Coast to Coast Moving: Challenges, Costs, Tips, and More

Any interstate move can be referred to as a cross-country move. When moving coast to coast, however, you’re literally moving across the country – all the way from the Atlantic shore to the Pacific coastline (or vice versa). It’s a journey of 3,000 miles or so – and it cannot be taken lightly.

Moving from one coast to the other is nothing like moving from one city to the next – the complexity of the endeavor is such that even the smallest oversight can have dire consequences. Every little detail needs to be taken into account and every single task needs to be properly taken care of – or your colossal move may end up a colossal failure.

To ensure a smooth and successful coast to coast relocation, you need to be well aware of the challenges that await you and to know how to effectively overcome them – how to organize the logistics of your long distance move, how to budget for the relocation costs, how to ensure reliable moving help, and how to prepare for your new life on the other coast.

Find it all out and get ready for the adventure of your lifetime!

What to Know When Moving from Coast to Coast

The United States stretches across an entire continent, so moving from the east coast to the west coast – or moving from the west coast to the east coast of the country – is like moving to a whole new world. You need to cover an enormous distance and once you reach your final destination, you’re likely to find things quite different from what you’re used to.

To be able to properly prepare for the big challenge, you need to know what to expect when moving coast to coast:

1) DIY-moves are not a good idea

Moving from coast to coast without professional moving help is extremely difficult and extremely risky – and it isn’t cheap at all.

Driving a rented moving truck for thousands of miles will take days (usually about a week) and will be mentally and physically exhausting; the costs for gas, tolls, parking, meals and lodgings, etc. will add up immensely; your belongings will be at a great risk of damage from over-the-road shock and vibration, adverse weather conditions, etc.

Your cross-country move will be much safer and much easier with the help of a professional coast to coast moving company.

See also: Move yourself or hire movers

2) Your moving costs will be high

Regardless of the moving option you choose, moving from coast to coast will cost you a lot. Depending on the number and type of items you have for moving and the specialized coast to coast moving services you need, your moving costs may be anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 (see below for details).

You will have to pay for packing supplies, movers’ rates (or truck rental), insurance, vehicle transportation, travel expenses, etc. You need to have enough money saved and plan your finances well to be sure that you’ll be able to cover all relocation-related costs without experiencing financial difficulties.

Additional useful information: What is the average moving cost?; How to save money on a long distance move

3) There will be plenty of paperwork to deal with

When moving states, you will not only need to collect your personal documents and change your address with the USPS, but will also have to:

• Find a new doctor and a new vet in your new city – and retrieve yours and your family members’ medical records, as well as your pets’ immunization records and health certificates;
• Find a new school for your kids and retrieve your children’s school records;
• Transfer utility accounts and arrange to have the utilities running in your new home on move-in day (in case you have already bought or rented a place, of course);
• Change your voter’s registration;
• Update your driver’s license and your car’s registration;
• Update insurance policies.

Additional useful information: Important documents when moving

4) Your items will need maximum protection

Your belongings will travel a great distance – they will be on the road for a long time and will be easily vulnerable to damage. To survive the move intact and unscathed, they need to be packed as safely as possible – well cushioned, perfectly immobilized inside their moving containers, and protected against moisture, extreme temperatures, and outside impact. Professional packing is your best bet when moving coast to coast.

See also: How to pack for a long-distance move

5) Your shipment will take a long time to arrive

Not only is there an enormous distance from one coast to the other, but the moving truck will likely make multiple stops along the way – cross country movers often consolidate shipments (transport several customers’ items in one big trailer) to maximize efficiency and lower moving costs, so it may take several days until the truck is fully loaded and then a week more until it arrives at its final destination and delivers the shipments.

This means that you will have to do without your items for quite a while, so you need to have all your essentials and important documents with you – pack a survival box and make sure it travels with you.

6) Getting to your new area won’t be easy

Whether you’re moving from the east coast to the west coast or the other way around, you won’t be able to just drive to your new home within several hours. You need to consider your available time and the specific circumstances in your case, decide on the most convenient and most cost-effective way for you and your family to get to your new area, and plan your trip well in advance:

• Decide whether to drive your car across the country or ship it;
• Book your flight and find a reliable auto transport company to ship your vehicle to your new city (See also: How to ship a car to another state);
• Book your hotel stays and have your car serviced prior to the move to ensure your safe and trouble-free road trip across the country (See also: How to have fun when moving long-distance).

7) You may need to move into temporary housing first

House hunting will be quite difficult when moving across the country, so you may not be able to find an appropriate new home for you and your family before the move. It may be best to move into temporary housing first, so you have the chance to get to know your new city, explore the different neighborhoods, and find a place that you really like and will be able to feel at home in.

Related: Is it better to rent or buy when moving to a new city

8) You may experience some culture shock after the relocation

Demographic patterns and cultural practices differ significantly between the two coasts, so you may find it difficult to fit in, become a part of the community, and bond with the locals.

The cost of living (housing costs and everyday living expenses) will also be different in your new area (and so will be your employment opportunities), so planning your finances may be a bit of a challenge too.

Even the climate and natural calamities may be different from what you’re used to and result in health issues or unexpected hardships (you may need to prepare for hurricanes if you’re moving to the East Coast, for example, or for earthquakes if you’re moving to the West Coast).

All in all, things may be quite overwhelming at the beginning.

Related: How to adapt after moving

Moving Coast to Coast Costs

As already mentioned above, the cost of moving coast to coast cannot be low (the move distance is just too long), but may vary considerably depending on the weight of your shipment (the more items you have for moving, the more expensive your relocation will be), the time-period of your move (moving rates and truck rental costs are higher in the summer), and the moving option you choose.

DIY-moving

Renting a moving truck and performing a self-move may not be the best way to move long distance (as explained above), but it is supposed to be the cheapest moving option. While this is true in the event of a local move, however, things are different when it comes to coast to coast moving.

Despite the relatively low truck rental fee ($40-$80 per day, depending on the size of the vehicle), the average truck rental cost for coast to coast moves is a little over $3,000 (and the price can easily go up to $5,000). This is so because in addition to the rental fee, you also need to pay for fuel, taxes, vehicle insurance coverage, road tolls, and parking fees (not to mention your travel expenses – food and overnight accommodation). And if you want to tow your car behind the rented moving truck, the towing equipment and coverage will cost you additional $450-$950.

What’s more, one-way rental policies (where you pick a moving truck from a location near your old home and return it at a location in your new city) usually include a set number of miles and days – if you don’t return the truck on time or go over the allotted mileage, you’ll be charged extra for every day or mile you exceed past the limit.

See also: How much does it cost to rent a moving truck

Portable moving containers

Using portable storage containers is one of the cheapest ways to move from coast to coast.

If you choose this moving option, a pod (a large weather-proof box made of metal or wood and secured with a padlock) will be dropped off in front of your home and left there for you to load with your belongings. On Moving day, the pod movers will pick up the container and transport it to your final destination. Once you have unloaded your items, the portable moving container will be taken away. It is convenient, safe, and cost-effective – moving pod costs range from $3,000 to $5,000 for coast to coast moves (depending on the number of containers you rent, their size, and the time you keep them).

Moving container companies usually charge by the month, so you need to complete your coast to coast relocation within one month in order to keep your moving costs as low as possible.

See also: Moving containers and pod moving companies

You pack, the company ships

Many long distance movers offer this flexible moving solution allowing you to save up to 25% of the coast to coast moving cost and still have your belongings delivered by an experienced professional – you pack your items and load them on the moving truck yourself, but a professional driver transports your shipment to your new home. You’re then responsible for unloading the truck and unpacking your belongings.

Full service moves

Full service movers take care of a move from start to finish – they pack, load, transport, and unload the shipment and provide any required accessorial services. Hiring a full service moving company is your easiest – and most expensive – coast to coast moving option.

The pros will do all the work for you, will perform your relocation in the safest and most efficient way possible, and will assume the liability if anything happens to your items while in their custody – using full moving services will save you a lot of time and effort and will ensure your peace of mind. Yet, it will cost you a pretty penny – the moving cost from the east coast to the west coast for full service moves ranges from $6,000 to $10,000 (and sometimes even higher).  

The price varies depending on the specific circumstances in each relocation case, so in order to find out how much it will actually cost you to move from one coast to the other with professional moving help, you need to request binding estimates from several reputable long distance moving companies and compare the offers.

Related: How much does it cost to hire movers?

Coast to Coast Moving Companies

Hiring a professional moving company may not be the cheapest way to move from the east coast to the west coast (or vice versa), but it is definitely the best way – the experts have the specialized equipment, rich experience, and professional know-how to ensure the safety of your items and the success of your relocation.

Keep in mind though that not all coast-to-coast movers are the same – some have state-of-the-art equipment and many years of experience in the business – others don’t; some are honest and trustworthy professionals – others aren’t. You need to find a competent, reliable coast to coast moving company to work with:

• Fill out a moving quote form to get in touch with several reputable east coast to west coast moving companies (or west coast to east coast movers) and see what they have to offer;
• Check the movers’ ratings with the BBB and browse moving reviews left by their previous customers to get an idea of their trustworthiness and quality of service. The best coast to coast moving companies will have A+ ratings and 5-star reviews;
• Shortlist three or four movers who seem to best suit your relocation needs and preferences and ask them for on-site binding estimates;
• Interview the moving company representatives who come to your home, show them everything you have for moving, and discuss all the important details with them (special packing and moving requirements, possible obstacles, expected difficulties, necessitated/desired extra services and their rates, pick-up and delivery times, liability coverage, etc.);

• Compare the received offers and pick the winning bid – Do not just go for the lowest estimate, especially if it is considerably lower than the rest (lowball estimates are red flags of moving fraud – more often than not, a company that offers a price too good to be true does so to lure unwary customers and secure more jobs and will later charge exorbitant extra fees for unexpected difficulties or whatever other reasons they come up with, so the final moving cost will skyrocket). Read the offers carefully and pay attention not only to the final price, but also to the included extra services and their fees, any special conditions and clauses, etc. Choose the coast to coast moving company that offers the highest quality service at the most reasonable price;
• Research your chosen movers in detail to make sure you’re working with licensed, insured, experienced, and trustworthy professionals – verify the company’s USDOT number, check its complaint history, find out if it belongs to an esteemed moving organization, etc.;
• Examine all the moving documentation carefully before signing the contract and make sure all the conditions and costs you have agreed upon with your chosen coast to coast movers are clearly stated in the Bill of Lading. Pay special attention to the small print and never sign blank documents or documents you don’t fully understand and agree with.

See also: How to choose a moving company; How to avoid moving scams

Tips for Moving from Coast to Coast

Coast to coast moving is a complex, multi-aspect process that requires careful planning and meticulous execution. To increase your chances of a safe, smooth, and stress-free coast-to-coast relocation, you’re advised to:

1) Learn as much as possible about your new area before the move, so you can better prepare for your new life;

2) Make an efficient moving budget, so you don’t experience financial troubles during and after your monumental move;

3) Find top-rated coast to coast movers to help you relocate (as detailed above);

4) Book your move well ahead of time, so you can secure quality coast to coast moving services for a convenient moving date;

5) Plan your own trip to the other coast (as explained above);

6) Follow a detailed moving checklist, so you don’t overlook anything important;

7) Pare down your possessions to lighten the load and reduce your moving costs – the more items you decide to move to your new home, the more expensive and more difficult your relocation will be. Take only what you really need and love and get rid of everything else (especially big, heavy items like furniture and appliances that will cost a lot to move);

8) Pack your belongings with utmost care, so that they survive the long distance move intact and unscathed – use quality packing supplies and the most appropriate packing techniques for each type of items. Know what not to pack for a cross-country move and don’t forget to pack a survival box;

9) Get full value protection for your belongings;

10) Say goodbye to your friends, your old home, and your favorite places in town.

Additional useful information: How to prepare for a long distance move

These expert tips for moving from the east coast to the west coast (or the other way around) will help you relocate in a cheap, easy, and successful manner – what really matters, however, is to make your life on the other coast worth the relocation trouble. Good luck!