I compared 8 quotes for my move from Georgia to New York. Here’s what I learned.
As told to moveBuddha
- Chandra moved from Athens, Georgia, to Ithaca, New York, in spring 2022 to attend Cornell University, an 860-mile move covering a two-bedroom townhouse with about 4,000 pounds of household goods.
- After comparing 8 quotes, Chandra reserved Budget but was forced to rent from Penske at the last minute. Penske quoted $1,200, but her Georgia-to-New York move came out to $2,234.13 all in.
- This is Chandra’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on a conversation with Chandra about her move from Georgia to New York in spring 2022 using Budget and Penske. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
In spring 2022, I was accepted into Cornell University. It was exciting news, but it meant my son and I had to make an 860-mile move from Athens, Georgia, to Ithaca, New York. I had known about the potential move for a year and a half, but I didn’t officially commit to Cornell until about two and a half months before moving day, which left me working with a tight timeline and a limited budget during one of the busiest moving seasons of the year.
I used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare options across a range of price points. After seeing what full-service movers and freight trailers would cost, I decided that renting a truck and driving myself was the most affordable path forward, even though the idea of hauling a moving van more than 800 miles while towing my car behind it made me nervous.
My Budget and Penske experience at a glance
- Communication: Budget’s early communication was fine. I got a confirmation email after booking that included my service dates, reserved equipment, and pick-up and drop-off locations. Things fell apart on moving day when I showed up and my truck was gone. Penske’s communication throughout the actual move was solid.
- Professionalism: Budget had reserved more trucks than they had on hand, so mine wasn’t available when I arrived. The staff made me feel like I was inconveniencing them, even though the problem was entirely their fault. Penske came through with the truck and tow dolly I needed.
- Equipment: The Penske truck wasn’t particularly clean when I picked it up. On top of that, I dealt with two tire blowouts on the car dolly during the drive, including one in the middle of the night that forced an emergency stop and added hours and a detour to my trip.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: Penske’s $1,200 quote was accurate for the rental itself, but Budget’s failure created a chain of unexpected costs, including paying my loading crew to sit and wait for an hour while I tracked down a replacement truck.
- Would I use Budget or Penske again? I wouldn’t use Budget again, and I probably wouldn’t use Penske either given the equipment problems I ran into on the road.
My move at a glance
| Moved from | Athens, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Moved to | Ithaca, New York |
| Distance | About 860 miles |
| Move size | 2-bedroom townhouse (about 4,000 pounds of household goods) |
| Moving companies | I reserved a truck with Budget, but was forced to rent one from Penske at the last minute |
| Moving quotes | $868.22 (from Budget) $1,200 (from Penske) |
| Actual cost | $2,234.13 (including the truck, fuel, lodging, and movers) |
Quotes I compared
I spent time on Google and moveBuddha researching service providers well before my move date. Most of the estimates I came back with were far too expensive for my budget.
| Company/service type | Estimate details | Cost estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Two Men and a Truck (full-service move) | “Ballpark” quote (Two Men and a Truck requires in-home surveys for customized quotes on interstate moves, but I chose not to schedule one) | $9,500 to $11,500 |
| American Van Lines (full-service move) | 3,829 pounds | $4,670 |
| New Leaf Moving Group (full-service move) | 4,000 pounds | $4,142 |
| Mayzlin Relocation (full-service move) | 4,025 pounds | $4,030 |
| U-Pack (freight trailer) | 13 feet of floor space | $2,889 |
| Moving Place (freight trailer) | 12 feet of floor space | $2,500 |
| Penske (truck rental) | 16-foot moving van | $1,200 |
| Budget (truck rental) | 16-foot moving van | $868 |
After running the numbers, I realized I could save a significant amount by renting a truck, driving it myself, and hiring movers just for loading and unloading, essentially creating my own hybrid move.
Why I chose Budget
rating
4.3 / 5
After a generous discount, Budget came in as the lowest quote of the eight I gathered. Budget also offered better prices on accessories like dollies, straps, moving pads, and towing equipment for my car.
The reservation included unlimited miles for the truck and car trailer, auto towing protection, a hand truck, a dozen moving blankets, and all applicable taxes and fees.
With my truck and car carrier reserved, I got to work. I spent time decluttering and donating as much as possible before packing anything I wouldn’t need until I arrived in Ithaca. My son had several large paintings that I wrapped carefully and packed into sturdy picture boxes for extra protection.
Pickup day
Budget sent me a text on moving day saying my truck was ready. When I arrived at the pick-up location, it was gone. Budget had reserved more trucks than they actually had, and mine had been given out before I got there.
The staff made me feel like I was the problem, even though the mix-up was entirely on their end. I alerted my movers about the situation, and thankfully they were understanding and willing to work around my schedule.
After several hours of stress and running around, I found a truck and trailer from Penske. The Penske location was much farther from my home than Budget’s had been, so my movers arrived at the house before I did. I had to pay them to sit and wait for an hour until I showed up.
The crew got to work immediately after I arrived, but they handled my things roughly and crushed a few boxes during the loading process. The movers worked for about two hours, and I finished loading the last few items myself after they left.
Delivery day
The drive from Athens to Ithaca was nearly 900 miles, and it didn’t go smoothly. The first tire blowout on the car dolly happened in the middle of the night. I had to make an emergency stop at a hotel and call Penske’s roadside service hotline. A technician eventually showed up and replaced the tire, but it blew out again just a few hours later.
Because the problem was with the dolly rather than the tires themselves, I had to drive in the opposite direction to pick up a replacement. That added hours to a trip that was already behind schedule. The rest of the drive was comparatively uneventful, but my son and I were exhausted when we finally arrived in Ithaca.
The movers I had hired for unloading weren’t available when we arrived because we came in a day later than expected. My son and I ended up doing most of the heavy lifting ourselves. On the bright side, we got settled before classes started.
Final thoughts
rating
4 / 5
I wouldn’t use Budget again or recommend them to anyone. Not only did Budget reserve more trucks than they had on hand, but their staff treated me poorly when I was trying to resolve a problem they had caused.
Penske’s customer service was fine, but the unclean truck and two tire blowouts on the car dolly made it hard to feel good about that choice, either. All told, I didn’t feel like I got a good value from either company.
Looking back, I wish I had gone with Mayzlin Relocation. They were friendly and professional throughout the quote process and gave me helpful tips even though I didn’t end up hiring them.
It never occurred to me that a truck rental company would overbook vehicles the way airlines overbook flights. I reserved my truck three weeks in advance, which should have been more than enough notice, but I moved at the end of the month during peak moving season when issues like this are more common.
Budget should have foreseen the problem, reached out ahead of time, and given me a chance to make other arrangements.
Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare truck rental companies and full-service movers before your next move.
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Chandra’s experience:
- Plan for worst-case scenarios. Missing trucks and equipment delays are more common than you might expect, especially during peak moving season. Have a contingency plan ready before moving day so you’re not scrambling if something falls through.
- Use a detailed moving checklist. A moving checklist keeps you organized and reduces the chances of missing a critical step in the rush of moving day.
- Follow up regularly with service providers. Don’t assume your reservation is locked in. Check in with your truck rental company or movers in the days before your move to confirm availability and details.
- Consider full-service movers if your budget allows. Renting a truck and driving it yourself can save money, but it also means absorbing every problem that comes up. A full-service mover takes on that risk for you.
If possible, we suggest moving in the beginning or middle of the month and postponing your move until the fall and winter when rates are lower and service issues are less common. Using a moving cost calculator can also help you estimate costs and compare options before committing.
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