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We looked for the best do-it-yourself moving companies based on more than a dozen factors, including things such as whether they offer reliable quotes online, have consumer-friendly payment policies, provide predictable deliveries and have low customer complaint rates. U-Haul’s U-Box scored the highest in our rubric, making it our top pick.
Some common themes:
Most of the companies we reviewed don’t require an upfront deposit – but some do.
Some of the companies charge a fee to pay with a credit card.
Many of the companies don’t let you track the location of your in-transit container in real-time. You may want to consider getting an Apple Air Tag or similar tracking device and putting it inside the things you put in the container.
A few of the companies we reviewed offer additional services, such as packing, unpacking, car shipping, storage or junk removal – but often these services are actually farmed out to third-party companies.
U-Box, offered by U-Haul, is the highest-rated do-it-yourself mover in the group. We like that it doesn’t ask for all your contact information in order to get a quote online, there’s no fee to pay with a credit card and the company has wide geographical breadth within the U.S. and Canada. The company also offers day-certain delivery on its U-Box offering, which is a big plus (a U-Box is a container you rent, fill yourself and have the company ship to a destination you specify). Customer complaints to the Better Business Bureau are relatively high compared to other DIY and container moving companies we reviewed, though complaints to the Department of Transportation were relatively low.
A U-Box container.
Smartbox is owned by SIRVA, which also owns Allied Van Lines and Allied Express (which also does DIY and container shipping). We like that you can get a binding quote and day-certain delivery, plus there’s no upfront deposit or fee to use a credit card. However, Smartbox only does business in about half the country, and (like some of its competitors) you can’t track the real-time status of your shipment online.
A smartbox container.
We like PODS for its pricing and payment policies (no deposit, no fee to pay with a credit card), though you can’t get a reliable quote online without supplying personal information and talking to a salesperson. Nonetheless, PODS has a relatively high geographical breadth within the U.S., and people with narrow moving windows may like that PODS provides day-certain delivery. Some downsides are that the company gets a relatively high number of Better Business Bureau complaints, and it doesn’t ship cars or offer packing services.
A PODS container.
U-Pack is owned by ArcBest, which is an Arkansas-based freight and logistics company. We really like how easy it is to get a firm quote from the company online, plus there’s no deposit required and the company’s complaint history with the Better Business Bureau and U.S. Department of Transportation is better than most of the companies we reviewed. However, you have to pay extra for day-certain delivery and the company doesn’t disclose (and didn’t respond to our questions about) whether it charges a fee to use a credit card or whether you can track the location of your stuff in real-time.
Two U-Pack containers.
Allied Express is part of Allied Van Lines, which is a full-service moving company that’s owned by SIRVA. That’s a perk, because Allied Express customers also get help with packing or unpacking and can add car shipping, storage and debris removal. We also like that the company pays customers $75 a day if Allied is late on a delivery. One notable downside is that this company charges a fee to use a credit card. Customer ratings were average compared to other companies we reviewed.
on 1-800-PACK-RAT's website
This company, which is headquartered in North Carolina, also owns Zippy Shell. We like that the company offers storage space for your container if you need it, but it offers few other additional services. It operates in 34 states and Washington, D.C., so some customers might have a hard time finding a location. We like that the company includes a free no-cut security lock and $10,000 of contents protection with long-distance moves. However, you have to pay extra for a guaranteed delivery date, and the customer complaints record with the BBB and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) aren’t as good as most other companies we reviewed.
A 1-800-PACK-RAT container.
Go Mini’s is a container shipping company headquartered in Westlake Village, California. The company was one of the best of the group we reviewed when it comes to BBB and DOT complaints, but the company doesn’t disclose (and wouldn’t respond to our questions about) whether it requires upfront deposits, whether it charges a fee to use a credit card or whether it provides binding quotes.
Container on Wheels is headquartered in Homestead, Florida. It didn’t make our list because it discloses so little to consumers about its pricing, payment policies, features and services. It didn’t respond to our questions about these things, and the only way customers can contact the company is via phone.
Often, movers give an estimated delivery window that can span several days, particularly with long-distance moves. This may work for some, but if your stuff has to be somewhere by a certain day or else, hearing “we’ll do our best” doesn't cut it. This is why some movers offer day-certain delivery, which guarantees that your stuff will show up on a specific day.
If you want to know exactly where your truckload is, some companies let customers track their shipments in real-time, usually through the company’s app. This is a good tool because it can give you an early indication of whether your things are going to show up on time, which can prepare you to deal with any fallout from a delay.
Can track location of in-transit container in real-time online | Offers day-certain delivery | Payment per day for late delivery | |
|---|---|---|---|
U-Haul/U-Box | No. | Yes. | $50. |
Smartbox | No. | Yes. | $50 after fourth day late, up to 30% of total move cost. |
PODS | No. | Yes. | Case-by-case if rescheduled to a different day. |
U-Pack | No response from company. | Yes. | No response from company. |
Allied Express | No response from company. | Yes. | $75. |
1-800-PACK-RAT | On day of delivery, customer can communicate in real time with the delivery team via phone, email or text. | For $50. | $50 total (not per day). |
Legitimate moving companies are registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), which is part of the Department of Transportation and regulates household movers. States also regulate household movers. You can see if a mover is registered with the FMCSA by searching its database.
The FMSCA doesn’t act as a consumer advocate against movers, meaning that you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation, but they won’t necessarily argue with the movers on your behalf. If you have a dispute, check your contract to determine whether you have to engage in arbitration with the mover or if you have to take legal action.
The mover gives you a quote without inspecting your belongings.
The mover tells you they’ll give you the cost after they load the truck.
The mover wants a big deposit before the move.
The mover wants you to sign forms that aren’t filled in.
The mover doesn’t give you a copy of “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” and “Ready to Move,” which are brochures that federal laws require movers to supply to customers.
The mover’s website doesn’t have a local address, registration information or insurance information.
The movers tell you their insurance covers your stuff (“full value protection” is not insurance).
The movers don’t answer the phone with the name of the company you hired.
The movers don’t have an office.
The movers show up with a rented truck instead of one with the company logo on it.
The movers claim you have more stuff than what they put in the estimate.
Methodology
