Bellhop Logo
1-888-836-3939

Six Reasons Not to Trust Budget Long-Distance Movers

Not all long-distance movers are equal. Things can go wrong if you pick the mover based on a ‘great price.’ That too-good-to-be-true price? It probably is too good to be true.

“But I’m saving so much money! ‘What could go wrong?”

1. Hidden Fees and Payment

Hidden fees from moving companies are a complaint we hear from readers all the time. What if your stuff is held hostage at arrival, or the crew refuses to start loading until you pay a “loading fee?”

You might see long distance moves advertised as low as $1,600, but many report these vendors end up costing thousands more. 

Choose professional, licensed movers who will lock in a rate with you ahead of time. 

2. Broken Belongings

Moving is hard work, both physically and mentally. Packing a truck so that items don’t shift and break is difficult.

Budget movers often rely on inexperienced labor that means any bump on the road will mean hundreds if not thousands of dollars of damage to your priceless belongings.  

3. Budget Movers = Unlicensed and Unprofessional

local moving icon

Insurance

Licensed movers have to carry insurance that can compensate customers when their belongings, home, or others' property are damaged.

Dolly icon

Broken stuff? Good luck

Budget movers often operate under the radar, which means that if your belongings get broken or your truck disappears, you’re out of luck… with many getting reimbursed $50 for expensive broken TVs

Briefcase

Why go with professional movers

Movers with an extensive online presence are going to hunt down any stealing mover and get your stuff back, and have the insurance to compensate you if something breaks.

Learn More

“The packing and the loading process went off without a hitch, and I was on my merry little way to my new state,” says Kyle. “The problem occurred the first night I stopped at a hotel for a few hours of sleep. Thieves broke the lock off the back of the UHaul and managed to get away with a few things.”

4. Risk of long wait times to receive your items

Van lines will combine loads so that your belongings may have a long wait on the truck getting to your new home. Who wants to wait two weeks for their things to arrive, without an accurate ETA?

Licensed, professional movers with dedicated moving trucks will get your belongings to their destination promptly. Your belongings will typically arrive at your new home just as quickly as you do.

5. Your belongings may disappear

Reputable movers double and triple-check to make sure that everything is loaded on and off the truck. Budget movers may ask you if they’ve got everything, but leave it at that.

Because budget movers often combine loads, they can also mix up whose belongings are who. There’s nothing worse than getting someone else’s closet.

6. Risk of damage to your home

Unlicensed, low-cost movers don’t care about the boxes they throw or the walls and doors they ding or worse.

If the damage is in the home you just sold, taking the time to fix it is doubly maddening or maybe even impossible.

Professional movers will take extra care to make sure both your old and new home are undamaged.

Choose Movers you can trust

We wrote this with the hope a moving disaster won’t happen to you.

We’ve researched the moving industry extensively, and found licensed, insured, and well-reviewed movers who can provide affordable, reliable moves. See our recommendations, and get a free quote today.