10 best long-distance moving companies in La Porte, IN

Long-distance or interstate moves are different from local moves in severalimportant ways. Higher costs, complicated logistics, and issues like how to move a car are common worries for people moving long-distance.

Choosing the right moving professionals can help ease your worries. That’s why we’ve created this guide to the top long-distance movers in La Porte to help you, your loved ones, and your possessions arrive safely to your new home.

What Makes Long-Distance Movers Different From Local Movers?

When you're comparing local and long-distance moving companies, there are many key differences to keep in mind. Local movers generally provide moving services within a designated geographic location. They either won't work outside that area, or they'll charge a much higher rate to do so.

When it comes to pricing, long-distance moving companies often set fees based on the weight of your items, while local moving companies usually charge based on the length of time needed for your move. Some moving providers, however, may use a combination of time and weight to set their final cost, so it's important to discuss your provider's pricing structure.

Local La Porte moving companies may have a more knowledge of your specific area and provide less expensive services, but their experience with interstate moves is probably limited. 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 La Porte

With so many long-distance moving companies to choose from, the options can be overwhelming, making it challenging to select the right one for your needs. See the list below for some advice on picking a licensed and reliable long-distance mover in La Porte.

• Ask about insurance: According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), interstate movers must provide customers with two insurance coverage choices: Full Value Protection and Released Value Protection. You can look into these or similar insurance options for long-distance moves inside one state. To fully protect your possessions during the move, we recommend obtaining personal moving insurance on top of the coverage provided by your mover. You can find more detailed information on long-term moving insurance options below.
• Assess qualifications: Moving companies performing interstate moves must have a USDOT number and be registered with the FMCSA. This registration gives you peace of mind that a qualified mover is handling your move. The FMCSA enforces certain regulations, such as mandating that movers provide a written estimate, and also publishes moving companies' complaint histories on its website.
• Compare costs: Contact several long-distance moving companies in La Porte several months before your move and ask for detailed quotes. Confirm that these estimates include prices for the actual move, insurance coverage, and any added services you think you’ll need.
• Look at financing options: Plenty of movers offer financing plans to help you afford your move. You may be eligible for a moving or relocation loan to pay for some of the cost. Ask your moving company about relocation loans or financing plans if you need financial help with your move. We recommend looking into several choices to pick the one with the best rates and fewest fees.
• Read reviews: Check online reviews on sites such as Better Business Bureau (BBB) and other platforms to learn what others have said about certain long-distance movers. Friends and relatives can also provide valuable recommendations.
• Think about timing: Because summer is the most popular season to move in, it can be difficult and costlier to book a mover.
• Watch out for red flags: Moving companies that give you nonbinding or seemingly "too good to be true" prices should make you suspicious. Reliable movers generally won't demand your complete payment upfront. If a moving company has a long history of poor reviews or BBB complaints, it's best to avoid them. You should be familiar with your mover rights and responsibilities, as described by the FMCSA.

Long-Distance Moving Tips

piece of advice when planning a long-distance move is to find your moving company well before of your move date. To ensure a smooth move, find your movers no less than 90 days ahead of your move date, and potentially even more if you need more unique services, like piano moving or car moving.

When packing for your move by yourself, get started at least four weeks in advance. You might prefer to keep certain sentimental, valuable, or fragile possessions, such as plants and family heirlooms, with you in your car rather than packed in the moving truck.

It's also a good idea to make a checklist of all the tasks that need to be done both before and after your move, such as updating your address with the Indiana DMV.

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

Lastly, make sure to get enough rest the night before moving day.

Moving Insurance for Long-Distance Moves

For long-distance moves, moving insurance is a necessity because it'll protect you if any of your belongings are lost or damaged.

All interstate movers need to offer two insurance options, according to the FMCSA. Under Full Value Protection, movers are required to repair, replace, or provide money back for any belongings lost or damaged while moving. Some movers may exclude certain extremely valuable possessions (generally those valued at over $100 a pound) from this policy. While Full Value Protection is more expensive, it provides better coverage. While Released Value Protection is offered at no additional cost, it provides reduced coverage. If you choose this insurance, your moving company will compensate you up to 60 cents per pound for belongings that are lost or damaged.

If you keep your same homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy when you move, it may partially cover your belongings during your move. While this typically doesn't apply to long-distance moves, it might be a good idea to check your policy.

Sources

Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles U.S. DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration