The Best International Moving Companies To Plan Your Relocation Abroad

Final Verdict

After considering all the different qualities and features that make up a great international moving company, we believe that International Van Lines' ability to offer services in over 140 countries makes it a standout. The company also offers instant online quotes, in addition to exceptional coverage for all your belongings. Although International Van Lines is our pick for best overall, if you have a vehicle you need to move, or you want a convenient mobile app at your disposal, the other competitors on this list will likely fulfill your specific needs. 

Compare the Best International Moving Companies

Factors to Consider When Choosing an International Moving Company

Selecting an international moving company requires you to consider a number of factors, and they usually boil down to a simple question: What exactly do you need? It may not be easy to anticipate what you'll need if this is your first time moving abroad, but these are the top factors to think about when narrowing down your list of possible companies to select.

Service Area

There are many wonderful countries, but not every one of them is serviced by the companies on this list. So the first factor to consider is whether or not a specific moving company can accommodate your move based on your origin and destination country. The only ways to determine this are to visit a company's website for a quote or call the company directly to discuss the specifics.

Packing and Loading Services

Most moving companies can accommodate full-, partial-, or self-service moves. A good rule of thumb when it comes to moving companies is that the more work you're willing to do personally, the more money you'll save. Generally, partial- and self-service moves will save you some money since both involve work from your end (usually packing). However, a full-service move, which includes everything from packing to unloading, will likely run you a high price. Determine how much work you're willing to do yourself in order to both narrow down company options and help determine cost estimates.

Initial Deposit

Moving internationally can be expensive, so decide sooner rather than later whether you're willing and/or able to pay upfront deposit costs. Deposits are not necessarily an indication of how good or bad a moving company might be, but it's a variable that can impact which companies are suitable for you.

Vehicle Relocation

All of the companies on this list will relocate your car for you, but not all of them are willing to move a specialty vehicle like an ATV or Jet Ski. If you have any unusual vehicles you'd like shipped across the world, be sure to discuss them with a customer service representative at each company you're considering to ensure it can handle the request.

Customer Service

While it's a given that any customer wants great customer service from companies they are paying, a more relevant question when it comes to international movers is whether or not they can accommodate inquiries at times that are convenient for you. As you go about your day or as your time zones change during your move, some companies may not be able to get back to you as soon as you'd like or need. Consider how important 24/7 customer service is to you and decide if it's a requirement.

What Impacts the Cost of an International Move?

Moving abroad is generally pretty expensive, but a variety of factors can influence the overall cost. To help you understand how companies arrive at cost estimates and to hopefully assist in bringing down your costs, these are the most important factors to consider: 

• Weight: You can get a sense of how expensive your move might be based on the amount of stuff you're moving. To cut costs, it's usually recommended that you sell heavy, non-valuable items, and only ship the items you really want or need.
• Distance: Distance is nearly always a factor in determining moving costs. It impacts fuel costs for trucks and determines whether your items will be sent via air or sea. 
• Customs regulations: Depending on which countries you are moving to and from, there may be some additional fees incurred due to customs rules and regulations.
• Storage: If you need your items stored, whether long- or short-term, this will definitely increase costs, as the majority of moving companies do not offer free storage options.
• Insurance coverage: All moving companies offer some level of insurance coverage, but the specifics will vary—you might want to consider paying more for better coverage.
• Vehicles: Vehicles are not typically included in standard moving estimates, so if you're looking to relocate a car or SUV, this will add to the overall cost.

Methodology

In order to compile a list of the best international moving companies, our research team made dozens of customer service calls and enlisted the help of data collectors to fill in the blanks for more than 30 criteria points. These included nationwide availability, storage options, valuation coverage offerings, and customer support channels.

Each criteria point was assigned a weight, then grouped into one of six categories:

• Customer experience (23 percent) 
• Coverage and types of moves offered (20 percent)
• Moving services (20 percent)
• Pricing/price transparency (20 percent)
• Insurance/protection (10 percent)
• Reputation (7 percent)

Scores were calculated based on these weights, and companies were ultimately given a rating out of five stars. To ensure that the information presented is accurate, two or more data collectors verified the research. This page will be updated with any changes to the highlighted companies' offerings.