The best international movers are the ones that are licensed and bonded by the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), give a written estimate after inspecting your goods, spell out every origin, port and destination charge, and put insurance and delivery terms in the contract. No independent body publishes a ranking of international moving companies, so a “top 7” list is no substitute for checking those things yourself.
This guide shows how to tell a strong international mover from a risky one, using the FMC’s own consumer guidance, what an accreditation like FIDI-FAIM actually means, how to compare quotes line by line, and when shipping boxes by parcel carrier makes more sense than adding them to a container.
What makes the best international movers?
A good international mover is mostly a good coordinator. The FMC points out that the company you hire often never handles your goods itself: it arranges and pays the trucking companies, warehouses, ocean carriers and destination agents. What you are buying is that company’s licensing, network, paperwork skill and accountability when something goes wrong.
| What to check | What good looks like | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| FMC license and bond | Listed in the FMC’s directory of licensed, registered and bonded ocean transportation intermediaries | Not listed, or the name on the contract doesn’t match the listing |
| Estimate | Several written estimates based on an in-home or video survey of your goods | A phone or online-calculator quote with no inspection |
| Included charges | Origin, ocean or air freight, port terminal handling and destination delivery all itemized | Port or destination charges “excluded” or left vague |
| Insurance | Written policy terms and a signed insurance document before the move | Verbal promises of “full coverage” |
| Customs | A clear answer on who clears customs at destination | No mention of destination clearance or duties |
| Payment and cancellation | Reasonable deposit, credit card accepted, cancellation terms in writing | Large up-front deposit by wire or check only |
| Complaint history | Resolved complaints, a track record you can verify | A pattern of unresolved complaints, or a quote far below the others |
How do you check if an international mover is licensed?
Any company that arranges ocean shipment of household goods to or from the United States must be licensed or registered with the FMC as an ocean transportation intermediary, and must keep a bond. You can search the FMC’s list of licensed, registered and bonded companies on the FMC website before you sign anything.
The bond matters if the move goes wrong. The FMC notes that if you have a transportation-related dispute with your mover, you can file a claim against that bond, and the FMC’s consumer affairs office (CADRS) can share complaint history. The agency has repeatedly warned about unlicensed operators that collected payment and never delivered the goods, so a missing license is a reason to walk away, not to negotiate.
What does FIDI-FAIM accreditation mean?
FIDI is the global federation of international moving companies, and FAIM (FIDI Accredited International Mover) is its quality certification. FIDI describes it as the only recognized quality certification for international movers and relocation companies. Certified companies are audited independently every three years against requirements covering operations, supply-chain management, risk management, data protection and financial stability.
FAIM is optional, not a legal requirement, but it is a useful filter: it tells you the company and its destination partners have been checked by someone other than themselves. Ask whether both your origin mover and its destination agent hold it, since the destination agent handles your goods at the other end.
Which international moving companies should you get quotes from?
Start with three to five companies that pass the licensing check, and include at least one with FIDI-FAIM accreditation. The largest US van line brands, including Allied, North American Van Lines, United Van Lines and Atlas, run international moving divisions, and specialist international relocation firms such as Crown Relocations, Graebel and Santa Fe Relocation focus on overseas and corporate moves. Some of these companies have announced FAIM accreditation; check the current status on FIDI’s directory rather than a company’s own marketing.
Being large or well known is not the same as being right for your move. A smaller FMC-licensed forwarder with strong agents in your destination country can be the better choice for a single container to one city, while a corporate relocation firm suits employees whose employer is paying. Treat any website that crowns a single “best” mover, including the star ratings and country counts that circulate on comparison sites, with caution unless it shows where the numbers come from.
How do you compare international moving quotes?
Ask each mover to quote the same scope: the same inventory, the same shipping method and the same delivery address. The FMC specifically warns that port terminal handling charges are often left out of estimates, so make each company confirm what is included at origin, in transit and at destination.
- Shipping method: a shared container (groupage or LCL), an exclusive 20-ft or 40-ft container, or air freight for a small, urgent shipment.
- Service level: door to door, door to port, or port to port, where you handle collection and delivery at the far end yourself.
- Packing: whether the mover packs, since many movers won’t insure goods they didn’t pack.
- Customs and duties: who clears customs, and which destination duties and taxes you will pay, since those are generally the customer’s responsibility.
- Storage: whether storage at origin or destination is included if your housing isn’t ready.
- Delivery date: any promised date, which only counts if it appears in the contract’s terms.
Trade terms show up in moving contracts and freight quotes too. If you see shipping terms like FOB or DDP, our guides to FOB meaning and DDP shipping explain who pays for what.
How far ahead should you book an international mover?
Start getting quotes as soon as your move date is clear; the FMC warns that waiting until the last minute leaves you more exposed to rogue movers. Summer is the busiest season for household moves, so book early if you are moving then, and leave time for in-home surveys, comparing quotes and checking each company’s license and complaint history.
Work on documents in parallel. Your destination country’s customs rules decide what you can import duty-free as used personal effects, and many countries require a residence permit or visa before household goods can clear. Your mover’s destination agent should give you the list for your country; the destination guides in our international shipping hub cover carrier and customs basics by country.
Should you ship some boxes by parcel carrier instead?
Often, yes. A container takes weeks to arrive, so the things you need in the first month, such as clothes, work equipment, documents and kitchen basics, usually travel better as a few parcel boxes sent ahead by USPS or UPS international services. Furniture, appliances and the bulk of a household belong with the mover.
ParcelPath is a free shipping platform for exactly that part of the move: up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimums, plus optional Shipsurance coverage. You can compare USPS and UPS international rates for each box before you decide what to send ahead. For more on sending parcels overseas cheaply, see our guide to cheap international shipping, the carrier matrix for small business shipping, and, for electronics, what it costs to ship a PC.
Heavier items moving within the US first, such as pallets going to a mover’s warehouse or a port, can travel as LTL freight. Our LTL freight and logistics guide explains how it works, and ParcelPath’s PalletPath can quote LTL freight online. Our overviews of delivery services and shipping services and solutions compare the other options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the best international movers?
Shortlist three to five companies that appear in the Federal Maritime Commission’s list of licensed and bonded ocean transportation intermediaries, then get written estimates based on an in-home or video survey. Compare what each includes, especially port and destination charges, and check complaint history. FIDI-FAIM accreditation is a useful extra quality filter.
Do international movers need a license?
Yes. A company that arranges ocean shipment of household goods to or from the United States must be licensed or registered with the Federal Maritime Commission and must maintain a bond. You can search the FMC’s directory of licensed, registered and bonded companies online, and you can file a claim against the bond if a transportation-related dispute arises.
What is a FIDI-FAIM accredited mover?
FAIM stands for FIDI Accredited International Mover, the quality certification of FIDI, the global federation of international moving companies. Accredited movers pass an independent audit every three years covering operations, supply-chain and risk management, data protection and financial stability. It is voluntary, so a mover can be legitimate without it, but it adds outside verification.
What charges do international moving estimates leave out?
Port terminal handling charges are the item the FMC says is most often missing from estimates, and destination customs duties and taxes are generally the customer’s responsibility. Storage, cancellation penalties and insurance can also sit outside the quoted price, so ask each mover to confirm in writing what is included before you sign.
Sources
- Federal Maritime Commission: Moving Dos and Don’ts (fmc.gov/moving-dos-and-donts)
- Federal Maritime Commission: Licensed, registered and bonded OTI directory (www2.fmc.gov/oti)
- FIDI: FIDI-FAIM Quality Certification (fidi.org/quality/fidi-faim-certification)
Part of our FOB Meaning guide. Related: DDP Shipping.
