Hello World! Welcome Friends! The prospect of moving out of state or across the country is equally exciting as it is scary. Moving is expensive even if you move across town, so moving long-distance is a big commitment. That’s why so many people understandably want to explore the cheapest long-distance moving options.
The cheapest long-distance moving option is to rent a moving truck and load it without professional help. That costs an average of $1,750, but the cost varies based on distance, mileage, insurance, and truck size. Another great option is to rent a portable storage container, such as a PODS, which costs up to $5,700.
Many homeowners perform hybrid moves where they pack everything, rent a truck, and hire movers to load the truck. It’s always helpful to downsize your belongings before you move to save space and money. Follow along as we explore the cheapest and best long-distance moving options.
How to Save Money on Your Long-Distance Move
1. PODS Rental
Portable On Demand Storage, or PODS makes it easy to move across the country cheaply. These large portable storage containers come in a variety of sizes. You can expect to spend up to $5,700 for a long-distance PODS rental.
While that may seem like a lot, you can easily spend over $12,000 for a professional long-distance move. How much your PODS rental costs depends on the size of the unit. For example, an 8-foot container costs $268 for the unit and delivery fee.
The 16-foot container is the largest unit, and the baseline cost is $328. Distance is another important cost factor, and a 500-mile move costs an average of $3,230. You can expect to spend over $8,000 if the move exceeds 2,000 miles. Even still, this is an affordable option for any long-distance move.
2. Rent a Moving Truck
Renting a truck is one of the cheapest long-distance moving options, but it requires a lot of work. This DIY method ensures that you can save thousands of dollars, but you also won’t have any help. The average long-distance truck rental cost is $1,750.
However, it varies based on distance, fuel, and what type of truck you rent. For example, a 10-foot truck rental costs as little as $30 per day whereas a 22-foot truck costs $100 to rent per day. Granted, that doesn’t include the cost of fuel and mileage.
You can expect to spend up to $1.00 per mile to rent a truck for a long-distance move. It’s worth the extra cost of insurance when you rent a truck for a long-distance move. Truck rental insurance costs between $14 and $40 per day.
3. Go the Hybrid Move Route
According to Optimum Moving, a long distance moving experts, a hybrid move is the best of both worlds between a DIY move and a professional move. Instead of a full-service move, this option lets you pack your belongings and then hire a crew to help you load a rental truck. From there, you can head to your new home and hire a different crew to help you unload your belongings.
This cost-effective option can cost as little as $900 to $2,500 for the labor fees. The cost of labor depends on how many movers you hire and how long it takes to load the truck. Of course, you must still pay to rent a truck.
4. Downsize
Downsizing isn’t always easy, but it’s one of the best ways to save money on long-distance moving expenses. This is a great way to lighten your load, and that’s essential when you hire a full-service moving company. Moving companies charge based on many factors, such as the volume of your belongings they must haul.
Selling, donating, and discarding some of your belongings can cut costs and simplify your life. You can use Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, among other online resources, to sell your belongings. This is a great way to earn some extra money to put toward your moving expenses.
5. Hire a Moving Company
Moving companies are more expensive than DIY moves, but they are often much more effective. Moving out of state is quite stressful, so professional help is invaluable. It costs between $3,000 and $17,000 to hire full-service movers for a long-distance move.
Granted, it’s uncommon to spend up to $17,000 for a move unless you’re moving thousands of miles. Professional movers charge based on factors like distance, mileage, home size, insurance, and labor. Luckily, you can save money on your long-distance move if you forgo some of the options they offer, such as full packing and unpacking.
You can also typically save money on your move if you avoid moving during the peak of summer. This is when many people choose to move, so it can be quite expensive. Long-distance moves in the middle of the week or month are often cheaper.
6. Shared Load Moving
Shared load moving is a great way to save a small fortune on your long-distance move. This is when your belongings share a truck with another customer’s belongings. Shared load moving typically costs $2,5000 to $3,500 depending on the distance.
You understandably may not be comfortable with your belongings sharing space with a stranger’s belongings. However, this option saves thousands of dollars and is ideal if you don’t want to rent a moving truck.
7. Rent Freight Trailer Space
Freight trailers are similar to portable containers, such as PODS, but they are often cheaper. It costs an average of $2,000 to reserve space on a freight trailer for a long-distance move. The cost depends on the service you choose and the volume of your belongings.
Your freight trailer service will drop the unit off at your house and give you a few days to pack it. From there, they will pick the trailer up and bring it to your new house. This is a great way to save thousands of dollars and avoid the hassle of renting a moving truck.
It’s also quite helpful because it makes it easier for you to bring your vehicles without shipping them. Shipping cars across the country can add thousands of dollars to a long-distance move.
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