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Mayflower Moving

4.4 Stars (8 Reviews)
Updated: January 19, 2023
By: Jonathan Trout
Jonathan Trout
Content Manager
Jonathan is a former product and content manager for Retirement Living. His background spans sales/marketing, finance, and telecommunications. Jonathan’s expertise in consumer wellness and research-backed data stories helped educate seniors on financial planning, retirement, and community resources. Jonathan graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Environmental Sociology.
Content Manager
Edited By: Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith
Sr. Content Manager
As Retirement Living’s senior content manager, Jeff oversees the product and publishing of all retirement, investing, and consumer wellness content on the site. His extensive expertise in brand messaging and creating data-driven stories helps position Retirement Living as a top authority for senior content and community resources.
Sr. Content Manager

Mayflower Moving

Editorial Breakdown

Coverage Area 4.1 Stars
Easy Quotes 4.3 Stars
Price 4 Stars
Ease of Purchase 4.3 Stars

Overall Rating 4.1 Stars

Bottom Line

Long-distance movers like Mayflower aim to make your move as stress-free as possible by handling the logistics from start to finish. To see our top picks for the best long-distance movers, click below to read out guide.

Mayflower Moving Review

Mayflower is a full-service, long-distance moving company. Whether you are moving across state lines or the country, Mayflower provides services to help you each step of the way. From packing to unpacking, storing and transporting your belongings, and even house cleaning and trash removal, Mayflower offers packages to take care of each part of your move.

Mayflower Moving offers a wide range of services for both residential and commercial customers. Since 1927, the company has been moving households and relocating corporate offices from coast to coast. Mayflower also has automobile transportation services with a specialized fleet of car carrier units. Mayflower is an approved General Service Administration carrier for assisting military families with moves.

For household moves, Mayflower offers in-transit, or temporary, storage options if you aren’t prepared to move all belongings to the new location at once, or you need extra storage space before you move. You can customize your move by selecting from multiple moving packages with service add-ons and additional insurance protection. Packages include customized packing and unpacking, increased insurance coverage to protect your belongings, maid service for move-in or move-out cleaning, and trash and debris removal. Mayflower also partners with CityPointe Real Estate Services to assist customers with buying and selling their homes.

When you decide to move with Mayflower, you will be assigned a moving coordinator who will help you choose the moving services that fit your needs, answer your questions, and guide you throughout the entire process.

Mayflower has been in business for more than 90 years, and according to the US Department of Transportation, is one of the largest moving companies in the country. They stand out from other long-distance movers by providing complete, start-to-finish moving solutions.

Pros

  • Full-service moving solution
  • 90+ years in business
  • A wide range of add-on services
  • General Service Administration approved for military moves

Cons

  • Mayflower may contract with other companies to complete your move. Ask for company names

Mayflower Moving Services

Mayflower has been in business for more than 90 years and is one of the largest moving companies in the country. They stand out from other long-distance movers by providing complete, start-to-finish moving solutions. Mayflower pledges to help you plan your long-distance move, transport your belongings, and support you all along the way.

Mayflower Service Screenshot

Mayflower Services

In the event your new home isn’t ready to occupy at the time of your move, Mayflower offers full-service in-transit storage options. Or, if you need extra storage space while selling your current home, Mayflower can store your belongings at a secure facility.

Mayflower’s add-on packages allow you to bundle services to save on extras you may need. Six packages ranging in price from $195 to $1,395 give you extra insurance coverage and additional convenience services like debris pickup, move-in or move-out cleaning, computer and network disassembly, and home theater setup, for example. It’s important to keep in mind that Mayflower uses a network of third-party providers to perform these convenience services and does not provide most of these services themselves. Ask about all contractors to be involved with your move to ensure that you are happy with the selection.

As an approved General Service Administration carrier Mayflower can assist military families and government workers with temporary duty or PCS moves. Additionally, Mayflower has been providing corporate relocation services for more than 75 years, as well as automobile transportation services. You can include vehicles in your moving package, or Mayflower can put together a vehicle-only moving contract.

Mayflower Moving Costs

Because each moving scenario varies, it’s impossible to predict actual costs. The price of your move will depend on the services selected, the distance to your new location, the number and weight of your items, and your moving date. The most expensive months to move are during peak moving season, which is May through September with June typically being the busiest month. You’ll save money if you relocate during December, January, or February. Also, weekday moves usually cost less than weekends. To obtain an estimate of your costs, see Mayflower’s website or call their customer service number. Phone representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m to 6 p.m., CST.

Here’s a snapshot of the average cost of a move based on the type of home you have, the total weight of your household items and the distance of your move.

Mayflower Moving Costs
Home Type Weight of Household Items Avg. Cost 1,000-Mile Move
Studio Apartment 1,800-2,000 lbs. $1,500
1-Bedroom Apartment 2,500-3,500 lbs. $1,800-$2,500
2-Bedroom House 5,000-6,000 lbs. $3,500-$4,200
3-Bedroom House 7,500-10,000 lbs. $5,000-$7,500
4-Bedroom House 12,000-15,000 lbs. $8,000-$10,000
5-Bedroom House 17,000-20,000 lbs. $11,000-$15,000

How To Book A Move With Mayflower

Booking a move will involve speaking with an agent, either over the phone or in person. You will need to know your moving dates, destination and have your contact information ready. Use the In-Home Estimate form on Mayflower’s website and an agent will call to arrange a visit to see what will need to be transported on their trucks. This visit is a necessary step in the process because customers can forget to include items in an estimate. Alternatively, you can call Mayflower’s customer care center to schedule your in-home estimate.

During the in-home estimate, a salesperson will come to your home to review all belongings to be moved and to estimate their weight and size. The representative will also discuss your moving dates, any additional services you might need such as packing, and answer your questions. At the end of your meeting, the salesperson will hand you a written estimate for you to review.

If you decide to have Mayflower take care of your move, you then work with a move coordinator for help with determining which moving services you’ll need and to get answers your questions throughout the entire moving process.

Mayflower Moving Complaints

Mayflower receives above-average scores in independent consumer research. As a full-service, cross-country mover, Mayflower contracts with nearly 300 local agents. At times, a customer’s experience with the company depends significantly on the service of those local agents. When consulting with Mayflower regarding your move, it’s critical to research all the way to the local level to confirm the reputation and rating of the local moving agent(s). The US Department of Transportation lists six complaints against Mayflower from 2015 through the first quarter of 2018, however, given the size of the company and the number of moves each year, the number of complaints is below average.

Mayflower Van Lines Q&A

  • Does Mayflower make local moves?
    While Mayflower does not provide local moving services, the company can refer you to local movers through its network of more than 250 agents.

  • How does a long-distance move differ from a local move?
    Unlike local or short-distance moves and moves that occur within the same state, long-distance moves involve more regulations because cargo crosses state lines. Special authority from federal regulators is required to transfer customers’ belongings from one state to another. Long-distance van lines are also required by law to carry specific insurance policies designed to protect customers and their belongings.

  • Mayflower long-distance moving

  • Is an in-home estimate required?
    Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations require an in-home estimate for a long-distance move. A reputable moving company will comply with this guideline. Beware of companies that only provide over the phone estimates. An in-home meeting will ensure accurate pricing from the beginning. Be sure to show your in-home representative all items you wish to have moved. Don’t forget the attic, basement, and any belongings you have in storage.

  • What items are not allowed on the moving van?
    For the safety of your family, your movers, your belongings, and everyone on the road, not everything can be packed on the moving truck. Perishable items, chemicals, batteries, paints, and many other things are hazardous. If you are in doubt about whether or not to pack an item, check with your Mayflower agent or move coordinator for a full list of things you can pack.

  • How does Mayflower help me plan my long-distance move?
    Mayflower’s promise to make your move as painless and straightforward as possible includes a wealth of articles, tips, and planning advice on their website. Their moving planner checklists take you week by week, starting eight weeks before you move, through what you need to pack and prepare with ease. Also, your move coordinator will serve as a point of contact to answer any questions you may have along the way.

Conclusion

Tackling a long-distance move is one of the most stressful processes you will face. You will want to choose a moving company that can ease your burden and that guides you securely to your new destination. Mayflower has two definitive advantages: decades of experience moving households across the country and a full range of moving solutions.


8 Mayflower Reviews

Write Review
1 Star

July 17 2021 2:27AM

WARNING! I wanted to provide awareness of what you can expect booking a move through this company. I booked my move over a month in advance. Scheduled for a load date on July 6th with a delivery window from July 10th – to July 15th.

Foreshadowing the disaster to come surfaced when they called a couple of days before the load date to say they can’t load on the 6th but will be able to load on the 7th. They assured me multiple times that the delivery window would not be impacted.

They require you to be at your destination for the entirety of your delivery window to accept delivery when they arrive. We planned accordingly and booked a couple of hotel rooms at our destination city for the delivery window.

We were notified on Tuesday, July 13th that our shipment would arrive at the local hub on Saturday 17th.

By Thursday, July 15th the arrival to the hub then moved to Monday the 19th with actual delivery to our new home on Saturday, July 24th, nine days after the end of our delivery window that we were assured would not be compromised.

As the delays continued to roll in I figured at a minimum they would be willing to cover our two hotel rooms at $350 a day until our things arrive since they required us to be there by July 10th, however, they would only provide paltry $125.

In addition to our hotel costs, I’m forced to buy new clothes for my first week of work as they have all my nice clothes and shoes.

My wife is a mental health counselor that sees patients with depression, anxiety, etc. from a home office and is bound by HIPAA regulations that preclude her from working from a hotel room due to privacy.

Due to these regulations, she is having to reschedule 6 days’ worth of patients which is lost revenue for her, but the more concerning factor is the disruption of care for patients.

This company has no empathy and refuses to do the humane thing after forcing people to arrive for their delivery window stranding people to fend for themselves living out of a hotel until they decide to show up with your belongings. I’ve lost all confidence in this company.

Fingers crossed everything shows up on July 24th and intact. If you book with this company plan on spending an additional several thousand dollars on the back end while you wait for your things to arrive.

I will update the review after the conclusion of the move to share the unsettling surprises that are yet to come.

Brandon C.
Dallas, TX
1 Star

February 23 2021 4:29AM

NEVER NEVER hire this company for moving your precious cargo, we did not know what a HUGE scammer they were.

We lost several kitchen boxes with valuable items for our kitchen including full baking set with lids, Teflon cooking set (almost brand new) glass bowls set from big to small all with matching lids. Many other items like toaster etc.

They damaged our furniture terribly, we got rid of our sofa and other furniture, spent so much $ and this company never reimbursed for anything. We paid $14,000 for our 4 bedroom items. We do not want anybody else to go through such heartbreaking experience like us.

We as a family were already going through the stress of moving after 20 yrs, it was just mental and emotional agony for us all. Mr. Mrs **.

Jonathan and Shampa R.
Tiburon, CA
1 Star

March 11 2020 3:08PM

Moving my 80 year old mom from Massachusetts to NC set up appointment to survey her apartment because this e to be full service move, from packing to unpack at destination including a car. Well they never showed up never called, no email nothing.

I called to complain and was assured that I would be getting a call from Mayflower corporate to rectify the situation... Never got a response, call, email nothing.. I will not be using Mayflower and will be looking for other moving company. Now I have a nervous and skeptical mother about the whole process. Thanks for nothing Mayflower.

Bryan V.
Elizabeth City, NC
2 Stars

December 16 2019 5:18PM

We selected Mayflower (they were the middle of 3 cost estimates) to move us from Las Vegas to Olympia WA. It was a big load (we moved from a 2,200-sq-foot house plus a cluttered 3-car garage) that took almost all of the trailer. Most of the stuff arrived fine (although we cringed at how they pack a trailer like a 3-D Tetris game).

Our primary complaint: The Vegas crew disassembled a large, glass-topped patio table, and we were instructed to let them assemble it at the destination and to not dare try to handle the big piece of glass. Don't worry, they insisted, we'll re-assemble it. Fast-forward to the destination: A $250 record turntable ended up badly damaged, for which we were reimbursed. A shelf for a wall unit never showed up and we fear it was confused with the next customer's load. Mayflower refused to reimburse us even $10 to go out and buy another shelf.

Thirdly, we ended up with the other customer's flat-screen TV. We notified Mayflower immediately because we didn't want to be responsible for it, yet it was weeks before someone from Mayflower fetched it out of our garage.

Our biggest complaint: The crew never re-assembled the glass-topped patio table. As they walked out of the house and into the sunset, they announced that they couldn't find the nuts and bolts to reassemble it. They shrugged and said bye. Whoa, really? Obviously we had no idea where the parts were, either. We complained to Mayflower.

For several weeks there was no response. Then one day, by sheer luck, we found the missing pieces -- in a Ziplock taped to the bottom of a wheelbarrow!! Really? REALLY?!? So we let Mayflower know and asked that a handyman come out to reassemble the table. But they refused. Flat-** totally refused. At the front end of the move they tell us to not touch the patio table because of the glass, and now they are refusing to deal with it and we're on our own. We listed the unassembled table on our claim (asking for a handyman be hired to come out and assemble it), and were blown off.

In other words, you can't count on Mayflower to keep its word. Why they would risk their reputation in order to save hiring a handyman for $100 or so (and the trip was insured no less), totally escapes me.

Tom G.
Lacey, WA
1 Star

December 12 2019 5:49PM

Overly priced all year round regardless of the time frame you give to them! Gives you two options before you sign the contract and then corrects you over for paying them less! You hear from them before you finalize your payment! Strangely does not want to provide their mailing address. After which they leave you hanging on the line without the confirmation date for delivery!

Jane M.
San Bernardino, CA
1 Star

September 13 2019 2:34AM

Prices are far higher than what you see online. Agents will promise a timeframe of delivery which will not be achieved by Mayflower. Customer service is non-existent if you have a concern. Not worth $10,600 to move a 3 bedroom home 900 miles. Avoid this company!! (And United, who they will send to pack for you- same company)

Karl K.
Canton, MI
1 Star

October 23 2018 1:49PM

This is definitely a terrible experience. Both Mayflower and the local mover charged my card, and none of them want to be responsible for their damage to my shipment. They always tell me "the other part is wrong and should be responsible for this, call the company". So far, neither got my money back nor the damage took care of. I guess it is a big mistake to go to Mayflower, as it is responsible for nothing except charge the credit cards. I should just contract with a local mover then they have no excuse to dodge problems.

Ray D.
5 Stars

August 08 2018 7:54PM

I called Mayflower because another company had flaked on me and these guys did everything they said they was going to do actually it got there two days before and they did call 24 Hour because I was not there my son was although I didn't look at it the boxes to see if anything was damaged it seemed like everything was in very good condition they put everything together and left very prompt I'm glad I had Mayflower move me thank you again I really appreciate it will check my boxes when I get there thank you again

Randy D.