Best Moving Companies in Louisiana (2023)

If you plan to relocate to the Bayou State—or perhaps move from Louisiana to another locale—the first step is to pick the best professional moving company for your specific needs.

Selecting from among the dozens of major movers can be an overwhelming task, so we’ve taken some of the stress out of the process by researching the best moving companies across the country and narrowing them down to be top picks for Louisiana.

Through in-depth research, we determined that the best moving companies in Louisiana are as follows:

• International Van Lines: Best Overall Full-Service Mover
• American Van Lines: Most Experienced Moving Labor
• JK Moving Services: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover
• Allied Van Lines: Best for Vehicle Relocation
• North American Van Lines: Best for Claims

International Van Lines

Our Take: Best Overall Full-Service Mover

With an extensive network of local movers and a large fleet of trucks, International Van Lines (IVL) is a top option for long-distance moves. Customers can opt for add-on services like vehicle transport and short- and long-term storage to customize their moving experience. IVL offers comprehensive coverage in the form of all-risk insurance and total-loss insurance.

Pros & Cons

✔ Gives military and senior citizen discounts
✔ Provides a breakdown of associated moving costs on its website so customers are prepared for any additional fees on moving day
✔ Builds custom-fit crates for large or oddly shaped items
✘ Charges a 25% up-front deposit
✘ Will not move bulky items that aren’t stackable without an additional charge of $150

Services

International Van Lines provides a full-service moving experience, handling packing and unpacking, as well as loading and unloading. IVL utilizes moving blankets and protective pads to prevent damage to your home and your items. The company will also disassemble most pieces of furniture and reassemble them at your new home.

Available with the purchase of packing services, all-risk insurance covers the full value you claim on your belongings at a cost of 4% of the declared value. Total-loss insurance is provided to customers who opt for self-packing; it provides full reimbursement of your items, but it comes with more coverage limitations. Total-loss insurance costs 2% of the declared value of your items.

Cost

Full- or partial-service plans are available through IVL, allowing for a customized moving plan that fits within your budget. Your moving quote will include mileage, fuel, and tolls. Factors that could impact the total cost of your move with International Van Lines include where and when you are moving, as well as the size of your move, and the purchase of any optional services. The company requires an upfront deposit of 25% of your total estimate. The company also offers a military discount that averages between 10% and 15% of your total moving cost.

Request a free quote from International Van Lines through this online form.

Learn More: International Van Lines Review

American Van Lines

Our Take: Most Experienced Moving Labor

American Van Lines (AVL) is an experienced full-service mover specializing in long-distance relocations. The company stands out for its well-trained moving staff and is therefore a potential option if you are concerned about safe handling and transport of your items to or from Louisiana. AVL employs all moving crew members full-time, and they are required to complete ongoing training on how to best move bulky or irregularly shaped items like fitness equipment.

Pros & Cons

✔ Provides optional climate-controlled personal storage units with 24-hour surveillance
✔ Offers price-matching
✔ Has moving crews specifically designated for handling antiques and pianos
✘ Cannot accommodate local moves within Louisiana
✘ Will not give instant moving quotes online

Services

Available in the 48 contiguous states, American Van Lines offers full-service and partial-packing options as well as moving supplies, storage, and custom crating for local, long-distance and international relocations.

Cost

American Van Lines provides fixed-rate estimates and therefore won’t give instant quotes online or over the phone. For a fixed-rate quote, the company reviews an itemized list of household items and calculates the cost of moving those items to your new location. That cost is broken down into a detailed estimate that will be locked in as your moving cost if you decide to hire AVL. To secure a moving date, American Van Lines requires a 10%–50% deposit. The company will honor competitor pricing and accept payments in credit cards, cash, and checks.

Complete this quick questionnaire or call 877-960-3186 to get started with American Van Lines.

Learn More: American Van Lines Review

JK Moving Services

Our Take: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover

JK Moving specializes in long-distance moves and offers industry-standard full-service options, as well as add-on services, such as storage, vehicle shipping, and special handling for fragile and/or high-value items. The company does not provide local moves within Louisiana.

JK Moving is unique in its in-house financing, a service most moving companies do not provide. Through a partnership with Enhancify, JK Moving has rates as low as 0% same-as-cash, depending on credit approval. It is important to pay attention to the interest rate JK Moving offers you since a higher interest rate could increase the total cost of your move. The company does not provide instant online quotes and only offers binding estimates after an in-person or virtual home assessment.

Pros & Cons

✔ Has comprehensive coverage to protect your belongings
✔ Trains moving crews through an onsite full-sized home
✔ Provides 24/7 customer support with live agents
✘ Will not honor lower prices from competitors
✘ Only handles local moves in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Services

Although limited with local moves, JK Moving can provide full-service long-distance and international moving packages. The company offers packing and unpacking and loading and unloading, as well as more specialized services like vehicle relocation, storage options, and handling of difficult items, such as pianos.

JK Moving has full-replacement-cost insurance, which covers the full value of your items. Insurance can be adjusted to fit the approximate value of your inventory.

Cost

As with most moving companies, JK Moving considers the distance of your move, total weight of your items, specialty items, number of crew members needed, and any additional services you purchase.

JK Moving tailors moving packages to its customers and does not give sample pricing on its website. A relocation specialist will work with you to determine a detailed estimate, which will include loading and unloading, partial packing (i.e., disassembly and wrapping of furniture), and comprehensive insurance coverage.

Complete this short online survey or call the company at 571-487-8929 to get started with JK Moving.

Learn More: JK Moving Services Review

Allied Van Lines

Our Take: Best for Vehicle Relocation

If you help moving your car and/or boat into or out of Louisiana, Allied Van Lines may be worth considering. Allied owns and operates its own fleet of car carriers. This means that you will have direct contact with the company responsible for transporting your vehicles.

Allied offers two types of carriers: open and enclosed. An open carrier is a more affordable option but keep in mind that it exposes your vehicle to the elements during transit. An enclosed carrier, on the other hand, is more expensive but also provides full protection from severe weather conditions and roadway hazards. Allied’s carriers can accommodate cars, SUVs, trucks, vans, RVs, and boats.

Pros & Cons

✔ Offers no-deductible vehicle coverage of up to $100,000
✔ Provides discounts to first-time homeowners
✔ Can disconnect and reconnect your appliances
✘ Charges you in full a week before your actual moving date
✘ Doesn’t provide 24/7 claims support

Services

Basic moving packages with Allied Van Lines include: an assigned relocation consultant; loading, transport, and unloading of your items; and minimum protection coverage. Allied offers a number of add-on options, including vehicle shipping and storage. The company also accommodates partial moves through services like fragile-only packing and moving kits. The company’s website includes an online multimedia library of moving resources and tips.

Cost

Factors that could impact the total cost of your move with Allied Van Lines include the time of year you are moving, where you are moving, the size and weight of your items, and any optional services you add.

Allied will give you a flat-rate price, or binding estimate, after completing an in-person or virtual assessment of your home and its contents. The process for determining a binding estimate includes a detailed look at the layout of your home and identification of any items that may be difficult to move, as well as features that may make moving more complicated, such as narrow hallways or steep staircases.

A binding estimate is the amount you can plan on paying on moving day, so there are no surprise charges or fees. However, miscalculating your inventory or adding items after you receive your binding estimate could increase overall costs, so it’s important to be as thorough as possible during the home assessment.

Allied Van Lines does not require an upfront deposit and accepts cash, credit cards, and certified checks.

Take this brief online survey or call 877-483-9424 to get started with an estimate from Allied Van Lines.

Learn More: Allied Van Lines Review

North American Van Lines

North American Van Lines is a full-service moving company available in all 50 states and more than 130 countries worldwide. The company maintains a network of more than 500 local movers to accommodate local, long-distance, and international moves of all sizes. However, not all moving companies are the same, so your overall experience may vary based on where you live and which North American Van Lines network agent assists you with your relocation.

North American Van Lines offers an easy online or over-the-phone claims process, which provides an added level of assurance to customers making large long-distance moves. Should you need to file a claim for damaged, destroyed, or missing items, forms are available directly on the homepage of the North American Van Lines website. The company also has dedicated customer support lines for domestic and international claims for those who prefer to speak to a representative.

Pros & Cons

✔ Trains drivers through an interactive simulator
✔ Has a tool on its website for calculating how many boxes your move will require
✔ Offers Not-to-Exceed Pricing that ensures that on your moving day you may pay less—but never more—than your estimate
✘ Has limited storage options, depending on where you live
✘ Requires a deposit of 25% to book your move

Services

With a range of full- and partial-service options, North American Van Lines gives customers the opportunity to customize their moving package. The company offers three main packing options for long-distance moves: full-service, fragile-only packing, and self-packing. Those who choose to handle their own packing can purchase supplies directly through North American Van Lines.

As an experienced long-distance and international mover, North American Van Lines provides other services, such as crating, short- and long-term storage, and vehicle transport. For those making a relatively small local move, hiring the company for support services could prove more cost-effective than a DIY approach.

Cost

The company offers a flat-rate price following a thorough in-home estimate, as well as full-value insurance coverage. The company will work with you one-on-one to help get your total moving cost down to an amount within your budget.

North American Van Lines also offers discount programs to American Legion members and members of unions. The American Legion membership discount program applies to post members and their families and provides up to $100,000 in replacement coverage protection on household items while in transit for a bottom-line savings of $850. American Legion members who sign up for NAVL’s discount program also receive access to exclusive moving and storage discounts, non-peak rates year-round, and guaranteed quotes.

The company offers a similar program to members of unions and their families that consists of up to $50,000 replacement coverage (a savings of $560) and all perks provided to Legion members, with the addition of packing discounts.

North American Van Lines doesn’t require an up-front deposit and accepts cash, credit cards, and certified checks.

Complete this quick questionnaire or call 877-624-0912 for a free quote from North American Van Lines.

Learn more: North American Van Lines Review

Our Conclusion

Before hiring a mover, you should make a list of the specific services you want or need and determine your budget. If you are looking for a full-service moving company, you may want to consider International Van Lines.

There are few states with cultures as distinct as Louisiana. From the brass bands of the Big Easy to the low-country fare of Lake Charles, the Bayou State is steeped in Creole and Cajun traditions. Regardless your reason for moving to or from Louisiana, you should compare rates from multiple moving companies before choosing.

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Our Rating Methodology

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.