My New Jersey to Texas Move Cost Exactly What I Was Quoted
Fact Checked by: 
Weehawken, NJ → Denton, TX
$4,050
Two-bedroom home
$4,050
Exactly what I was quoted
1,584 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared three quotes before I hired American Van Lines for my New Jersey to Texas move.
- My final bill matched my original estimate exactly, even after I added a few items on moving day that American Van Lines didn’t charge me for.
- 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 Allison M., who moved from Weehawken, New Jersey, to Denton, Texas, in August 2023 using American Van Lines. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from New Jersey to Texas
My husband, our three cats, and I moved from Weehawken, New Jersey, to Denton, Texas, in the summer of 2023 so I could start graduate school. We were eager to make the nearly 1,600-mile move, but it took six months of planning to pull off.
We were leaving a tiny 630-square-foot apartment in New Jersey for a more spacious 1,100-square-foot place in Texas, and we had well over 3,000 pounds of belongings to move. I needed a mover who could get everything there on time and without damage, and who would stick to their original estimate instead of tacking on last-minute fees.
I used moveBuddha’s Moving Cost Calculator to get a feel for fair pricing before I called a single mover.
My American Van Lines experience at a glance
Here’s the short version of how my move with American Van Lines went:
- Communication: American Van Lines gave me excellent communication leading up to delivery, though there was a misunderstanding about my delivery date.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: American Van Lines didn’t charge me a dime over their quoted price.
- Professionalism: I have nothing but glowing recommendations for American Van Lines’ courteous moving crews.
- Timeliness: It took 25 days for my belongings to arrive because the truck driver quit without notice.
- Loss and damage: All of my belongings arrived without so much as a scratch.
- Would I use American Van Lines again? I would have preferred more transparency and control, so I’m planning a DIY move next time.
Find out what a move from New Jersey → Texas actually costs before a mover tells you.
Price my move
Free · no phone calls · real quotes from vetted movers
Why I chose American Van Lines
I chose American Van Lines after comparing it against Safeway Moving. Both companies quoted me for the same 3,000 pounds of belongings, but American Van Lines’ pricing and positive reviews won me over.
My biggest frustration came after the crew had already loaded my truck. American Van Lines’ driver quit without notice, which left my belongings in limbo for weeks longer than I expected while the company searched for a replacement.
rating
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
My move at a glance
Here’s a quick look at the numbers behind my move:
| Move date | August 11, 2023 |
| Moved from | Weehawken, NJ |
| Moved to | Denton, TX |
| Distance | 1,584 miles |
| Move size | Two-bedroom home |
| Moving company | American Van Lines |
| Moving quote | $4,050 |
| Actual cost | $4,050 |
According to moveBuddha, the average user saves more than 30% by comparing quotes before booking a mover, which is exactly what I did before choosing American Van Lines.
Quotes I compared
I got quotes from three companies before deciding, and I also looked at U-Pack before ruling out a moving container. Here’s how the full-service quotes stacked up:
| Company | Estimated volume/weight | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| American Van Lines | 3,000 pounds | $4,050 |
| Safeway Moving Company | 3,000 pounds | $3,850 |
| PODS | 3,000 pounds | $5,000 |
I liked U-Pack, but none of their container sizes fit my move, and PODS ended up more expensive than the full-service movers once I factored in that I didn’t need the storage. That narrowed my choice down to American Van Lines and Safeway Moving.
Pickup day
After I submitted an online form, American Van Lines called to take my inventory over the phone, then emailed me a confirmed estimate of $4,050. I bought furniture breakdown and setup, placement, and transportation, plus moving insurance through a separate third-party company. I paid a 50% deposit by credit card to reserve my August 11 move date.
American Van Lines contacted me by email 15 times and by phone five times before my move, which felt like a lot of attention for a long-distance move during peak season. They sent me a list of prohibited items and told me how much space their truck would need on my street.
While my husband and I packed, planned our new household purchases, cleaned, and sold what we didn’t need, I also had to figure out how to move our three cats. I wasn’t thrilled about driving 1,600 miles, so we planned to fly instead. I researched approved carriers, took the cats in for vet checkups and medication, and paid the $125 per pet, per flight fee ahead of time. A friend flew with us so all three cats could be declared as personal items, which saved us the cost and hassle of a pet shipping company.
American Van Lines called to confirm my inventory list after booking, then called again the day before pickup with an estimated arrival window of 9 to 11 a.m.
The crew arrived precisely at 9 a.m. and went straight to work. They wrapped everything in moving blankets and took great care carrying items down the apartment stairs.
A coordinator called partway through loading to check that everything was going well and gave me a direct number to call with any problems. I checked on my cats a few times, but otherwise stayed available to answer the crew’s questions, including one about a box of fragile items I wanted handled a certain way.
Loading took four hours in total. The crew confirmed my original quote of $4,050, which pleasantly surprised me since I’d added a few items at the last minute and American Van Lines didn’t charge me for them.
Delivery day
American Van Lines initially told me to expect delivery on August 15. The next day, they called and pushed that to August 16.
Then it came out that the driver had quit without notice, which left my belongings in limbo while American Van Lines searched for a replacement. I called repeatedly for updates, and customer service kept telling me they had no further information. I was anxious about the fate of my things.
It took 25 days for my belongings to arrive in Texas. I expected them within a few days, but 25 days was still within the delivery window in my contract, even though it’s understandable that I felt confused and anxious in the meantime. I’ve since learned that it can take up to four weeks for belongings to arrive at their destination on a long-distance move like mine.
Once my things finally arrived, the delivery crew unrolled mats throughout the house to protect the floors and placed everything in the right rooms. After we unpacked, I couldn’t believe it: everything arrived without a single scratch, which is impressive for a 1,600-mile move.
Final thoughts
Aside from the delivery misunderstanding, I had a great move with American Van Lines.
$4,050 is very affordable for a full-service move across the country, and American Van Lines didn’t charge me extra for the items I added on moving day. They also stuck to their original quote, which was great for my budget.
Fifteen emails and five phone calls is a lot of communication from a moving company, especially during peak season. It was also a nice touch that a coordinator proactively called me once the crew arrived, something few Better Moves Project participants get.
I bought moving insurance from a third-party company for extra peace of mind, but I’ve since learned that if you have renters insurance, you may already have moving coverage. I’d recommend checking your policy to see if your renters insurance covers moving damage before you pay for a separate policy.
Flying with my husband, a friend, and our three cats declared as personal items eliminated the need to pay for separate pet shipping, and staying involved during loading is probably part of why my belongings arrived in such good shape.
American Van Lines did delay my delivery, but stayed within the contracted window. Since the delay came from an unexpected resignation rather than something the company could control, they still promised me a $700 refund for the inconvenience, even though they’d met their contractual obligations.
Looking back, I would have started packing much earlier. I felt rushed, which made the whole move more hectic than it needed to be. I’d also recommend reading the fine print of your contract to manage your expectations, and having phone conversations with the reps who’ll actually work your move day instead of only the pre-move sales team.
I loved working with such professional, friendly movers who got my belongings there without any damage. I did want more transparency and support when the driver quit, since it felt like American Van Lines lost my things in transit for a while, and it would have helped to get more information during that stressful stretch. Because I wanted more control over my next move, I’m planning to do it myself.
See what your own move might cost with moveBuddha’s Moving Cost Calculator before you book a mover.
My ratings
Here’s how I’d rate American Van Lines on a scale of one to five:
- Communication: 4
- Timeliness: 4
- Quote accuracy: 5
- Overall experience: 4
More moving resources
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Allison M.’s experience:
- Read your contract’s fine print: Understand your mover’s delivery window terms so an on-time delay doesn’t catch you off guard.
- Talk to the reps who’ll actually work your move: Have phone conversations with the crew coordinators handling your move day, not just the pre-move sales team.
- Start packing earlier than you think you need to: Give yourself more time than a few weeks so the process feels less rushed. See our guide on when to start packing for a move.
- Check your renters insurance before buying separate moving insurance: Your policy may already cover moving damage. See our guide on whether renters insurance covers moving damage.
- Consider flying with pets instead of shipping them: Declaring pets as personal items on a flight can save you the cost of a pet shipping company.
Moving soon? We’ll pay you to tell it like Allison M. did.
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Better Moves Project stipends awarded since . Move must be 30+ days out.
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