Moving can be a frustrating process, but it doesn’t have to be with a professional moving service and good moving preparations. To that end, I’ve spent the last few weeks researching major moving companies and scoring them across 26 criteria to give you a succinct overview of their strengths, weaknesses, and why I think you should (or, in some cases, shouldn’t) choose them. For a broad overview of moving companies, take a look at our nine best moving companies.
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
The five companies I chose for this article represent a cross-section of major moving companies. Some are large, long standing companies — others are smaller, younger ones. Each provides a range of moving services and serves customers anywhere in Utah. In choosing these companies, I aim to capture the larger trends of the industry so that — even if you don’t choose a company on the list — you’ll walk away with a general feel for what to expect wherever you go. Where possible in this article I’ll also provide context to help you understand the whys and hows of the moving industry that affect you as a consumer.
Companies on the list are scored according to Today’s Homeowner review standards. These standards score each company across four major categories and 26 subcategories based on extensive research by the Today’s Homeowner team and me. We rate companies based on services, customization, reputation, and transparency, taking into consideration everything from customer reviews to secret shopping experiences to catches buried in the fine print. In the end, we aim to provide a thorough, complete, and impartial assessment of these companies to better inform your consumer choices. You can read more about our methodology below.
Top 5 Utah Moving Companies
- International Van Lines is my choice for anyone who needs a moving company right now. Except for home staging, it offers all the services its competitors do, plus numerous others they don’t. It has a great reputation, positive reviews, and transparent practices.
- You’ll get the best price by booking more than two months out and being flexible on the pickup window. Also, ask the sales representative directly about any available discounts.
- Make sure to ask your sales representative about valuation coverage. Major shipping companies offer different types of protection. All shipments are covered by released-value protection, but it’s a minimal protection that only pays out $0.60 per pound. Consider full-value protection, which offers a high price per pound and guarantees repair or replacement on major items.
Read our full Moving Methodology for more details.
My Expert Recommendation
My favorite company on the list is Safeway Moving. Through my multiple rounds of secret shopping, its customer service consistently stood out from that of its competitors. Not only were the sales representatives friendly and professional, but they also gave thorough explanations of services and pricing. They respected that I was considering multiple providers and didn’t try to pressure me into signing a contract with them, nor did they engage in aggressive follow-ups. They provided a level of customer service that I rarely experience from a company. Even if Safeway Moving doesn’t have some of the services that its competitors do — like international moving — I would choose it for my local or interstate move.
International Van Lines (IVL) was a close second. It provides a complete one-stop shop of full-service moving, from local to international, piano moving to auto shipping. It’s the company you want if you never want to have to make a choice about a moving company again. It scored strongly in all major categories of our review standards: services, customization, reputation, and transparency. Its website thoroughly covers all the services it offers. Pricing was very competitive. All-in-all, it’s one of the best movers on the list.
My experience shopping with IVL, while not as exceptional as my experience with Safeway Moving, was nonetheless seamless and professional. If you want a long-standing, proven commercial moving company that can do everything and do it well, International Van Lines is the company you’re looking for.
Utah Moving Companies I Didn’t Include
Utah’s Premier Moving Company
Utah’s Premier Moving Company missed a spot on our list for lacking a long-distance moving service. While the company is great for local moves within Utah, it doesn’t accommodate moves outside of the state or to the state. As a matter of covering the needs of the largest number of readers and customers possible, not having a long-distance service was disqualifying.
PODS
PODS missed the list for being a container service. A moving company should include a range of standard services to accommodate people moving. Some of those services should be basic, like packing and loading, and others should be convenient services, like home staging and junk removal. Because PODS doesn’t offer this kind of full array of services, it missed a spot.
Compare The Highest Rated Moving Companies In Utah
| 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 in Utah
International Van Lines
4.5
Our Rating
Whether you’re moving to your new home or doing a corporate relocation, International Van Lines is a solid company with the widest array of services of any company on the list. For that, it’s one of my personal favorites. Its robust international shipping is unmatched, with door-to-door, port-to-port, door-to-port, or port-to-door shipping options to 150 countries. Its website thoroughly explains all the intricacies and aspects of international shipping and how it differs from domestic shipping.
IVL’s vehicle shipping is also peerless on the list. It’s the only company on my list that ships so many different types of vehicles, from cars to boats, RVs, and motorcycles. What’s more, within each category, there are numerous shipping options, like drive-away service for RVs or enclosed-carrier shipping for cars. It really sets IVL apart from its competitors.
The only thing I can fault IVL for is lacking a home staging option. It’s a great white-glove service that’s useful for busy parents, professionals, or older adults, so it feels like it leaves IVL one step short of being a truly complete, universal moving service. But that’s only a minor critique. I still think IVL is one of the strongest companies on the list.
One of the standout features of International Van Lines for me is its vehicle shipping options. It’s the only company on the list to ship larger motorcycles, RVs, and boats. For boats, it can ship anything up to and including sailing yachts and motorized yachts. Lastly, for RVs, you have the option to ship it in a traditional manner, where the RV is loaded onto a truck. However, the cheapest option is a “drive-away” service, which is a fancy way of saying someone will physically drive your RV to the destination. This may put mileage on your RV, but it saves you the cost of renting an entire tractor-trailer. IVL can also organize international shipment of any boat, motorcycle, or RV.
IVL offers the widest breadth of services of companies on my list. It can do everything from local piano moving to an international, door-to-door, household move. Others on this list have strong offerings, but none provide quite the coverage that IVL does. It’s the company I would go with for a large, complex move — especially if it’s an international move.
A small thing I like about IVL is that it sells packing material directly to customers. Anyone can go to the packing material store on its website and purchase boxes, packing materials, packing kits, and more. Quality packing material and good packing practices make the process so much easier. It’s an especially nice service for people who are using IVL and packing themselves. You can take care of your shipping estimate and packing material all in one place.
IVL is also only one of two moving companies on the list to have a moving calculator on its website, so you can get a rough estimate of the total cost without having to commit to the free quote process.
There’s not too much I didn’t like about IVL. But I do have some nitpicks.
IVL doesn’t do home staging. For a company that offers an extraordinarily wide array of services, covering basically any type of move, I’m surprised that it doesn’t. It comes so close to offering, essentially, every moving service that can exist — but for some reason, not home staging. It’s a valuable service for seniors and those with disabilities, so it’d be great to see IVL offer this in the future and really become the dominant “anything you could ever want” moving company.
International Van Lines has almost any moving service you could want. Its strongest offering that sets it apart from its competitors is its international moving service. Having started as an international shipping company, IVL has years of experience dealing with the complexity of international moves, ranging from customs to drayage to container sizing. For that reason, it’s my recommendation for international moves.
| 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
Shopping with International Van Lines has been a consistently good experience. It’s often the fastest, most accommodating company on the list. Representatives are open to doing the process over the phone, online, or a hybrid. While they default to wanting to do a phone call at some point, all I had to do was request to do it completely online, and they were happy to do it that way.
Here’s a breakdown of the quote I got for a two-bedroom, single-family move from Salt Lake City to Chicago:
- Basic Estimate Price: $4295.10
- Origin/Destination Charges: $561.00
- Full Packing (including material and labor): $0.01
- Basic Valuation Protection: $0.00
- Total Estimate: $4856.11
Editor’s Note: The cost data provided is based on Today’s Homeowner’s standardized sample moving scenario from Salt Lake City, UT to Chicago, IL, for a single-family home, with a move date set eight weeks away. Please be aware that these estimates may vary depending on factors such as additional services required and market fluctuations. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Discounts
If you book far enough out with International Van Lines (two months or more), you can get a discount. Certain sales representatives will also offer promo codes that can net you up to $1000 in savings. IVL also provides a 15% senior citizen discount, so it’s a great choice for older homeowners.
International Van Lines offers a full line of standard options. It doesn’t offer home staging, so for that, it loses a point. But that lost point comes with a couple of caveats. IVL’s vehicle shipping is top notch and offers more options than its competitors. IVL is also unique on this list in that it has a packing material store on its website where anyone can go to purchase packing material and have it sent to their door.
| 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 |
With an A rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.4 on Trustpilot, Internal Van Lines has a sterling reputation. On top of that, it holds numerous awards — among them “Best in Business” from Forbes, Newsweek, and Inc. 500. While I don’t expect anyone to take industry awards at face value, I can say that they square with my experience in this case. I’ve been through the quote process with IVL numerous times, including a few hours on the phone with sales reps, and I’ve had nothing but a great experience. Reviews I’ve read reaffirmed my experience and consistently speak to a high level of service and high customer satisfaction.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| Trustpilot | 4.4 | 54 |
| 2.6 | 100 | |
| Yelp | 1.5 | 35 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for International Van Lines
Praise for IVL via customer reviews echoes my experiences. From reviewer brooklyn peltier on Trustpilot: “My salesperson, Veronica, was very good at explaining the details of our move and spending time walking us through the process.” I find this sentiment repeated across review sites. The second most common praise is quick and professional service on the physical side of the move. Reviews consistently mention prompt, efficient, and professional drivers and moving teams.
Most Common Criticism for International Van Lines
Complaints about IVL seemed to come down mostly to customers not fully understanding how the moving process or costs work. For example, a complaint to the BBB said: “The driver also charged me more than IVL quoted at pickup.” This is a common misunderstanding of binding estimates (which IVL uses.) The Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR § 375.403 (a)(6)) states, in summary, that a mover may reject and renegotiate a binding estimate if, on moving day, they arrive to find items tendered for transport that weren’t declared by the shipper on the initial estimate. This misunderstanding is the cause of many complaints about “inflated costs” against IVL (and other companies.)
It’s important to ensure the moving company you’re dealing with is clear and open about all aspects of the move and provides you with all available information about your goods while they’re in its possession. To that end, International Van Lines scores stellar marks. Its sales and customer service representatives are thorough in explaining all aspects of the billing and moving process. It offers high-value services like GPS tracking. It’s the only company to offer an online cost calculator that doesn’t commit you to the quote process while also providing a reasonably accurate price range (based on my experience comparing it to my secret shopper quotes.)
American Van Lines
4.0
Our Rating
At the end of the day, American Van Lines is a great long-distance moving company, especially for those with pianos, art, or antiques to move. Its moving crews are trained to handle the difficulties of disassembling, packing, and loading pianos. They’re also proficient in custom crating to ensure the safe transit of irreplaceable items. So, of the companies on the list, AVL would be my go-to if I had an art collection or a piano. You can learn more about how AVL moves delicate items in our article on the best antique movers.
While I’d personally consider AVL for a long-distance move, it’s not the best choice for all moves. The biggest criticism I have for AVL is the lack of car shipping. It’s not uncommon for customers to need a car shipped as part of their long-distance move, so it’s unfortunate that AVL doesn’t offer that service. If you need a car shipped, consider a different company such as Safeway Moving.
Another downside is that AVL doesn’t offer international shipping. It’s not a terrible failing, as there are fantastic international moving companies out there, such as International Van Lines, but it does put AVL a step behind some of its competition. It’s certainly not enough to make me discount AVL entirely, but customers looking to move internationally should look into some of the other companies on the list.
American Van Lines (AVL) is a great long-distance mover, which seems to be its company focus. It has all the services you would expect for a long-distance move — packing and unpacking, assembly and disassembly, and storage services. Piano and art moving are also specialties of AVL. It has a robust system of professionals experienced with transporting pianos safely and securely, and it does custom crating for art and antiques to maximize protection.
On a minor point, I like that AVL has a sustainability program that aims to reduce its environmental impact through measures such as vehicle modifications and providing drivers lodging cards to encourage them to sleep in motels (as opposed to in their trucks, which they usually let idle through the night to power amenities like TV and air conditioning.) It’s the only company on the list to have a sustainability program, so that’s a perk for any environment-minded customer. AVL also works to promote community organizations, like the Alzheimer’s Association.
American Van Lines falls short on services. It doesn’t offer international shipping, car shipping, home staging, or junk removal. Altogether, this makes it one of the weaker companies on the list for offered services. Car shipping is valuable for families that have more than one vehicle. Some companies on the list have great junk removal services, and others have standard junk removal. Home staging benefits older adults and people with disabilities. I just feel like there are some key service gaps here.
Also, while American Van Lines does local moving (such as a short move across the city), its local services are very limited. To quote the AVL website: “American Van Lines handles local deliveries for customers who live within a radius of 100 miles of our three delivery hubs in Florida, Texas and North Carolina” — meaning that if you live outside those three areas, you’ll have to find a different company for your local move. I didn’t like that this information wasn’t up front — instead, it was buried halfway down the “local moving” page on AVL’s website. I won’t go so far as to say it’s deceptive, but you’d think pertinent information like that would be more prominently displayed.
American Van Lines offers a great variety of quality services that customers report being very happy with. However, it doesn’t offer international shipping. Also, If you live more than 100 miles away from one AVL’s moving hubs, you can’t use its local moving service. AVL requires you to live within 100 miles of one of its hubs to utilize that service. Otherwise, the services AVL offers meet industry standards and expectations.
| Service | Availability (Yes or No) |
| Local Moving | Yes (limited) |
| Long Distance/Interstate Moving | Yes |
| International Moving | No |
| Packing and Unpacking | Yes |
| Loading and Unloading | Yes |
| Storage Services | Yes |
Cost
American Van Lines has a smooth quoting process, and its costs are right in line with competitors. The only problem I have is that its quotes aren’t very detailed compared to some of the other companies on the list. But maybe that’s a good thing. Competitors pack their quotes full of gimmicky discounts and other things that aren’t important, so maybe a plain quote is an improvement.
For a single-family home move from Salt Lake City to Chicago, this was my quote:
- Transportation Fee: $8,755.01
- Valuation Coverage: $0.00
- Packing: $0.00
- Total Estimate: $8,755.01
Editor’s Note: The cost data provided is based on Today’s Homeowner’s standardized sample moving scenario from Salt Lake City, UT to Chicago, IL, for a single-family home, with a move date set eight weeks away. Please be aware that these estimates may vary depending on factors such as additional services required and market fluctuations. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Discounts
American Van Lines has a military discount but nothing beyond that. On its website, it claims to have deals and specials, but these are just market gimmicks. The prices listed are the standard prices of a move. While I don’t fault AVL for not offering more discounts, the marketing gimmicks are unnecessary and do more to erode confidence in the company than inspire it.
Customization is where American Van Lines most falls down on the job. By not offering auto shipping, junk removal, or home staging, we’re forced to deduct a few points. Its competitors offer these services, so there’s no way to avoid it. All three are great services for a variety of customers, and AVL simply falls short. However, I don’t mean to sound overly harsh — the services it does offer are good, quality services. So this is a situation where you should be aware of what you need going in so you can be sure that AVL can cover it.
| Customization Options | Availability (Yes or No) |
| Assembly/ Disassembly | Yes |
| Sells Packing Materials | Yes |
| Offers Valuation Coverage | Yes |
| Piano Moving | Yes |
| Car Shipping | No |
| Special Item/ Antique Moving | Yes |
| Custom Crating | Yes |
| Junk Removal | No |
| Home Staging | No |
American Van Lines has a great reputation but loses a little ground on its customer reviews. While reviews are overwhelmingly positive, some outline some common issues — primarily late deliveries. Based on what I inferred from reading reviews and BBB complaints, the issue stems from problems that arise during the physical transportation of goods, like a truck breaking down. That’s understandable, but AVL sometimes fumbles the communication with customers by either not informing them the delivery will be late, disclosing why a delivery is late, or stringing the customer along with promises of delivering soon.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+ | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| Trustpilot | 4.2 | 44 |
| 4.2 | 898 | |
| Yelp | 2.3 | 439 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for American Van Lines
Reviewers commonly praise American Van Lines for two things: quick, efficient service and good customer relations. Reviewers report that sales representatives and moving coordinators do well explaining the process and answering questions. Adam I. on Trustpilot said: “Bob made making an inventory list easy, and even provided guidance and patient advice. Jennifer did the same when it came time for a final review and patiently handled our many inventory updates.” It’s important to accurately inventory items during the quote process in order to avoid unexpected fee increases at moving time, so it’s great to see AVL representatives taking the time to ensure that it’s right and the customer isn’t surprised by any fee increases.
Most Common Criticism for American Van Lines
Late and delayed deliveries is the most common complaint I read about American Van Lines. Customers report being strung along by the company about when their goods would actually be delivered. This seems to stem from unexpected problems on the transportation side. According to Mark P. on the Better Business Bureau website: “They keep stringing me along missing window after window until I complained hard enough to get a more detailed answer. They said the truck went in the shop for an oil change and they found an issue with the radiator that needed to be repaired and they were waiting on a part.” From this review and others, I conclude that AVL doesn’t respond well to unexpected issues arising in the transportation part of the move.
I haven’t come across many complaints, but the few I have mentioned inflated costs and hidden fees. These can be chalked up to customers misunderstanding how pricing works in the moving industry. But it’s also a criticism of American Van Lines, which should do better to inform its customers of that process. I can’t be too harsh on AVL though, as this is a common complaint across all companies that are on this list (and even companies that aren’t.) Moving companies can be frustratingly vague about the hows and whys of pricing, contracts, and negotiation.
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
4.2
Our Rating
Overall, Interstate Moving and Relocation Group is a good company. It provides an array of services that puts it towards the top of this list. I really like how informative its website is, and I had a good experience secret shopping with them.
My principal gripe with IMRG is that it’s a broker. Because a broker is a third-party middleman, it doesn’t have control of the entire moving process, which can cause complications for the customer. When problems arise, a broker is mostly powerless to resolve the issue. Instead, the customer will have to work with the company they contracted with. It adds a layer of unnecessary complication. When you work directly with a carrier, you have one point of contact. When you go through a broker, you may end up with multiple ones.
However, I wouldn’t entirely discount brokers — even if I prefer carriers. Brokers cultivate a wide variety of partners (carriers it subcontracts work out to), and because of that, it has flexibility that many carriers don’t. For example, IMRG offers a furniture moving service, so if you need a couple of pieces moved across town or across states, it can organize that for you. So, being a broker can be an advantage. You just have to weigh the pros against the cons of your specific situation.
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group (IMRG) has a great website, even if it’s a little tricky to navigate. It has lots of informative articles about the moving process and plenty of tips for moving. It’s a nice resource for anyone who hasn’t hired a professional moving service before.
Uniquely, IMRG offers a furniture moving service, so if you need a couch moved across town or the entire country, IMRG can get you sorted out by finding a carrier that can do it. The nice thing about a moving broker is it has access to all carriers in an area, so it can find carriers that specialize in local furniture moves or long-distance house moves. It gives moving brokers a great deal of flexibility.
I don’t particularly like moving brokers, and IMRG is a broker. Because a broker contracts the move to a third-party carrier (the company that actually does the move), it doesn’t control the entire process. Your property is handed off to a company you didn’t specifically solicit, and because of the way moving regulations work, you sign a contract with that company. While brokers vet the companies they subcontract to, there’s still a certain amount of uneasiness I have about bringing in a company I didn’t vet and handing over my valuables to them.
The second issue is with problem resolution during the physical move. If you have a dispute or discrepancy with the carrier, the broker is worthless in the resolution process. It might work on your behalf to find an equitable resolution, but after you’ve signed the moving contract with the carrier, it has no legal standing to enforce any sort of compliance or resolution. The problem is solely between you and the carrier you didn’t specifically solicit. For me, it just adds so much more complexity to a process that doesn’t need any more complications. I don’t discount brokers, but I prefer carriers.
Interstate Moving and Relocation Group offers all local and domestic services that other companies on this list do. The only thing it lacks is an international moving service. International moving services come with their own complications (like customs and port of entry regulations), so this is understandable. While it’s not mentioned in the chart below, IMRG offers a furniture moving service for local or long-distance. So, if you need a couple of couches moved, IMRG would be my choice.
| Service | Availability (Yes or No) |
| Local Moving | Yes |
| Long Distance/Interstate Moving | Yes |
| International Moving | No |
| Packing and Unpacking | Yes |
| Loading and Unloading | Yes |
| Storage Services | Yes |
Cost
IMRG’s quote skews high compared to other companies on this list. I don’t like that its quote features technical language, like “tariff” and “binding estimate fee.” Most people aren’t familiar with the technical side of the moving business, so they likely don’t know what those terms mean or how they’re relevant. Other companies on the list avoid technical language in their quotes, so I see its inclusion here a bit needless.
I received this quote for a two-bedroom move from Denver to Chicago.
- Total Tariff: $4531.00
- Total Tariff Discount: – $2502.40 (55.23%)
- Basic Estimate Price: $2028.60
- Fuel Surcharge: $304.29
- Full Packing Service: $724.50
- Full Unpacking Service: $362.25
- Binding Estimate Fee: $2655.28
- Online Discount: – $1500.00
- Basic Valuation Protection: $0.00
- Total Move Estimate: $4574.92
Editor’s Note: The cost data provided is based on Today’s Homeowner’s standardized sample moving scenario from Denver, CO to Chicago, IL for a single-family home, with a move date set eight weeks away. Please be aware that these estimates may vary depending on factors such as additional services required and market fluctuations. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Discounts
The company offers a standard $500 discount on any move. This just seems like marketing to me. IMRG isn’t the only company to do this. Every quote I’ve gotten in the process of researching these companies lists numerous discounts, most of which aren’t even advertised anywhere by the company. I chalk all of them up to low-effort attempts to make customers feel like they’re getting a deal. IMRG displays this discount on its front page, so I thought it was worth calling out.
Interstate Moving and Relocation Group offers all the standard customizations you’d expect with a major mover. Like so many on this list, though, it doesn’t offer home staging. I’ve complained about the rarity of this customization elsewhere, but I’ll complain again: home staging is a valuable service for people like busy professionals, parents, older adults, and people with disabilities. As such, I’m disappointed IMRG doesn’t offer this service, and it loses a point for not having it.
| 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 |
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| 3.5 | 1,077 | |
| Yelp | 2.2 | 80 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for International Moving & Relocation Group
The most common praise for IMRG is the professionalism of its sales and coordination staff. This is a bit of a layup for the company. Since it’s a broker, it doesn’t do the physical move. It just finds carriers and matches them with customers, so the only role it plays is on the customer service end. I don’t mean to discount the praise, but it’s worth noting if you’re comparing to other companies — especially carriers.
Most Common Criticism for International Moving & Relocation Group
The most common criticism, by far, is inflated cost. On the Better Business Bureau website, Allison M says, ”They are a bait and switch company. They start off with a good price and then a week before your move they double the rate. By then it is too late to change companies. They hold your stuff hostage if you don’t pay them the full rate…” In defense of the company, this is very likely a product of the customer incorrectly declaring their inventory during the quote process. Upon arriving, the movers had to renegotiate the contract to account for the extra goods, leading to a jump in costs.
IMRG loses some points here for having no official tracking through the company. In my experience with brokers, tracking may be available, but it depends on whether the carrier contracted to do the move offers that service. Unfortunately, that’s something you’ll only know as a customer on moving day. So, I wouldn’t expect tracking services going in, but you may get lucky and get a carrier that does offer them. So, IMRG is on par with other brokers on the list, but it’s behind carriers on the list that can definitively offer tracking.
Safeway Moving
4.1
Our Rating
I like this company. I like good customer service. In a process as complex as moving, having representatives who are helpful, professional, and timely in their communication averts so many headaches. While other companies on this list also had good customer service, they fell short of the high level of service offered by Safeway Moving.
A potential drawback to Safeway Moving is the lack of tracking. Even though it’s not the only company on the list to lack this service, it can nonetheless be a deal breaker for some customers. Trusting a company with potentially irreplaceable valuables is already difficult, but then not having the option to see where your valuables are in the moving process can be too much. To be clear, Safeway Moving does have some trucks with GPS, but not all of its fleet has pinpoint tracking. Trucks without it have to be tracked manually by calling the company, who can then request a status report from the driver. It’s not an ideal system, but it might be enough for some.
Safeway Moving had great customer service across all my quote processes and stood apart from its competitors on that front. That’s why, of all the companies on the list, Safeway Moving is my favorite. The sales representatives were thorough and helpful. They explained the entire process to me. They explained how they calculate their estimates and how they differ from their competition in that respect. While most companies base their estimation on the weight of the load, Safeway Moving estimates it based on volume, which it feels is more accurate. They also pointed me to resources such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER system to help me avoid scams and find reputable companies. It was an exceptional experience.
One notable feature of Safeway’s services that I liked was the use of climate-controlled trucks to move pianos. Humidity and rapid temperature changes can damage pianos, so having access to climate-controlled transportation adds an extra layer of protection when moving valuable instruments. For that reason, I would choose Safeway Moving as my go-to for piano moving, as none of its competitors offer that service.
Safeway Moving’s website is lacking in information compared to others on the list such as International Van Lines, which has a very thorough website. While Safeway’s site does have all the basic information needed to make an informed decision, it lacks depth in detailing the company’s services and how it stands apart from its competitors.
Another miss is tracking. Generally speaking, Safeway Moving doesn’t offer tracking. I asked the sales representative about this, and they informed me that, while all of Safeway Moving’s trucks don’t have GPS tracking, some of them do. He further informed me that shipments could be tracked manually, but that required calling the company and waiting for them to contact the driver.
Safeway Moving has most standard services, but it’s noticeably short on local moving. This is a rare shortcoming on the list, with Safeway Moving being the only company not offering it. Because of that, we deducted points from its overall score in this category.
| Service | Availability (Yes or No) |
| Local Moving | No |
| Long Distance/Interstate Moving | Yes |
| International Moving | Yes |
| Packing and Unpacking | Yes |
| Loading and Unloading | Yes |
| Storage Services | Yes |
Cost
Safeway Moving has consistently good pricing and a great shopping experience. In fact, it was my favorite shopping experience. Its sales representatives have all been very pleasant to work with. For a two-bedroom move from Denver to Chicago, it was $3775.00. This was a basic move with assembly and disassembly included and limited standard packing.
- Basic Estimate Price: $3500.00
- Fuel Surcharge: $175.00
- Packing Materials: $100.00
- Total Moving Estimate: $3775.00
- Total Moving Estimate w/ Full Packing Service: $4275.00
Editor’s Note: The cost data provided is based on Today’s Homeowner’s standardized sample moving scenario from Denver, CO to Chicago, IL, for a single-family home, with a move date set eight weeks away. Please be aware that these estimates may vary depending on factors such as additional services required and market fluctuations. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Discounts
Safeway Moving gives discounts to a variety of customers: veterans, seniors, students, teachers, and first responders. It also provides a standard discount to anyone who books more than thirty days in advance. Lastly, though not a discount, it donates money from each move to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Safeway Moving offers a great variety of customization options, so you should have little trouble with whatever move you’re undertaking. I’ll specifically highlight its piano moving service, which utilizes climate-controlled trucks to protect the instrument against temperature and humidity changes. And lastly, like all but one company on this list, it lacks a home staging 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 |
Safeway Moving has strong reviews. However, because it’s a small company, it lacks the quantity of reviews larger companies have. I don’t count that against them, but it’s something to keep in mind. It lost a few points for its Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, which, at a B-, is strong but not top marks. Unfortunately, I can’t elaborate on why it was given that rating, as the BBB’s rating process is opaque and mostly obscured from the public.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B- | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| Trustpilot | 4.4 | 33 |
| 3.7 | 162 | |
| Yelp | 1.4 | 68 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for Safeway Moving
Most praise revolves around timeliness and a seamless process. Having spoken on the phone with multiple sales representatives, I’m not surprised that Safeway Moving has a quick and efficient process. Its representatives are knowledgeable and professional, and the quote process was one of the easiest to get through.
Most Common Criticism for Safeway Moving
Damaged items was the most common complaint I found reading reviews. But it’s worth noting that there were few complaints in all. Damaged items happen during the shipping process, and that’s why it’s important to ask the sales representative about valuation coverage. Most companies have a couple of different tiers of coverage available, so in the event that an item is lost or damaged, the company will take steps to remedy it. That can mean full replacement of the item or item repair, depending on the circumstances and what agreement the customer and company come to.
Because of its lack of robust tracking, Safeway Moving lost a few points. Tracking is pretty important when you’re entrusting your valuables to someone else, so it’s disappointing to see that it doesn’t score better in this category. The sales representative informed me that some of Safeway Moving’s fleet is GPS enabled, but not all of it. Tracking on trucks without GPS has to be done over the phone and through company representatives.
Moving APT
3.9
Our Rating
Moving APT is a good company. It’s been in business for two decades, which is a good sign of a reputable company. It offers one of my favorite services, home staging, which is such a helpful service for anyone with a busy schedule or facing mobility issues. As a broker, it has the advantage of shopping around to find you the best deal and can provide a lot of flexibility in that regard.
On the downside, it lacks transparency in some aspects. Because it’s a broker, tracking can be hit or miss. While it’s not completely off the table, it comes down to what specific company has been contracted to do the move and whether or not it offers tracking and status disclosures. Perhaps equally frustrating, you won’t know what company has been contracted to do your move until the day of, so it leaves you little time to object or work with Moving APT to find a different company.
Moving APT has been in business for 22 years, which is a good sign of a reputable company. Even though it’s a moving broker that doesn’t control the entire moving process, there are some advantages. Moving brokers, such as Moving APT are able to shop around with various carriers and get you the best possible price.
Of all the companies on the list, it’s the only one to offer home staging. That’s a huge plus in my book. It’s such a valuable service for busy parents and professionals, older adults, and those with disabilities. It removes a huge part of the physical burden of moving and creates a truly white-glove, beginning-to-end service that gives you peace of mind and leaves you stress-free. So Moving APT would definitely be my go-to for any of the above-mentioned people who need that kind of assistance or who just need someone to take a huge chore off their plate. Moving isn’t just the physical process, but includes all the smaller things, like changing schools and doing a change of address.
Moving APT has a poorly designed website that, to me, is odd and unintuitive. While it does have plenty of information, it’s buried beneath menus and links. I will give them credit that it looks good, but sometimes function is more important than form. Compared to its competitors, Moving APT comes up a little short here.
Because it’s a broker, Moving APT also doesn’t have great tracking services. Since it contracts out the physical move and doesn’t own any trucks, tracking isn’t guaranteed. In my experience of brokers, you might be able to get GPS tracking and status disclosures, but it depends on the company that was contracted for the move. Unfortunately, you won’t usually know who that is until the day of the move. So, you’ll have to inquire with them then as to what tracking is available.
Of the services we listed in our review standard, Moving APT has them all. And its process for these services is all right in line with industry standards. So, you should have no problem finding what you need with them. For not missing a single service on our standard, Moving APT gets a perfect score.
| 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
Moving APT’s quote didn’t deviate much from those of its competitors. At roughly $4,300, it was in the middle of the pack as far as price goes, which is to be expected. The moving industry is highly homogenous, so there’s not often much deviation between companies as far as pricing goes. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t outliers or you shouldn’t shop around. It just means, in the case of Moving APT, you could probably find a superior deal somewhere else.
For a single-family move from Salt Lake City to Chicago, Moving APT provided me this quote:
- Basic Estimate Price: $4125.28
- Fuel Surcharge (15%): $618.79
- Bulky Handling x 1: $75.00
- Coupon Discount (5%): -$240.95
- Platinum package material and labor included: $896.00
- 3 Day flexibility discount: -$1815.07
- Carrier Total: $3659.05
- Booking Fee: $728.00
- Total Moving Estimate: $4,387.05
Editor’s Note: The cost data provided is based on Today’s Homeowner’s standardized sample moving scenario from Salt Lake City, UT to Chicago, IL, for a single-family home, with a move date set eight weeks away. Please be aware that these estimates may vary depending on factors such as additional services required and market fluctuations. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Discounts
Moving APT offers senior, military, and early booking discounts. To maximize the early booking discount, it’s best to book two or more months out. Another tip is to be flexible on the pickup date. Rather than choose a specific day, select a window. In my quoting process, I gave sales representatives a seven-day window.
Moving APT is the only company on the list to achieve a perfect score on customization. Home staging is the elusive service keeping others on the list from a perfect score, but Moving APT has it. Whatever your customization needs are, Moving APT can accommodate them.
| 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 | Yes |
Moving APT has a solid reputation, even if it’s not a perfect one. I’m glad to see a good number of reviews, which makes for a good sample size and brings in lots of customer experience. After reading through many reviews, I found that Moving APT has a generally positive reputation among customers.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B+ | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating |
| Trustpilot | 4.0 | 206 |
| 3.8 | 248 | |
| Yelp | 1.3 | 171 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Most Common Praise for Moving APT
The most common praise is the professionalism of the sales and coordination staff and that of the ground crews. I think that’s noteworthy because Moving APT is a broker, so the ground crews are contracted third parties that don’t work for Moving APT. It shows that Moving APT does a good job vetting the companies it contracts to do your move, which should give you some reassurance as a customer that, even though Moving APT is a broker, it works to make sure its partners meet a high standard of professionalism.
Most Common Criticism for Moving APT
The most common criticism from reviewers was inflated prices or “hidden fees.” Having done extensive research on the moving industry, I can say that many of these complaints stem from customers not understanding the intricacies of the moving process and moving regulations. That’s understandable, but it does show that Moving APT could do better to inform its customers about those intricacies and regulations. So, in short, these criticisms are more a product of mismanaged expectations than anything duplicitous or deceitful.
Like most brokers, Moving APT loses points for not being able to guarantee tracking services. Because it’s a broker, it doesn’t do the physical move itself. Rather, it contracts it out to a third party who may or may not offer tracking on its trucks. This means that while you may have access to tracking services, it’s not guaranteed.
What to Look for in a Reputable Moving Company in Utah
The most important marker of a reputable company is proper licensing. For interstate movers, companies are required by law to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Upon registering as a carrier or broker, the business entity is given a USDOT number that it’s required to provide to customers on any estimation and on the bill of lading. Reputable companies will also publish the USDOT number on the business’s website. Furthermore, USDOT provides resources to consumers in the form of the FMCSA Household Goods Program and SAFER database.
Outside federal licensing, a reputable company should have an internet presence. This means a business website as well as customer reviews on places like Google Reviews and Yelp, social media profiles, and articles and professional reviews on the company. The more online evidence, the better. Older companies should have activity going back at least a few years. Positive reviews, whether customer reviews or article reviews, are a positive sign. But watch out for suspicious-sounding reviews, especially if there are a lot of them. Review fraud, where companies hire a third-party company to surreptitiously boost its review rating, is an unfortunate reality. Large companies like Google and Yelp are pretty good about defending against this practice, but it’s still something I’d keep an eye out for.
How To Avoid Moving Scams in Utah
The first line of defense in avoiding scams is to ensure that the company in question adheres to all federal and state legal requirements. At the federal level, interstate movers are required to register with the Department of Transportation. Upon doing so, the company is given a USDOT number, which should be published in various places, including the company’s website and on any estimate it provides you. You can look up the USDOT number on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER database, where basic information about the company is published, including operating status (like broker or carrier) and what goods it’s legally allowed to ship.
Utah has no state requirements for movers, so you’ll have to rely on federal licensing to inform your decision there. The only caveat to this is that federal regulations only cover interstate movers, so companies that only do moves within the state are not required to register with the federal government (USDOT or FMCSA). However, there are a few general red flags you can watch out for:
- 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.
Utah Moving Company News
According to the United States 2020 Census, Utah saw the largest percentage increase in population of any state in the last ten years. Moreover, according to a study published by the Kem G. Gardener Policy Institute at the University of Utah, there’s also a vibrant landscape of intrastate moves, meaning people moving within the state. This activity means a bustling industry of moving companies and services. If you’re looking to start a new chapter or find a place to retire, Utah might be worth looking into.
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 in Utah?
Moving costs are highly variable and depend on distance, amount, and schedule. However, you can get the best deal possible by following our guide on negotiating and minimizing moving costs.
Should You Tip Movers in Utah?
Yes, it’s standard practice to tip movers. If you don’t know how much to tip or what to base it on, check out our article on how much to tip movers.
Are Moving Companies in Utah Worth It?
Absolutely. Utah has a decent-sized moving industry full of very highly-rated companies. If you’re caught between hiring a company and moving yourself, we have a write-up on moving yourself versus hiring professional movers.
