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Best Moving Companies in Alabama (2024)

Author Image Written by Shane Sentelle Updated 06/28/2024

If you’re moving to, from, or in Alabama, a moving company can help the moving process run more smoothly and efficiently.

In this article, we’ll discuss both types of companies, listing our top choices for the best moving companies in Alabama. Our top choice is International Van Lines (IVL). Read on to learn more about each company and find out which company is right for your specific needs.


Best Moving Companies in Alabama

Through in-depth research, we determined that the best moving companies in Alabama are:


Our Pick
International Van Lines
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American Van Lines
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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 4.7 / 5 5 / 5 4.8 / 5

BBB Rating

A+ A+ A+ A+ A+

FMCSA Licensing

Carrier/Broker Carrier Carrier Carrier Carrier/Broker

Average Price*

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

Deposit Required

Up to 25% Up to 50% $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
  • 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
  • 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 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 JK Moving Services Allied Van Lines North American Van Lines

Customer Service

5 / 5
4.4 / 5
4.4 / 5
4.4 / 5
4.4 / 5

Reputation

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

Value

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

Service Offerings

4.7 / 5
4.7 / 5
4.7 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5

Item Protection

5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5

Scheduling

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

Our Top Picks For Moving Companies In Alabama

International Van Lines

Best Service Offerings
4.5

International Van Lines (IVL) is our top choice for a full-service mover. International Van Lines services include every step of the moving process. A skilled team of moving labor will pack and unpack your belongings, load and unload the truck, and transport your belongings anywhere in the country, keeping your most important items safe.

Pros and Cons

Pros Full-service moving from start to finish Can support moves to 180 countries Can transport your car as well Cons More expensive than self-service moving Sample quote information is not precise

Services

International Van Lines can move you across town or across the world just as comfortably.

International Van Lines services:

  • Local moving
  • Long-distance moving
  • Auto transport
  • International moving
  • B2B shipping
  • Packing supplies
  • Air freight services
  • Corporate and military relocation
  • Packing services
  • Loading, and unloading
  • Transportation of fragile items

Cost

For a three bedroom move across Birmingham, IVL gave us a sample quote ranging from $4,200–$6,150. This estimate includes loading services and transportation, meaning you can let IVL’s professionals every step of the process.

Get a Quote: Get Your Personalized International Van Lines Quote

American Van Lines

Best Overall Moving Labor
4.3

American Van Lines is the final full-service mover on our list, and it specializes in moving difficult items. All professional movers on American Van Lines’ team train in a special sample home to practice protecting important belongings, making it  a safe choice to protect your belongings.

Pros and Cons

Pros Free month of storage Moving labor trained specifically to move difficult items Custom boxes for common items Cons Price information is hard to obtain More expensive than self-service moving

Services

American Van Lines offers a full range of services, and one month of storage is included with every move.

American Van Lines service options:

  • Local moving
  • Long-distance moving
  • Corporate relocation services
  • Military moving
  • International moving
  • Commercial moving
  • Piano and Antique moving
  • Storage solutions

Cost

American Van Lines does not offer instant quote information. However, on its website, it has sample rates for popular moving destinations, and these rates can help you better estimate your price. For a move from Houston to Los Angeles, American Van Lines has a special rate of $3,869.

Get a Quotes: Get Your Personalized American Van Lines Quote

JK Moving Services

Best Specialized Packing
4.7

JK Moving is also a full-service mover. JK Moving believes that every long-distance move is different, so it matches move coordinators with every move to create a custom plan of attack. Its trained fleet of moving labor is prepared to handle your most fragile items, including pianos and antiques. Every mile of your move will be planned and GPS tracked, giving you maximum peace of mind while your possessions are in transit.

Pros and Cons

Pros GPS tracking on shipments Storage solutions available Professional moving labor Cons Local moves not available in Alabama More expensive than self-service moving

Services

The company does not offer local moves in Alabama, but those looking for highly-rated long-distance movers should consider JK Moving. It can create a custom plan for all kinds of long-distance moves.

JK Moving Services include:

  • Packing and unpacking
  • Loading and unloading
  • Long-distance moves
  • International moves
  • Corporate relocation services
  • Commercial and office moves
  • Government moves
  • Storage

Cost

JK Moving does not readily provide cost information. We recommend that you have a list of inventory on hand to speak with an agent. From there, your agent can better determine your quoted rate.

Allied Van Lines

Best for Vehicle Relocation
5

Allied Van Lines offers a range of moving options, from full-service packages to DIY support, and it also provides short- and long-term storage, moving kits, and helpful online resources. Allied is the oldest moving company in the U.S., with more than 90 years of experience in the industry.

Allied can ship a variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans, as well as motorcycles, boats, and snowmobiles. The company maintains its own fleet of open and enclosed car carriers. Open carriers are the trucks you’ve likely seen on the highway carrying stacks of new cars from auto manufacturers to dealerships. Enclosed carriers are essentially semi-truck trailers that protect vehicles from the elements or roadway hazards. For high-value vehicles, including classic cars, the enclosed carrier option offers added protection during transport.

Pros and Cons

Pros Has a quick and simple quote process Basic packages include services from a personal relocation consultant Guaranteed quotes with an in-home visit Cons Doesn’t offer 24/7 claims support Dealing with multiple local agents can cause delays or confusion if they don’t follow the same procedures

Services

Allied’s list of moving services includes:

  • Local moving
  • Long-distance moving
  • International moving
  • Packing and unpacking
  • Loading and unloading
  • Custom crating
  • Full-valuation coverage

Cost

Like most full-service moving companies, Allied Van Lines considers several factors when preparing a quote. Those factors include:

  • The distance you’re moving
  • When you’re planning to move
  • The amount and weight of items being moved
  • Special handling of items

Allied Van Lines offers free basic liability insurance, but supplemental insurance and add-on services, such as crating or vehicle relocation, come with an additional cost. Using the company’s online moving estimation tool, a basic package for moving the contents of a two-bedroom home from Montgomery, Alabama, to Sacramento, California, in early spring would likely cost between $6,740 and $7,709.

Get a Quote: Get Your Personalized Allied Van Lines Quote

North American Van Lines

Best for Claims
4.8

North American Van Lines is a full-service moving company that can accommodate local, long-distance, and international moves of all sizes. North American is available in all 50 states and more than 130 countries through its extensive network of more than 500 local movers.

The company has simplified the claims process through quick online access of necessary forms and information. There are separate sections on the landing page of North American’s website for international and domestic claims. Customers can also file claims over the phone through the company’s claim support division, which is separate from general customer support.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers a Not-to-Exceed Pricing package that allows costs to fall below estimates but not above Global moving clients can follow the moving workflow using the MoovScout app Uses interactive driving simulators to train drivers Cons Has a long in-home estimate scheduling process Some customer reviews mention complaints regarding damage caused by local moving agents

Services

North American’s list of services includes:

  • Fragile-only Packing
  • Full-service Packing
  • Loading and unloading
  • House cleaning
  • Vehicle transport
  • Furniture disassembly and assembly
  • Moving checklists

Cost

North American Van Lines estimates cost based on distance, the amount and weight of items you’ll be moving, and your moving date. The company also factors any special handling requests into a quote. While exact costs will vary, prices range from $4,009 to $4,579 to move a two-bedroom home from Huntsville, Alabama, to Trenton, New Jersey, in early November.

Get a Quote: Get Your Personalized North American Van Lines Quote


Compare the Services of The Best Moving Companies in Alabama

Some moving companies can deliver containers to your home for you to load yourself, while other companies take charge of every step, including packing, allowing you to focus on other important tasks.

Here you can easily compare how the top moving companies in AL stack up to one another:

ProviderGet EstimateLocalLong-DistanceLabor Included
IVLGet Estimate✓✓✓
American Van LinesGet Estimate✓✓✓
JK MovingGet Estimate✖✓✓
AlliedGet Estimate✓✓✓
North AmericanGet Estimate✓✓✓

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hiring a full-service mover in Alabama worth it?

For many homeowners, moving takes up a lot of time and energy to do it alone. While container delivery services are cheap and efficient, full-service movers can take care of every step of the process, maximizing your peace of mind.

How far in advance should I book Alabama movers?

We recommend booking movers as soon as you’re certain of your moving date, and at least two months in advance. Since resources can be limited, you don’t want your company to run out of moving labor or trucks, so booking in advance is recommended. However, you don’t want to be locked into a certain rate too soon and have to renegotiate because you forgot something.

When is the busiest time of year to move?

More daylight and better weather makes summer the most popular time to move, so we recommend booking your move further in advance if you’re moving during a busier time.


Our Conclusion

All the companies on our list are excellent choices for different homeowners. For the homeowners who prioritize peace of mind and choose to have a hands-off moving experience, we recommend a full-service moving company, such as International Van Lines. Even though you’ll pay a little extra for this type of company, full-service moving can save you time and protect your belongings.

For homeowners with the do-it-yourself spirit, a container delivery service like PODS may be a better option. Reaching out for a free quote from each moving company can help you acquire accurate pricing information to make the most informed decision for your move.


Useful Resources for Residents in Alabama


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, trailer and container options, additional benefits, and reputation to arrive at a final score out of 100.

Why Trust Us? We conducted 4,800+ hours of research on moving companies and crafted a ranking system based on the following research
31
Companies Considered
1000
Homeowners Surveyed
21000
Reviews Analyzed
22
Providers Compared

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