What to Look for When Hiring an International Moving Company
International relocation is far more complex than a local or even a domestic long-distance move. Your possessions will travel through multiple hands, ports, shipping lines, customs checks, and finally reach your new home. Because of this, the moving company you choose determines the accuracy of your quote, the safety of your belongings, and your final cost.
This guide explains exactly how to spot a professional global mover—and how to avoid the ones that can turn an overseas move into a nightmare.
Why Choosing the Right International Moving Company Matters
The difference between a quality international mover and a low-quality operator can mean thousands of dollars in unexpected costs, damaged belongings, or goods stuck in customs for months. This guide covers the key indicators that separate professionals from amateurs.
What's In This Guide
The Inventory & Quoting Process — Your Best Indicator of Professionalism
Real movers don't guess. They measure.
A credible international moving company will never quote based on approximations or a quick phone call. They must know exact weight and volume, because this determines around 80–90% of your final price.
Professionals Never Guess Your Volume or Weight
A professional mover understands that accurate weight and volume calculations are essential for international shipping. They will take the time to document every item because guessing leads to costly surprises on moving day.
Proper Surveys: In-Person, Video, or Photo-Based Inventory
Professional Movers Will
- Conduct a full inventory survey (in-person, video survey, or—at minimum—photo-based estimation)
- Compile a detailed list of every item, including dimensions, weight, and category
- Explain how calculated total cubic volume determines container needs:
- • Less than container load (LCL)
- • Half-container
- • Full container (20ft or 40ft)
Red Flag Movers Will
- Give a quick quote in minutes
- Ask for "just an approximate list"
- Avoid documenting your inventory because it lets them charge more later
Why Movers Ask About Bulky, Fragile, or Difficult Items
Professional movers specifically ask about:
- Bulky items like pianos, safes, or oversized furniture
- Valuables and fragile items requiring special handling
- Difficult access points (stairs, narrow doorways, no elevator)
Why do they ask? These items often come with additional fees for handling, packing, or require extra crew to move safely. Some items—like oversized furniture or pianos—may not fit through standard doorways or require special moving equipment. In some cases, items that don't fit into a normal container size need custom solutions.
When a mover asks about these items upfront, it's because they need this information to provide you with an accurate quote and the right solution. If they're not aware of these items, they may give you a lower quote initially—but the move will cost significantly more in the end.
Bad movers use this as a tactic: by not asking detailed questions upfront, they can present an artificially low quote to win your business. Then on moving day, they'll charge for all the things they "didn't know about"—and because nothing was planned properly, it ends up costing even more, with delays and headaches.
Pro tip: If your mover doesn't insist on a full inventory—they are not a professional international mover.
Transparent Pricing: How Reputable Movers Explain Your Costs
Good movers explain pricing upfront. Bad movers avoid it. A professional company will walk you through how pricing works.
What Happens If Your Volume or Weight Is Underestimated
- What happens if your inventory increases
- What happens if weight or volume exceeds the estimate
- Additional charges that apply depending on access, crating needs, or customs requirements
This should be crystal clear in your estimate. For long-distance truck freight, pricing is often calculated by weight—you'll see a cost per pound with a minimum weight requirement. This means you can already calculate how much it would cost if the final weight is more or less than estimated.
For container shipping, you should know the container size, how much volume it holds, and what happens if your belongings exceed that capacity. Will you need to upgrade to a larger container? What's the cost difference?
Professional movers should also provide a list of extra fees. They may not always have this readily available upfront, but if you ask, you should know before the move what the costs are for: stairs, items over 200 lbs, long carries, extra packing materials, shuttle services, and similar circumstances.
That said, if the inventory and home survey are done properly, you shouldn't encounter surprise fees—everything should already be accounted for in your quote.
Why Fast, Simplistic Quotes Are a Red Flag
Be wary of movers who:
- Provide a quote within minutes of first contact
- Don't ask detailed questions about your belongings
- Give suspiciously low prices without seeing your inventory
The low-quote trap: This tactic allows movers to send a lower quote and win your business—but then they'll end up charging more to move the exact same items. The final bill can be significantly higher than the original estimate.
When comparing quotes, make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Ask each mover why certain charges are or aren't included, and what happens if the actual weight or volume goes over their estimate. A transparent mover will explain this clearly; a bad one will avoid the question.
Packing Standards That Separate Real International Movers from Amateurs
International shipping involves long travel time, container handling, cranes, pallets, and vibrations at sea. That's why packing standards are far stricter than in a local move.
Required Packing for Overseas Shipping
A Professional Mover Will Insist On
- Double-walled boxes
- Lamps boxed properly
- All drawers emptied
- Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes
- Electronics protected with the right materials
Crating, Boxing, and Protection for Fragile Items
Special items require custom solutions:
- Marble and glass must be crated
- Custom crates for extremely fragile pieces or sculptures
- Artwork requires specialized wrapping and crating
Why Bad Movers Avoid Talking About Packing
A Bad Mover Will
- Say "don't worry, everything will be fine"
- Avoid discussing packing requirements
- Let you pack anything any way you want (because damages are your problem later)
The packing trap: Bad movers avoid discussing packing requirements upfront for the same reason—to keep their quote low and win your business. But on moving day, they'll show up, inspect your belongings, and tell you everything needs to be repacked to meet international shipping standards.
Suddenly, you're facing unexpected packing charges that weren't in your quote. A professional mover explains packing requirements and costs upfront, so there are no surprises.
Packing is one of the biggest differentiators between professional international movers and low-quality operators.
Membership in Global Moving Associations (IAM, WCA, FIDI)
Unlike local moving, where associations are optional, international moving companies almost always belong to recognized global networks:
IAM
International Association of Movers
WCAworld / WCA Relocation
Worldwide Cargo Alliance
FIDI
Optional but a strong sign of quality
Why Network Membership Matters for Destination Delivery
- Your mover needs a partner to handle delivery at destination
- The mover cannot have vetted global partners without belonging to a network
- Network members have established relationships and accountability
Most international movers don't have local offices in every country—that would be an extremely cost-heavy business structure that would increase the cost of moving and limit possibilities. Instead, international movers are primarily coordinators: they manage your move from the origin, ship it using a third-party shipping line, and book a local partner at destination to handle pickup from the port and delivery to your door.
When you hire a professional moving company, you verify their insurance, licenses, and credibility. If they outsource part of the work, you naturally expect them to hire subcontractors with similar credentials. The best way to ensure this is by working with companies that are part of international networks, because it is the network's job to make these verifications.
For example, to join WCA Relocation as a mover, a company must have several years of experience, verified business credentials, and proper insurance coverage. So when your local mover books a partner through this network for your destination delivery, that partner will also meet the same professional standards. This chain of accountability is what protects you throughout an international move.
How Associations Ensure Insurance, Licensing & Quality
Association membership means the company has been verified for:
- Proper insurance coverage
- Valid business licensing
- Financial stability
- Service quality standards
If a mover is not a member of any association, it means:
- • They may not have reliable partners worldwide
- • They might find subcontractors last minute via websites or social media
- • Your goods may end up with unknown carriers—major red flag
Who Handles Each Step of the Move? (Origin, Shipping, and Destination)
International moves can include multiple legs:
Understanding Multi-Leg International Moves
- 1Packing & pickup at origin
- 2Trucking to port
- 3Export documentation
- 4Loading into a container
- 5Ocean or air transport
- 6Import customs at destination
- 7Final delivery to your home
How Good Movers Vet Their Subcontractors
A Quality Mover Will Tell You
- Which parts they handle themselves
- Which parts are subcontracted
- Which partner company will deliver your goods at destination
- Whether partners are vetted within their network
All of this should be detailed in your moving estimate. You should know upfront what transportation method will be used (air freight, sea freight, trucking), which shipping line or carrier, and who will handle the destination delivery. If these details are missing from the estimate, it means they haven't figured it out yet—and you're likely to face surprises later.
Red Flags: "We'll Figure It Out Later"
A Bad Mover Will Say
"Don't worry, we'll figure out delivery when the shipment arrives."
This almost always leads to surprise costs, delays, and unreliable subcontractors.
Verify Company Legitimacy: Insurance, Registration & Reviews
Before hiring an international mover, check these critical areas:
How Long Have They Been in Business?
- Is the company registered under the same name they're using for their quote?
- Have they existed for several years?
- Frequent name changes = red flag
Checking Google Reviews for Multi-Year Reliability
- Look for reviews that span multiple years
- Check for consistent quality over time
- Reviews only from the last few months = suspicious
Proper Explanation of Insurance Coverage
- Professional movers can explain transit insurance options
- They clarify liability types and what is/isn't covered
- If they avoid the insurance topic, walk away
Detailed, Professional Quotes vs. Vague Email Estimates
A proper international moving quote must include comprehensive information:
What a Real International Moving Quote Must Include
What Should Be Included
- Full inventory list
- Weight and volume estimates
- Packing services
- Door-to-door inclusions
- All port fees and customs handling if applicable
- Terms & conditions included
Charges You Should Understand Clearly (Shuttle, Long Carry, etc.)
Reputable movers explain all potential additional charges:
- Shuttle fee (if large truck can't access your location)
- Long carry charges (distance from truck to door)
- Customs inspection fees
- Storage charges if applicable
Warning Signs of a Low-Quality Quote
Red Flags in a Quote
- A fixed price written in an email body
- Large vague fees with no explanation
- Missing inventory list
- No terms and conditions
- No explanation of exclusions
If the pricing is unclear, the experience will be unclear.
Shipping Timelines, Delivery Windows & Expectations
International delivery times are estimates—not guarantees.
Why International Timelines Are Estimates
Professional movers will clearly explain:
- Expected pickup window
- Estimated shipping window
- Why delays can occur (weather, port congestion, customs)
- How they track the container
- When and how you'll receive updates
Asking About Tight or Unrealistic Schedules
If a mover gives you extremely tight or unrealistic timelines, ask why. If they cannot explain, that's a sign they don't understand shipping logistics.
Clear Contracts and Terms Before Booking
Contracts should include:
- Shipment details
- Responsibilities of each party
- Insurance options
- Liability limitations
- Payment terms
- What happens if the shipment is over/under the estimate
If a mover refuses to provide a contract until "later," do not proceed.
Why Accurate Inventory Protects You (And Doesn't Reduce Cost)
Many people think that listing fewer items will reduce the quote. In international moving, this is a costly mistake.
Underestimating Inventory Leads to Major Price Increases
If Your Real Volume Is Higher
- The container may not fit → massive last-minute price jump
- The mover may refuse items
Accurate Inventory Enables Proper Packing, Customs & Insurance
With an accurate inventory, you ensure:
- Customs documents match the shipment exactly
- Insurance covers the full contents
- Proper packing materials are prepared
- The right container size is allocated
How Tools Like Cubesheet Improve Accuracy
Accurate inventory protects YOU.
Tools like Cubesheet make this easy by generating a complete inventory using photos—ensuring nothing is missed and your quote is accurate from the start.
Conclusion: How to Confidently Choose a Quality International Mover
A professional international mover will always:
- Spend time on a detailed inventory
- Explain container size implications
- Be transparent about subcontractors and partners
- Emphasize proper packing
- Provide a detailed, clear quote
- Have long-standing registration, insurance, and global associations
- Offer honest timelines and clear terms
- Assist with documentation and customs
If a mover skips steps, rushes the quote, or avoids details, that's your sign to walk away.