Best Moving Companies in Washington State (2023)

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you may have set your sights on moving to Washington state. With more than a hundred mountains and its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, as well as freshwater lakes and rivers, Washington is a popular moving destination for climbers, campers, cyclists, and hikers alike.

The This Old House Reviews Team has researched dozens of providers and found the best moving companies in Washington State.

Here are the best moving companies in Washington State that you can contact today:

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

International Van Lines

Our Rating: Best Overall Full-Service Mover

International Van Lines (IVL) is our overall pick for long-distance moves into or out of Washington due to its experience, availability, and variety of services.

IVL is available in all 50 states and more than 180 countries. The company can handle local, long-distance, and international moves of all sizes but specializes in long-distance relocations. International owns and operates its own fleet of vehicles but will partner with local agents within its extensive network for areas outside of its immediate service area.

International Van Lines’ menu of add-on options—including storage, crating, and vehicle relocation—are well-suited for long-distance and international moves, especially those involving a lot of unusually large and/or heavy pieces and antiques, fine art, and other high-value items.

Pros & Cons

✔ Includes all-risk insurance, which covers the full value of items at a 4% cost, with the purchase of packing services
✔ Offers a 15% discount for senior citizens
✔ Provides sample costs for insurance and a list of commonly associated moving fees to help you budget for your relocation
✘ Requires a 25% deposit to schedule a moving date
✘ Working with local agents within a larger network means procedures, policies, and customer service could vary based on location and provider.

Services

International Van Lines has an extensive list of services that customers can choose from to create a customized full- or partial-service move. Those who want a full-service experience can opt for packing, which also comes with full-value protection of your items at a 4% cost of the items’ declared value. Customers who plan to box up their belongings can still add fragile-only packing, and IVL crews will wrap and pad breakables and place them in the moving truck in such a way as to prevent damage,

Cost

International Van Lines does not provide instant online quotes; you must speak with a customer service representative and/or complete a home assessment to get an estimate.

However, we obtained a quote from IVL to move a three-bedroom home approximately 1,400 miles from Spokane, Washington, to Minneapolis in early summer. IVL quoted us a range of $4,200 to $6,150 for that relocation. The estimate includes mileage, fuel, and any applicable toll charges.

International Van Lines is transparent with its associated moving fees, listing the cost and frequency of each fee broken down to a per-item cost on its website. For example, IVL has industry-standard elevator and stair fees, applied when crews use either or both to transport items from your home or apartment. The elevator fee is a one-time charge of $75, whereas the stair fee is $75 per flight of stairs.

Learn More: International Van Lines Review

Interstate Moving & Relocation Group

Our Rating: Most Efficient

Interstate Moving & Relocation Group (IMRG) is a moving broker with partner companies in all 50 states. These partner carriers can provide local and long-distance moving assistance and some international moving service. IMRG offers speedy moving quotes and comprehensive service ranges throughout its operating territory.

Pros & Cons

✔ Has partners in all 50 states
✔ Offers local and long-distance service
✔ Features a cost calculator tool online for speedy quotes

✘ Brokers out all moves
✘ Offers no binding estimates

Services

IMRG’s moving partners offer similar service ranges. Services include packing, crating, storage, vehicle shipping, and moving checklists. Exact service capabilities depend on your booking location, however.

Cost

We used IMRG’s online cost calculator tool to request a preliminary estimate for a move between Los Angeles and Olympia, Washington. The $3,900–$7,000 cost range we received reflects a three-bedroom move with potential added services. We recommend calling to receive a more accurate quote.

Learn More: IMRG Review

American Van Lines

Our Rating: Most Experienced Moving Labor

American Van Lines is an experienced full-service mover that specializes in long-distance relocation. The company is equipped for international and commercial moving, as well as corporate relocations, and offers special handling of large and high-value items, such as pianos and antiques. While the company can handle local moves, it currently only does so in North Carolina, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and South Florida. Therefore, it may not be the best choice for local moves since working with a network provider could have mixed results, depending on your location.

Pros & Cons

✔ Movers are certified to handle pianos and antiques
✔ Will match competitor pricing
✔ Follows green business practices in packing materials
✘ Does not accommodate local moves in Washington
✘ Does not provide online instant quotes

Services

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 in every state but Hawaii and Alaska. American Van Lines is equipped to meet the needs of those seeking full-service options, such as packing and unpacking, crating of electronics, and those seeking partial assistance with tasks such as loading, transport, and unloading.

Cost

American Van Lines provides flat-rate pricing, ensuring moving costs will not change after you sign a contract or schedule your move. It does not provide an instant quote online or by phone. The company will first conduct a virtual or in-person assessment of your home, review your detailed inventory, and calculate the cost of moving your items to their new location before giving you a detailed binding estimate, meaning your rate will be locked in at that price.

American Van Lines did provide a ballpark estimate of a $6,000 starting price to move a three-bedroom apartment approximately 1,300 miles, or roughly the distance from Santa Fe to Tacoma, Washington.

This fixed-rate pricing approach greatly reduces the risk of surprise fees and helps customers stick to a moving budget. Just remember that a fixed rate will lock you into the moving inventory you provide the company. Any items added after the cost estimate will be moved at an extra charge, so it’s important to be thorough during the quote process.

American Van Lines requires an up-front deposit of 10%–50% of your total moving cost.

Learn More: American Van Lines Review

Safeway Moving Inc.

Our Rating: Most Customer-Oriented

Safeway Moving Inc. is a moving broker based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its customer service team books moves across all 50 states. Though it only provides long-distance moving services, its partners offer comprehensive service ranges to customers in most locations.

Pros & Cons

✔ Offers flat-rate pricing
✔ Operates in all 50 states
✔ Has stringent insurance requirements for partner companies

✘ Offers no local moving service in Washington
✘ Requires up to 40% of payment for a deposit

Services

Safeway Moving provides full-service moving options to all clients. Services include loading, unloading, packing, unpacking, crating, vehicle shipping and more. These service options vary depending on your location, but all Safeway moves come with 30 days of free storage and light packing.

Cost

Safeway Moving offered us the most thorough quote process of any mover on our list. The company representative walked us through our full inventory and talked over every detail of our move. They noted that all deposits are fully refundable and mentioned that all quotes are binding rates. 

Learn More: Safeway Moving Inc. Review

JK Moving Services

Our Rating: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover

JK Moving is a full-service moving company that focuses on allowing customers to create a fully customized moving package. JK Moving’s user-friendly website and mobile app, as well as 24/7 support, are aimed at making it easier for customers to find the services that best fit their needs and budget.

Through the company’s app, customers can review estimates and provide updates, make payments, add coverage, check the status of their move and receive notifications for important steps in the moving process.

For those looking for a way to spread out moving costs, JK Moving offers in-house financing, with rates as low as 0%*. Still, it’s important to figure out what your rate is ahead of time to avoid having to unexpectedly pay significantly more in the long run.
* Subject to credit approval.

Pros & Cons

✔ Has live 24/7 customer support
✔ Offers an app for convenient scheduling of home assessments
✔ Provides in-house financing
✘ Only handles local moves in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
✘ Does not offer an instant quote online or by phone

Services

JK Moving offers packing and unpacking, loading and unloading—as well as more specialized services like vehicle relocation, storage options, and handling of difficult items—for long-distance, international and interstate moves to or from Washington.

Through the company’s app, customers can review estimates and provide updates, make payments, add coverage, check the status of their move and receive notifications for important steps in the moving process. JK Moving also has short- and long-term storage solutions and full-replacement insurance coverage at a rate adjusted to fit your specific belongings’ actual value.

Cost

JK Moving customers can create a moving package that fits their specific needs and budget, assisted through the process by a personal moving coordinator. Standard factors impacting price with JK Moving include how far you are moving, the time of year you plan to move, the size and weight, and how many crew members will be needed to complete your move.

The company doesn’t provide instant quotes online or by phone, but we were able to get a ballpark estimate of $8,000 to move a three-bedroom home 750 miles, roughly the distance from Spokane, Washington, to Sacramento, California. That estimate included furniture disassembly, wrapping, padding, loading and unloading all household items, and full-replacement valuation coverage.

Learn More: JK Moving Review

Allied Van Lines

Our Rating: Best for Vehicle Relocation

With more than 90 years of experience in the moving industry, Allied Van Lines is one of our top picks for moving into or out of Washington.

The company may be a particularly good fit for those who need to relocate a car, truck, SUV, van, or boat. The company uses two transport methods for vehicle shipping: open car carrier and enclosed car carrier. Open car carriers are essentially like the trucks you’ve seen on the highway carrying stacks of new cars from auto manufacturers to dealerships. In contrast, enclosed carriers protect vehicles completely from exposure to outdoor elements or roadway hazards. The enclosed carrier method is a smart option if you want to move a high-value vehicle, such as a classic car.

Pros & Cons

✔ Provides vehicle coverage of up to $100,000 with no deductible
✔ Offers mobile storage containers through Allied Express, an alternative solution to metal move containers that includes loading and unloading
✔ Includes a personal moving consultant with all packages
✘ Doesn’t give instant quotes for local moves
✘ Doesn’t have 24/7 claims support

Services

While Allied Van Lines is a full-service company, it can accommodate partial moves through services like fragile-only packing and moving kits. Basic-price moves include: an assigned relocation consultant; loading, transport, and unloading of your items; and minimum protection coverage. Services like full-valuation coverage and packing and unpacking are available at an additional cost.

Through Allied Express, the company’s container-like moving option, Allied Van Lines offers mobile storage containers that come with loading and unloading assistance, a service that many self-service companies do not currently provide. However, short- and long-term storage options can be limited, as they are based on local availability.

Cost

We received an online estimate of $7,898–$8,728 to move a three-bedroom home from Las Vegas to Olympia, Washington, in early May.

After completing an in-person or virtual home assessment, Allied will provide you with a binding estimate—the exact amount you can expect to pay on moving day. As part of the assessment, you will need to provide Allied with a detailed list of items to be moved. It’s important to be as thorough as possible during this stage of the moving process since miscalculating the size of your move or adding major items after your binding estimate could increase overall costs.

Learn More: Allied Van Lines Review

North American Van Lines

Our Rating: Best for Claims

North American Van Lines (NAVL) has an extensive network of providers across the country and globally. Through its own fleet and staff and those of moving agents within the network, North American Van Lines can service local, long-distance, and international moving needs across the country and in 180 countries. Since North American Van Lines is both a carrier and a broker, customer experiences can vary widely depending on which provider within the company’s network is handling your relocation.

North American Van Lines customers can quickly file domestic or international claims directly from the homepage of the company’s website. Dedicated claims support lines are also available for those who have additional questions or prefer to file their claims by phone.

Pros & Cons

✔ Offers a wealth of free moving resources through its online library of videos, blogs, FAQs, tip sheets, and checklists
✔ Provides a Not-to-Exceed Pricing package that ensures actual cost will never be higher than your detailed personalized quote
✔ Has a MoovScout app that allows customers who are relocating internationally to track the workflow of their move from their phone
✘ Storage options are based on local availability
✘ Receives varied customer feedback depending on location and the local moving contractor in NAVL’s network

Services

As an experienced long-distance and international mover, North American Van Lines provides services such as crating, short- and long-term storage, and vehicle transport. Customers can create customized moving packages with full-service options like disconnection and reconnection of major appliances and long- and short-term storage. However, storage is based on local availability and, as such, can sometimes be limited.

The addition of individual service options can also drive total moving prices above that of North American’s competitors. For those making a small, local move, NAVL’s customizable packages and partial-assistance options, such as fragile-only packing, could prove to be a cost-effective alternative to a DIY approach.

Cost

The cost to move a three-bedroom home from Los Angeles to Olympia, Washington, in early April would be approximately $4,494–$5,361, according to NAVL’s online moving calculator.

Cost estimates with North American Van Lines are based on the distance of your move as well as the size of your move, and the time of year you plan to relocate. The special handling of any items is also factored into your quote. Other factors that can affect your total moving cost include: the number of bedrooms in your home, the layout of your home, including any access issues, any items that need special handling services, such as crating, the time of year of your move, and the addition of any optional services.

The company’s discount program for American Legion members provides up to $100,000 in replacement coverage protection on household items while in transit for a bottom-line savings of $850. Discount program members also receive access to exclusive moving and storage discounts, non-peak rates year-round, and guaranteed quotes. A similar program for union members and their families includes up to $50,000 in replacement coverage (a savings of $560) and all perks provided to Legion members, with the addition of packing discounts.

Learn More: North American Van Lines Review

Which is the Best Moving Company in Washington for You?

The moving company that is best for you will ultimately depend on your specific needs and budget. If you are looking for a full-service moving experience International Van Lines may be good places to start.

As the only provider on our list that offers financing, JK Moving could be a suitable fit for those who want to spread out the cost of moving. Remember: it’s important to carefully review your interest rate to ensure you do not end up paying more in the long run.

Whatever your reason for wanting to call Washington home, you’ll need a reliable, professional moving company to get you there. But with all the options out there, how do you know if you’re picking a reputable mover that can accommodate your relocation at the price that meets your budget?

We recommend that you gather at least three quotes from the best moving companies in Washington before you choose your mover.

• Best Homeowners Insurance
• Best Home Warranty in Washington
• Best Pet Insurance in Washington
• Best Pest Control Services
• Best Lawn Care Services

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 options, additional benefits and custom service options, and reputation among customers to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.

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