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Moving is a big job. Moving out of the country requires preparedness, organization, competence and sometimes a bit of patience. Hiring the right international moving company for your relocation can mean the difference between a stressful situation and a delightful experience. Isupplier
Although even the best moving companies can’t completely eliminate every moving stress, some companies perform at a higher level than the competition. Knowing what to look for in an international mover is the first step in choosing the right company for you.
We’ve reviewed the top contenders in the industry and ranked them according to performance factors such as customer satisfaction and the ability to perform the potentially complex task of getting you and your possessions over the border. Following are the best international moving companies, along with information to help you decide which one you need.
The Forbes Home team is committed to bringing you independent, unbiased ratings and information. We use data and expert advice to inform all of our content. Plus, our advisory board of licensed professionals fact-checks and reviews our content for accuracy and relevancy. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the international moving companies methodology for the ratings below.
On International Van Lines' Website
On American Van Lines' Website
On United Van Lines' Website
Allied Van Lines leads off our list by offering its customers a full range of moving services and options. Whether you’re a fan of DIY moving or would instead take a hands-off approach and let your movers perform all of the work, Allied Van Lines has provided solutions for over 94 years.
The company’s international moving services include the availability of everything you’d expect of a world-class mover. Full-service packing and loading, furniture disassembly and assembly, specialty and vehicle shipping and a container shipping service called Allied Express. Allied’s insurance choices include basic coverage and Extra Care Protection, which allows you to choose the amount of coverage for your goods.
Rated A+ with the BBB, the company has recently suffered from low review ratings that are likely a result of recent labor shortages. Allied Van Lines provides an online quote request system, no-deposit booking and free cancellation until the day of your move.
Note that the information below pertains to moves within the U.S. In order to get estimates for your international move, speak with a representative directly and be prepared with a full list of items that you’re moving, as well as a virtual or in-person evaluation. The estimates in this article are examples that cover two specific moves and do not represent a national average.
Allied Van Lines representatives gave our team a quote estimate of $7,000 for a two-bedroom move from San Diego to Austin, TX that would take place around June 15 of this year, and an estimate of $5,570 for a one-bedroom move from Brooklyn, NY to Raleigh, NC during the same timeframe.
Known for providing excellent full-service moving, United Van Lines is next up. For well over 100 years, the company has offered moving services that now include everything from mostly-DIY container shipping through its parent company’s Snapmoves program to full-service international moves for which you don’t have to lift a finger.
Among the company’s lists of skills, it prides itself on being a military moving expert. The rest of us can benefit from UVL’s Full Value Protection plan included in every price quote and a penalty-free cancellation policy that only requires payment for performed services when you need to cancel your move.
The instant online price quote you receive from United may appear higher than its competitors due to the inclusion of upgraded insurance. However, the company offers a la carte pricing for most of its services to better suits your needs if necessary. UVL doesn’t currently have agents in DC, HI, RI, VT or WV.
Note that the information below pertains to moves within the U.S. In order to get estimates for your international move, speak with a representative directly and be prepared with a full list of items that you’re moving, as well as a virtual or in-person evaluation. The estimates in this article are examples that cover two specific moves and do not represent a national average.
United Van Lines representatives gave our team a quote estimate of $9,005 for a two-bedroom move from San Diego to Austin, TX that would take place around June 15 of this year, and an estimate of $5,100 for a one-bedroom move from Brooklyn, NY to Raleigh, NC during the same timeframe.
A top choice for government agency moving and unusual moving situations, Atlas Van Lines takes the next spot. Graded A+ with the BBB, the company also enjoys high consumer ratings across several review platforms, including a 4.6 rating on Google.
Atlas Van Lines offers small moving solutions, major international moves and everything in between, with a long list of service options. The company’s website provides valuable information for moves of all types, focusing on answering your questions about international moving in particular. However, the company doesn’t provide instant price quotes.
The process to receive a price quote from Atlas is thorough and accurate, maybe to a fault. But, in return, your estimate will be as precise as possible. Container shipping isn’t available through Atlas, and take note that canceling your move more than three days after signing the order will incur a cancellation fee.
Note that the information below pertains to moves within the U.S. In order to get estimates for your international move, speak with a representative directly and be prepared with a full list of items that you’re moving, as well as a virtual or in-person evaluation. The estimates in this article are examples that cover two specific moves and do not represent a national average.
Atlas Van Lines representatives gave our team a quote estimate of $8,374 for a two-bedroom move from San Diego to Austin, TX that would take place around June 15 of this year, and an estimate of $6,442 for a one-bedroom move from Brooklyn, NY to Raleigh, NC during the same timeframe.
JK Moving goes the extra mile to serve its corporate moving customers by providing a long list of customizable, commercial, data and IT moving options including records archiving. But that’s not all the company does well.
JK Moving enjoys consistently high consumer ratings across numerous platforms and has an A+ grade at the BBB for how they handle almost any other kind of moving as well. For international moving, the company strives for sustainability in its business model while offering all of the services you expect from a moving company that can get you and your possessions all over the globe.
A deposit is required to book your move with JK, but cancellation is penalty-free until 48 hours before your scheduled date. The company is available in all 50 states and currently offers no container moving service.
Note that the information below pertains to moves within the U.S. In order to get estimates for your international move, speak with a representative directly and be prepared with a full list of items that you’re moving, as well as a virtual or in-person evaluation. The estimates in this article are examples that cover two specific moves and do not represent a national average.
JK Moving representatives gave our team a quote estimate of $8,520 for a two-bedroom move from San Diego to Austin, TX that would take place around June 15 of this year, and an estimate of $5,900 for a one-bedroom move from Brooklyn, NY to Raleigh, NC during the same timeframe.
North American Van Lines makes our list of the best international moving companies by offering customizable solutions to meet any moving need. If you’re a fan of DIY moving but unsure where to start, the company offers packing assistance to get you on your way. North American Van Lines also offers container moving through its Blue Express program.
If you’d like to take a more hands-off approach, North American can do that too. Whether you’re moving household possessions, corporate offices, vehicles or specialty items, the company offers full-service moving that covers all the details for international moving from anywhere in the country.
North American Van Lines offers three moving insurance packages and custom options. Though no deposit is required to book your move, be aware that you’ll only have three days beyond signing your order to cancel without paying a fee.
Note that the information below pertains to moves within the U.S. In order to get estimates for your international move, speak with a representative directly and be prepared with a full list of items that you’re moving, as well as a virtual or in-person evaluation. The estimates in this article are examples that cover two specific moves and do not represent a national average.
American Van Lines representatives gave our team a quote estimate of $6,860 for a two-bedroom move from San Diego to Austin, TX that would take place around June 15 of this year, and an estimate of $4,663 for a one-bedroom move from Brooklyn, NY to Raleigh, NC during the same timeframe.
Every moving situation is unique. Where you’re headed, your timeline and what you need to bring with you are different from everybody else. A reliable international moving company knows that fact and can be flexible enough to handle your specific needs. Identify the best one for you after determining how they qualify compared to your needs based on the following criteria.
The primary reason to hire an international moving company is to take some of the burdens off of you. Of course, getting your possessions from here to there is the task, but making the process as easy as possible for their clients is the real work.
Beyond knowing what your physical needs are, such as safely moving precious items, packing and unpacking and getting your stuff to its destination, understand what your well-being and stress level concerns are as well. Is the timeline critical? Is constant contact important to you? Are you worried about any unknowns? Do you need high-level moving insurance that your belongings are safe?
The more potential stressors you can identify, the easier your choice of moving company will be.
In the current information age, there’s no lack of online opinions and stories about individual moving companies. However, every person who moves faces a situation that’s unique to them. Comparing star ratings on various platforms is only somewhat effective in determining which company can pull off your move while catering to your needs.
Beyond the ratings, read several reviews and stories, both good and bad, associated with the companies you’re considering. You’ll likely see patterns related to each company. Those patterns often reflect issues surrounding punctuality, customer service or complaint handling. Determine which companies are better at handling your particular set of needs and concerns by dissecting the comments under the company listing.
Hiring a mover requires signing a contract between you and the company. Anytime you hire a contractor, obtain at least three quotes from different providers and know what kind of quote they’re offering. You may receive a binding quote that is unlikely to change and includes the total price you’ll pay for services or an estimated quote that reflects an educated guess price that is subject to increase depending on how the move plays out.
Pricing estimates typically show a lower price than binding quotes. Before committing to an estimate, ensure you understand what will trigger a price increase and how much the cost will go up under various circumstances.
A reputable company that genuinely cares about your well-being won’t be afraid to answer even the most trivial questions. They should understand that your move is a tremendous undertaking and you have questions that may only be important to you. Their job is primarily one of customer service, after all.
If you sense that your questions are going unanswered, or feel uneasy about their responses, move on to your next candidate company.
Average moving costs are tricky to pin down regarding international moving. The needs of military personnel moving across borders differ from those of a residential or commercial move and therefore vary greatly in price. Also, the fact that you’re crossing an international border may or may not mean that you’re engaging in a long-distance move.
For internationally moving the contents of an average home to and from destinations in North America, costs start at around $4,000. Moving overseas ranges from $6,000 to $12,000.
Other than calculating your moving cost and shipping your goods, international moving companies offer several other services to help make your move as seamless as possible.
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You’ll likely have numerous things in motion during your international move. Often, temporary storage of your belongings is necessary to line up the various timelines. You may also have items you’re moving that require special attention, such as musical instruments, automobiles or valuable objects. Ensure that your moving company can support all of your needs, whether through them or one of their affiliates, to eliminate the need to hire more than one company.
Moving to another country brings up much more than just logistics. Many international companies can provide information and even assistance dealing with preparing for your move, planning, customs requirements, driver’s license information, immunization needs, health insurance information, passports and visas.
All moving companies must carry liability insurance that protects them if they damage your property. That may not be enough to ensure your peace of mind, however. Reputable international moving companies offer several options for insuring your possessions beyond basic coverage. You’ll always have the option of purchasing your own insurance.
But, if one-stop shopping is important to you, identify a moving company with a plan that meets your insurance needs.
To determine the best international moving companies ranking, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed third-party data on dozens of major companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:
To qualify among the best international moving companies, we scored each company on how many different types, such as local, long-distance and international moves they provide with a strong emphasis on international moving services.
There are many facets involved with international moving. The quantity and quality of each company’s service offerings and choices within them determined its rating score in this category.
Competitors were ranked on their ability to provide services based on their physical presence in states across the US.
Each company’s statistics regarding size and business model and whether acting as a broker, agent or carrier determined its company information rating. Agent quantity and availability were also considered when applicable.
Online quote availability, estimate accuracy and deposit requirements were considered when choosing our top companies.
Our customer review rankings were determined by researching consumer reviews and investigating how each moving company responds to complaints when they happen.
Editorial judgment points were awarded to companies that displayed outstanding service, options and upfront pricing practices. Also factored in were the sample quotes for each company.
All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.
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Moving your personal belongings overseas is typically done by loading your items into shipping containers and transporting them by ship to the nearest port. International moving between nearby countries often involves container shipping by truck instead of by boat.
Include enough money set aside in your moving budget to cover your expenses in the new location for at least a few months. If you’ll be in the country longer than the duration of a typical visa, you may be subject to providing proof of a minimum savings amount. If you’re moving in the interest of your employer, they’ll likely take care of financial requirements if necessary.
International movers will include all the costs in their quote for moving your belongings from your current residence to the new one and any extra services you choose. Generally not included in their bid are variable costs such as foreign taxes and duties, customs fees and unforeseen circumstances beyond reasonable expectations.
An international moving coordinator is similar to a personal assistant regarding your move’s details. They’re responsible for gathering and executing the logistical plans and communicating with the government entities of the countries involved. Your coordinator can answer your questions while ensuring quality standards are met by everyone along the way.
RIM certification is awarded to individuals within a company who have passed an exam measuring their ability to provide risk management services at a high level. Individuals with RIM certification have proven that they have the knowledge, skills and experience to handle delicate tasks pertaining to complex risk situations.
An international removals company transports your possessions between countries, so you don’t have to take them with you when you move. Similar to an international moving company, they’ll manage the transportation of your stuff. Unlike a moving company that moves everything you own, a removals company typically deals with moving only some of your property, perhaps more often.
Furniture is often moved internationally by shipping containers, costing an average of around $4,000 per container to move overseas.
Having spent 30+ years in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance and home repair, Deane now contributes DIY, informational and financial content as a freelance writer and consultant for several publications. Throughout his career, he strived to assist his clients in finding the potential hidden within the walls of every home and empowering them to take control of their household repair and remodeling endeavors. Deane’s primary career goal involves sharing home-related knowledge and providing self-sufficiency tools to as large an audience as possible.
Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. She edited home repair and design content at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros.
It Supply Chain Lowe is a lead editor, covering all things related to home improvement and good design. She previously worked in the decor and lifestyle spaces for digital publishers like Hunker and Ranker and has multiple years of experience creating design and DIY content.