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Sean Donnelly is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront. His content draws on more than three years of experience in the moving industry. He started as a laborer and was quickly promoted to moving crew leader. Sean also served as a move coordinator, where he conducted in-home and virtual estimates for customers. During his time in the industry, Sean assisted more than 500 clients with their relocation needs. Thanks to his years of hand-on experience, he understands all aspects of moving — from proper preparation to the quote process to effective packing techniques. Sean studied English literature and creative writing at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is still located in the greater Springfield area. When he isn’t writing, Sean is a cohead coach of the boxing team at his alma mater.
Rhode Island is a major tourist destination, especially during the summer months — a record 27.7 million tourists visited the state in 2022. This can make for crowded roadways and more work for movers, especially if you’re moving in or around a popular vacation spot along the state’s 400 miles of shoreline.
To prepare, we recommend getting quotes from Rhode Island moving companies at least six to eight weeks ahead of time. After detailed research, we’ve determined that the best providers for long-distance moves in Rhode Island are Allied Van Lines and North American Van Lines (NAVL).
Allied’s small-move service, Allied Express, makes it a great option for customers with small vacation homes or college students moving to attend one of Rhode Island’s 13 colleges and universities. NAVL’s not-to-exceed and bottom-line pricing options — plus its service portfolio that includes antique moving and white glove service — make it a top choice for most interstate relocations.
We graded each of the following moving companies against our proprietary rating system, focusing on availability, services and quote processes, to help you book with a qualified professional mover.
The following moving companies earned the highest scores on our proprietary rating scale.
Long-distance:
Local:
We chose the best long-distance and local moving companies based on pricing, customer review scores and more. See how our top picks compare:
The following movers offer direct service to and from Rhode Island for long-distance and interstate moves.
Allied Van Lines is a carrier with more than 400 locations serving all 50 states. This includes offices in nearby New London, Connecticut, and Canton, Massachusetts. While Allied might be impractical for local moves within Rhode Island due to its locations outside the state, both outposts provide quality long-distance relocations. This includes its Allied Express container service that provides labor, valuation coverage and transportation at a single bottom-line price for small moves.
Service area: 50 states and 130 countries
Base services:
Add-on services:
Storage: Allied offers short- and long-term storage options.
Quote type: This mover provides binding estimates for long-distance quotes.
Pricing: Shipping weight and move distance determine pricing for long-distance relocations.
Sample cost: We called Allied and got a quote for a three-bedroom, 1,800-mile move. In all, we spent 15 minutes on the phone with Allied’s representative, who took down our inventory and noted our moving needs. We got a ballpark quote of $7,000 with no add-on services included. Full-service packing would increase the total to $10,000.
Deposit: No deposit required
Payment methods: Allied accepts cash, certified checks, money orders and credit cards.
All moves include complimentary released-value protection when you book with Allied. Beyond this, Allied provides Extra Care Protection (ECP) at an additional cost. With ECP, you can set a maximum dollar amount of coverage for your inventory. The added cost will be between 3% and 4% of this declared dollar amount.
Allied’s New London, Connecticut, branch has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Positive customer feedback remarks on quality assistance and attentive moving crews for local and long-distance relocations. Negative reviews cite damaged furniture and boxes, which is relatively common in the industry.
North American Van Lines (NAVL) is a nationwide carrier that covers all 50 states via a network of 500 locations. In Rhode Island, NAVL’s affiliate, Sterling Moving & Storage, handles local and long-distance service. This includes residential and commercial moving options.
Storage: NAVL offers short- and long-term storage options in most locations.
Quote type: This mover provides binding estimates for long-distance moves. This can include bottom-line or not-to-exceed pricing options on request.
Pricing: Long-distance quotes take move distance and total shipment weight into account.
Sample cost: We called NAVL for a cross-country moving quote for a three-bedroom home. We spent 20 minutes on the phone and got a ballpark rate for our 2,900-mile relocation. A basic move of this length would cost $13,450, and packing services would increase the total to $16,757.
Deposit: None required
Payment methods: NAVL accepts cash, certified checks and money orders for payment.
This carrier offers both released-value and full-value protection. To get an accurate rate for full-value protection, you’ll have to consult your move coordinator during the free quote to determine your inventory’s worth.
NAVL’s local affiliate, Sterling Moving & Storage Inc., has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Unfortunately, one recent negative review mentioned rushed packing by the moving crews, which led to inconvenience for the client. Most reviews for this branch are positive, however, with customers remarking on the speed and efficiency of the customer service and moving staff.
International Van Lines (IVL) is a moving carrier and broker that services all 50 states. Its partner network offers quality long-distance service packages to Rhode Island clients. You should ask your IVL representative which mover will handle your goods for any long-distance request.
Service area: 50 states and 140 countries
Storage: IVL offers short- and long-term storage options.
Quote type: This mover provides binding estimates for all long-distance moves.
Pricing: Long-distance quotes are based on shipment weight and move distance.
Sample cost: We called IVL to get a ballpark quote for a three-bedroom, 1,800-mile relocation. In all, we spent 15 minutes on the phone discussing our move details and service needs. A simple move with no packing would cost $6,276. Full-service packing would increase the cost to $7,158.
Deposit: 20%–25% of your final move total
Payment methods: IVL accepts cash, credit cards and money orders.
This mover offers valuation options beyond the federally required released-value protection. For full-value protection, you’ll have to set a dollar amount of coverage with your move coordinator. You’ll then pay a percentage of this figure to get coverage in the event of loss or damage to your goods.
IVL’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating is currently 3.5 out of 5 stars. Positive reviews mention quick and efficient service for long-distance moves, including testimonials that praise crews for their help from packing through unloading. Unfortunately, poor reviews cite slow response times for damage claims and added fees tacked on at the end of moves.
The following providers rated well when evaluated against our grading scale. They all have high customer review scores on Google Reviews and other platforms.
This moving carrier offers comprehensive service throughout Rhode Island with a focus on the greater Providence area. Its add-ons include packing, piano moving and storage for both office moves and residential relocation packages.
Service area: Correira Brothers services the entire state.
Quote type: This mover offers ballpark quotes for local moves.
Pricing: Local moving rates are billed by the hour; hourly rates are set by the number of movers and trucks assigned.
Sample cost: We filled out an online quote form for a three-bedroom move within Cranston, Rhode Island. Three movers and a truck had an hourly rate of $179 per hour. Our move coordinator estimated that this move would take between eight and 10 hours, with a $179 fee assessed for travel to and from the mover’s office. In all, our ballpark quote totaled $2,000–$2,200.
Keep in mind that this provider assesses a three-hour minimum charge.
Deposit: $100 nonrefundable
Payment methods: This mover accepts cash, money orders, Zelle, Venmo, debit cards and all major credit cards. A 5% fee is billed on all credit card transactions.
Correira Brothers said it offers released-value coverage for all moves. Additional valuation options are available at a cost, but this would require a phone call and inventory review to get accurate rates.
Correira Brothers has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. The majority of these 400-plus reviews are positive, with customers praising the moving crews’ professional conduct. A few negative reviews reported poor attitudes and a lack of care when the moving crews unloaded goods at the clients’ new homes.
College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving is a nationally known moving company and junk removal specialist. Its Providence location is highly rated and provides local moving, speedy quotes and punctual service, based on customer testimonials.
Service area: This branch of College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving provides service to the entire state of Rhode Island.
Quote type: This provider offers ballpark estimates for local moves based on hourly rates.
Pricing: Hourly rates are set by the number of movers and moving trucks assigned to your move.
Sample cost: We contacted this mover for pricing and received a prompt follow-up via phone call. The voicemail mentioned that we would have to schedule an in-depth consultation with a full inventory rundown. You should set aside about an hour to get the most accurate rate.
Deposit: This mover didn’t mention deposit requirements during our correspondence.
Payment methods: You can pay via cash and all major credit cards.
College Hunks offers released-value coverage at no added cost. It also offers valuation protection options at an added cost. If you want additional coverage for your household goods while in transit, you will have to ask your move coordinator about this. The pricing structure for such protection varies between franchise locations.
This mover has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. One prominent review left in the last few months mentioned a rushed moving estimate that led to a poor moving experience. By all appearances, this was a one-off experience that is not the norm with this provider. Positive reviews comment on the professionalism and speed exhibited by moving crews, as well as reasonable pricing.
Two Men and a Truck is a national franchised moving company with an office in Warwick, Rhode Island. Here, it offers local and long-distance full-service moving, complete with competitive rates and numerous add-on services.
Service area: This branch operates throughout the entire state.
Pricing: Local rates are based on the number of moving crew members and moving trucks assigned to your move.
Sample cost: We filled out an inventory form and online quote request for a three-bedroom move within Cranston. The entire process took less than 15 minutes, and we received an email back with our ballpark estimate within hours. In all, our ballpark rate totaled $1,269–$1,687. This included little detail about hourly rates. If you have a home totaling 1,500 square feet or more, this mover requires an in-home estimate.
Deposit: No deposit was mentioned during our correspondence with Two Men and a Truck.
Payment methods: This mover accepts all major credit cards.
Aside from released-value protection, this mover offers valuation protection for all moves at an additional cost. In past estimates from other Two Men and a Truck locations, we have received detailed valuation coverage information and costs. Speak with your move coordinator to get pricing information for added coverage.
This Two Men and a Truck location has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Positive reviews cite detail-oriented moving crews and customer service staff that all contributed to stress-free moving experiences.
Investigating a moving company’s reputation and understanding its pricing structure can help you avoid a stressful situation during your move, such as added fees after the delivery of your goods. Keep the following factors in mind when you get quotes from Rhode Island moving providers.
One of the first steps in the moving process is determining your service needs. To do this, compile a full inventory of your home. List all items you plan to take with you and all that you plan to get rid of. Separate this list by room and note all the basic and add-on services you may need. These can include the following:
Be aware of a moving company’s service model before gathering quotes. All moving companies operate as either brokers or carriers. Carriers are traditional moving companies that directly carry out all services they book. Brokers act as middlemen between clients and carriers. They handle the actual booking process and take a large upfront payment as a convenience fee and deposit.
All moving companies must comply with certain federal and state-specific regulations. Rhode Island movers must have the following registrations to operate legally.
All long-distance and interstate moving companies in Rhode Island must maintain active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. You can use these to look up a moving company’s registration status on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration database.
Local movers in Rhode Island are regulated by the state Public Utilities Commission. This governing body maintains a list of all registered moving companies that operate primarily within the state. Check the site to ensure your mover can legally operate in Rhode Island.
Moves are billed differently depending on your move distance. Most national movers offer binding estimates, while local movers typically offer ballpark quotes based on hourly rates.
Long-distance moves are billed according to total move distance and shipment weight. With these in mind, all longer relocations are assigned “line-haul fees,” which are all-inclusive rates. Such moves are eligible for binding estimates, meaning your quote will not shift between quote day and moving day unless your moving inventory or service needs do.
We got several quotes from nationwide moving companies for three-bedroom, 1,800-mile relocations. In all, our average rate was $7,329 with no add-ons included. Full-service packing increased the average cost to $9,155.
Local moves are billed at hourly rates determined by the number of movers assigned to your move. Moves with more than one moving truck will either have a flat fee assessed at the beginning of the move or will have higher hourly rates.
In many cases, movers will have minimum charges; these help ensure that moving crew members are paid well, even if they have to come in to work for a one- or two-hour job. Minimum charges commonly total between two and four hours at your set hourly rate.
All moving companies provide released-value protection for lost or damaged goods. This provides 60 cents per pound per item in reimbursement if this happens during a move, and is given with no additional price. Beyond this, all movers offer full-value protection at an additional cost. Some even offer coverage for items of “extraordinary value” ($100 per pound per item) at similarly increased rates.
Based on our research into dozens of moving companies, we recommend Allied Van Lines and Correira Brothers Moving & Storage Inc. for your Rhode Island move.
Allied’s offices near Rhode Island provide service for long-distance moves, including its Allied Express option for smaller moves — perfect for students and vacationers. For a move within the state, Correira Brothers is one of the highest-rated moving companies in the Providence area.
Get three or more quotes around four to six weeks ahead of moving day. This will ensure your move stays within your budget and that you can book with your preferred provider, especially during the peak season of May through September. Full-service movers experience heightened demand during this time, which can increase costs and affect availability.
Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.
Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points. We then divide the final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
BBB and Google Reviews ratings are accurate as of April 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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