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If you're moving from New Jersey to Los Angeles, you already know this isn't a minor relocation. It's 2,761 miles, a dramatic climate change, and one of the steeper cost-of-living jumps you can make in the US. I've tracked plenty of moves along this corridor, and what I've found is that the range in price — and quality — among movers on this route is genuinely wide. Below you'll find the real numbers and an honest look at which companies are worth your time.
Out of 78 New Jersey movers that handle state-to-state moves, these five consistently turn in strong results on long-distance routes. Ratings are based on verified customer feedback across hundreds of reviews.
3212 Shafto Rd Unit 3, Tinton Falls, NJ 07753 97% positive | 2% negative Yelp (155 reviews) | Google (1,379 reviews) | BBB: Grade A−
4.6 / 5 — State License #2969363 | DOT #2969363 | 7 years in business
Almost every positive review of Zip to Zip hits the same two notes: speed and professionalism. Out of 369 verified reviews, 97% were favorable — customers specifically called out accurate upfront pricing, careful handling of both heavy and fragile items, and crews that communicated clearly throughout the process. That's a clean record at a meaningful sample size.
The primary complaint category is billing surprises. Some customers reported final invoices running well above initial estimates, and a few described pressure to leave five-star reviews. Damaged items come up occasionally but aren't the dominant issue — pricing transparency is.
If you're booking Zip to Zip, get the quote in writing and ask specifically what could trigger add-on charges before you sign anything.
Services: Local and interstate moves, packing/unpacking, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, crating, storage, full-valuation coverage. Accepts credit cards, cash, and money orders. Deposit required.
Phone: (973) 500-6050
9 Linden Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07305 93% positive | 6% negative Yelp (44 reviews) | Google (323 reviews) | BBB: Grade A+
4.5 / 5 — State License #2971434 | DOT #2971434 | 7 years in business
Ample Moving's numbers hold up under scrutiny: 92.6% of 272 reviews were positive, with consistent praise for on-time arrivals, careful wrapping of fragile items, and a booking process that doesn't feel like a negotiation. Multiple customers specifically mentioned crews finishing faster than expected — that matters when you're paying for time on a big move.
The 6% negative reviews aren't minor footnotes. Unexpected charges and slow claims responses are the two recurring issues. A handful of customers had genuinely costly experiences when something went wrong. Ample is a solid choice, but document your pricing expectations and ask about their claims process before you commit.
Services: Local and interstate moves, packing/unpacking, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, crating, fragile-only packing, storage, full-valuation coverage. Accepts credit cards, cash, and money orders. Deposit required.
Phone: (201) 721-5777
151 West Passaic Street, Suite 2, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662 91% positive | 9% negative Yelp (114 reviews) | Google (672 reviews) | BBB: Grade F
4.3 / 5 — State License #39PM00137700 | DOT #3453290 | 5 years in business
OM Van Lines has a loyal customer base — 91% of 716 reviews are positive, frequently praising polite and efficient crews who treat furniture carefully and arrive on time. Families in particular note that OM made complicated moves feel manageable.
That said, two things would give me pause. First, the BBB's Grade F is worth investigating on your own before booking — that's an unusually low mark relative to the customer review sentiment. Second, billing increases at pickup are the most common complaint, alongside some instances of damage and delivery delays. The crew-level experience appears strong; it's the back-end logistics and pricing transparency that need work. Get everything confirmed in writing before your move day.
Services: Local and interstate moves, packing/unpacking, pianos, pool tables, art, antiques, crating, shipment tracking, fragile-only packing, storage, full-valuation coverage. Accepts credit cards and cash.
Phone: (866) 845-2619
235 W 1st St, Bayonne, NJ 07002 90% positive | 10% negative Yelp (521 reviews) | Google (865 reviews) | BBB: Grade A+
4.7 / 5 — State License #648262 | DOT #648262 | 29 years in business
White Glove's 29 years in business shows in how customers describe the experience: organized teams, careful wrapping, belongings arriving in the same condition they left in. Across 741 reviews, nearly 90% are positive, and the negative rate is proportionally lower than what you'd typically see from a company doing this volume of long-distance and storage work.
The complications tend to surface on complex jobs — specifically long-distance moves that include a storage component or tight delivery windows. A minority report unexpected fees or delayed delivery in those situations. My read: this is one of the better-prepared options on the NJ to LA route, with a DOD certification and nearly three decades of operational history backing it up. For a cross-country move, still get delivery window and any storage fees spelled out in writing before anything gets loaded.
Services: Local, interstate, and international moves, packing/unpacking, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, grandfather clocks, crating, crane vans, storage, full-valuation coverage. DOD certified. Accepts credit cards.
Phone: (877) 941-0568
99 Evergreen Ave, Newark, NJ 07114 80% positive | 18% negative Yelp (30 reviews) | Google (72 reviews) | BBB: Grade A+
4.6 / 5 — State License #1748105 | DOT #488466 | 33 years in business
The 4.6 rating looks strong, but the underlying split deserves a closer read: 80% positive, and nearly 1 in 5 reviewers reporting major problems. That's a wider negative band than you'd typically see at that score. On the positive side, customers consistently praise punctual crews, professional attitudes, and smooth move-day execution — including on long-distance and complex jobs.
The negatives are significant: damaged items, communication breakdowns, unexpected price increases, and slow complaint resolution come up repeatedly in the critical reviews. Flatrate has 33 years in business and an A+ BBB rating, so the infrastructure is there. But their post-move problem-solving record lags behind top competitors. If you go with Flatrate, photograph everything before the truck is loaded — and get all pricing commitments in writing.
Services: Local, interstate, and international moves, packing/unpacking, pianos, offices, crating, storage. Accepts credit cards.
Phone: (917) 781-3898
These ranges are based on a 2,761-mile move, drawing on verified rate data refreshed regularly to account for seasonal market shifts. Your actual cost will depend on shipment weight, services required, parking or access conditions at either end, fuel prices, and time of year. Use the moving cost calculator to get a rough estimate tailored to your situation before reaching out to specific companies.
| Move Size | Moving Company | Moving Container | Rental Truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,161 – $4,652 | $1,349 – $3,194 | $1,500 – $2,823 |
| 2–3 bedrooms | $3,639 – $6,958 | $2,321 – $5,096 | $1,545 – $3,361 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $6,390 – $11,105 | $3,268 – $6,948 | $1,914 – $4,125 |
For a studio or one-bedroom, professional movers typically run $1,161 to $4,652. That wide range reflects the difference between a lean shipment booked months out versus a large load with full-service packing at peak season. Two- or three-bedroom moves land between $3,639 and $6,958. Larger homes — four or five bedrooms — run $6,390 to $11,105.
For a move this distance, I'd compare quotes from at least three long-distance movers before committing. The spread between the most and least competitive bids on a cross-country job can easily be $1,500 to $2,000 or more. SafeShip Moving is one operator I've found handles long-haul routes reliably — worth including in your comparison.
Moving containers — you pack and load them, the company transports — offer more scheduling flexibility than a traditional full-service move. For a studio or one-bedroom, expect $1,349 to $3,194. Two- or three-bedroom moves typically run $2,321 to $5,096. Larger homes land between $3,268 and $6,948.
A rental truck is the cheapest option in raw dollar terms, but every bit of the work — loading, unloading, and 2,761 miles of driving — falls on you. Studio or one-bedroom: $1,500 to $2,823. Two or three bedrooms: $1,545 to $3,361. Four bedrooms or more: $1,914 to $4,125. Estimated fuel costs are already factored into these figures.
Here's how the five companies stack up on key services and discount offerings:
| Company | Full Service | Antiques | Military Discount | Senior Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zip to Zip Moving Inc | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ample Moving | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| OM Van Lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| White Glove Moving & Storage | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Flatrate Moving | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
For broader context, here's how New Jersey movers compare to the national average:
| Service | New Jersey | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Full Service | 93% | 96% |
| Antiques | 68% | 46% |
| Military Discount | 3% | 4% |
| Senior Discount | 4% | 4% |
One notable standout: NJ movers offer antiques handling at nearly twice the national rate — 68% vs. 46%. If you have valuable or delicate pieces making this cross-country trip, you're in a relatively strong market for finding companies with real experience in that area.
The financial gap between these two places is significant. Don't skim this part.
| New Jersey | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent | $1,368/mo | $2,960/mo |
| Average home price | $534,773 | $2,368,088 |
| Per capita income | $97,126 | $74, |
