10 best long-distance moving companies in Garden Grove, CA

Long-distance or interstate moves present unique challenges that distinguish them from local moves. Many people moving interstate or long-distance struggle with concerns like how to move their car, as well as complicated logistics and higher costs.

Alleviate your issues by choosing the best moving professionals for the job. We've made this list of the highest-rated long-distance movers in Garden Grove so you, your loved ones, and your belongings make it to your new home safely.

What Makes Long-Distance Movers Different From Local Movers?

Moving companies that perform long-distance moves differ significantly from those that only offer local moves. Local movers often only operate within a certain geographic radius. They'll usually charge an exorbitant fee to work outside that area if they’re willing to at all.

Long-distance movers are also more likely to charge by weight, while local movers are more likely to charge by time. Some movers, however, may use a mix of time and weight to set their final cost, so it's necessary to check your provider's pricing structure.

Local Garden Grove moving companies are usually more familiar with moving in your area and offer lower pricing. Long-distance movers bring valuable knowledge and experience, especially when moving between states. Long-distance moving companies can save you time and headaches because they're more likely to have the right information and experience to help with the logistics and legalities of interstate moves.

How To Choose a Long-Distance Mover in Garden Grove

With so many long-distance movers to choose from, the options may feel overwhelming, making it challenging to select the right one for you. Here are some tips for finding a trustworthy long-distance moving company in Garden Grove.

• Ask about insurance: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires interstate movers to offer two types of options for insurance coverage: Full Value Protection and Released Value Protection. Even if your long-distance move is within the same state, look into the insurance options provided by your mover. To completely protect your possessions during the move, we suggest obtaining personal moving insurance on top of the coverage offered by your moving company. To help you better understand your long-term moving insurance plans, we've provided a more detailed discussion below.
• Assess qualifications: Movers performing interstate moves must have a USDOT number and be registered with the FMCSA. Qualified providers will have these qualifications. The FMCSA publishes complaint histories for moving companies on its website and enforces policies such as requiring movers to supply clients with a written price quote.
• Compare costs: Contact several long-distance moving companies in Garden Grove several months before your move and get detailed quotes. As you compare estimates, ensure that they include prices for the physical move, insurance coverage, and any other services you might use.
• Look at financing options: Many movers provide financing plans as a way to help customers afford their moving expenses. If you need financial assistance for your move, a moving or relocation loan might be a good choice to help pay for some of the expenses. Talk with your mover about relocation loans or financing plans if you need financial help with your move. We advise looking into several options to get the one with the best rates and lowest fees.
• Read reviews: Read online reviews on sites such as Better Business Bureau (BBB) and other platforms to learn what others think about particular long-distance movers. You should also ask friends and family for recommendations.
• Think about timing: Summer is the most popular time of year to move, which means moving companies may be harder to get and more expensive if you’re moving between May and September. Garden Grove also has a lot of college students living in the area, so the beginning and end of the semesters may be particularly busy as students move.
• Watch out for red flags: Be wary of movers that provide “too good to be true” prices or nonbinding estimates. You should also be wary of a mover that asks for your entire payment before the move. If a moving company has an extensive history of poor reviews or BBB complaints, it's best to avoid them. Familiarize yourself with the FMCSA's guidelines on your mover rights and responsibilities.

Long-Distance Moving Tips

Securing your movers well before your move date is critical when preparing for a long-distance move. It's best if you book your move at least three months in advance. This gives you enough time to hire a moving company. You may even want to start planning earlier than that if you need more specialized services, like piano moving or car moving.

Start packing a full four weeks in advance if you plan on packing for your move by yourself. You might prefer to have certain items, such as plants and family heirlooms, with you in your car rather than in the moving truck.

Create a list of everything that needs to be done before and after your move. The list should include items such as updating your address with the California DMV.

Make sure you're not without essentials in the first few days of your move by packing a bag with items such as extra clothes, toothbrushes, and medicine.

Lastly, on the night before moving day, make sure you get a good night’s sleep.

Moving Insurance for Long-Distance Moves

Moving insurance is a must for long-distance moves. It'll give you money back if any of your items are lost or damagedby your movers.

The FMCSA mandates that all interstate movers must have two insurance options. Full Value Protection requires movers to replace, repair, or provide money back for any belongings lost or damaged while moving. This policy may not apply to certain extremely valuable belongings (typically those valued at over $100 a pound), for some moving companies. You have to pay more for Full Value Protection, but in the long-run you'll get better coverage. The second option, Released Value Protection, is offered for free, but it has less protection. This insurance requires your moving company to pay you a maximum of 60 cents per pound for belongings damaged or lost during the move.

Your current homeowners or renters insurance policy might partially cover your belongings during the move if you carry over the same policy when you move. While this typically doesn't apply to long-distance moves, it might be a good idea to check your policy.

Sources

State of California Department of Motor Vehicles U.S. DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration