How to Get a Good Price for a Move
Last updated May 2024
Our undercover shoppers collected prices for several different jobs and found tremendous company-to-company differences. Fortunately, many great companies often charge low prices.
Moves Within California
For moves of 100 miles or less within California, almost all movers set prices based on the number of workers and the amount of time needed for the job. For longer intrastate moves, charges must be based on mileage and weight, subject to maximums set by state regulations; carriers usually charge less than the maximum rates. For packing assistance on both short- and long-distance intrastate moves, the price will include charges for labor and any company-supplied containers.
The only way to get a good price is to shop around. Ask several movers to provide written estimates that include the total dollar cost for the move, rather than just a rate quote. For moves within California, estimates must be in writing (verbal, phone, and online estimates are prohibited), and must be given after an in-person inspection of the goods to be moved. If you hire a company, it is required to supply its moving services agreement at least three days before your move date.
Before a within-California move, the mover must also give you a “not-to-exceed price,” which means that you won’t pay more than that price but may pay less if the job is smaller (less weight or fewer hours) than the estimate assumes. If the estimate states just a total dollar cost, that is automatically the not-to-exceed price.
For local moves, the estimate should include the number of workers, hours, hourly rate, and any other details; then you can check whether the job went faster than estimated. For long-distance moves, you can be present at the truck weighing or have the mover inform you of the charges immediately after the weighing. If you disagree with the total weight, you may request a reweighing before delivery (although you may have to pay for it).
Make sure your quote details services to be performed and goods to be transported. Otherwise, on moving day you may find yourself in a dispute with a mover who wants to charge you extra for work you thought was included. Prepare a written inventory describing the rooms and major items to be moved; then have the estimate refer to this list, and attach a copy of the list.
To illustrate the range of bid prices you can expect, the figure below shows illustrative prices for two local moves. As you can see, moving companies quote widely divergent prices for the same jobs.
Our Ratings Tables report hourly peak-season labor rates for two-, three-, four-, and five-person crews. As you can see, the hourly rates varied substantially.
Interstate Moves
For long-distance interstate moves, companies usually calculate their prices using a formula that factors in mileage and the weight of the goods they’re transporting. They also add special charges for packing and exceptional matters, such as storage, extra stops, and waiting time.
Most companies provide nonbinding estimates that detail their pricing formulas, with their actual prices determined during the move itself; the truck is weighed before and after your load is added. For movers that estimate costs this way, federal law prevents them from charging customers more than 10 percent above the initial estimate at the time of delivery, but the mover can still bill you for any remaining charges 30 days after delivery.
Alternatively, some movers offer binding estimates. You will pay no more and no less, as long as you make no changes to the job. If you add work after the estimate is prepared—additional furniture, for instance—your estimate will be refigured.
In preparing binding estimates, moving companies consider the same factors as when they prepare nonbinding estimates—weight, miles, special circumstances, etc. Having estimators follow similar guidelines ensures carriers that different agents will prepare similar bids. That’s important because the revenue of carriers, independent driver-operators, and destination-city agents are all affected by the price charged by the booking agent. But guidelines for binding bids are important only for the company’s internal purposes: You pay the bottom-line quoted price even if the load weighs far more or less, or packing takes far longer or shorter than expected.
Many companies offer a third option: estimates with a binding maximum, usually referred to as a “not-to-exceed price.” You won’t have to pay more than the maximum, but you’ll pay less if your load is lighter than expected.
The easiest way to compare movers is to get binding estimates or estimates with a binding not-to-exceed price. If you don’t yet know which items you will move, you can use a nonbinding estimate for the long-haul charges. Get estimates in writing, and understand what each estimate does and does not include. Not getting a binding total price for the packing and packaging materials portion of the job is risky, however, because you’ll have no way to make sure the company packs efficiently.
The figure below includes illustrative prices for three long-distance moves quoted to our undercover shoppers by phone. No packing is included (because estimates for packing can’t be given by phone). We found big price differences from company to company.