10 best long-distance moving companies in Kansas City, KS

There are a range of factors that distinguish long-distance or interstate moves from local moves. Higher costs, complicated logistics, and issues like how to move a car are common difficulties for people moving long-distance.

Put your mind at ease by selecting the right moving professionals for the job. To help make sure you, your family members, and your belongings arrive at your new home without incident, we've put together this overview of the leading long-distance movers in Kansas City.

What Makes Long-Distance Movers Different From Local Movers?

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

Another benefit of choosing a long-distance moving company is that they typically charge by weight, while local moving companies more often charge based on time. Keep in mind that some moving companies might incorporate both weight and time in their quotes, so ask your chosen movers about their pricing structure.

Local Kansas City moving companies are commonly more familiar with moving in your area and offer lower pricing. Long-distance movers offer valuable knowledge and experience, especially when moving between states. Hiring a long-distance moving company for an interstate move gives you the benefit of the critical knowledge and experience to handle the logistics and legal requirements, while also saving you time and headaches.

How To Choose a Long-Distance Mover in Kansas City

When you're choosing a long-distance moving company, the wide range of options may feel overwhelming. Below, we offer some advice on how to find a legitimate and trustworthy long-distance mover in Kansas City.

• Ask about insurance: Interstate moving companies are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to offer two types of insurance coverage to their clients: Full Value Protection and Released Value Protection. If you're moving long-distance but not across state lines, you can ask about these or other insurance options. To fully protect your belongings during the move, we recommend purchasing personal moving insurance on top of the coverage provided by your mover. We discuss long-distance moving insurance options in more detail 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 enforces certain rules, such as requiring movers to give clients a written price quote, and also publishes movers’ complaint histories on its website.
• Compare costs: Contact several long-distance moving providers in Kansas City several months before your move and get detailed quotes. Ensure these quotes include costs for the actual move, insurance coverage, and any additional services you think you might use.
• Look at financing options: To help with the financial aspect of your move, quite a few moving companies have financing plans. A moving or relocation loan can help pay for some of the cost. Ask your mover about financing plans or relocation loans if you need financial help with your move. You should compare several choices to make sure you choose the one with the best rates and lowest fees.
• Read reviews: You can find out what others thought about specific long-distance moving companies by checking Better Business Bureau (BBB) and similar online review websites. Neighbors and relatives can also provide valuable recommendations.
• Think about timing: If you plan on moving between May and September, keep in mind that summer is the most popular time of year for moves. This can make it harder and more expensive to hire a mover. Kansas City also has a lot of college students living in the area, so June and August may be particularly busy because of students moving.
• Watch out for red flags: A moving company giving you a suspiciously low or nonbinding estimate is a red flag. You should also be wary of a moving company that asks for your full payment before the move. Steer clear of moving companies with an extensive history of poor reviews or BBB complaints. The FMCSA details mover rights and responsibilities of which you should be aware.

Long-Distance Moving Tips

A key piece of advice for long-distance moves is to reserve your movers far enough ahead of time. We advise booking movers at least three months before your move date, or even farther ahead if you need specialized moving services, like piano or car moving.

When packing for your move by yourself, get started at least a month in advance. You probably have valuable, sentimental, or fragile belongings, such as artwork or family heirlooms, that you would prefer to have in your car rather than in the moving truck.

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

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

The night before your big move, remember to get enough rest.

Moving Insurance for Long-Distance Moves

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

The FMCSA requires that all interstate movers must offer two insurance options. Full Value Protection requires movers to replace, repair, or provide a cash reimbursement for any belongings lost or damaged while moving. Some movers may exclude certain extremely valuable possessions (generally those valued at over $100 per pound) from this policy. You have to pay more for Full Value Protection, but it will ultimately get you better coverage. Alternatively, Released Value Protection is offered at no additional cost, but it has less coverage. With this plan, your movers will reimburse you up to 60 cents per pound for damaged or lost belongings.

Your current homeowners or renters insurance policy might cover some of your belongings during the move if you carry over the same policy. It may be helpful to review your policy, even though they typically don't cover long-distance moves.

Sources

Kansas Department of Revenue U.S. DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration