National Van Lines checks every box I looked for. It has a stellar 103 rating from the GSA, an excellent safety track record with the DOT and impressively positive customer reviews. But more than that, it felt like a company I'd trust with all my belongings. 

It only took about 90 seconds to navigate its phone tree and get a human on the line. Right off the bat, the operator felt more like an advisor than a talking sales pitch. She was ready to set up a virtual home walkthrough immediately and she answered all of my questions with ease.

JK Moving Services specializes in corporate, long-distance and international moves, and it has a history of handling complicated moves safely and on-time. It received a 104 score from the GSA and a 3.97/5 in customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau. JK also has the lowest rate I saw of trucks and drivers being delayed because of failed inspections. 

So what kept JK out of the top spot? The quotes I got for long-distance moves were as much as $5,000 higher than other companies. It's still worth going through the quote process, but if you want to keep costs low, you might find that JK isn't your best option.

While you can also use North American Van Lines for long-distance moves, it's one of the few moving companies that had everything I was looking for -- a history of safety, high marks from customers, industry certifications -- plus the ability to handle local moves. Most interstate moving companies pass local moves onto local movers, but with more than 500 locations around the country, North American Van Lines can handle them in-house.

The quote process took a little longer than some of the other moving companies we evaluated, but once I got someone on the phone, I was able to book an in-home estimate in about eight minutes. With more than 1,400 drivers in the US, North American Van Lines also had more flexibility with the moving date than other companies.

Moving to another country can be incredibly stressful, and it helps to have a company on your side that knows the paperwork inside and out. Interstate International received a 110 score from the GSA. That means that when the US government sends people overseas, this is the company it trusts to handle the details. Interstate also has both certifications we looked for in an international moving company: FAIM Quality Certification by the FIDI and membership in the International Association of Movers. 

There's a reason PODS has become the household name for moving containers. It offers the most affordable (and transparent) pricing of any moving container company, and you can choose from three sizes. You can also purchase add-ons like packing services, vehicle shipping, and short- and long-term storage. 

One of the benefits of using a moving container like PODS is that you can go at your own pace. It'll drop it off in your driveway, and you pay monthly for as long as you need it. You're limited to four free hours to load the container in places without driveway space.

If you want to go full DIY, renting a box truck and bribing some friends with pizza is by far the most affordable way to move. It was close, but Penske got the edge over U-Haul and Budget for its affordable pricing and numerous rental locations. 

You can choose from three truck sizes and one cargo van, and pricing is $30 plus 59 cents per mile (the largest truck increases to $30 plus 79 cents per mile). For similar sizes, U-Haul charges $30 plus $1.59 per mile, while Budget charges $30 plus 79 cents.