moved everything from the storage unit to the truck parked in the loading dock. I loved how professional the movers were and how they treated my things as if they were their own.
The crew protected a few loose items with moving blankets and bubble wrap, and I checked each box off my master list as it was carried out so nothing got lost in the shuffle. The loading process took just three hours, and I made another payment via Zelle before the truck pulled away.
Delivery day
IVL and I agreed to a three to 21-day delivery window during the quote process. I’ve since learned that multi-week delivery windows are common on long-distance moves, since movers almost always load multiple shipments onto the same over-the-road truck before it departs. That leeway is what lets moving companies keep costs down and coordinate several deliveries along one route.
Luckily for me, my household goods were delivered to my new apartment in New York just seven days after they were picked up in Miami. IVL confirmed the delivery a few days out, and I got another call that morning letting me know to expect the crew between 10 and 11 a.m. Before unloading began, the driver and I went over the paperwork and I made another payment to cover the balance of my charges. All told, my move cost exactly what IVL said it would.
The driver stayed with the truck at the loading dock while his helpers carried everything up the elevator and into my new place. Everything was accounted for and nothing got damaged, and the crew made sure it all ended up exactly where I wanted it before they hit the road.
Final thoughts
Looking back, IVL came through with an accurate quote, professional customer service, and on-time pickup and delivery, and nothing was lost or damaged along the way. In the moving business, that’s what I’d call a win.
I would have liked one point of contact throughout my move, and there were a few times I would have preferred an actual phone call over email. Otherwise, IVL stayed in touch and made communication a priority on my move.
Now that I’m settled into my new apartment in the Big Apple, I’d definitely consider using International Van Lines again on a future move.
Using moveBuddha’s Moving Cost Calculator helps you compare real prices before you commit to a mover, the same way it helped me set expectations for my move.
My ratings
Here’s how I’d rate International Van Lines on a scale of 1 to 5:
- Communication: 4
- Timeliness: 5
- Quote accuracy: 5
- Overall experience: 5
More moving resources
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Fabiana’s experience:
- Set aside ample time to research and vet movers. Comparing several full-service quotes, not just one, is what kept my final bill from drifting from the estimate.
- Make effective communication and transparency top priorities. A mover that answers quickly and explains what a quote includes is worth more than a slightly lower price.
- Schedule a virtual survey or prepare a detailed inventory if you’re moving out of a storage unit. My items were in storage, so IVL couldn’t do a virtual walkthrough, and a thorough list in its place kept my quote accurate.
Moving soon? We’ll pay you $500 to tell it like Fabiana did.
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