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Best Antique Moving Companies (2024)

Author Image Written by Shane Sentelle + 1 other Reviewed by Kent Sisneros Updated 11/14/2024

Moving can be stressful for anyone, but it’s especially nerve-wracking if you have expensive or heirloom antiques to move. These items are often fragile and irreplaceable, so you don’t want to leave them in the hands of just anyone. Fortunately, there are professional moving companies trained to move antiques with care.

We reviewed the best moving companies nationwide, scoring them on their services, customer reviews, prices, and more to see which offers customers the most value. We recommend the six antique moving companies below to handle your most precious treasures.


6 Best Antique Moving Companies

Based on our in-depth analysis, we find the following providers to be the best antique moving companies:


Compare Antique Movers

See how we scored antique moving companies and the estimates we got from each.

Our Pick
International Van Lines
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American Van Lines
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Moving APT
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JK Moving Services
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Allied Van Lines
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North American Van Lines
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Overall Rating

4.5 / 5 4.3 / 5 4.3 / 5 4.7 / 5 5 / 5 4.8 / 5

BBB Rating

A+ A+ B+ A+ A+ A+

FMCSA Licensing

Carrier/Broker Carrier Broker Carrier Carrier Carrier/Broker

Average Price*

$5,250 $5,625 $4,683 $7,171 $5,370 $5,969

Deposit Required

Up to 25% Up to 50% Varies $250 None None

Pros

  • Flexible insurance plans
  • Free month of storage
  • Upfront pricing
  • Hires movers who average 10 years of experience
  • Provides fixed-rate quotes
  • Trains its employees regularly to efficiently handle special packing and crating
  • Offers an online cost estimator
  • Offers price-matching
  • Provides quick service
  • Background-checked movers
  • Financing available
  • Intuitive AI-assisted online quote tool
  • Climate-controlled storage facilities
  • Expedited relocation services
  • In-house vehicle shipping
  • Budget-planning service
  • No deposit
  • Only provides binding estimates

Cons

  • Below-average customer reviews
  • Outsources some moves
  • Requires up to a 25% deposit
  • Charges higher average prices
  • Has limited customer service on weekends
  • Requires a deposit of up to 50% of the total cost
  • Not responsible for any damage due to broker status
  • Service varies by location according to reviews
  • Unwanted contact from partner companies may occur
  • Higher-than-average pricing
  • Long quote process
  • No refund on your deposit
  • Misleading quote tool
  • No weekend support
  • Slow claims process
  • Items may take 10–14 days to arrive
  • Limited storage services according to zip code
  • Three-day requirement for cancellations

Summary

We recommend International Van Lines (IVL) if you want the most moving service options possible. The company boasts one of the most extensive moving service catalogs at highly competitive rates.

We recommend American Van Lines if you’re moving high-end items or antiques because it focuses on training its staff to move difficult and valuable items.

We recommend Moving APT because of its highly rated customer service and its ability to quickly provide you with multiple quotes for its partner companies.

We recommend JK Moving Services for its ability to offer financing options through its partnership with Enhancify and its high-end, white-glove packing services.

We recommend Allied if you want to ship a vehicle due to the company’s in-house vehicle relocation services.

We recommend North American Van Lines (NAVL) as the best long-distance mover overall because of its customizable insurance packages, highly rated customer service, and extensive service options.

Rating Categories

International Van Lines American Van Lines Moving APT JK Moving Services Allied Van Lines North American Van Lines

Customer Service

5 / 5
4.4 / 5
4.3 / 5
4.4 / 5
4.4 / 5
4.4 / 5

Reputation

4.3 / 5
3.9 / 5
3.9 / 5
5 / 5
3.9 / 5
3.6 / 5

Value

2.8 / 5
3.3 / 5
4.2 / 5
3.1 / 5
4.7 / 5
4.7 / 5

Service Offerings

4.7 / 5
4.7 / 5
4.5 / 5
4.7 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5

Item Protection

5 / 5
5 / 5
4.3 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5

Scheduling

4.1 / 5
2.3 / 5
2.3 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5

*BBB ratings are accurate as of November 2024.

**Costs are estimates based on a three-bedroom, long-distance move ranging 700–1,000 miles.


Our Reviews of the Best Antique Moving Companies

International Van Lines

Best Service Offerings
4.5

International Van Lines (IVL) is our top choice for a professional antiques mover because it provides specialty services for antiques and artwork. You can opt for a full-service move and let the professionals handle every aspect, or choose the partial-service option to save money if you don’t mind handling some aspects on your own.

International Van Lines operates in all 50 states and 180 countries. It’s licensed as both a moving carrier and broker, so if your move falls outside of areas IVL holds a carrier license, it may act as a broker and outsource your move to a partnered company.

Pros and Cons

Pros Provides multiple insurance coverage plans Handles international moves Offers one month of free storage with most moves Cons Outsources some services in certain locations Requires an up-front deposit of 25% Doesn’t list any sample pricing on its website

Services

IVL is a full-service mover, which means it can handle almost every part of your move for you, including:

  • Crating
  • Furniture disassembly and reassembly
  • Loading and unloading
  • Packing and unpacking
  • Short- and long-term storage
  • Specialized packing for fragile items
  • Vehicle relocation

Among IVL’s specialty services for antiques is crating. Crates are sturdy wooden containers used to keep special belongings safe during transport until they reach your new home. Crating charges are based on the item. For example, crating a grand piano can cost $2,500, whereas crating a painting might cost $150. Discuss the items you would like to have crated with IVL in advance.

IVL’s limited liability plan is included with your moving package at no extra cost, while its full-value protection plan covers the actual value of your belongings based on a coverage cap.

Cost

We received a quote of $4,200–$6,150 from IVL for a three-bedroom move from Dallas to Phoenix. The lower end of this range includes only loading services and transportation, while adding specialty services for antiques would bring the price closer to $6,150.

To see how International Van Lines can safely transport your antiques, fill out this easy-to-use form.

American Van Lines

Best Overall Moving Labor
4.3

Not only does American Van Lines (AVL) specialize in moving antiques, pianos, and fine art, it has some of the most experienced movers in the industry. This carrier-only company exclusively hires full-time movers, who have an average of 10 years of moving experience and are trained annually in the company’s own facility.

AVL provides its services in 48 states. It is not available in Alaska and Hawaii.

Pros and Cons

Pros Has flat-rate pricing and a price-matching policy Uses in-house, highly experienced movers Offers climate-controlled storage options Cons Doesn’t provide online moving quotes Requires an up-front deposit Isn’t always an effective communicator according to some customer reviews

Services

AVL provides many industry-standard full-service options, but it operates entirely in-house, meaning that when you hire AVL, you get only AVL movers. This includes services such as:

  • Crating for large items such as pianos and bed frames
  • Furniture disassembly and reassembly
  • Office relocation
  • Packing and unpacking
  • Specialty packing for delicate items
  • Storage options
  • Vehicle relocation

AVL employs certified antiques and piano movers, who are versed in the proper dismantling techniques of all pianos types including grand, vertical, electrical, and digital pianos. The company even boasts that its antique moving division has moved collections of items from museums.

The company provides two valuation coverage options, including the minimum Released Value Protection. AVL’s Full-Value Protection plan covers the actual value of items. You may also opt to have this plan cover items only of “extraordinary value,” which AVL designates as $100 or more. This plan allows you to have an antique repaired or replaced, or you can receive a cash settlement based on the market value of your antique if it is damaged or lost.

Cost

American Van Lines provides binding estimates through in-home or virtual surveys. Because of this, the company does not provide any online pricing information aside from what is available on its moving cost page. AVL estimates that moving a three-bedroom home (or 10,000 pounds) from Dallas to Phoenix would cost $6,970. This is based on the average cost of other AVL moves with this criteria.

To get a free quote from American Van Lines, get in touch with the company by filling out this online survey.

Moving APT

Best Customer Service
4.3

Moving APT is a great choice for anyone needing help finding the right antiques mover. Unlike the other providers in this guide, Moving APT is strictly a moving broker. This means that the company works to connect customers with appropriate local movers based on their specific needs. You can contact Moving APT with your relocation details, and the company will coordinate your move using one of the more than 2,500 independent agents in its network.

Pros and Cons

Pros Vets all third-party moving partners Leverages its network of movers to find you the lowest price Provides discounts on local moves of less than 50 miles Cons Doesn’t cover items broken, damaged, or lost by in-network moving companies Won’t refund deposit for cancellations made fewer than seven days before your scheduled moving date Has some negative online customer reviews citing third-party price changes

Services

Moving APT operates traditional full- and partial-service moving packages. Both types of packages can be customized to include:

  • Appliance disconnection and reconnection
  • Custom crating
  • Furniture disassembly and reassembly
  • Packing
  • Piano moving
  • Storage
  • Vehicle relocation

Cost

We used Moving APT’s online calculator and received a quote of $5,000 for a three-bedroom relocation from Phoenix to Dallas. The online quote is only a general estimate, so you will need to contact the company with specific details of your move to get more accurate pricing. Moving APT will give you a binding estimate — the exact price you can plan on paying — after a virtual review of your home and moving inventory.

Take this quick questionnaire to get started with Moving APT.

JK Moving Services

Best Specialized Packing
4.7

JK Moving Services focuses on providing customizable, full-service moving packages based on your budget and needs. The company provides a personal moving coordinator who helps create a moving package for each customer based on their information.

JK Moving also offers a financing option through Enhancify. Through this service, customers can connect with a variety of loan providers who offer different interest rates and repayment terms to choose from. Some customers may receive interest rates as low as 0%.* Between its customization and financing, you can professionally ship your antiques without having to pay out large sums of cash.

JK Moving helps with interstate moves in all 50 states. The mover services local moves only in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

*Subject to credit approval

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers financing through Enhancify Offers a useful mobile app for GPS tracking Provides personal moving coordinators and 24/7 customer support Cons Doesn’t provide online pricing Local moves are only available in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia Has a longer quote process than some competitors

Services

JK Moving offers a wide selection of full-service moving options, such as:

  • Archive services
  • Climate-controlled storage options
  • Crating
  • Fragile furniture wrapping
  • Freighting
  • Loading and unloading
  • Packing and unpacking

A personal moving coordinator collects information about your moving needs and your budget during the quote process. Based on this information, they help create a custom moving package, including services like custom crating and specialty services for antiques.

JK Moving provides two valuation coverage plans: Carrier Standard Liability and Replacement Value. The company provides the minimum legal requirement for coverage through its Carrier Standard Liability. Its Replacement Value plan covers the value of items based on a custom deductible. This starts at a minimum of $6 per pound for a deductible of $15,000.

Cost

JK Moving primarily deals with binding estimates to help you avoid any hidden costs during your move. JK Moving did supply us with a ballpark quote for a two-bedroom home (or 10,400 pounds) moving from Atlanta to Chicago for $7,521. Services in this quote include furniture disassembly, wrapping and padding, loading, unloading, and a full-value protection plan.

Allied Van Lines

Best for Vehicle Relocation
5

If you want to ship a classic, antique, or exotic car, we recommend Allied Van Lines. Allied Van Lines is a full-service mover that offers the rare perk of conducting its vehicle relocation services using its own trucks. Many moving companies tend to outsource this task to other companies, but Allied uses its own employees and provides GPS tracking on your shipment.

As a licensed broker-carrier, Allied Van Lines provides services in all 50 states and 130 countries.

Pros and Cons

Pros Has in-house moving carriers for vintage and luxury vehicles Provides extended insurance coverage Offers short-term and long-term storage services Cons May be more expensive than many competitors Has reviews citing a difficult contents protection claims process Doesn’t provide 24/7 customer service

Services

Allied Van Lines offers a large selection of full-service moving options, including:

  • Loading and unloading
  • Packing, including fragile -item specialty packing
  • Vehicle relocation

The company offers some services ideal for antiques, including its fragile-only packing service. With this service, you pack most of your belongings while Allied packs your difficult and delicate items. The company also features a portable storage container service similar to 1-800-PACK-RAT called Allied Express.

Allied provides moving liability coverage through two plans: the Basic Liability Protection Plan and The Extra Care Protection plan, which covers the actual value of your items rather than protecting them based on weight.

Where Allied stands out is its vehicle transportation services. The company has both open and enclosed carriers available for vehicles, using the latter to carry vintage, luxury, and exotic cars. Though this service can be up to 80% more expensive than open carriers, it is an excellent way to protect specialty vehicles from debris and harsh weather conditions.

Allied also offers up to $100,000 valuation at zero deductible per vehicle, and the valuation will be included on your auto shipping quote.

Cost

Allied Van Lines provides binding estimates, which means your moving price won’t drastically change despite unexpected events. We received a quote from Allied to move a three-bedroom home from Dallas to Phoenix with an average number of belongings for $7,000–$7,736. To get a binding estimate with Allied, you must conduct an in-home or virtual survey.

To schedule a virtual survey with Allied Van Lines, provide some brief information here.

North American Van Lines

Best for Claims
4.8

We recently conducted a survey of 1,000 consumers who had moved within the last five years. We found that among those that employed full-service movers, 65% opted to purchase additional liability coverage (above the legally required amount). Of those, more than half had to file a claim for lost or damaged items.

If you find yourself in this unenviable position, North American Van Lines (NAVL) offers added financial peace of mind for your antiques through its detailed and transparent contents protection claims process.

NAVL helps with local and long-distance moves in all 50 states as well as 130 countries.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers custom packing solutions for difficult and fragile items Provides climate-controlled storage units for sensitive items Doesn’t require a deposit Cons May outsource some parts of your move Has reviews referencing poor customer service in some locations Isn’t as transparent about its pricing on its website as some competitors

Services

NAVL is a full-service moving company that provides:

  • Appliance disassembly and reassembly
  • Crane van for large items
  • Fragile-item specialty packing
  • Furniture assembly
  • Loading and unloading
  • Packing and unpacking
  • Storage
  • Vehicle relocation

NAVL offers custom full-value release plans. These plans provide you with coverage and compensation for the actual value of certain items rather than a predetermined amount. In the rare occurrence that something goes wrong during your move, you will be reimbursed through repair, replacement, or a cash settlement for the actual value of your antiques.

NAVL also makes its claims process easier than some competitors by providing links to its claims forms across its website. We found NAVL’s claims forms were detailed and clear, so you are able to provide ample information to receive proper compensation. The company also features two separate customer support lines for domestic and international claims.

Cost

North American Van Lines estimates it would cost $6,971–$7,703 to move a three-bedroom home with an average amount of belongings from Dallas to Phoenix. NAVL also offers binding estimates through in-home visits and virtual surveys. A binding estimate provides more accurate pricing that does not drastically change despite unexpected events or hold-ups during the move.

To see how North American Van Lines helps with antiques, complete this brief form.


How To Pick a Good Antique Moving Company

A major part of properly transporting antiques is picking the right moving company for the job. Unfortunately, there are some scammers in the moving industry, but we are here to help. Here are some of the major factors to look out for and steps to take when picking a good moving company.

1. Look Up a Company’s USDOT Number

“The moving industry is heavily scrutinized and regulated. Generally, unlicensed companies are the ones who develop bad reputations for the industry,” Mike Scott, a partner of Capital Moving in Raleigh, N.C., told us. He advises customers check that moving companies are properly licensed, bonded, and insured for the type of move you are asking them to help with.

An easy way to check this information is to ask the company for its USDOT number. Once you have a company’s USDOT number, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website to look up the company’s licenses. All companies on this list are properly licensed, bonded, and insured.

2. Ask for a Binding Estimate

If a company does not offer binding estimates through either in-home or virtual surveys, this may be a red flag. A binding estimate is a price that will not change over the course of your move, given that your inventory remains the same.

A reputable company should have enough years of experience to be able to review your itemized list of belongings, as well as any barriers in your home (such as stairs or parking availability), estimate the time and cost of your move, and stick to the binding estimate.

3. Review Valuation Options

Your mover is liable for the value of the goods you ask to transport. However, there are levels of liability coverage which will determine the amount and type of reimbursement you will receive if an item is lost or damaged.

Under federal law, interstate movers must offer two different liability options referred to as valuation coverage: released-value and full-value protection. A released-value plan should cover $0.60 per pound per item. Companies should also provide a full-value plan that covers the actual value of your items either based on declared value or a higher coverage cap based on weight. Prices for these types of coverage will vary.

4. Read Customer Service Reviews

We read hundreds of customer reviews on popular reviews sites, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Yelp, TrustPilot, and more. This is an effective way to obtain a realistic perspective of what it is like to deal with a company’s customer service. We suggest you look through a few different customer review websites for both positive and negative reviews to understand what it is like to purchase services from a mover.

5. Vet Thoroughly To Avoid Scams

Moving scams can happen if you’re not careful. This often happens one of two ways. The most common is asking for a large deposit and never hearing from them once you pay it. The other is loading all your belongings onto a truck and disappearing with them. You don’t want this to happen with your irreplaceable antiques. As mentioned above, checking licensure is one of the best ways to avoid moving scams. Be wary of companies requiring deposits over 25%, and don’t pay or do anything with a company that won’t provide or sign a contract before your moving date. We also suggest checking BBB ratings. 


How Much Does It Cost To Move Antiques?

We found that moving antiques averaged $4,000–$8,000 for a three-bedroom home and a multi-state move. You’ll need to go through the quote process to get a clear estimate of what your actual move will cost because prices vary greatly depending on several factors, including:

  • Add-on services
  • Amount of items and weight
  • Insurance coverage
  • Location (current and new residence)
  • Move distance
  • Moving container or truck size
  • Type of items

Our Conclusion

Our top pick for antique moving companies is International Van Lines due to its industry reputation, specialty packing services, and protection coverage. You may end up paying more, but we feel the company’s expertise and professionalism are worth it when shipping antiques. 

Don’t forget to carefully vet companies before signing a contract or paying a deposit. We recommend getting quotes from at least three companies to compare pricing.

Moving unique items can be daunting. Check out our page on Best Piano Movers to learn more about moving specialty objects.


FAQ About Antique Moving Companies

How do you move antiques?

Wrap small fragile and antique items in packing paper, and then place them into a box with other wrapped items. Use crumpled packing paper to fill any gaps that might appear between the items. Make sure the box is secure by using packing tape to seal it and properly label the box as fragile. For larger items, make sure that your moving company will supply moving blankets to secure them in the moving truck.

What is the best way to ship antique furniture?

We recommend hiring a professional moving company to ship your antique furniture. Antiques are often expensive, fragile, and irreplaceable. They’re not items to leave up to chance. Look for a reputable moving company specializing in fragile packaging and moving large antiques. You can even find companies specializing in moving antique cars, such as Allied Van Lines.

Should I purchase moving insurance through my moving company?

Yes. We strongly suggest purchasing moving insurance to protect yourself financially if something happens to your belongings while in transport. If your antiques are unfortunately damaged, you can’t get them back as new, but you can at least be compensated for them. Most moving companies require an appraisal before you purchase valuation coverage. 


Other Moving Resources

We’ve done in-depth research on the best moving companies in the United States and have compiled these easy to digest comparisons:


Our Rating Methodology

We back 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.