Best Moving Companies in Arkansas (2023)

Whether you’re relocating to, from, or within The Natural State, choosing the right Arkansas moving company is one of the most important steps in the moving process.

The This Old House Reviews Team has thoroughly researched the best moving companies in the country. Below are our picks for the best moving companies in Arkansas based on key factors, including prices, services, and availability.

Through in-depth research, we determined that the best moving companies in Arkansas are the following:

• International Van Lines: Best Overall Full-Service Mover
• American Van Lines: Most Experienced Moving Labor
• Moving APT: Best Customer Service
• Allied Van Lines: Best for Vehicle Relocation
• North American Van Lines: Best for Claims
• JK Moving Services: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover
• 1-800-PACK-RAT: Best Overall Self-Service Mover

International Van Lines

• Our Take: Best Overall Full-Service Mover
• U.S. DOT #: 2293832

International Van Lines (IVL) is a one-stop shop for Arkansas residents making local, cross-country, or international moves. IVL provides a variety of services to give you a full-service move, including loading and unloading as well as basic furniture disassembly and reassembly. Additionally, its website has helpful tools and resources, such as a moving calculator, a tracking portal, and a blog that answers common moving-related questions.

Pros and Cons

Our key highlights for International Van Lines include the following:

✔ International moving services, including air and ocean freight

✔ Loading, unloading, and basic furniture disassembly and reassembly included

✔ Complimentary liability protection plus optional full-value protection

✘ Up-front deposit of 25% required to book your move

✘ Outsourcing of some moves to third-party companies

Services

Every move includes basic furniture disassembly and reassembly as well as loading and unloading. The company provides auto transport, storage in transit, and shuttle service if your new home is not accessible to an 18-wheel semi-trailer. Piano and motorcycle moving services are also available.

IVL serves all 50 states and specializes in long-distance moves. Because it’s both a mover and a broker, it has the option of outsourcing your move to a third party.

Cost

Customers must pay a 25% deposit to reserve their moving date. The remaining balance is divided into two payments, with half due at pickup and half upon delivery. The deposit is fully refundable as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your pickup date. 

International Van Lines does not provide binding estimates. Its rates factor in one flight of stairs, tolls, mileage, fuel, and taxes. Basic liability coverage is included, and you can upgrade to moving insurance that covers the full value of your belongings. Get your personalized International Van Lines quote.

Learn More: International Van Lines Review

American Van Lines

• Our Take: Most Experienced Moving Labor
• U.S. DOT #: 614506

American Van Lines (AVL) handles local and interstate moves. This family-owned company is a good choice for customers with fragile items like family heirlooms and fine art. It employs certified antique movers as well as piano moving specialists. Its background-checked professional movers average 10 years of experience, are employed full time, and undergo extensive training in the latest techniques.

Pros and Cons

Review our key highlights for AVL:

✔ Highly experienced moving staff

✔ Certified movers for pianos and antiques

✔ Binding estimates available

✘ No instant online quotes

Services

Customers can choose to self-pack or upgrade to full-service packing. American Van Lines also offers partial packing and specialty moving services for those who only want help with their most fragile or valuable items. Regardless, AVL will handle loading and unloading. Crating services are also available.

American Van Lines has experience with commercial moving, corporate relocation, and military moves. The company also offers private storage units and auto shipping assistance, depending on your moving needs.

Cost

American Van Lines charges a deposit upon booking. This deposit may range from 10% to 50% and must be paid via credit card. The remaining balance is due upon delivery and may be paid via cash, credit card, money order, or cashier’s check.

Binding estimates are available following a virtual or in-home consultation. AVL bases its quotes on the distance and weight of your move, plus the services you select. Instant quotes are not available, but you can fill out an online form to request an estimate. Get your personalized quote from American Van Lines.

Learn More: American Van Lines Review

Moving APT

• Our Take: Best Customer Service
• U.S. DOT #: 2247863

Moving APT is a moving broker, which means instead of handling your move itself, it contracts the work out to third-party companies. Because Moving APT has an extensive network of partners, its moving consultants can help you secure a competitive rate.

Pros and Cons

Review our key highlights for Moving APT:

✔ Large network of vetted moving companies

✔ Discounts and price-matching available

✔ 24/7 customer support

✘ Deposits only refundable with a week’s notice

✘ Experiences may vary depending on the subcontractor

Services

Moving APT’s partners offer a wide range of specialty services, such as packing, unloading, cleaning, furniture repair, paper shredding, and auto transport. You can also move fragile items, such as antiques, pianos, and fine art. 

The moving consultants at Moving APT can offer expert advice, too. Let your representative know of any special requirements you have, and the company will do its best to find a moving partner that meets your criteria. The company works with local and long-distance movers and can facilitate corporate relocations.

Cost

Moving APT charges a deposit that is nonrefundable if you cancel with less than seven days’ notice. However, it provides several opportunities for you to save money, including price-match offers and discounts for military members, senior citizens, and differently-abled customers.

For an instant ballpark estimate, request a free quote online. Moving APT can also provide a binding estimate once you fill out a moving inventory. Get your personalized Moving APT quote.

Learn More: Moving APT Review

Allied Van Lines

• Our Take: Best for Vehicle Relocation
• U.S. DOT #: 76235

Allied Van Lines is our pick for the moving company that offers the best vehicle-shipping services. The company transports cars, boats, snowmobiles, jet skis, and nearly any other type of vehicle. What sets Allied apart from other movers is that they handle the vehicle shipping internally and don’t rely on third-party services. Allied provides its own open or enclosed carriers to transport your vehicles, regardless of if you’re moving within Arkansas state lines or moving to another state. 

Pros and Cons

Review our key highlights for Allied:

✔ Comprehensive vehicle-shipping services

✔ Flexible packing options

✔ Transparent pricing and easy quote process

✘ Limited customer service hours

✘ Prices may be higher than competitors’ quotes

Services

Allied’s specialty is long-distance moving services, but it also offers local moving services. In addition to vehicle shipping, it provides pet relocation, storage, unpacking services, and furniture disassembly and reassembly. However, some services are handled by third-party companies.

Customers can choose to pack their own belongings or purchase full or fragile-only packing services from Allied. The company even offers crating for electronics and large, high-value items. A shuttle service ensures that Allied will be able to service difficult-to-reach homes.

Cost

The Allied website makes no price-match guarantees, and some customers have reported higher-than-average prices for local moves. It’s also worth noting that because Allied contracts out some services, such as cleaning and appliance connection, prices may vary. 

Allied provides non-binding estimates based on weight and mileage or binding estimates based on a free in-home or virtual consultation. Allied does not require a deposit to schedule your move, but all charges must be paid prior to unloading. Get your personalized Allied quote.

Learn More: Allied Van Lines Review

North American Van Lines

• Our Take: Best for Claims
• U.S. DOT #: 70851

North American Van Lines (NAVL) is a full-service moving company with more than 500 agent locations in North America. Drivers must meet strict criteria to work for NAVL and complete an annual certification. If by some chance your items are lost or damaged during the moving process, NAVL provides an online form for domestic and international claims.

Pros and Cons

Review our key highlights for NAVL:

✔ Easy online claims process

✔ Shipment tracking via WorldTrac satellite system

✔ Not-to-Exceed Pricing available

✘ Options, pricing, and experience may vary by location

✘ Not all agents accept credit cards

Services

NAVL provides auto transport, loading, unloading, installation, assembly, storage, and packing services. Customers can choose to self-pack with their own supplies or with packing materials purchased from NAVL. Full-service and fragile-only packing are also available. Remember that your experience may vary depending on your location and whether any aspects of your move are outsourced to third parties.

The company’s most comprehensive service is its white-glove moving, which includes not only packing and unpacking but also cleaning, installation, and assembly services. NAVL’s white-glove movers can even help you set up your home gym and entertainment system. They will even arrange furniture and hang pictures, and, if you change your mind later, they will come back to rearrange items.

Cost

For local moves, NAVL charges a flat hourly rate. The price of a long-distance move depends on the weight and size of your belongings, labor costs, and the destination. NAVL does not accept personal checks, and not all agents accept credit cards. Your balance will be due before unloading. 

NAVL provides instant ballpark quotes as well as binding estimates. Customers can choose Not-to-Exceed pricing or Bottom-Line pricing. For the former, your final cost could be lower than the estimate but will not be higher. For the latter, your total is guaranteed. Get your personalized NAVL quote.

Learn More: North American Van Lines Review

JK Moving Services

• Our Take: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover
• U.S. DOT #: 1300300

JK Moving Services offers the most customizable experience for long-distance moves to and from Arkansas. Customers can choose DIY packing, fragile-only packing, or full-service packing for more control over their move’s cost. JK Moving also allows customers to choose the deductible and coverage limit if they upgrade to insurance with full replacement valuation.

Pros and Cons

Review our key highlights for JK Moving:

✔ Financing available through Enhancify

✔ Nine-day turnaround for smaller moves

✔ Dedicated personal moving coordinators

✘ No local movers in Arkansas

✘ No instant online quotes

Services

Customers who choose fragile-only packing can count on JK Moving to handle their antiques, art, and even wine with special care. The company also offers auto transport, piano moving, unpacking, storage services, and 24/7 customer service. All its movers are drug-tested and background-checked, and they undergo both initial and annual training.

JK Moving handles both commercial and residential moves, including international moves. It can complete small long-distance relocations in nine days and offers these customers a week of free storage. Arkansas customers should look elsewhere for local moves, though, as JK Moving only offers local moving services in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Cost

JK Moving charges a deposit of 10% or $500, whichever is greater. Your remaining balance must be paid before shipping. Customers can pay via cash, check, or credit card. JK Moving offers financing through Enhancify, with rates as low as 0% for qualified customers.

Instant online quotes are not available. JK Moving does offer binding quotes following a virtual self-survey, virtual consultation, or in-home consultation. Get your personalized JK Moving quote.

Learn More: JK Moving Review

1-800-PACK-RAT

• Our Take: Best Overall Self-Service Mover
• U.S. DOT #: N/a

1-800-PACK-RAT facilitates self-service moves with its portable storage containers. It delivers the empty container to your home and picks it up once you’re done packing. You can choose to have the container taken to a secure storage facility or delivered to your new home. 

Pros and Cons

Review our key highlights for 1-800-PACK-RAT:

✔ All-steel weatherproof containers with barn-style doors

✔ $10,000 in contents protection included for long-distance moves

✔ Variety of discounts, specials, and price-matching available

✘ Limited online tools for long-distance moves

Services

Although it only has locations in 30 states, 1-800-PACK-RAT says it can service 97% of the United States. For instance, several cities in Arkansas fall within the service radius of its Memphis, Tennessee, location.

It offers three container sizes: 8-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot. Its 16-foot container, which holds about three or four rooms’ worth of furniture, is the most popular. Contents protection plans, also known as moving insurance, are available in amounts from $5,000 to $75,000.

My PackRat is the company’s self-service account management tool. It allows customers to schedule pickups and deliveries online. However, some features are not available for long-distance customers.

Cost

A local moving quote includes the monthly rental fee, the total due at delivery, and your estimated transportation costs. Customers must pay a $500 deposit five days before the delivery date for a long-distance move. This deposit goes toward your balance, with the remainder due before transportation to the final destination.

1-800-PACK-RAT offers several discounts as well as a best-price guarantee. Military members, senior citizens, teachers, doctors, nurses, and first responders all get a 10% discount. Both local and long-distance specials are available. Get your personalized 1-800-PACK-RAT quote.

Learn More: 1-800-PACK-RAT Review

Before choosing a provider for your Arkansas move, take the time to request a quote from at least three companies. Be sure to compare the services and benefits of each company as well as their prices. The cheapest option is not always the best value—especially if your goal is a stress-free moving experience.

Any of the moving companies above can handle your Arkansas move, but our top pick is International Van Lines. As a full-service mover, IVL stands out for its long list of services, complementary liability protection, and worldwide availability. This company is a particularly good choice for long-distance moves to and from Bentonville, Conway, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, Rogers, and other cities in Arkansas. It can also help with local moves in the state. For better peace of mind, you can take advantage of IVL’s online tracking portal and upgrade to a full-value protection plan.

When moving to Arkansas, you may need to find more than just a moving company you can trust. For starters, your mortgage will require homeowners insurance. Like other Midwest states, Arkansas is prone to tornadoes, which makes renters or homeowners insurance particularly important. 

Consider utility, maintenance, and repair costs, too. For instance, Arkansas homeowners can often save money by installing solar panels. Unless you are moving into a brand new home, a home warranty may be a good investment. Both pest control and lawn care companies play a role in protecting your family from disease-carrying ticks, termites, and other pests.

Here are some articles to help you find the best providers of these and other services:

• Best Homeowners Insurance in Arkansas
• Best Renters Insurance Companies
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Arkansas
• Best Pest Control Companies
• Best Lawn Care Services
• Best Solar Companies
• Best Pet Insurance Companies in Arkansas

The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our moving company ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each company. We conduct research by reading through the company websites, analyzing customer reviews, conducting consumer surveys, requesting quotes, and speaking with customer representatives. We then score each moving company against our review standards for services, contents coverage, scheduling, trailer and container options, additional benefits, and reputation to arrive at a final score out of 100.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.