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Best Moving Companies in South Carolina

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Written by Shane Sentelle + 1 other Reviewed by Kent Sisneros Updated 10/30/2024

Moving can be stressful. Packing up all of your belongings, loading them on a truck, and driving to a new location requires many moving parts. A moving company can help lighten your load and give some peace of mind that your possessions will be protected on the journey to your new home.

There are dozens of reputable moving companies available to help homeowners in South Carolina, and each company offers a different range of services. In this article, we’ll help you make sense of the moving industry, providing a recommendation for five top companies in South Carolina.

Top 7 Moving Companies in South Carolina

Through in-depth research, we determined that the best moving companies in South Carolina are:

Best Full-Service Mover: International Van Lines
Best Overall Moving Labor: American Van Lines
Best Specialized Packing: JK Moving Services
Best for Vehicle Relocation: Allied Van Lines
Best for Claims: North American Van Lines
Best Self-Service Mover: 1-800-PACK-RAT
Convenience: PODS

Compare Moving Companies in South Carolina


Our Pick International Van Lines Visit Site
American Van Lines Visit Site
JK Moving Services Visit Site
Allied Van Lines Visit Site
North American Van Lines Visit Site
1-800-PACK-RAT Visit Site
Overall Rating	4.5 / 5 #1 out of 28 companies	4.3 / 5 #2 out of 28 companies	4.7 / 5 #3 out of 28 companies	5 / 5 #4 out of 28 companies	4.8 / 5 #5 out of 28 companies	4.3 / 5 #6 out of 28 companies
BBB Rating	A+	A+	A+	A+	A+	A+
FMCSA Licensing	Carrier/Broker	Carrier	Carrier	Carrier	Carrier/Broker	Carrier/Broker
Average Price*	$5,250	$5,625	$7,171	$5,370	$5,969	$2,547
Deposit Required	Up to 25%	Up to 50%	$250	None	None	Varies
Pros	Flexible insurance plans Free month of storage Upfront pricing	Hires movers who average 10 years of experience Provides fixed-rate quotes Trains its employees regularly to efficiently handle special packing and crating	Background-checked movers Financing available Intuitive AI-assisted online quote tool	Climate-controlled storage facilities Expedited relocation services In-house vehicle shipping	Budget-planning service No deposit Only provides binding estimates	Customized rental periods are available Offers price-matching for comparable services from competitors, such as PODS Containers are made entirely of steel to better protect belongings from weather damage
Cons	Below-average customer reviews Outsources some moves Requires up to a 25% deposit	Charges higher average prices Has limited customer service on weekends Requires a deposit of up to 50% of the total cost	Higher-than-average pricing Long quote process No refund on your deposit	Misleading quote tool No weekend support Slow claims process	Items may take 10–14 days to arrive Limited storage services according to zip code Three-day requirement for cancellations	Can only do long-distance moves with an 8-foot container Requires a deposit for long-distance moves Services aren't available in all states
Summary	We recommend International Van Lines (IVL) if you want the most moving service options possible. The company boasts one of the most extensive moving service catalogs at highly competitive rates.	We recommend American Van Lines if you’re moving high-end items or antiques because it focuses on training its staff to move difficult and valuable items.	We recommend JK Moving Services for its ability to offer financing options through its partnership with Enhancify and its high-end, white-glove packing services.	We recommend Allied if you want to ship a vehicle due to the company’s in-house vehicle relocation services.	We recommend North American Van Lines (NAVL) as the best long-distance mover overall because of its customizable insurance packages, highly rated customer service, and extensive service options.	We recommend 1-800-PACK-RAT for partial-service moves because of its simple and affordable storage and transportation solutions.
Rating Categories	International Van Lines	American Van Lines	JK Moving Services	Allied Van Lines	North American Van Lines	1-800-PACK-RAT
Customer Service	5 / 5	4.4 / 5	4.4 / 5	4.4 / 5	4.4 / 5	3.6 / 5
Reputation	4.3 / 5	3.9 / 5	5 / 5	3.9 / 5	3.6 / 5	4.7 / 5
Value	2.8 / 5	3.3 / 5	3.1 / 5	4.7 / 5	4.7 / 5	5 / 5
Service Offerings	4.7 / 5	4.7 / 5	4.7 / 5	5 / 5	5 / 5	5 / 5
Item Protection	5 / 5	5 / 5	5 / 5	5 / 5	5 / 5	2 / 5
Scheduling	4.1 / 5	2.3 / 5	5 / 5	5 / 5	5 / 5	4.1 / 5

Reviews of the Top Moving Companies in South Carolina

International Van Lines

Best Service Offerings

4.5

International Van Lines is our top choice for a full-service mover in South Carolina and offers help during every step of your moving experience. A team of professional movers can pack and unpack, load and unload, transport, and protect your most important possessions.

While you’ll pay slightly more for full-service movers, you won’t need to lift a finger with International Van Lines.

Pros and Cons

Pros Full-service moves from start to finish Provides adjustable contents protection plans Offers specialty services for moving antiques, pianos, artwork, and more Cons More expensive than DIY moving options Is a better option for cross-country moves rather than local moves

Services

International Van Lines’ full-service moving packages include every step of your moving process, but if additional services are needed, IVL has several options, including:

Local moving
Long-distance moving
Auto transport
International moving
B2B shipping
Packing supplies
Air freight services
Corporate and military relocation
Packing, loading, and unloading
Transportation of fragile items

Cost

We received an estimate for a three-bedroom move in South Carolina through IVL for $4,200–$6,150. This is merely a rough estimate, so we recommend getting a free online quote from IVL for a more accurate rate.

American Van Lines

Best Overall Moving Labor

4.3

American Van Lines is another full-service mover capable of long-distance moves to almost anywhere in the country.

All American Van Lines employees are professionally trained in an AVL-owned sample house, and all of your fragile items will be well-protected by AVL’s experienced movers.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers a free month of storage for long-distance moves Movers have an average of 10 years of experience Provides free virtual in-home estimates Cons More expensive than self-service moving Its upfront deposit ranges from 10%-50% of the total moving cost

Services

American Van Lines’ services include:

Local moving
Long-distance moving
Corporate relocation services
Military moving
International moving
Commercial moving
Antique and piano moving
Storage solutions

Cost

American Van Lines does not offer instant cost information. We recommend getting in touch with a moving coordinator for more information. Fill out this online form for a free quote from AVL.

JK Moving Services

Best Specialized Packing

4.7

JK Moving Services is a full-service mover like International Van Lines, and it’s our top choice for customization on the full-service side of the moving industry. JK Moving appoints a move coordinator to build a custom move plan to efficiently move your belongings.

The company offers both full- and partial-packing services. All shipments are GPS tracked, as well.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers customized full-service moves A move coordinator assigned to each move Provides GPS tracking Cons Quotes are difficult to obtain online Customer reviews vary by location

Services

These are JK Moving’s customizable services for South Carolina residents:

Packing and unpacking
Loading and unloading
Long-distance moves
International moves
Corporate relocation services
Commercial and office moves
Government moves
Storage

Cost

K Moving does not offer instant estimates on its website. However, sales agents can be reached for more information. To get an accurate rate, we recommend having an inventory list ready, as your move’s cost will depend on the size and distance of your move, among other factors.

Allied Van Lines

Best for Vehicle Relocation

Allied Van Lines specializes in long-distance moving but can also handle local moves. Outdoor enthusiasts can bring their boat, RV, or ATV with them to the Palmetto State using Allied’s vehicle transport service.

Allied Van Lines can accommodate most kinds of vehicles, including watercraft, motorcycles and ATVs, RVs, vans, cars, SUVs, and trucks. And since Allied owns its own fleet of open and enclosed vehicle carriers, customers can coordinate their vehicle transport directly with the company instead of a third-party provider.

Pros and Cons

Pros Provides vehicle coverage of up to $100,000 with no deductible Includes Basic Liability Protection on all of its moves for free Offers a fragile-only pack option Cons Doesn’t offer 24/7 claims support Better suited for long-distance moving

Services

Allied’s list of services includes:

International moving
Packing and unpacking
Loading and unloading
Debris removal
Boxes and moving supplies
Full-valuation coverage
Appliance disconnection and reconnection

Cost

Allied Van Lines offers an a la carte-style approach to moving, but basic-price moves include: an assigned relocation consultant; loading, transport, and unloading of your items; and minimum protection coverage. Services like full-valuation coverage and packing and unpacking are only available at an additional cost.

According to Allied’s online moving calculator, moving the contents of a two-bedroom home from Columbia, South Carolina, to Olympia, Washington, in early March would cost between $6,594 and $7,544.

To get a free quote from Allied Van Lines, take this quick online survey.

North American Van Lines

Best for Claims

4.8

North American Van Lines provides services throughout the entire U.S., as well as 130 countries worldwide. In addition to basic services—loading, transport, and unloading—customers can choose from add-on options like full-service packing, cleaning, and storage.

North American offers special rates for American Legion and union members and their families, and it has an easy online or over-the-phone claims process for both domestic and international claims.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers customizable moving packages through a variety of optional add-on services Uses crane vans to handle large equipment without a loading dock Has an online library of moving resources, including how-to videos and checklists Cons Storage options are based on local availability and can be limited Moving experience varies depending on your location and local moving contractor

Services

North American’s list of moving services includes:

Packing and unpacking
Loading and unloading
Mobile storage containers
House cleaning
Fragile-only Packing
Short- and long-term storage

Cost

North American’s cost estimates are based on distance, as well as the total size and weight of what you will be moving. Special handling of any items is also factored into the quote. No upfront deposit is required.

Prices range from $3,556 to $4,049 to move a two-bedroom home with a medium or average quantity of items from Charleston, South Carolina, to Chicago, Illinois, early in the summer season.

For a free quote from North American Van Lines, complete this quick online form.

1-800-PACK-RAT

Best Self-Service Mover

4.3

1-800-PACK-RAT is a self-service mover that offers three sizes of moving containers for homeowners to load on their own time. Depending on the size of your move, 1-800-PACK-RAT will drop off an appropriately sized container for you to load. When you’re ready to move, 1-800-PACK-RAT will pick up your weather-resistant container and either transport it to a storage facility or your new home.

Pros and Cons

Pros Customers can load at their own pace Offers moving labor through HireAHelper Offers a no-cut security lock free with every long distance move Cons Not available nationwide Offers moving labor through third-party companies

Services

1-800-PACK-RAT can mimic full-service companies by providing local moving labor, although it is appointed through third parties. 1-800-PACK-RAT has storage facilities in dozens of states, and it can provide storage solutions for most moves. Here’s a list of 1-800-PACK-RAT’s services:

Moving labor
Portable storage containers
Short- and long-term storage solutions
Moving supplies
Car shipping services

Cost

We received a quote for $406 for a 12-foot container and $426 for a 16-foot container. This includes a month’s reservation for your container and transportation to your new home.

If you need additional time with your container, it costs $199 and $219 per month, respectively. For a more accurate estimate, fill out this online form.

PODS

Convenience

4.2

PODS is a container delivery service, similar to 1-800-PACK-RAT. PODS provides maximum convenience for homeowners who need flexibility in their moves.

PODS offers storage through a nationwide network of storage facilities, and your container can be delivered to either your new home or placed in secure storage until needed.

Pros and Cons

Pros Has a simple sign-up process Can deliver containers to a storage unit or your new home Has a transparent quote process Cons Moving labor only available through third-party companies Availability and pricing can vary based on the time of year

Services

PODS offers the following services:

Local moving
Long-distance moving
Short- and long-term storage
Packing and loading assistance (through a third-party company)
On-site self storage containers

Cost

PODS gave us a quote of $346 for a three-bedroom move in South Carolina. If you need extra storage, it costs $199 to keep the container for another month, which is a convenient measure of flexibility.

Our Conclusion

If you need help with your South Carolina move, consider hiring one of the companies on our list. If you are moving from South Carolina into the nearby states of North Carolina or Georgia, check out our top picks for moving companies in North Carolina or our top recommended movers in Georgia. We recommend getting a free quote from a few different companies to help you compare moving options and pricing. We also recommend building a home inventory list. Since every move is different, having more information at your disposal can help you make the savviest decision possible.

FAQ About Moving Companies in South Carolina

Is full-service moving worth it?

Full-service moving will almost always be more expensive than self-service moving companies, such as PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT. However, hiring a full-service moving company could be a worthwhile investment since your belongings will be better protected and you’ll be able to relax during your move.

How far in advance should I book my moving service?

Many companies advise to book movers at least a month in advance. This helps secure your truck or container for your moving day. During busier moving times, such as the summer, you’ll want to book your movers as early as possible, once you know the dates of your move.

How can I get an accurate estimate for my move?

Moving companies will price your move according to the distance of your move, the number of rooms you’re moving, and the weight of your belongings. Additional services, such as car transportation or moving fragile items, may also affect your rate. For this reason, we recommend making a home inventory and requesting a quote from at least three different moving companies in your area.

Other Considerations When Moving in South Carolina

If you’re moving to South Carolina, we’ll provide you with resources below to help you hit the ground running. After your moving company helps you move in, consider investing in a home warranty, homeowners insurance, and pest control to make homeownership as pain-free as possible.

Our Rating Methodology

We back up our moving company ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each company. We conduct research by reading through the company websites, analyzing customer reviews, conducting consumer surveys, requesting quotes, and speaking with customer representatives. We then score each moving company against our review standards for services, contents coverage, scheduling, trailer and container options, additional benefits, and reputation to arrive at a final score out of 100.

Why Trust Us? We conducted 4,800+ hours of research on moving companies and crafted a ranking system based on the following research

Companies Considered

1000

Homeowners Surveyed

21000

Reviews Analyzed

Providers Compared

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at [email protected].