Moving internationally is a complicated process involving many parts. From customs clearance to immigration laws to moving all your household items, it can be a lot for anyone to handle. Luckily, numerous moving companies specialize in international moves, taking care of all the red tape and navigating the complexity of the process so that you can concentrate on the important things. In this article, I’ll take a look at five reliable moving companies and give you my advice on why you should, or in some cases, shouldn’t consider them for your international move.
4.5
One month of free storage included with your move
Provides moves in all 50 states
Offers air & ocean freighting
4.0
Flat rate pricing for all moves
Offers price matching
Expedited moves between big cities
4.2
Top-notch packing services
Nationwide partner network
Comprehensive moving calculator
To that end, I’ve spent the last couple of months researching moving companies to give you an informed opinion on their strengths and weaknesses and any obstacles or red flags you should know. I’ve secret shopped with them — read through the fine print of international moving quotes and contracts — I’ve even spent hours reading through federal regulations to better understand the legal requirements placed on moving companies and how those regulations protect consumers and companies.
All that research has gone into the review standard used in this article, which is used to rate these companies. It scores each across four categories and numerous subcategories, from transparency and reputation to the individual services they offer. In total, the Today’s Homeowner team has invested hundreds of hours in research to ensure that the standard we use is as thorough, accurate, and fair as possible. This is how we selected our top choices for the five best international moving companies.
Read on to learn more about each and why we choose them for this list.
Top 5 Moving Companies for International Moving
- Allied Van Lines is my top choice for an international moving company, thanks to its variety of services and exceptional tracking options. Its GlobeCom tracking system provides up-to-date information about your shipment through all phases of your move.
- To get the best price, book your international move to a new country well in advance. Sixty days should be sufficient, but more time is always better. International shipments take between four and six weeks to transport, so plan accordingly and use a thorough moving checklist to help you remember everything.
- The moving company takes care of a lot of the paperwork and red tape, but there are still other things you need to do on your end, like getting certified copies of important documents and meeting immigration requirements in the country of origin and the destination country. Check with the U.S. Department of State and IRS to learn about your obligations and responsibilities when moving abroad.
Read our full Moving Methodology for more details.
My Expert Recommendation
Allied Van Lines is my top choice for an international moving company. My favorite thing about this company is its robust international shipment tracking, which offers security and peace of mind for those navigating an international moving experience. Its GlobeCom system provides customers with accurate and up-to-date information about their shipment at all points in the shipping process. That’s not just good for peace of mind; it also creates a digital document trail so that if any problem or dispute arises, you have evidence to aid you in resolving the issue.
Outside of that, it’s a large company with years in the business. It has representatives in 130 countries and domestic offices in the U.S., as well as offices across Europe and Asia, which allows it to better serve customers and ensure they’re taken care of at their destination and in their origin. Allied Van Lines offers a wide variety of services, including international vehicle shipping, and meets the standard of a full-service international moving company. It’s a reputable, experienced international mover that checks all my boxes and stands out as a great company. It would be the first company I consider for an international move.
International Moving Companies I Didn’t Include
PODS
PODS is a moving company that many people choose for its affordability. As a container service, it provides customers with a cheaper alternative to a traditional moving company that’s more convenient than a rental service. The customer can order a container and pack their belongings at their leisure without the worry of coordinating with movers and truck drivers. However, PODS doesn’t do international shipping, so for that, it missed the list.
U-Box
U-Box is a container service that allows you to load your own container, offering pick-up and shipping at your convenience. Despite being able to ship U-Box containers internationally, I found the company lacking a couple of regards. The biggest drawback is that it doesn’t offer any sort of tracking, which is a real miss for a shipping company, especially when sending important items abroad. Most people expect accurate tracking information in our modern world, so U-Box was a no for this list.
Compare The Highest Rated Moving Companies for International Moving
| Company | Rating | BBB Rating | Cost | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A |
$1,400–$9,200 |
VISIT SITE | |
|
A+ |
$1,700–$13,800 |
VISIT SITE | |
|
B |
$1,250 – $8,500 |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
C |
$3,000–$11,200 |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
A+ |
$1,200–$11,250 |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
B |
$1,200–$11,250 |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
A+ |
$600–$5,100 |
VISIT SITE | |
 JK Moving Services |
A+ |
$3,000–$6,000 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of publication.
Our Reviews of the Best Moving Companies for International Moving
Allied Van Lines
4.2
Our Rating
By far, my favorite service from Allied Van Lines is its GlobeCom tracking system. It allows customers to track their shipment from door to door throughout the move. Because of modern technology, most of us are used to being able to track services and shipments online, so Allied has really capitalized on providing a quality service that its customers want.
Not only does its tracking system give you peace of mind, but it can also help you to resolve problems and disputes. A digital document trail is valuable evidence when confronting potential issues. While modern moving and shipping have very good processes in place to ensure the timely and thorough transportation of goods, international moving is complex, and things can sometimes slip through the cracks. Having a tracking system like this available is extremely advantageous for customers.
Beyond that, Allied is a solid and reliable company with a long history to back it up. It has all the bells and whistles that make your life easier and gives you options to tailor your move to suit your needs. Allied has been in business for decades and knows its stuff, and customers consistently report having positive, professional experiences with the brand.
Allied has some issues with transparency. It doesn’t disclose whether it’s a broker or carrier, which is consequential for the customer because of how different the processes can be. Brokers don’t actually move the goods themselves. Rather, a broker contracts a company that physically moves the goods. These physical movers are called carriers. This can lead to complications in resolving disputes and issues due to multiple points of contact between two different companies. It can also lead to brokers hiring a less-than-reputable carrier to move your goods. This isn’t usually the case, but it can happen.
The other issue is a gray area during the quoting process — the company requires a virtual or in-person survey of goods to get a quote. This isn’t a bad thing; in fact, it can be a good thing. The company ensuring that goods are declared accurately decreases the likelihood of unexpected cost increases during the move. However, it’s time-consuming, especially if you’re just shopping around and not ready to commit to anything. So, whether an in-person survey is a good thing or a bad thing just depends on your specific inclinations. At the very least, if you decide to commit to hiring Allied, the in-person survey will be to your ultimate benefit — even if it is a bit of a hassle.
Allied excels in the tracking department, which really sets it apart from its competitors. The ability to track shipments through all parts of the moving process is a valuable service for customers. It’s my favorite service it offers, but Allied also has many other selling points. It’s a reputable company with solid reviews. It also offers a host of services and customizations, including international vehicle shipping and a moving calculator so that you can get a quick estimation of how much your move will cost. It’s not a firm quote, but if you’re just shopping around, it spares you the burden of going through a proper quote process.
The strongest criticism I have of Allied is its lack of carrier/broker disclosure. The difference is important for customers so they know what to expect in the moving process. Brokers, while useful in some situations, can create difficulties in other situations, especially if there’s a problem or dispute. Because brokers contract carriers who do the actual move, it can lead to confusing situations.
However, of all the companies on the list, I’d consider Allied first. Between its shipment tracking system and the great variety of services and customizations, the company is ready to tackle any international move, no matter how complex. It’s a respectable company with a strong track record and positive feedback. While other companies may have a slight edge on Allied in terms of longevity and industry experience, the brand’s robust tracking system really sells it for me.
Allied has an ample variety of services, even if you’re not looking to move internationally. Whatever moving you need done, it can do. Within our review standards, Allied offers all listed services. So, it gets a perfect score in this category.
| Service | Availability (Yes or No) |
| Local Moving | Yes |
| Long Distance/Interstate Moving | Yes |
| International Moving | Yes |
| Packing and Unpacking | Yes |
| Loading and Unloading | Yes |
| Storage Services | Yes |
Cost
Assessing the cost of Allied compared to competitors is difficult, as I was unable to secret shop with them. As part of the quoting process, Allied requires a physical or virtual survey of the goods you want to be moved. While this is a bit demanding, it’s actually a good sign. A lot of problems for customers arise from goods being incorrectly declared, which means the movers are legally allowed to change the quote when they show up on the day of the move. A virtual or physical survey minimizes the risk of this happening and helps ensure the customer isn’t hit with unexpected changes to cost by the company.
So, while I’m disappointed that I couldn’t get a quote, I’m happy to see it’s for a good reason.
Available Discounts
The only discount offered by Allied Van Lines is a senior discount. However, you can get a better price by booking well ahead of time. Generally, 60 days is sufficient. Providing a delivery window, as opposed to a specific date, will also net you some savings. There are other ways to save money on moving, too.
Allied has a great array of customization options. It offers a valuable home staging option, which is hard to find with moving companies. It’s an incredibly useful service for everyone, especially older adults and people with disabilities. It alleviates a lot of the burden of organizing the transportation of your household goods. It also makes them stand out from most companies on this list, and most moving companies of any sort since home staging isn’t widely offered by moving companies. For this category, Allied gets a perfect score.
| Customization Options | Availability |
| Assembly/ Disassembly | Yes |
| Sells Packing Materials | Yes |
| Offers Valuation Coverage | Yes |
| Piano Moving | Yes |
| Car Shipping | Yes |
| Special Item/ Antique Moving | Yes |
| Custom Crating | Yes |
| Junk Removal | Yes |
| Home Staging | Yes |
Allied does very well in terms of customer reviews. The only criticism I have is it has relatively few reviews. That’s not the fault of Allied, but I wish there were more so we could get a better sample. The only other thing is its Better Business Bureau (BBB) letter grade is below some of the others on the list (it’s still decent at a B, though). Because the BBB doesn’t disclose exactly how it calculates its letter grade, I can’t say why or what causes it to be ranked below those other companies. However, the BBB is widely trusted as an authority on the good (or bad) conduct of a business, so I’m inclined to trust its assessment — even if the calculation is opaque.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| Trustpilot | 2.3 | 12 |
| 3.6 | 17 | |
| Yelp | 3.2 | 19 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for Allied Van Lines
The most common praise of Allied that I read was the professionalism of its sales representatives and moving coordinators. Reviewers consistently mention that they were nothing but polite, helpful, and efficient. In my own experience talking to them, I agree with that assessment.
Most Common Criticism for Allied Van Lines
Damaged items were a common theme of the relatively few negative comments and complaints that I read. A complaint to the BBB read (in reference to a damaged item) read:
“The company is refusing to pay for the replacement and is giving 60 cents per pound for the damaged item. They are stating that I should have purchased additional coverage and since I didn’t, I’m out of luck.”
While this is frustrating, it’s also the nature of the moving industry and associated regulations — moving companies are fully within their right to do this. A moving company is only legally obligated to pay $0.60 per pound on lost or damaged items, unless you bought full-coverage valuation. Companies will say that standard valuation (also called released valuation) is included, which it is. This $0.60 per pound is what they’re talking about — that’s the standard valuation. To avoid problems like this, always purchase moving insurance from an insurance company or purchase full-coverage valuation from the moving company. Either of those will give you much better coverage than released or standard valuation. You can read more about liability and protection on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website.
Allied struggles with transparency in a few key areas. First, it doesn’t offer sample pricing, and though it lost a point for it, I can’t be too critical because it provides a moving calculator on its website. It also falls short on disclosure of broker/carrier status. Because brokers and carriers operate differently, that’s important information for customers. Brokers don’t actually move the goods themselves. Instead, they contract the move to a company that does — a carrier. This can create complications, especially when it comes to disputes. It’s why we included it in our review standards and why Allied lost some points for not disclosing its status.
North American Van Lines
4.0
Our Rating
NAVL has been in the moving business since 1933. You really can’t match that amount of industry experience. One of the best markers for a reputable company is that it’s a long-standing company. After 89 years of business, I would say that NAVL certainly qualifies as a long-standing company. With that industry experience comes refined and efficient processes, not just when moving but in dispute resolution and customer service. NAVL longevity makes them stand out from the rest.
North American Van Lines doesn’t disclose broker/carrier status. Brokers and carriers are fundamentally different, and that can impact your move, so this is a shortcoming for NAVL. Brokers can add a layer of complication to the moving process, so companies should make customers aware of its status. It’s not to say that brokers are bad — they’re useful in some cases — but broker versus carrier is consequential to the customers, so the company should be up-front about it.
NAVL is a solid company that most customers should have a positive experience with during a move. It may lack some of the attention-grabbing glitz that other companies have, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a reputable, professional business that has been proving itself for decades. The reviews I read, combined with my own experience, spoke to a high level of professionalism from NAVL. Coupled with its extensive experience in the industry, I think most people would be happy with what it has to offer..
The biggest issue is the disclosure of broker/carrier status. Brokers are third-party middlemen that contract carriers, while carriers are actual moving companies with trucks and workers. Brokers are useful in some cases, but they’re not useful in others. It’s not really a matter of good and bad; it’s a matter of what best suits the circumstances. However, what’s important is that the customer can make an informed choice based on honest and transparent disclosure. Without transparent disclosure, the customer can’t do that.
While I’m always critical of brokers not disclosing their status, and NAVL isn’t an exception, it’s nonetheless one of the top-rated companies on this list. The weight of its industry experience and longevity is hard to deny. With a complicated process like moving internationally, you really want someone who knows what they’re doing. NAVL has that knowledge and expertise, so that makes a strong argument for using this company for your next move.
NAVL offers an industry-standard array of services, and the company is capable of undertaking any kind of move. So, whatever your needs, NAVL can accommodate you. In this category, NAVL gets a perfect score from us.
| Service | Availability |
| Local Moving | Yes |
| Long Distance/Interstate Moving | Yes |
| International Moving | Yes |
| Packing and Unpacking | Yes |
| Loading and Unloading | Yes |
| Storage Services | Yes |
Cost
NAVL is one of the companies on the list that requires a physical or virtual survey of the goods you plan to move in order to give you a quote. For that reason, I was unable to secret shop with them. However, this requirement isn’t necessarily bad. Sometimes, customers incorrectly declare the goods they need to be shipped, which results in an incorrect estimate. When the company arrives on the day of the move and finds more goods than what you originally declared, it’s legally allowed to void the old estimate and provide a new one that includes the undeclared goods — and this is even true of binding estimates. As such, customers are blindsided by a higher cost than they were initially quoted. That’s why the moving company doing the inventory themselves, in person or virtually, helps the customer in the end by ensuring that goods are properly declared and they aren’t hit with a sudden price increase.
Available Discounts
NAVL offers veteran and senior discounts. For those who don’t qualify for them, there are other ways to get the best deal possible. The most helpful thing you can do is schedule your move well ahead of time — at least 60 days. I suggest giving NAVL a delivery window as opposed to a specific delivery date. This gives NAVL some flexibility as far as scheduling and costs, which will get passed on to you.
NAVL does well in this category. It has pretty standard offerings compared to its competitors on this list and across the industry. The only thing it lacks is a Home Staging customization. While it does lose a point for that, I can’t be too harsh. I think it’s a valuable service, but it’s also a rare service that only a handful of companies in the moving industry have. NAVL isn’t exactly unique in falling short there.
| Customization Options | Availability (Yes or No) |
| Assembly/ Disassembly | Yes |
| Sells Packing Materials | Yes |
| Offers Valuation Coverage | Yes |
| Piano Moving | Yes |
| Car Shipping | Yes |
| Special Item/ Antique Moving | Yes |
| Custom Crating | Yes |
| Junk Removal | Yes |
| Home Staging | No |
NAVL does well as far as reputation. I only wish there were more reviews to provide us with a better, larger sample on which to base our assessment. The shining point is an A+ from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB is a generally trusted authority on the quality of a business, so a strong letter grade from it isn’t something to overlook.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+ | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| Trustpilot | 2.3 | 7 |
| 4.3 | 22 | |
| Yelp | 1.1 | 17 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for North American Van Lines
Reviews consistently praise the moving coordinators and drivers. They report that the moving coordinators are helpful, thorough, and professional. Drivers are often called out specifically for being amenable to the customers’ needs and wants and doing their best to provide a good service.
Most Common Criticism for North American Van Lines
Criticism of NAVL is comparatively low, and criticisms vary; there isn’t a common theme to note. My assessment is that there isn’t any systemic problem with NAVL. Most of it seems to be attributable to “nothing is ever perfect.” The reviews I read seem like run-of-the-mill miscommunications, accidents, and oversights. I don’t think they speak to any company or culture problem within NAVL.
NAVL doesn’t disclose carrier/broker status, post customer service hours, or provide sample pricing. For that, it lost quite a few points. However, some of these are mitigated by other factors. NAVL doesn’t offer sample pricing, but it does offer a moving cost calculator (best for domestic moving cost info), which serves a similar function. Broker/carrier status is the worst miss here. Whether a company is a broker or carrier is important information for potential customers. Brokers add a level of complication that carriers don’t have, and many potential customers would like to know that beforehand. As such, this category is the weakest for NAVL.
JK Moving Services
4.2
Our Rating
The standout feature of JK Moving Services is that it offers financing for your move, so you don’t have to pay the total cost out of pocket. This is pretty exceptional in my research. I don’t know of another moving company on or off this list that offers this service. It’s a really helpful offering for families and individuals on a tight budget who don’t just have the extra money to spend but need to move. Moving is already expensive, laborious, and time-consuming, so having the option to take a large up-front cost off your plate is incredibly valuable, especially for a pricey international move. Even if you don’t go with JK Moving Services, you still have third-party options for relocation assistance.
JK Moving Services also has accreditation with numerous international moving organizations. While accreditation isn’t everything, it is a positive sign and something that most of its competitors don’t bother to do. Having researched these organizations, I can say JK is doing real work to elevate the standards of international moving and create a pro-consumer culture.
I didn’t find much to critique with JK Moving Services. For international relocation, it’s among the best. It offers all the standard services and customization that a customer expects. It does international car shipping and offers domestic and international storage. It’s a very solid company, according to our research.
JK Moving Service is a credible company with a lot of positive feedback. It offers financing, which I think is a fantastic service and one that sets it apart from all of its competitors. It offers domestic and international storage solutions. With 40 years of experience, it has a level of longevity and experience that I can get behind.
It also has a large number of reviews and very positive ones at that. I place a lot of stock in customer feedback and independent reviews. They offer potential customers a glimpse into the company beyond the marketing and give them a heads-up on what to expect when dealing with them. JK Moving Service has glowing reviews on Google and a huge volume of them, so that’s noteworthy in my mind. It also has a perfect letter grade with the Better Business Bureau, which is generally seen as an authority on the good conduct of business. All things considered, it has an excellent reputation with customers.
JK Moving Services gets a perfect score for basic services. It has everything a customer would expect of a professional moving company. Whatever your international moving needs, JK Moving Services has you covered.
| Service | Availability |
| Local Moving | Yes |
| Long Distance/Interstate Moving | Yes |
| International Moving | Yes |
| Packing and Unpacking | Yes |
| Loading and Unloading | Yes |
| Storage Services | Yes |
Cost
JK Moving Services wouldn’t provide me with a quote with a visual survey, so I was unable to get any cost data. However, requiring a visual survey is actually good practice. Visual surveys by the company ensure that the inventory of items is properly declared and accurate. In turn, that prevents any sudden jumps in cost on the customer’s end. If a customer does the inventory themselves without the company doing a physical survey, it can lead to an incorrect declaration of goods. When that happens, the moving company is within its right to void the estimate (even if it’s binding) when it discovers that it has to move more goods than the customer said. In that case, the mover will draw up a new estimate to account for the undeclared goods, which means the cost of the move will increase.
Available Discounts
JK Moving Services doesn’t offer any standard discounts. However, you can get the best pricing by booking at least two months ahead of time. Also, give the company a moving window, as opposed to a specific move date. Giving a moving company flexibility in when it needs to move your goods reduces costs for them and hopefully for you, too.
Except for Home Staging, JK Moving Service has a wide variety of customization options. And I can’t fault them too much for not having home staging. While I think it’s a great service for older people and people with disabilities, it’s also rarely offered by moving companies. JK Moving Services isn’t breaking with industry standards by not offering it. However, because some of its competitors do offer it, we deducted a point.
| Customization Options | Availability |
| Assembly/ Disassembly | Yes |
| Sells Packing Materials | Yes |
| Offers Valuation Coverage | Yes |
| Piano Moving | Yes |
| Car Shipping | Yes |
| Special Item/ Antique Moving | Yes |
| Custom Crating | Yes |
| Junk Removal | Yes |
| Home Staging | No |
JK Moving Services has a great reputation with customers. Having nearly fifteen hundred positive Google reviews is a testament to that. Not only were those people happy with the service, but they were so happy that they took time out of their day to write a positive review of the company. JK also has an A+ rating with the BBB, which may give you additional peace of mind.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+ | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| Trustpilot | 3.6 | 1 |
| 4.5 | 1,326 | |
| Yelp | 3.5 | 374 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for JK Moving Services
Reviwers widely praise JK Moving Services for the level of professionalism exhibited by all points in the moving process. The most noteworthy is consistent praise of timeliness and maintaining schedules. I’ve read many reviews of other moving companies missing delivery dates and ruining schedules. Even bad reviews of JK Moving Services don’t mention late or missed deliveries, and this is something I feel needs to be pointed out. If you’re on a tight schedule and you need the best assurance possible that your goods will arrive on time, I’d choose JK Moving Services.
Most Common Criticism for JK Moving Services
I found very few criticisms of JK Moving Services, but the ones that were negative were about damaged items. This is a bit of a tough call. While a company should do its best to protect your items, damage does sometimes happen — even when the company didn’t do anything wrong. It’s hard to say which is responsible for the complaints — negligence or an honest accident — so I’ll refrain from making any strong judgment. However, based on other customers praising the quality and professionalism of JK Moving Services, you can assume most customers were happy with JK’s service.
JK Moving Service doesn’t disclose broker/carrier status, which is a big part of why it falls short in this category. Brokers are middlemen who contract a carrier (the company with trucks and workers) to move the customer. The carrier is paid, and the broker takes a cut. Brokers aren’t necessarily bad — they can even be useful in some situations. However, the choice should always be up to the customer, and they can’t make that choice if the company isn’t transparent in disclosing its carrier/broker status.
Mayflower Moving
4.1
Our Rating
Mayflower is a storied company that’s been in business for over 90 years. With that comes a level of industry experience and expertise that’s hard to match — something I put a good deal of stock in. Companies that don’t adequately serve their customers’ needs in an efficient and professional way don’t tend to last long, especially in a highly competitive industry like moving.
One specific thing I like about Mayflower is that full packing services are included when doing an international move. That advantages the customer in a couple of ways. First, it takes some of the burden of moving off the customer’s shoulders. But importantly, it helps ensure that you’re fully protected under any moving insurance coverage or valuation coverage. It’s not uncommon for a moving company or insurance company to challenge a claim on the basis that the owner incorrectly packed the item, saying they aren’t liable. Having the company pack your goods ensures that damage can’t be disputed based on the owner packing it. So, including this as a standard service is a good move on Mayflower’s part. While you can definitely learn how to safely pack your own items, I recommend embracing this included service.
The only real negative when it comes to Mayflower is a lack of sample pricing on its website. This means potential customers can’t really get an idea of costs without going through the entire quote process. It’s a minor nitpick, but it’s unsurprising given the complexity and variability of an international move. International moving demands a lot of coordination, expertise, and professionalism on the company’s side, so only companies that run a tight ship are able to compete in this space. Mayflower, like many of its peers on this list, does just that.
You can’t go wrong with a company like Mayflower. It’s been a player in the industry for nearly a century, and that amount of experience translates into a well-run, knowledgeable company. Its international moving services are competitive with its peers, offering useful services like international vehicle shipping and storage solutions.
Mayflower has one of the better websites that offers a clear explanation of its valuation coverage options, detailing the different levels and what that means for you as a customer. I applaud the brand for not using vague language or trying to obscure the reality of shipping coverage behind marketing jargon and fluff. Its basic valuation is $0.60 per pound on the weight of your goods, while its full coverage valuation is $6.00 per pound. Unless you buy third-party moving insurance, I’d be sure to get the full-coverage valuation.
Mayflower proves to be excellent in this category, offering all the services you’d expect of a reputable company. There’s nothing much here for me to complain about, so it’s a perfect score for them.
| Service | Availability |
| Local Moving | Yes |
| Long Distance/Interstate Moving | Yes |
| International Moving | Yes |
| Packing and Unpacking | Yes |
| Loading and Unloading | Yes |
| Storage Services | Yes |
Cost
I wasn’t able to get a quote because Mayflower requires a physical or virtual survey of the items you want to move. This definitely isn’t a bad thing. A survey by the companies ensures that the inventory and quote will be accurate. If it’s not, it can lead to the estimate being voided on pickup day when the movers find more or larger items than were declared. While it’s a bit of a hassle to go through, I recommend requesting a visual survey for all moves, even domestic ones.
Available Discounts
Mayflower doesn’t offer any kind of standard discount, but it does offer occasional promotions and discounts. So, if you’re looking for a discount, keep an eye out for when they come around. Outside that, be sure to book your move well in advance (around 60+ days.) The more flexibility you can give the company, the better price you’ll get.
Mayflower does well here — it’s only missing the home staging options. This isn’t unexpected, as home staging is a service that’s rarely offered in the industry. It’s worth noting that Mayflower includes packing as a standard service for international moves. However, it doesn’t offer unpacking as a standard service, so you’ll be on your own there unless you purchase the separate unpacking service.
| Customization Options | Availability (Yes or No) |
| Assembly/ Disassembly | Yes |
| Sells Packing Materials | Yes |
| Offers Valuation Coverage | Yes |
| Piano Moving | Yes |
| Car Shipping | Yes |
| Special Item/ Antique Moving | Yes |
| Custom Crating | Yes |
| Junk Removal | Yes |
| Home Staging | No |
Mayflower has a solid reputation. It has a perfect Better Business Bureau (BBB) score, and its reviews are generally solid, except for a few outliers. Yelp reviews are the lowest, but Yelp reviews are almost ubiquitously low in my research. I think this is because many reviewers come to Yelp to complain rather than compliment, but I’m willing to just chalk it up to the fickleness of the internet.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+ | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| Trustpilot | 2.6 | 6 |
| 4.3 | 150 | |
| Yelp | 2.1 | 92 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for Mayflower Moving
Customers praise Mayflower staff for being cordial and professional. They often mention that the drivers and laborers are hardworking, quick, and polite. Generally, the sentiment is that Mayflower is an efficient and professional company.
Most Common Criticism for Mayflower Moving
Negative reviews seem to be general, not specific. I found no particular issue that frequently popped up. Rather, it was a variety of things that seemed to be mostly accidental, unforeseeable, or caused by a minor oversight.
Except for a lack of sample pricing on their website, Mayflower has a decent level of transparency. It offers international shipment tracking and does online or over-the-phone quoting. Most importantly, it discloses broker/carrier status, which is need-to-know information for customers. Brokers aren’t the best option for every move, so allowing the customer to make an informed choice is always the best option.
Atlas Van Lines
4.2
Our Rating
This may get a bit technical, but what I like most about Atlas Van Lines is that it’s a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) registered with the Federal Maritime Commission. So, what does that mean? In essence, it means Atlas doesn’t contract with third parties during the maritime shipping phase of the move.
To spare you a tedious explanation of NVOCCs, I’ll just abbreviate it by saying it simplifies everything from the moving process to any dispute or legal issue that might arise during your move. With an NVOCC like Atlas, you sign one binding contract with the company. The company then has legal authority over your goods throughout the entire move, and most importantly, the company is legally responsible for your goods throughout the entire move. You may think this is the case with all international moving companies, but it’s not. That’s why NVOCCs are valuable. It’s not to say non-NVOCCs are inferior, but for anyone who likes to anticipate potential problems and solutions to those problems, NVOCCs are the way to go.
It was hard to find anything I disliked about Atlas. It has standard customization and options available and features numerous certifications and accreditations. It’s a well-rounded company that I don’t think you can go wrong with.
Atlas is a reputable company with credentials. It participates in government programs such as the Centralized Household Goods Traffic Management Program through the U.S. General Services Administration. It also has affiliation and membership with moving organizations like FIDI Accredited International Mover (FIDI-FAIM), International Association of Movers (IAM), and Employee Relocation Council (Worldwide ERC). Having been in the international moving business for 60 years, it has a wealth of industry experience and expertise.
I like that it’s an NVOCC, which simplifies a lot of the behind-the-scenes and legal aspects of international moving. For the customer, it simplifies any potential legal dispute and creates a single point of contact and legal responsibility for the goods being moved. A company not being an NVOCC isn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it’s definitely a positive aspect.
Atlas gets a perfect score in this category. It has all the services a customer would expect and services that are in line with those of its competitors across the industry. So, for this category, Atlas gets five stars.
| Service | Availability (Yes or No) |
| Local Moving | Yes |
| Long Distance/Interstate Moving | Yes |
| International Moving | Yes |
| Packing and Unpacking | Yes |
| Loading and Unloading | Yes |
| Storage Services | Yes |
Cost
Like others on this list, Atlas doesn’t do quotes without a visual inspection of the items, so I wasn’t able to secret shop with them. That’s a little disappointing for me as a researcher, but it’s good for you as a customer. Visual inspections ensure that items are declared accurately so that the quote is accurate and you don’t get hit with any sudden price jumps. Movers are legally allowed to void an estimate, even a binding one, if they find more goods on moving day than were initially declared. Visual inspections prevent that from happening, so they’re a big plus.
Available Discounts
Atlas offers AAA membership discounts. But other than that it doesn’t offer any standard discount for international moves. However, you can save money by booking well in advance. Sixty days is generally sufficient.
Atlas performs well in this category, even offering junk removal on international moves. The only thing it lacks is a home staging option. While I think home staging is a valuable service for any adult with mobility issues that gives them a stress-free move, it’s not a commonly offered service across the moving industry.
| Customization Options | Availability (Yes or No) |
| Assembly/ Disassembly | Yes |
| Sells Packing Materials | Yes |
| Offers Valuation Coverage | Yes |
| Piano Moving | Yes |
| Car Shipping | Yes |
| Special Item/ Antique Moving | Yes |
| Custom Crating | Yes |
| Junk Removal | Yes |
| Home Staging | No |
Atlas fairs well here. It has a perfect rating with the Better Business Bureau and a respectable rating across review sites. While Yelp always rates lower than other review sites, Atlas scored about as good with them as its competitors on the list.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+ | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| Trustpilot | 2.9 | 2 |
| 4.6 | 745 | |
| Yelp | 2.5 | 203 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for Atlas Van Lines
Praise is generally centered on professionalism, accurate estimates, and good adherence to schedules. A few reviewers pointed out that moving crews did an exceptional job at wrapping and packing their goods. They stated that the crews were timely and hardworking.
Most Common Criticism for Atlas Van Lines
The most common criticism for Atlas is damaged items. I don’t find this to be a big red flag. Most of the companies on this list have about as many complaints about damaged items. Moving things by truck or ship is always going to cause a certain amount of bumping and jostling. Sometimes, damage is impossible to avoid.
Atlas loses some points here for just missing some general information on its website, like posted customer service hours, emergency after-hours contact numbers, etc. In all the areas that are important, like shipment tracking and broker/carrier disclosure, Atlas does as good a job as any.
What to Look for in a Reputable Company for International Moving
The most important part of finding a reputable company is to ensure that it has all the required licensing and registration for international moving. For the United States, this means registration with the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), which provides them with a USDOT number that you can look up on the Safety and Fitness Electronic Records system.
The ocean shipping company contracted for maritime transportation by your moving company should have the proper licensing through the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). The two most important licenses are the non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) license and the ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) license. Both can be looked up on the FMC database for OTI and NVOCC licensing.
Aside from that, here are a few common indicators of a reputable company you can look for:
- Numerous years in business.
- Website that displays relevant licensing and registration information, like USDOT number.
- Email address that includes the company name.
- Does a thorough physical inspection of items to be moved, either in person or through video call.
- Provides copies of the estimation, bill of lading, and item inventory.
- Lists the total cost on all quotes, estimations, and bills of lading.
- Provides you with a copy of its tariff upon request.
- Positive online reviews.
- Clearly itemizes any quote or estimation.
- Has a physical address and domestic phone number.
- Maintains an online presence in the form of an up-to-date website and responds to complaints on sites like Better Business Bureau.
How To Avoid Scams for International Moving
It’s important to ensure that the moving company you contract has the proper licensing, as discussed in the prior section. The company you hire should have a USDOT number displayed in various places, like the bottom of its website. The maritime shipping company that the moving company contracts to transport your goods should have the appropriate OTI and NVOCC licenses. That’s the single best way to avoid scams. But there are other things you can do to avoid international moving scams. Here are a few common indicators of a scam:
- Calls that are answered with generic salutations, like “moving company” rather than a specific company name.
- Generic email addresses that don’t include the company name.
- Claiming years of business but lacking the online activity and presence to prove it.
- Refuses to do a physical inspection of goods to be moved. (Note: physical inspection is often waived by the customer and done by online inventory or through video call, but a mover should always offer to do a physical inspection. Most companies treat quoting online as an implied waiver of this requirement, which they disclaim themselves of in the fine print of the estimate. However, the company is legally required to do a physical inspection of goods if you request. Otherwise, the company can’t legally move your goods).
- Mover doesn’t provide a copy or link to “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.” Movers are federally required to provide this informational pamphlet to all customers before the move is undertaken.
- Requires payment in forms that aren’t easily tracked, like money orders, wire transfers, or cash.
- Demands a large up-front deposit, often in one of the aforementioned hard-to-track payment options.
4.5
One month of free storage included with your move
Provides moves in all 50 states
Offers air & ocean freighting
4.0
Flat rate pricing for all moves
Offers price matching
Expedited moves between big cities
4.2
Top-notch packing services
Nationwide partner network
Comprehensive moving calculator
FAQs
How Much Does a Moving Company Cost for International Moving?
International moving costs vary widely based on how far and how much you need to move. You can reduce the cost of moving by booking ahead and planning well.
Do You Need a Moving Company for International Moving?
You don’t need an international moving company, but between all the various complications like customs, immigration laws, and navigating the processes of maritime ports, hiring one makes moving a lot easier.
Are Moving Companies for International Moving Worth It?
While professional versus DIY moving has pros and cons for each, in the case of international moving, a professional mover can save you a lot of headaches. Between all the various complications from immigration laws to maritime port rules, they can simplify the process and make it a smoother experience for you.
Other Resources for Prospective Movers
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