International Moving Companies Compared: How to Choose (and What It Really Costs)

On this page

1. The five types of international moving service
2. International moving companies to get quotes from
3. What does an international move cost?
4. How to check an international mover is legitimate
5. How to compare quotes properly
6. Insurance and valuation: what's actually covered
7. Customs: what to know before you ship
8. Ship it, sell it or store it?
9. A timeline for an international move
10. FAQ

If you're moving countries to close the distance, you're probably juggling a visa process, a job change and an emotional goodbye at the same time as the move itself. The good news: most couples moving abroad for love don't need a huge, expensive door-to-door move. Many ship a few boxes and rebuild the rest. This guide helps you work out which kind of move you actually need, then how to vet whoever does it.

The five types of international moving service

International moving companies to get quotes from

These are well-known examples of each category. None is right for everyone; some won't serve your route at all. Get quotes from at least three, ideally mixing types.

Large full-service international movers

• Allied International and North American International: long-established van-line brands with international networks of agents. Service quality depends partly on the local agents at each end, so ask who will actually handle your goods.
• Atlas: another large US van line with international services through its agent network.
• International Van Lines: a US-based mover that markets door-to-door international moves to private customers.
• Local members of FIDI or IAM in your origin city. Big brands often subcontract to these firms anyway; going direct can sometimes be cheaper, and the person who surveys your home may be the person who packs it.

Corporate relocation specialists

• Crown World Mobility (Crown Relocations), SIRVA and similar firms mainly work with employers. If your company is paying, ask HR who they use; private customers can sometimes book them, usually at a premium.

Container and DIY-style options

• Container services such as U-Pack serve a limited set of destinations outside the contiguous US (check their site for the current list). Where they're available, you load and they move.
• Freight forwarders and consolidators on major routes (US–UK, US–Europe, Australia–UK and so on) offer shared-container and port-to-port options. Quality varies a lot, so vet them carefully.

Small moves

• Your airline's excess or extra baggage is often the cheapest way to move a handful of bags, especially if you book it in advance.
• Luggage and box shipping services carry suitcases and boxes door to door by courier or air cargo. Compare against excess baggage for your route.

Moving within the US rather than abroad? See our guides to shipping belongings cross-country and moving truck rental.

What does an international move cost?

The honest answer is "it depends" more than almost any other moving cost. These are rough ballparks for planning only, as of 2026:

What pushes the price up or down

• Volume (cubic feet or cubic meters) more than weight for sea freight; weight matters more for air.
• Route: busy port-to-port routes are cheaper than remote destinations or inland delivery.
• Season: summer and month-end are busiest.
• Access: stairs, long carries, narrow streets needing a shuttle truck, elevator bookings.
• Destination charges: port fees, customs clearance and inspections, sometimes billed separately at the other end. Ask whether the quote is truly door to door.
• Packing: professional packing adds cost but can affect insurance claims; check before you pack yourself.
• Storage if your housing or visa timing doesn't line up.

Build the result into your moving budget, alongside visa fees, flights and the deposit on your new place.

How to check an international mover is legitimate

International moves attract more than their share of brokers who resell your job, lowball quotes that balloon later, and outright scams. Check these before you sign anything:

1. US ocean shipping license. Companies arranging ocean shipments from the US as forwarders or NVOCCs should be licensed or registered with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). Ask for their FMC license number and look it up in the FMC's directory of ocean transportation intermediaries.
2. US interstate leg. If the mover trucks your goods across state lines to the port, they need a USDOT number registered with the FMCSA. Check it on FMCSA's Protect Your Move site, and see whether they're listed as a carrier or a broker.
3. Trade bodies. Membership of the International Association of Movers (IAM) or FIDI (whose FAIM quality certification requires an audit) is a good sign. Outside the US, look for national associations, such as the British Association of Removers in the UK. Check membership on the association's own website, not just a logo on the mover's.
4. A real survey. Reputable movers do an in-home or live video survey before giving a firm quote. A price from a web form alone is a guess.
5. Who actually moves it. Ask whether they handle the job themselves or pass it to agents, and get the names of the origin and destination agents.
6. Reviews about your route. Look for recent reviews mentioning the same countries, and how the company handled problems.

Red flags

• A quote far below the others, especially without a survey
• A large deposit, or payment only by wire transfer or cash
• No physical address you can verify, or a name that doesn't match the license records
• Vague answers on destination charges and customs
• Pressure to book today for a "special price"
• Refusing to give you the contract or valuation terms in writing before booking

How to compare quotes properly

Quotes can look very different on paper. Line them up in a spreadsheet with the same headings:

• Volume estimate (cubic feet or meters): are they quoting for the same amount?
• Door to door, or port to port? Which destination charges are excluded?
• Packing included? Materials included?
• Shipping method: dedicated container, shared, or air?
• Estimated transit time and what happens if it's late
• Customs clearance at both ends: included, and who prepares the documents?
• Storage-in-transit costs per week or month
• Insurance or valuation options, deductibles and claim deadlines
• Payment schedule and cancellation terms

Ask each company the same questions:

• What exactly is not included in this price?
• Is the price binding, or can it change after loading?
• Who is my single point of contact from pickup to delivery?
• What items won't you ship, and what's restricted at my destination?
• How do claims work, and what's the deadline?
• Can you give me references from recent customers on this route?

Insurance and valuation: what's actually covered

Basic carrier liability on international moves is often very limited, sometimes calculated per kilogram or per package rather than on what your things are worth. Marine or transit insurance covering replacement value is usually extra, and it may exclude items you packed yourself or only cover total loss. Read the policy before you decide what to pack and what to carry. Our moving insurance guide explains valuation, deductibles and claims.

Customs: what to know before you ship

• Transfer-of-residence relief. Many countries let people who are moving their main home import used personal belongings without duty, under conditions such as minimum ownership periods and residence abroad. The UK, EU countries, Canada, Australia and the US all have versions. Check the destination customs authority's website.
• Timing with your visa. Some countries want you to have your residence permit before your goods clear customs. If your visa is delayed, your shipment can sit in storage, charging fees. Coordinate the shipping date with your immigration timeline.
• Inventory. You'll usually need a detailed packing list; vague entries like "misc. kitchen" can trigger inspections.
• Restricted items. Food, plants, soil (including on garden tools and hiking boots), alcohol, medications, weapons and some wooden items are commonly restricted. Australia and New Zealand are especially strict.
• Cars: shipping a vehicle internationally is often expensive and may involve import taxes and modifications. Price it against selling and buying locally.

Ship it, sell it or store it?

Our guide to selling your stuff before a move covers how to do it quickly.

A timeline for an international move

1. 3–4 months before: decide what to ship; request surveys and quotes; check customs rules and your visa timing.
2. 2–3 months before: vet and book the mover; start selling; arrange insurance.
3. 4–6 weeks before: confirm dates; prepare inventory and customs paperwork; pack non-essentials.
4. Moving week: packing and pickup; carry documents and valuables yourself; photograph high-value items.
5. On arrival: clear customs (with your mover's help), schedule delivery, check every item against the inventory, and file claims within the deadline.

Plan to live out of suitcases for a month or two while the shipment is at sea. It's a good time to settle in with your partner without boxes everywhere; our guide to the first 30 days living together covers the rest.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move internationally?

It depends mainly on volume, distance, route and service level. As a rough ballpark, a few boxes sent as excess baggage or by a luggage-shipping service can be a few hundred dollars, a shared-container shipment of a small apartment often runs low-to-mid thousands, and a full door-to-door container move of a family home commonly reaches five figures. Get at least three written quotes for your specific route.

How long does an international move take?

Sea freight is the slowest: door to door, many moves take somewhere between about four and twelve weeks, longer for shared containers that wait to fill or for routes with transshipment and customs delays. Air freight is much faster, often one to two weeks, but far more expensive. Pack a suitcase of essentials to live on while your shipment is in transit.

Do I have to pay import duty on my belongings when moving abroad?

Often not on used personal belongings if you're genuinely changing residence, because many countries offer a transfer-of-residence relief. Conditions usually apply: you must have owned and used the items for a minimum period, lived abroad for a set time, and file the right customs form. New items, vehicles, alcohol and tobacco are commonly taxed. Check the destination's customs website or ask your mover.

Should I ship my furniture overseas or sell it?

Sell most of it unless it's valuable, sentimental or hard to replace. Shipping costs scale with volume, ordinary flat-pack furniture is usually cheaper to rebuy than to ship, and voltage and plug differences make many appliances useless abroad. Ship what you love and what's expensive to replace; sell or donate the rest.