Reliable Vehicle Movers for State-to-State and Cross-Country Moves

When you search for movers near you before a long move, you’re usually looking for two things at once: someone to move your furniture and someone to move your car. Sometimes one company does both. Often it works better as two jobs. Here’s how to decide, how to make the dates line up, and how to check that both companies are legitimate.

Two Different Jobs

Household movers carry furniture and boxes in a moving van. Car carriers move vehicles on trailers built for them. The two are licensed differently, insured differently and scheduled differently. Some movers offer to take your car too, which can be convenient, as long as you know how they’ll do it.

Option 1: The Car Goes With the Movers

Some movers load a car into the van with your furniture. Others book a car carrier on your behalf and add it to your bill. Before you agree, ask:

• Will the car ride in the moving van or on a separate car carrier?
• Who is the carrier, and what does its insurance cover?
• Does the car arrive with the furniture, or on its own schedule?
• What does the car cost on its own, and how does that compare with a direct quote?

Option 2: Ship the Car Separately

Booking the car directly with an auto transport company gives you a separate price, a separate pickup window and a company whose whole job is vehicles. It also lets the car move on its own timing, which often works better than waiting on the moving van.

Lining Up the Dates

Moving vans and car carriers both work in delivery windows, and the windows rarely match exactly. A few ways to make it work:

• Ship the car first if someone can receive it at the new place, and fly in after.
• Ship it after the van loads if you need the car until moving day, and rent a car for your first days in the new city.
• Name a backup person at each end, 18 or older, who can hand over or receive the car if your schedule slips.

Check Both Companies

Movers and car shipping companies that work across state lines are both registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and you can look either one up by its USDOT number. For household movers, FMCSA’s Protect Your Move site explains your rights and the red flags. For car shipping, see how to check a company’s record. Our numbers are USDOT 3813762 and MC 1377368.

Does “Near Me” Matter?

For furniture, a local office can help. For a car, it matters much less: interstate carriers come to you along their route, wherever the company you booked with is based. What matters is that the company is legitimate, the price is real, and someone answers the phone.

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