Best Moving Companies in Rhode Island (2023)

If you’re moving to, from, or within the Ocean State, the This Old House Reviews team has found the best moving companies in Rhode Island to help you have a stress-free moving experience.

You might wish to manage the process yourself, take advantage of a storage solution mover, or leave it to background-checked professionals with years of experience to provide packing services, moving and storage, or additional speciality services. Regardless of your preference, we’ve got an option on our list of the best moving companies in RI for you.

After in-depth research, here are the best moving companies in Rhode Island:

• International Van Lines: Best Overall Full-Service Mover
• American Van Lines: Most Experienced Moving Labor
• Safeway Moving Inc.: Most Customer-Oriented
• Moving APT: Best Customer Service
• JK Moving: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover
• Allied Van Lines: Best for Vehicle Relocation
• North American Van Lines: Best for Claims
• PODS: Most Convenient

International Van Lines

Our Take: Best Overall Full-Service Mover

Supporting local, long-distance, and international moves in more than 150 countries, International Van Lines offers a host of services to make your move seamless. A licensed broker-carrier founded in 2000, International Van Lines offers packing, disassembly and reassembly of furniture, transportation, auto transport, and storage solutions. Whether you are moving to Cranston or Warwick, IVL could be a good choice for your upcoming move.

Pros and Cons

✓ Has received numerous customer service awards, including Newsweek’s “Best Customer Service Award” for 2021
✓ Offers full-service moves for local, interstate, and international moves to over 150 countries
✓ Provides air freight services, auto and car shipping, and warehousing and storage options

✘ Does not have accurate sample pricing listed on its website
✘ Only has a few local branches in five states around the country
✘ Uses third-party companies, which could lead to a higher margin of error in shipping

Services

For long-distance moves, services include disassembly and reassembly of basic furniture, moving supplies, mileage, fuel, and any tolls during travel. International Van Lines also offers liability coverage up to $10,000 with its long-distance moves.

Cost

Using the online moving calculator we got an estimate of $4,200–$6,150 to move a three-bedroom house. However, users have reported the online moving calculator is not very accurate. To get a more accurate estimate, speak with the company directly with information on how many belongings or rooms you need to move, the distance of your move, and your moving date.

Learn More: International Van Lines Review

American Van Lines

Our Rating: Most Experienced Moving Labor

Founded in South Florida in 1995, American Van Lines is a full-service mover with one of the largest networks nationwide. It is available in almost every state to assist with local, international, and interstate moves. The company offers storage solutions, auto shipping assistance, and some limited insurance options.

Pros and Cons

✓ Offers flat-rate pricing based on weight and mileage and doesn’t charge additional fees for last-minute moves
✓ Provides services for moving special items like pianos, and expensive artwork
✓ Is a nationwide carrier available in 48 contiguous states

✘ Requires a 10–50% deposit up-front
✘ Does not provide online quotes
✘ Has received some customer reviews that mention communication difficulties

Services

American Van Lines uses its own trained and insured movers rather than working with third parties. For both partial- and full-service moves, the company employs specially trained movers to handle items like antiques, pianos, and fine art. American Van Lines also offers storage solutions,  auto shipping insurance, and assistance with moving specialty items.

Cost

American Van Lines uses flat-rate pricing, meaning the actual price you pay on moving day won’t differ from the estimate you are given. Because of this, its quotes typically come in higher than competitors’ and you can’t complete the quote process online. We were able to receive an estimate of $5,030 to move a two-bedroom apartment (roughly 6,000 pounds) from Providence, Rhode Island, to Orlando, Florida.

Learn More: American Van Lines Review

Safeway Moving Inc.

Our Take: Most Customer-oriented

Safeway Moving Inc. operates as a carrier across the United States and brokers services to vetted third parties depending on its availability and the customer’s location. The company focuses on long-distance moves rather than local services. It provides customer support seven days a week and promotes strong core values of honesty and accountability. Safeway can conduct video surveys, providing an accurate estimate with not-to-exceed pricing for surprise-free move planning.

Pros and Cons

✓ Offers binding quotes without any hidden fees or add-on costs
✓ Offers price-matching for storage services
✓ Promotes a 100% satisfaction guarantee

✘ Doesn’t provide extensive information about pricing specifics or specialty services on its website
✘ Doesn’t advertise local moving services

Services

Safeway conducts the majority of services with its own trained teams and fleet of moving vehicles. It does use third-party services for some moves. Safeway provides an industry-standard selection of full-service options, including packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking. You can rent storage space for a monthly fee.

Cost

Safeway promotes a binding estimate that has no hidden surcharges or fees and does not offer online or ballpark estimates. A Safeway representative can walk you through a video survey of your belongings for a fast and accurate quote. 

Learn More: Safeway Moving Inc. Review

Moving APT

Our Take: Best Customer Service

If you are looking for a concierge approach to your Rhode Island relocation, you may want to consider Moving APT. The company is a broker, which means it coordinates moving requests by pairing customers with independent professional movers. Moving APT maintains a network of more than 2,500 independent companies and can accommodate most requests regardless of size or location.
Moving APT will also oversee your moving process, checking in with your movers to ensure everything is on schedule. The company is available 24/7 to provide customer support, so you don’t have to worry about trying to connect with your selected moving company if you have any questions or concerns.

Pros and Cons

✓ Offers real-time GPS tracking of moving shipments
✓ Provides detailed and updated information about the most-used companies in its network
✓ Can often negotiate lower prices with moving companies on your behalf

✘ Will keep your deposit if you cancel fewer than seven days before your scheduled move
✘ Online instant quote tool often generates the same price range regardless of the size and distance of the move
✘ Has received customer complaints via the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding hidden fees and delivery issues

Services

Moving APT provides full-service local, long-distance, and cross-country moves in all 50 states. Through its large network of third-party movers, Moving APT can also help customers create customized plans with optional services such as fragile-only packing, short-term storage, and furniture disassembly and reassembly.

Cost

The cost to relocate the contents of a three-bedroom home from Orlando, Florida, to Providence, Rhode Island, would be between $5,000 and $9,500, according to Moving APT’s online calculator. Since the moving calculator produces a wide price range, you’ll want to contact the company directly to narrow that range based on the specific details of your relocation.

Learn More: Moving APT Review

JK Moving Services

Our Take: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover

JK Moving was founded in 1982, and after 40-plus years in the business, the company is now the largest fully licensed and insured independent mover in the United States. It focuses on talent, technology, and customization from its headquarters in Sterling, Virginia. The moving crew is drug-tested, background-checked, and trained in the company’s fully furnished on-site training home.

Pros and Cons

✓ Offers 24/7 customer support and GPS tracking on all shipments
✓ Provides financing options through Enhancify
✓ Has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)*

✘ Has a lengthy quote process
✘ Limits local moves to Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
✘ Has tailored moving services that may increase the overall cost of your move

*BBB rating is accurate as of January 2023

Services

JK Moving is a full-service mover that provides a variety of services to help customers enjoy a hassle-free moving experience. Its wide array of moving services—including full or partial packing services and specialty moving for items such as pianos and antiques—can be customized to your needs.

The company has physical locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and it provides local moving and storage services and long-distance moves for the rest of the country. With just three physical locations, JK Moving often acts as a brokerage service to find local equipment and services you need from third-party vendors.

Cost

Because it offers so much customization and works as a broker, JK Moving does not offer online estimates. Rather, you can receive a free estimate from the company by contacting a representative who may need to schedule an appointment with an estimator. Alternatively, you can use the company’s mobile app for a virtual in-home estimate.

Information to have on hand includes the total distance of your move, total weight of your shipment, any difficult or challenging furniture you have, how many crew members your move needs, and any additional services you want to purchase. For a full-service move of a two-bedroom residence more than 720 miles (roughly the distance from Providence, Rhode Island, to Columbus, Ohio), we received an estimate of $7,521.

JK Moving is also one of the few professional movers that offers financing on its moves. The company’s partnership with Enhancify allows customers to connect with lenders offering loan rates as low as 0%.** It’s a great choice for those interested in full-service options but who have a budget to keep in mind.

**Subject to credit approval

Learn More: JK Moving Services Review

Allied Van Lines

Our Take: Best for Vehicle Relocation

Allied Van Lines is a full-service moving company that can help with local, interstate, and long-distance moves. Best of all, the company acts as its own carrier for auto transportation, meaning that you can entrust AVL with your car, truck, motorcycle, or RV to when it comes time to relocate.

Pros and Cons

✓ Has its own fleet of car carriers
✓ Provides GPS tracking on all shipments
✓ Offers additional fragile-only packing services

✘ Specialty services may be priced higher than traditional competitor prices
✘ Has received customer reviews that the claims process can be difficult
✘ Has a DIY packing service that is priced significantly higher than competitors

Services

Allied Van Lines provides a large selection of full-service moving options, including packing and unpacking and specialty moving services. Specialty services include fragile-only packing for valuable and difficult-to-move items, such as expensive artwork, pianos, and antiques. Allied Van Lines also provides its own movers and trucks to transport cars, trucks, SUVs, boats, yachts, jet skis, motorcycles, RVs, and other vehicles.

Cost

AVL’s website states that the average cost of a long-distance move with the company is $3,500. This is based on an average weight of 7,000 pounds, which is roughly seven rooms’ worth of belongings. This quote also includes a traveling distance of 1,000 miles, which is roughly the distance between Charleston, South Carolina, and Providence, Rhode Island.
Allied Van Lines bases its overall cost on the total weight and mileage of your move. Pricing will increase if you add additional services, such as crating, labor, and vehicle relocation, to your move.

Learn More: Allied Van Lines Review

North American Van Lines

Our Take: Best for Claims

North American Van Lines (NAVL) is a good choice for anyone apprehensive about entrusting their personal belongings to a moving company. NAVL’s easy claims process may reassure you that the company will quickly and fairly compensate you if your movers damage or lose any of your belongings during relocation.

You can file domestic and international claims directly through NAVL’s website, which includes helpful information about the claims process. The company also has a claims support line for customers who need help filing a claim or have questions.

Pros and Cons

✓ Provides an online calculator to help you determine what packing supplies you will need
✓ Trains its moving truck drivers with an all-weather simulator
✓ Has an innovative and accurate WorldTrac satellite shipment tracking tool

✘ Charges a deposit of up to half of your total moving costs
✘ Does not offer storage options nationwide
✘ Outsources some of its moves, which means your experience could vary

Services

North American Van Lines provides full-service moving packages nationwide. The company is equipped to handle local, long-distance, and international relocations to or from Rhode Island. If you prefer a personalized moving plan, NAVL has a variety of optional services from which you can choose, including storage, appliance disconnection and reconnection, house cleaning, and debris removal.

Cost

NAVL provides ballpark pricing on its website. Using its online moving calculator, we received a rough estimate of $8,100–$9,650 to move a three-bedroom house from Orlando, Florida, to Providence, Rhode Island. You will need to contact the company directly for more accurate moving costs. NAVL will give you a binding estimate if you agree to first complete a virtual home assessment so the company can get a better idea of the size of your move.

Take this brief survey to find out how much it would cost to complete your Rhode Island move with North American Van Lines.

Learn More: North American Van Lines Review

PODS Moving & Storage

Our Take: Most Convenient

Founded in 1998, PODS is a well-known name in moving services and storage solutions across the U.S. It allows you to take control of your move by providing nontraditional moving services that are customizable to your needs. PODS has locations in 46 states and Washington, D.C. and tends to be a more affordable moving option if you don’t mind doing the work.

Pros and Cons

✓ Provides durable and weather-resistant storage units
✓ Offers flexible solutions that allow you to take your time while you pack
✓ Is a cost-effective moving solution

✘ Only offers packing and loading services as add-ons offered by third-party companies
✘ Is not available in all 50 states
✘ Can be difficult to deliver and park PODS if you live in an apartment complex, condo, or neighborhood with parking restrictions

Services

PODS allows you to pack your belongings yourself. The PODS team delivers a weather-resistant moving container to your home and lets you store it on-site for as long as you need. This provides you with the flexibility to take the time you need packing, loading and unloading it.

PODS offers three container sizes—8 feet, 12 feet, and 16 feet—and you can order as many containers as you need. When they are packed, a driver will pick up your PODS container and either move them to your new home or store them at a PODS storage center. If you need help packing and unloading your items, PODS can give you a referral for service providers in your area.

Cost

PODS offers flexible moving solutions for a variety of needs. A PODS quote typically ranges from $820 to move a small apartment 100 miles to $5,850 to move a big home across the country.

Learn More: PODS Moving & Storage Review

For full-service moves to or from Rhode Island, our top recommendation is International Van Lines. With the best balance of value, expertise, customer service, and specialty services, IVL is a great choice for both residential and commercial moves.

For customers who want to manage their move on their own terms, we recommend PODS. Moving is expensive, and these provide people with the option to do more of the work themselves in exchange for more time, flexibility, and affordability. Fortunately, all the movers we reviewed provide free quotes for their services, so do some comparison shopping before making a final decision about your Rhode Island move.

Compare the best Rhode Island movers to see which might be the best option for your move.

*only in VA, MD, and Washington, D.C.

Other Considerations

Whether you are moving to or from Rhode Island, consider looking into other home services that could be helpful to you in your new home.

For example, a home warranty can cover your major systems and appliances when they break, and installing a home security system can protect your home. Be sure to get quotes for the best homeowners or renters insurance in your area to protect your new home.

Below are some helpful resources for Rhode Island residents:

• Best Home Warranty Companies in Rhode Island
• Best Homeowners Insurance
• Best Lawn Care Services
• Best Home Security Systems

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.