Best Interstate Movers for Families

The Best Interstate Movers for Families

★ Updated for 2026 · 10 movers reviewed

By Dr. Steven R. Grossman, Founder & President · Reviewed by Sarah E. Whitaker, Senior Editor

Relocating the whole household across state lines is a different job than a local move. We ranked carriers and brokers on licensing, protection, communication, and real family-move logistics — so you can shortlist with confidence.

USDOT & MC verified BBB ratings checked CMR Certified vetting Independent & reader-funded

Reviewed by the Consumer Moving Reviews editorial team · Last updated May 2026

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Compare our top picks at a glance

The full breakdown, scores, and licensing for each company are below. Jump straight to a quote, or scroll for the details.

RankCompanyBest forScore
#1A Plus Moving and StorageCMR CertifiedBest overall10/10Get Quote
#2Safe Ship Moving ServicesBest moving broker9.0/10Get Quote
#3MC MoversCMR CertifiedExtra protection9.6/10Get Quote
#4International Van LinesInternational & storage8.7/10Get Quote
#5Wilson Bros Van LinesAffordability & flexibility8.9/10Get Quote
#6Move Quick IncCMR CertifiedCustomer experience9.2/10Get Quote
#7Jacob and Sons Moving & StorageCMR CertifiedStorage options9.4/10Get Quote
#8Bekins Van LinesAgent network8.5/10Get Quote
#9Safeway MovingPrivate brand value8.6/10Get Quote
#10Green Leaf Van LinesCMR CertifiedAuto transport9.1/10Get Quote

The full ranking, reviewed

Every company below was checked against its federal licensing, ratings, and the service mix that matters for a family relocation.

1Best Overall

A Plus Moving and Storage CMR Certified

Best for cross-country & interstate family moves
10/10
★★★★★
CMR Score

Our top overall pick for cross-country and interstate moves. A Plus runs its own fleet and in-house crews rather than subcontracting to a broker network, and backs every job with binding estimates, real-time tracking, full-service packing, and secure storage. The combination of an A+ BBB rating and a direct-carrier model is why it edges out movers that hand long-distance work to third parties.

USDOT 3006268 MC# 26730 BBB A+ (Accredited) In business 11 yrs · since 2015 Type Direct carrier (own fleet)

Why it wins

  • Long-distance carrier with its own trucks and in-house crews — not a broker
  • A+ BBB rating and recognized industry awards
  • Binding estimates, real-time tracking, and white-glove handling
  • Customizable packages, plus up to 40% off published tariffs on select routes
Licensed direct carrier · USDOT 3006268 · MC 26730 Get Free Quote
2Best Broker

Safe Ship Moving Services

Best moving broker for nationwide coverage
9.0/10
★★★★½
CMR Score

A licensed moving broker that pairs you with a vetted carrier from a nationwide network, with a dedicated coordinator handling the details from quote to delivery. A solid route to competitive pricing when you want options without calling a dozen companies yourself.

USDOT 3475743 MC# 1139083-B Type Licensed moving broker

Highlights

  • Dedicated move coordinator for end-to-end support
  • Discounted moving cost through network pricing
  • Nationwide network of vetted moving carriers
Licensed moving broker · USDOT 3475743 · MC 1139083-B Get Free Quote
3Best Private Carrier

MC Movers CMR Certified

Best for extra protection
9.6/10
★★★★★
CMR Score

MC Movers is the pick when careful handling is your first concern. It's a licensed nationwide carrier built around protection-first service and strong valuation options — the right fit for fragile, high-value, or hard-to-replace belongings where peace of mind matters more than the lowest price.

USDOT 2538365 MC# 882866 BBB A+ In business 7 yrs · since 2019 Type Nationwide carrier

Highlights

  • Licensed nationwide mover
  • Protection-first handling with clear valuation options
  • Full-service long-distance support
  • Strong fit for fragile or high-concern shipments

Best for

  • Moves where protection is the priority
  • Fragile or high-value items
  • Comparing careful-handling options
  • Extra peace of mind
Nationwide carrier · USDOT 2538365 · MC 882866 Get Free Quote
4Best International

International Van Lines

Best for international moves & storage
8.7/10
★★★★½
CMR Score

International Van Lines stands out for strong storage solutions and seamless support for both domestic long-distance and international moves. It's a dependable choice for customers who need flexible storage windows or are relocating across borders.

Highlights

  • Strong domestic long-distance and international coverage
  • Flexible storage windows for in-between timing
  • Seamless cross-border relocation support
Domestic & international moving services Get Free Quote
5Best Van Line

Wilson Bros Van Lines

Best for affordability & flexibility
8.9/10
★★★★½
CMR Score

Wilson Bros Van Lines is frequently praised for competitive pricing and flexible policies, including no-deposit options. It's a smart pick for budget-conscious movers who still want professional, full-service support.

Highlights

  • Competitive, budget-friendly pricing
  • Flexible policies, including no-deposit options
  • Professional, full-service support
Full-service van line Get Free Quote
6Best Direct Carrier

Move Quick Inc CMR Certified

Best for customer experience
9.2/10
★★★★½
CMR Score

Move Quick stands out on communication and responsiveness — the part of a long-distance move that causes the most stress. If you want to be kept in the loop from quote through delivery, it's a strong fit, with the packing, storage, and office support to cover most residential moves.

USDOT 1500499 MC# 563619 BBB A+ (Accredited) In business 20 yrs · since 2006 Type Carrier

Highlights

  • Responsive, communication-focused service
  • Long-distance and interstate coverage
  • Packing, storage, and office support
  • Clear updates throughout the move

Best for

  • Customers who value responsiveness
  • First-time long-distance movers
  • Comparing on service, not just price
  • Moves that need flexible support
Carrier · USDOT 1500499 · MC 563619 Get Free Quote
7Best Storage

Jacob and Sons Moving & Storage CMR Certified

Best for interstate moves with storage
9.4/10
★★★★★
CMR Score

Jacob and Sons handles state-to-state moves that need more than a truck. Packing, crating, short- and long-term storage, and commercial/office relocation are all available in one place, which makes it a practical choice for the more involved logistics of a long interstate move.

USDOT 2543958 MC# 885424 BBB A+ In business 13 yrs · since 2013 Type Carrier

Highlights

  • Built for interstate, state-to-state moves
  • Packing and custom crating
  • Short- and long-term storage
  • Commercial and office relocation

Best for

  • State-to-state household moves
  • Moves involving storage or crating
  • More than basic transport
  • Office & commercial relocations
Carrier · USDOT 2543958 · MC 885424 Get Free Quote
8Best Agent Network

Bekins Van Lines

Best for a nationwide agent network
8.5/10
★★★★☆
CMR Score

Bekins Van Lines is one of the longest-standing moving companies in the United States, in business since 1891 and helping families with local, long-distance, and cross-country relocations. After you request a quote, you're assigned a dedicated moving manager who serves as your point of contact and guides you through every step.

In business since 1891 Type Van line / agent network

Highlights

  • One of the oldest moving companies in the U.S.
  • Local, long-distance, and cross-country coverage
  • Dedicated moving manager as your single point of contact
  • Hands-on support at every step
Established van line & agent network · since 1891 Get Free Quote
9Best Private Brand

Safeway Moving

Best private-brand value
8.6/10
★★★★☆
CMR Score

Safeway Moving ranks as our best overall value pick because it offers the kind of pricing many shoppers want without giving up the premium support features that can make an interstate move easier to coordinate.

USDOT 3166589 Type Private brand

Highlights

  • Best overall value
  • Veteran owned
  • Portion of proceeds donated to charity
USDOT 3166589 Get Free Quote
10Best Auto Transport

Green Leaf Van Lines CMR Certified

Best for auto transport
9.1/10
★★★★½
CMR Score

If you need to ship a vehicle — on its own or alongside a household move — Green Leaf is the specialist on this list. Transparent, upfront pricing and a vetted carrier network make it easy to compare open, enclosed, and specialty transport without the usual auto-shipping guesswork.

USDOT 3632175 MC# 1245619 BBB A+ In business 5 yrs · since 2021 Type Auto transport

Highlights

  • Nationwide auto transport specialist
  • Transparent, upfront pricing
  • Vetted carrier network
  • Open, enclosed, and specialty options

Best for

  • Shipping a car across state lines
  • Comparing auto-transport options
  • Transport-first needs
  • Pairing a vehicle with a household move
Auto transport · USDOT 3632175 · MC 1245619 Get Free Quote

Moving a large family across state lines

The right mover is only half the job. The other half is staying organized — here's the family-tested game plan.

Moving a large family long-distance requires strict organization and early preparation. Start planning 8 to 12 weeks in advance by setting a concrete timeline and decluttering to reduce costs. Assign age-appropriate packing tasks to kids, and make sure all essentials and critical documents travel with you — not the movers. This comprehensive, actionable guide will keep the chaos at bay.
1

Planning & the moving binder

  • The master binder. Keep all your moving contracts, school transfer records, and medical forms in one place — both a physical binder and a digital copy.
  • Budgeting. Long-distance moves get expensive fast for a big household. Research whether full-service professional movers or "you-pack, they-drive" services (like PODS or U-Pack) best fit your budget.
  • Childcare on moving day. If you can, hire a sitter or ask a relative to watch younger kids during loading and unloading so you can focus on the movers and safety.
2

Declutter ruthlessly

  • Sell & donate. The more you move, the more it costs, and a big family accumulates a mountain of gear. Hold a garage sale or use neighborhood selling apps well in advance.
  • Kids' rooms. Go through toys, outgrown clothes, and books with your children. Letting them choose a few items to donate teaches them about making room for the new.
3

Packing strategies

  • Assign roles. Give older children responsibility for packing their own rooms (with supervision), and give younger kids simple jobs like bagging stuffed animals or placing stickers on boxes.
  • Color-coding. Assign each room — and each child — a color of packing tape. On arrival, matching the tape to the door makes sorting a breeze.
  • The "first night" essentials box. Pack a suitcase for each family member with 3–4 days of clothes, toiletries, medications, and pajamas. Add an essentials bin with a basic toolkit, chargers, and snacks — and keep all of it in your family car.
4

The travel journey

  • The road trip. Map out the drive with frequent stops — large families take longer to get places, and pushing a packed car too long leads to cranky kids.
  • Pre-plan meals & entertainment. Pack car-friendly snacks and keep a bag of new, inexpensive toys or games to pull out as "surprises" along the way. A road-trip playlist or audiobook rotation keeps the whole family engaged.
5

Settling in

  • Prioritize bedrooms. Let older children unpack and organize their own rooms first. It gives them a sense of control and a familiar space to retreat to while the rest of the house is still in boxes.
  • Familiar routines. Unpack the kitchen and bathrooms next so you can get back to normal meal and bath routines as soon as possible.
  • Explore together. Once the essentials are set, explore the new neighborhood as a family — find the nearest library, parks, and ice cream shops to help everyone feel at home.

For more practical hacks on keeping a big family organized and stress-free during transit, explore more of Consumer Moving Reviews.

Explore CMR

How we rank movers

Every company on this page is scored against the same checklist before it earns a spot — and the CMR Certified badge is reserved for movers we've vetted most closely.

Our scoring framework

We weigh federal licensing and safety records, pricing transparency, protection and valuation options, communication, and the real logistics that family relocations demand — packing, storage, and timing.

Licensing & safety

We verify active USDOT and MC numbers and review BBB standing before a company is listed.

Service & protection

Packing, storage, valuation, and handling options are scored for full-service family moves.

Communication

Responsiveness and clear updates from quote through delivery factor heavily into the score.

Family interstate moving FAQs

What's the difference between a carrier and a broker?
A carrier owns trucks and crews and physically moves your belongings. A broker doesn't move you directly — it matches you with a vetted carrier from its network and coordinates the job. Both can be good options; brokers like Safe Ship can surface competitive pricing, while direct carriers like A Plus give you a single company handling the whole move.
What does "CMR Certified" mean?
The CMR Certified badge is reserved for movers we've vetted most closely on licensing, protection options, and service track record. It's an editorial designation from Consumer Moving Reviews and isn't something a company can pay for.
How do I verify a mover's USDOT and MC numbers?
You can check any interstate mover's federal registration on the FMCSA's public SAFER and Mover Search tools using the USDOT or MC number. We list those numbers on each card so you can confirm a company is active and properly authorized before you book.
Should I get more than one quote?
Yes. For a family interstate move, comparing at least three written estimates helps you spot outliers in price and service. Look for binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimates rather than rough phone quotes, and confirm what packing, storage, and valuation coverage is included.