6 best long-distance moving companies in Amarillo, TX

Long-distance or interstate moves differ from local moves in significant ways. When you're moving long-distance, you may encounter higher costs, complicated logistics, and challenges like how to move your car.

The right moving professionals can help ease your concerns. We've made this list of the leading long-distance movers in Amarillo so you, your loved ones, and your belongings arrive to your new home without any problems.

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 moving companies generally offer moving services within a designated geographic radius. They either won't work outside that area, or they'll charge an exorbitant rate to do so.

Local movers are also more likely to set fees based on how long a job takes, while long-distance movers more likely to charge based on the weight they're moving. Some moving providers, however, may use a mix of time and weight to determine their prices, so it's key to check your provider's pricing structure.

When faced with a long-distance move, it's important to weigh the benefits of hiring long-distance versus local movers. Although local movers may have a better grasp of your specific location and potentially offer more affordable rates, the expertise that long-distance movers have in taking on interstate moves can't be beaten. Long-distance movers can save you time and headaches because they're more likely to have the proper information and experience to help with the logistics and legalities of interstate moves.

How To Choose a Long-Distance Mover in Amarillo

With so many long-distance moving companies to choose from, the options can feel overwhelming, making it difficult to select the right one for you. To help you navigate the process of finding a licensed and trustworthy long-distance moving company in Amarillo, we've gathered some recommendations below.

• Ask about insurance: According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), interstate movers must offer customers two insurance coverage options: Full Value Protection and Released Value Protection. For long-distance moves that don't cross state lines, asking about these or similar insurance options is a good idea. To better protect your belongings during the move, we recommend obtaining your own moving insurance on top of the coverage offered by your moving company. To help you better understand your long-term moving insurance options, we've provided a more detailed discussion below.
• Assess qualifications: Interstate movers must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT number. This registration gives you peace of mind that a qualified company is taking care of your move. The FMCSA enforces certain rules, such as mandating that movers provide a written price quote, and also publishes movers’ complaint histories on its website.
• Compare costs: Start collecting quotes several months ahead of your move. Get itemized cost breakdowns from multiple long-distance movers in Amarillo. Confirm that these estimates include costs for the actual move, insurance coverage, and any added services you think you might use.
• Look at financing options: Many movers provide financing plans as a way to help customers pay for their moving expenses. You may be eligible for a moving or relocation loan to cover expenses. Ask your mover about relocation loans or financing plans if you need financial help with your move. Looking into several loans allows you to pick the one with the best rates and fewest fees.
• Read reviews: Read Better Business Bureau (BBB) and similar online review sites to see what previous customers have said about specific long-distance moving companies. Also, get recommendations from your friends and family.
• Think about timing: Summer is the most popular time of year to move, which means movers may be harder to book and costlier if you’re moving between May and September. Amarillo also has a lot of college students living in the area, so June and August may be particularly busy as students move.
• Watch out for red flags: A moving company giving you a suspiciously low or nonbinding quote is a red flag. You should also be cautious of a moving company that asks for your entire payment before the move. If a mover has a long history of negative reviews or BBB complaints, it's best to avoid them. You should be aware of your mover rights and responsibilities, as described by the FMCSA.

Long-Distance Moving Tips

A key piece of advice when planning a long-distance move is to hire your moving company well in advance of your move date. It's best if you plan your move at least 90 days ahead of time. This gives you plenty of time to hire movers. You may even want to start planning earlier than that if you need more specialized services, like piano or car moving.

Start packing a full month in advance if you plan on packing for your move by yourself. You might choose to keep certain sentimental, valuable, or fragile possessions, such as artwork and family heirlooms, with you in your car rather than packed in the moving truck.

To stay organized, prepare a detailed list of everything that needs to be done both before and after your move, such as notifying the Texas DMV of your new address.

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

The night before moving day, don't forget to get a full night's sleep.

Moving Insurance for Long-Distance Moves

Moving insurance is essential for long-distance moves because it'll provide reimbursement if any of your belongings are lost or damaged.

The FMCSA requires all interstate movers to offer two insurance options. Full Value Protection requires movers to replace, repair, or provide a cash settlement for any belongings lost or damaged while moving. This policy may not apply to certain items that are extremely valuable (typically those valued at over $100 a pound), for some movers. Full Value Protection is more expensive but gives you better coverage. While Released Value Protection doesn't cost you anything, it provides less protection. This plan requires your movers to reimburse you a maximum of 60 cents per pound for belongings lost or damaged 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 during your move. While this typically doesn't apply to long-distance moves, checking your policy could be beneficial.

Sources

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