Which type of moving company is for you?
Customers in the United States have three different kinds of moving companies to choose from -- local movers, interstate movers, and long distance movers.
Now, some of the best moving companies in the United States offer two or three of these options. But, there are other companies which specialize in just one.
A local moving company specializes in short-distance relocation. Hiring movers with a local focus can often save you money on moves to an adjacent city or county. A local moving company is a great option if you're moving down the street or just a couple of cities over.
An interstate moving company focuses on moves to adjacent states. Interstate movers often do long distance moving as well, but some stick with shorter state-to-state relocations. Moving quotes for interstate movers vary from service to service, so be sure to shop around.
Long distance movers are in for the long hauls. Long distance moving companies are the way to go when you’re moving from coast to coast or North to South. Moving quotes for long distance moving companies can get quite expensive, especially if you’re hiring movers for a really big job. When searching for a long distance moving company, it pays to do your homework. You can cut the cost of moving significantly by simply choosing the right moving company.
In summary, research pays off. The best moving companies are worth searching for. And if you don’t have time, our cost of moving calculator can help!
What is the average cost of long distance moving in the United States?
Are you moving from coast to coast? Are you heading south for retirement? It's a trickier proposition than it was a couple of years ago, but thousands of American citizens are still making it happen each month. While we can't give you a personalized quote for the cost of long distance household moving until you provide some details on your move to our moving cost calculator, we can provide you with a bit of general information about the cost of moving.
A full-service cross-country move that includes vehicle shipping, the aid of a moving company, and added peripheral costs can set you back anywhere from $1,500 (for a simple one-bedroom move) to $10,000 or more (for a complex five-bedroom move). That’s the average rate for all moving services, including the best moving companies in the business right now.
Mileage and the number of personal items you're moving can affect relocation costs to a very significant degree. If you're moving 1,500 miles instead of 2,500 miles, you may shave off thousands of dollars in projected expenditures with the right car shipping and household moving companies in your corner.
Also, moving to or from rural areas off the beaten path will likely add to your total household moving costs. This is because fewer movers service these areas.
Regardless of your situation, feel free to look at our adjacent listings for a comprehensive look at the best long distance moving companies in your area. From local movers to long-distance movers, you’re bound to find a moving company that can help at a decent price. We only work with the best moving companies in the business today.
What is the average cost of local household moving in the United States?
If you’re relocating just a couple of cities over even within the same town, you may be able to move an entire one-bedroom apartment for as low as a few hundred dollars.
Most local household moving companies charge in the neighborhood of $50 to $200 per hour for services, with the relocation of a normal one-bedroom apartment usually requiring around 2-3 hours of labor. With this in mind, you could easily pull off a local move for anywhere from $200 to $600.
The more belongings you have to move and the more complex your moving situation, the more you’ll pay for labor to a moving company. Some local household moves may set you back upwards of $2,000 or so, especially if you’re attempting to relocate a five-bedroom house (or bigger). You could always try a DIY move with a self-service moving truck or trailer, but you’re taking on significant risk and much more stress than most folks bargain for.
Regardless of whether you’re hiring movers to switch spaces in the same zip code or you’re embarking on a long distance moving odyssey, our intuitive moving cost calculator is here to help. We can give you a breakdown of what your move will cost, and help link you up with the best moving companies in your area.
And if you're moving across the state, across state lines, or the country, shipping your family vehicle (or vehicles) is worth making room for in your budget.
Here’s why.
Why you should ship your car during your next big move
Long distance moving is stressful, especially in these uncertain times.
Not only do you have to pack up your house, hire a moving company, change over utilities, and oftentimes coordinate an entire family while doing so, but you have to do all of this while keeping the safety and well-being of you and your loved ones as the top priority.
Why add your family vehicles or vehicles on top of this list of worries? With the help of a reputable and efficient vehicle shipping company, you can ship a car or multiple cars to your new home for much less than you might think.
Our moving cost calculator will give you a personalized breakdown of what shipping a vehicle will cost you. And with the wear and tear long distance moving puts on a vehicle, along with the time and exhaustion it will cost you in the long run, the price you’ll pay will be a bargain if you work with a car shipping company you can trust.
Need to ship a vehicle during your next household moving journey? Want to learn more about the car transport process? Here’s our definitive, in-depth guide on the car shipping process for movers like you in the United States.
The Ultimate Car Shipping Guide for movers in the United States
Are you looking to move a car or truck across state lines or even across the country? We’re here to help movers find the best time of year to secure inexpensive vehicle moving quotes that won’t zap your budget, along with other general information about United States household moving and car moving trends.
Did you know that the average American moves about 12 times throughout their lifetime? With a current average cost of $980 for in-state moves and a whopping $4,100 for moves from state to state, the cost of moving can add up dramatically. And with 9.8% of the population or 31 million people, moving in the United States last year according to Census data, a lot of folks are incurring major bills due to relocation.
The cost to move a car or truck can add to those expenditures, leaving your bank account in dire straits and your credit cards with hefty balances at high-interest rates. And if you decide to drive your car instead of having it shipped across the United States on a long distance moving expedition, you'll have to factor in the cost of gas and hotels and inevitable automobile repairs after the wear and tear such a journey puts on your beloved vehicle.
Nexus Car Movers Pro Tip #1 — That’s where companies like Nexus Auto Transport come in — offering the fastest automobile shipping quotes in the industry when movers like you need them most. We work with movers like you daily, surprising and delighting everyone from college students to families of four with cost-efficient vehicle transport services for a variety of different car relocation needs. Check out our moving cost calculator for more information about our car moving services.
The truth about moving a vehicle is that overall car shipping costs are not static. There are several factors to each particular vehicle shipment that influence the price of shipping a car or truck. The main concerns which factor into the cost of moving a vehicle are as follows:
- The make and model of your vehicle
- The size and weight of your vehicle
- The distance between your car pickup and car delivery points
- Special needs such as closed car hauling or expedited vehicle shipping
- The time of year in which you ship a car
There may be other aspects of your particular car shipment which will either inflate or decrease the price of shipping a car, but it's these five factors that hold the greatest sway. And while you may not be able to control how big your car is or the distance of your household moving journey, picking the right time of year to move a car could save you hundreds of dollars in moving costs
When is the best time to move a car with a vehicle shipping service?
As stated before, the car moving industry is seasonal. Ultimately, consumer demand for vehicle shipments varies wildly based on what month it is. To give you a better idea of how demand for auto moving services changes as the calendar flips pages, let's first break down the percentage of total moves each year in the United States on a month-by-month basis.
When do Americans move the most?
Gauge the best (and most affordable) time to move a car with a look at when other movers are on the go.
As you can see from the data above, nearly half of the moves executed in the United States happen in the four-month window from May through August. It likely won’t surprise you that customer demand for car moving services is at its highest during this time. However, that doesn't necessarily correlate to more expensive auto moving quotes. There are a host of extenuating factors which can influence the cost to ship a car, from car hauler drivers who head home to the holidays to working with an overtaxed small vehicle shipping company that doesn't have an extensive fleet of car shippers to work with.
Nexus Car Movers Pro Tip #2 — That’s why Nexus Auto Transport has consistently been rated as one of the most reliable and cost-efficient vehicle moving companies in the United States. With a fleet of over 80,000 car haulers and an expert auto moving customer service team putting together schedules that work for both drivers and customers, Nexus Auto Transport can offer competitive car moving quotes at any time of year. Head over to our moving cost calculator and see how much you can save with Nexus.
However, it’s simply true that you’ll pay more to move a car with any vehicle moving company when demand is high and driver availability is not balanced with said demand. For example, December may not be nearly as popular for household moving as the summer (especially as it pertains to long distance moving), but demand for automobile transport services may be high. Many drivers for car moving services leave the road for the holidays. So, the drivers that are still working are at a premium.
The time of the week in which you schedule a vehicle shipment could also affect the overall cost of moving a car. As you can see below, demand for moving services of all kinds is much higher on Friday and Saturday than at any other point of the week.
What day of the week do most Americans move?
Planning the right day for your auto shipment could mean big savings for your household moving budget.
While it’s not a guarantee of low vehicle transport rates (depending on the company), Sunday is the least desired moving day for most Americans. If you can catch a car mover in transit on Sunday or beginning their workweek earlier, you might be able to find ample spots and lower car moving costs than if you schedule a vehicle pick up a day or two earlier.
Ready to learn more about when and why Americans move? The more informed you are as a mover, the better prepared you’ll be (and the more money you can potentially save!)
Learn more about household moving trends in the United States
In our humble opinion, the vehicle transport industry is just as much about people like you as it is the cars and trucks you love. In addition to offering you unbeatable, affordable car moving rates with our online vehicle moving costs calculator, we also want to help inform you about long distance moving trends and general moving trends so you can make the right decisions for you and your family.
Are you looking for a change? Do you feel like your current state is offering you nothing but dead ends in terms of employment and housing opportunities? Is it simply too expensive to maintain the quality of life you want where you’re at? Let’s take a detailed look at the top destination states for movers like you, along with the ten states which Americans are moving away from in the greatest of numbers.
Top Ten States To 'Move To' And 'Move From'
Learn about the most attractive household moving destinations in the U.S. and the states which Americans are moving away from in droves.
Top 10 States Americans Are Moving To
- Idaho
- Nevada
- Vermont
- Arizona
- Oregon
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Montana
- South Carolina
- Alabama
Top 10 States Americans Are Moving From
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- West Virginia
- New York
- Alaska
- North Dakota
- Connecticut
- Kansas
- Michigan
- California
What do the top ten moving destinations in the United States have in common? Well, besides playing home to some of the most popular automobile transport destinations in the country, they are also some of the fastest-growing states in the Union in terms of job opportunities and affordable housing opportunities.
On the flip side, most of the economies of the bottom ten states have been facing major challenges, while heavily populated states such as New York and California are experiencing pronounced spikes in the cost of living — an untenable situation for many American families living paycheck to paycheck.
Now that you’ve got a sense of where Americans like you are moving to and from (and moving cars to and from), let’s take a deeper look into why Americans are moving.
Why do Americans move?
Our car moving customers relocate for a wide variety of reasons.
Looking for a better house or apartment | 17.4% |
Seeking to establish their own household | 12.2% |
Job transfer or new employment | 10.8% |
Family reasons or concerns | 10.5% |
Seeking cheaper housing | 8.2% |
Unlisted housing concerns | 6.7% |
Shorter commute to work | 6% |
Looking to own a home, not rent | 5.9% |
Marital status change | 4.8% |
Unlisted reasons | 4.4% |
Enrolling in college | 3.2% |
Wanting better neighborhood with less crime | 3.1% |
Health concerns | 1.8% |
Searching for work | 1.5% |
Unlisted job-related reasons | 1.2% |
Eviction or house foreclosure | 0.9% |
Climate change | 0.8% |
Retiring | 0.7% |
Natural disaster | 0.1% |
Looking deeper at the data above, we see that about half of Americans are moving due to some sort of housing concern. Also, the vast majority of movers in the United States are headed to a new or unfamiliar area with a brand new housing situation.
Moving to a new house or apartment usually comes with a bevy of added costs including deposits for apartments, down payments for homes, insurance and licensing concerns, and other household-related expenditures.
Nexus Car Movers Pro Tip #3 — With added housing costs tacked onto your household moving costs, you’ll need an affordable vehicle moving option to help counterbalance things -- especially when it comes to long distance moving. Secure an instant car moving quote with Nexus Auto Transport and see how much money you can save! And use our car moving cost calculator for a more complete look at what you’re likely to spend for car moving services
Expert tips and tricks for cost-efficient car moving
The connection between household moving trends in the United States and customer demand for car moving services is undeniable. The more that people move around the country, the greater the demand for vehicle transportation.
If you ship a car with the wrong automobile transport service when customer demand is high, you risk inflated vehicle moving prices and delays in both car pickups and car deliveries. Some auto transportation companies simply don’t have the means and the drivers to meet your vehicle moving needs, while others (including some car shipping brokers) may take advantage of a seller’s market to gouge you for basic car moving service when you need it most.
We here at Nexus Auto Transport believe that it's our duty as an ethical vehicle moving company to inform you of the ways you can save money when securing a car moving quote. That's why we've compiled this insiders' list of the top tips and tricks for finding economical car moving quotes in the United States.
6 insider tips for best car moving quotes
You could save hundreds of dollars in vehicle moving costs with these expert car transport tips and tricks.
1. According to our data, February is the best car shipping month in terms of cost. October and early November are also great times to secure affordable auto moving quotes.
2. Try to place your vehicle pickup and vehicle delivery locations in well-populated areas right off a main highway or byway. The more accessible your car pickup and delivery points are, the better your car moving costs might be!
3. If you have to move a car during busy auto shipping seasons such as the summer or even during the holiday season, do your best to schedule your automobile shipment three weeks in advance. The farther out your schedule an auto shipment, the better your chances of getting a reasonable quote for car moving services.
4. Ensure that your car is in running condition and requires no added labor to load and unload it onto a car transport hauler. Non-running vehicles cost more to ship.
5. Secure a quote with a direct car transport company with a high customer service satisfaction rate. For example, around 99.9% of car moving customers who ship a car with Nexus Auto Transport report a favorable shipping experience.
6. Do not move a car with a vehicle shipping broker. These are for-profit companies that usually add a hefty service charge on top of normal auto moving costs.
With these car moving tips and tricks in mind, you can decrease your vehicle transport bills by a significant margin. You can also save big on your overall long distance moving costs when you work with the right car transport company.
That’s where we come in. We here at Nexus Auto Transport pride ourselves on our reputation as one of the best car shipping companies in the United States. We’re a direct vehicle transportation company with a love for everything car moving.
Contact us at (224) 218-2949 or use our online portal to chat with one of our car shipping experts. And once you’re ready to save some money on car moving expenses with a company you can trust, secure your anonymous, instant vehicle shipping quote through our online auto moving costs calculator. You’ll be really glad you did.
