5 Best Short-Distance Moving Companies (Updated Review)

Bottom line: Short-distance moving companies streamline local moves, addressing their unique challenges. We’ve analyzed quotes, interviewed moving customers, and compared services and features to compile a list of the best short-distance moving companies.

When most people consider hiring professional moving services, they think of long-distance moving companies that can take them all the way across the country. But moving companies can also be a big help when making a local or short-distance move.

Carefully packing, loading, and driving your belongings to your new home can be time-consuming and stressful. Whether you move out of a large home or a one-bedroom apartment, the best moving companies can make moving day run smoothly. Here’s a look at the best short-distance movers.

Best short-distance moving companies

Here are our picks for the best moving companies for local moves, based on their services, customer experience, cost, and reputation:

• Best customer service: Mayzlin Relocation
• Best for last-minute moves: American Van Lines
• Best for speciality items: North American Van Lines
• Best for customization: Allied Van Lines
• Best for DIY moves: Budget Truck Rental

Best customer service: Mayzlin Relocation

• Availability: 50 states
• Our rating: 4.45 out of 5
• BBB rating: A-

Mayzlin Relocation is a family-owned business that directly handles all of its local moving requests, rather than using third-party partner companies.

We like that Mayzlin gives you a personalized moving experience with a designated relocation consultant to guide you through the moving process. Mayzlin is also available round-the-clock if you have questions or concerns.

While it’s small in comparison to mega-corporations, we found that Mayzlin provides the same full-service offerings as industry giants, including packing, unpacking, and storage. Mayzlin can handle local and long-distance moves, no matter how large or small.

Pros and cons

Read our full Mayzlin Relocation review.

Best for last-minute moves: American Van Lines

• Availability: 48 states
• Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
• BBB rating: A

When you need to book a short-distance move at the last minute, American Van Lines is worth considering because it doesn’t charge extra fees for last-minute moves.

We appreciate that American Van Lines operates exclusively as a carrier, meaning all of its movers are in-house. This makes it easier for American Van Lines to schedule moves for any day of the week, even at the last minute.

Its widespread availability and reputation within the industry make it one of our best military movers, as well. American Van Lines further simplifies last-minute moves with flat-rate pricing, allowing you to quickly make a decision based on your quote, and it offers some of the best pricing we’ve seen.

Pros and cons

Read our full American Van Lines review.

Best for specialty items: North American Van Lines

• Availability: 50 states
• Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
• BBB rating: A+

If you need to move specialty items like a piano or pool table, we recommend North American Van Lines as it offers excellent support for packing valuable items.

For example, you can select fragile-only packing, in which NAVL provides custom packing for heavy or fragile items while saving money by doing the rest of the packing yourself. The company can also help with installing and assembling furniture and appliances.

To protect your items, North American Van Lines offers specialty supplies like mattress boxes, stand-up wardrobe units, and custom crating for large pieces of furniture. Carefully padding furniture, appliances, and specialty items ensures they’ll safely reach your new home.

Pros and cons

Read our full North American Van Lines.

Best for customization: Allied Van Lines

• Availability: 50 states
• Our rating: 4.45 out of 5
• BBB rating: A+

With its Personal Moving Plans, Allied Van Lines customizes each move to the specific needs of the customer, with a la carte options including furniture disassembly and reassembly, packing and loading, 90-day temporary storage, and packing supplies

We’re fans of Allied Van Lines’ virtual in-home estimates, which let you use your phone or tablet to do a video call with an agent for quick and accurate quoting.

However, because of Allied Van Lines’ popularity, you’ll generally need to book your estimate and move well in advance of your moving date—often up to 8 weeks in advance.

Pros and cons

Read our full Allied Van Lines review.

Best for DIY moves: Budget Truck Rental

• Availability: 48 states
• Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
• BBB rating: A+

Small and short-distance moves are well-suited for a DIY option like Budget Truck Rental. In our comparison of movers, we found that the company lives up to its name by providing low-cost truck rentals for budget-minded movers.

Budget Truck Rental offers 12-, 16-, and 26-foot moving trucks, giving you plenty of space for loading all your stuff. For studio apartments, you might be able to save even more by opting for a cargo van.

However, the truck or van is pretty much all you get with Budget. Like other moving truck rental companies, you’ll need to provide your own labor, packing materials, and moving supplies.

Pros and cons

Read our full Budget Truck Rental review.

Compare the best short-distance moving companies

Here’s a quick breakdown of our picks for the best short-distance moving companies:

What’s considered a short-distance move?

While there’s not a hard-and-fast rule, a short-distance move is generally any move that’s 50 miles or less, and that doesn’t cross state lines. For local moves, you can work with:

• Professional moving companies: Though not the cheapest way to move locally, full-service moving companies handle all the packing, loading, assembly, disassembly, and driving for you.
• Moving truck rental companies: With a truck rental company, you rent the truck and then pack, load, and move everything yourself.
• Moving containers: You load the moving containers, and the moving container company drives them to your new home. You can also use it as a storage unit until you’re able to move in.
• Tow-behind trailers: You hitch up the moving trailer, load it, and drive it across town. Though cheaper than a rental truck, you need to have the proper know-how and a car with the capability to tow.

Basically, your options are wide open for a local move. Consider your moving needs and preferences to choose the right type of moving company.

Short-distance vs. interstate moves

As we noted earlie, a local or short-distance move is generally considered to be any move that is 50 miles or less—with one exception. If a move crosses state lines, it’s considered an interstate move (even if it’s less than 50 miles).

Even for “short-distance” interstate moves, you need to work with properly licensed movers who have the designated authority to transport goods from one state to another. These interstate moving companies are subject to more regulations than local movers, which means that the move itself is usually more expensive.

Of course, most interstate moves are longer than 50 miles, and with the added distance and labor requirements, you can expect costs to climb significantly compared to a short-distance move.

Should you hire a short-distance moving company?

While a DIY move may be a good option for many short-distance moves, hiring a professional mover makes sense in some cases:

• A streamlined moving process: Packing and unpacking your belongings and loading and unloading a moving truck can be time-consuming and physically exhausting. Professional movers can handle the work while you focus on other important parts of your move (like setting up utilities at your new home).
• Help with tough tasks: Professional movers can also help with more complicated tasks like furniture disassembly and ensuring that fragile items are handled with care. You’ll have peace of mind knowing everything will arrive safely at its destination.
• Insurance coverage: Most professional movers offer some level of insurance coverage in case something breaks. Even if you opt for minimal coverage, it’s still more than you’d get with a DIY move.
• Time saver: Professional movers have the expertise and equipment to get the job done quickly and safely. You’ll get to settle into your new home that much sooner, and with a much lower risk of accidents.

How to save money on short-distance moves

A short-distance move can be inexpensive if you’re resourceful. Here are a few ideas you can use to save money on your move.

1. Get free moving supplies from local businesses

Instead of shelling out money for essentials such as moving boxes, tape, and bags, consider reaching out to businesses in your area. Local businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores, and retail stores often have unwanted cardboard boxes and bags.

They might give you free boxes or charge a small fee. Make sure the boxes don’t have holes or water damage to protect your items while moving. You can also use storage bins, suitcases, or trash bags to pack items for a short-distance move to cut costs.

2. Ask family and friends to help

Reach out to your network if you can’t afford a professional short-distance moving company. Getting help is generally easier with short-distance moves because it’s more convenient for your loved ones to lend a helping hand.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t provide compensation. Depending on who you’re working with, offering a little money or buying a coffee or pizza will go a long way in showing gratitude and incentivizing people to help.

3. Downsize and declutter

Downsizing doesn’t just make moving day easier—it also makes it cheaper. The less stuff you have, the cheaper your move will be, regardless of whether you DIY or use full-service movers.

If you declutter before your move, you can rent a smaller truck or moving container, which will cost less. Moving labor will also go much faster, further lowering your expenses. Better yet, if you sell your unwanted items, you can use the proceeds to help cover moving costs.

4. Bring along perishable food

When you’re moving locally, you might not have to throw away perishable food items. While these items shouldn’t be packed in a moving truck, you could use your vehicle to transport them to your new place.

Just be sure to keep them cool throughout the journey and put them in the fridge or freezer right away. Saving food will help you save money on groceries, plus it’s ready to use your first night in your new place.

Factors to consider when choosing a short-distance moving company

Here are a few key factors for finding reputable movers for any move:

• Moving quote: Requesting free moving quotes is a given, but make sure you understand each company’s process for providing an estimate. A binding or “not to exceed” moving estimate provides peace of mind by setting a maximum price for your move.
• Years of experience: The more years of experience a company has, the more confidence you can have in its customer service and quality. That added experience also suggests a higher level of expertise in dealing with unique moving situations.
• References and reviews: Online reviews are a valuable reference point in choosing the best short-distance moving company. Reviews often offer firsthand insights into a company’s customer service, fees, and how well it handles customers’ possessions.
• Insurance and licensing: Always make sure a short-distance mover is properly licensed and insured. Moving companies with insurance and proper state licensing lower your financial risk in case something were to go wrong with your move.
• Your moving needs. Do you need packing services or do you just need someone to load and unload the truck? Do you need temporary storage before moving into your new home? List out the type of moving assistance you need, then see which national or local moving companies provide these services.
• Availability. When working with local movers, make sure they’re actually available on the day of your move. Having some flexibility in your moving schedule can ensure that your preferred mover is available to help.

FAQs about choosing short-distance moving companies