Most Affordable Moving Companies of 2024

CitizenShipper CitizenShipper · Updated November 12, 2024

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Moving companies are usually an essential requirement for moving house. At their most basic they provide a form of transport to shift your belongings from one place to another, at their most rigorous they provide packing materials, assistance in loading all your belongings, insurance, and help setting up your new home. No matter how far you move, or how big your budget – moving companies are going to take a significant amount of your budget. So when you just have a small budget, you might ask yourself, what moving company is the cheapest?

The cost of moving will always depend on how many items you have to move, where you live, how far you are moving, and what time of the year it is, so overall costs of each move will vary. A lot of moving companies are very expensive, but in this article, we will show you some affordable options!

How to Choose an Affordable Moving Company

Researching a moving company can be really hard – the prices on their website might not reflect your personal scenario, their insurance policies are confusing, their communication systems out of date. An easy easy way to find the most affordable moving company in your area is to use a marketplace service such as CitizenShipper. CitizenShipper isn’t a moving company, but a place where moving companies of all sizes can advertise their services in a way that makes it super easy for you to compare them. Ignore their individual websites, and simply review all your options in one place.

You simply post the details of your move into the CitizenShipper marketplace. This includes the number of items, rooms, from which city you move where, and pictures of bulky items. The marketplace covers everything from interstate full-house moves to the transportation of single heavy items. Independent movers and cheap moving companies will contact you directly and you can choose the best-suited driver for you and your budget.  Being able to see all the options together can help you find which moving company is the cheapest. The marketplace offers an easy communication tool via chat, so you can negotiate the price and terms of your move easily. It isn’t just moving companies, small businesses and individuals can also bid for your move, so you can support locally owned business too. 

Why Are Some Companies More Expensive Than Others?

When you start getting quotes for your move, you’ll notice that the prices can range a lot. From affordable all the way up to eye-watering. So what makes these prices range so much and how can you find the cheapest moving company while still having peace of mind. To answer that question, we first need to understand what informs quotes of different price points. 

The Size of the Company

The size of your moving company will influence the quote they are able to provide. BUT there isn’t a hard and fast rule about which size has the best deals. For example, a large, well-known company might be able to offer a good deal because they can access cheaper fuel prices and insurance deals due to their size. However, they may also be locked into specific prices that can’t be negotiated by local branches of the company, so they don’t take into account the specific circumstances of your move. 

On the other hand, a local company will be able to more accurately assess your move and provide a quote based exactly on the work they need to do rather than follow set guidelines. However, they are likely paying the same fuel prices, etc as you are – sp this could increase the overall quote they provide. 

The Service They Offer

Another huge factor that influences the price of movers is exactly what service they offer. Do they offer simply a moving service – ie are you paying essentially for a large taxi to transport your belongings? Or are you investing in the labor of several people who will carry, load, drive, and unpack your boxes and household items? Knowing exactly what you need and getting a quote for will really help you find the cheapest moving company. 

The Reputation of the Company 

Is the company that you are looking at established and well-known or is it a local small business with niche clientele and not much brand awareness? While both can still help provide you with a good quote – it’s important to check the reviews of the company you are considering to use before you commit. Do they have lots of happy customers? Have they shipped in your area before? Do they have experience with your type of unusual items? Reading reviews will help you understand what kind of value you can expect from the price you will pay. On CitizenShipper you can check the reviews from the drivers and companies that provided you quotes to see their recent activity. CitizenShipper ensures that all the review systems are fair and works for both drivers and shippers to tell the whole story. 

Conclusion

Finding the most affordable moving company isn’t just about picking the cheapest price. Next time you are looking for a cheap way to move, remember the aspects discussed here that can influence the price and your decision. Consider using CitizenShipper to take advantage of its features that allow you to easily compare quotes from moving companies so you can fully understand their service and make a decision that best suits your budget.