Mayflower Moving Company Review

After over nine decades of experience, there’s a lot to say about this well-known moving company. In this article, we’ll cover our most pressing questions about Mayflower, including customer reviews, moving services, and how to get a free quote.

Each of our reviewed companies meets top industry standards. Mayflower is licensed and certified, as well as registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. We’ve evaluated each local and long-distance moving company for its:

• Transparency 
• Pricing
• Services
• Reputation

Overview of Mayflower

One of the best things about Mayflower is that they’ve had experience planning moves for over 90 years. This special outlook shines through in its customized moving packages for each client.

For example, while Mayflower offers a range of expected services like packing, assembly, and disassembly, you’ll also find a variety of unique add-ons. The Mayflower team offers things like debris removal, house cleaning services, and even help with installing electronics.

When you choose to work with Mayflower, you’ll connect with one of their hundreds of local agents, all of which are hired and trained by the parent company, UniGroup, Inc. 

Here are some pros and cons we found about Mayflower and its moving process:

Pros:

• Local and long-distance moves
• International moves in over 150 countries
• Extensive full-value protection
• Unique services for small moves
• Discounts for packaging moving services

Cons:

• Lengthy quote process
• Reports of damaged or stolen items
• Some poor reviews for reliability

Transparency

One of the biggest fears when working with a company is last-minute surprises in your contract. Mayflower Transit aims to educate its customers on the moving process, the importance of insurance, and what to expect on moving day. Here are some things to keep in mind regarding the general transparency of the company.

Pricing

You won’t find a lot of details about Mayflower’s pricing structure online, especially for international and cross-country moves. However, the website does list several insurance packages for your move with prices of your valuation coverage and additional protection plans.

In order to receive a moving quote, you’ll be asked to enter:

• Origin and destination zip codes
• Size of your home
• Move date
• Name, email, and phone number

Your local agent will then get in touch to schedule an in-home estimate. If your relocation is considered a small move, you can utilize Mayflower’s SnapMove program. In this case, you may be able to get a quote through its virtual estimate process.

Services and Extras

Your Mayflower moving cost packages both basic and selected convenience services together into cost-saving packages. Each move without extras includes:

• Free in-home estimate
• Moving coordination
• Full-value coordination (which can be waived to save money)
• Loading and unloading
• Furniture placement
• Standard appliance transport
• Team of drivers and basic equipment
• Identity theft protection
• Claim assistance

Beyond these services, your move coordinator can help you choose from a range of extra options. We’ll detail these services a bit later.

Communication & Expectations

We enjoy that Mayflower offers a tracking option to watch your delivery to streamline your long-distance moving experience. 

The company’s website also does a fine job at outlining everything a customer should know before moving day. Customers have access to apps like MyMayflower that organizes all your details in one place.

Policies

Mayflower allows customers to submit claims for lost or damaged household goods right on their website or by calling their local agent. The company provides a standard list of items they will not move including flammables, cleaning fluids, pets, and perishable foods.

Cost

Mayflower packages its services together to both lower the cost and tailors its prices to exactly what you need to get to your new home stress-free. Long-distance move prices average around $5,000 depending on a range of factors listed below.

According to its website, Mayflower takes the following details into account when determining your quote:

• Distance
• Weight of your items
• Move date
• Home size and details
• Obstacles between your home and the moving truck access
• Extra insurance
• Extra services

You should note that most companies treat local moves differently and typically charge customers by the hour. Larger and long-distance relocations however are treated as full-service moves and packaged as one unique contract.

If you’re moving high-value items, we highly recommend looking into Mayflower’s coverage plans. The cost of its value protection plan prices break down as follows:

• $225 for $5,000 of additional coverage, identity theft protection, and claims assistance
• $425 for $25,000 of additional coverage, debris removal, delay claim payment of $250 a day, and all package-one perks
• $725 for $25,000 of additional coverage, wall mount disassembly and setup, delay claim payment of $250 a day, and all package-one perks

Payment Structure

Mayflower requires payment on delivery by cash, cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, or credit card. They do not require a deposit to book your move.

Cancellation Policy

Mayflower has a very generous cancellation policy. You only need to pay for services already completed, such as packing and storage if you choose to move or cancel your move within 24 hours.

Services

While Mayflower is a carrier service with its own fleet of trucks, it will broker out your move for local relocations. The website claims that these are all trusted affiliates that have worked with the parent company UniGroup in the past and take great care of their customers.

Entry-Level and Additional Services

Since Mayflower works with hand-tailored moving packages for each customer, figuring out what is included in the base price can be confusing. 

As we mentioned above, the basic full-service package features everything we listed such as loading and unloading, moving coordination, and professional movers.

Mayflower’s extra services are where the company stands apart from the rest. For an extra fee bundled with your full-service package, you can access:

• Safe and secure storage options
• Packing and unpacking (Both full packing and partial packing)
• Debris pick up
• Home cleaning services
• Piano and large item moving
• Auto-shipping
• Packing supplies
• Move protection
• Crating

The company also arranges special packages for military moves and corporate relocations.

International Services

International moves work a bit differently due to their size. Mayflower includes all packing services in the package price. If you choose to waive this service, the team must inspect your packing process to ensure it is ready to meet air or sea standards. International moves also include:

• Customs clearing services
• Moving consultation
• Customized moving plan
• Pre-move consultation

Company Strengths

Mayflower is not quite right for the hands-on DIY mover. Their packages are ideal, both logistically and financially, for customers comfortable with the moving team handling the majority of the hard work.

As expert long-distance movers, this is also a great team for complex moves over state lines or several hundred miles away.

Reputation

Mayflower was first founded in 1927 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company was bought by UniGroup in 1995, the same company that owns United Van Lines. UniGroup has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since 1983.

Like all moving companies, you’re bound to find a range of customer reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and BBB. Mayflower moving company’s reviews are generally positive, though we did find some categories that struggled more than others.

Customer Care

Customers that have worked with Mayflower in the past seem very pleased with the team and their moving experience. Many reviews note:

• An easy estimate process
• Attentive customer service
• Great technology and use of apps
• Professional and courteous movers

Reliability and Efficiency

As can be expected from many long-distance movers, there have been some hiccups along the way. Several customers reported that their items did not arrive within the pre-arranged delivery window. Others mentioned that specific target dates were missed despite prior contractual agreements.

Value

Mayflower’s estimate and service packaging system seems to be paying off. We saw far fewer complaints about unexpected charges and upselling from this company. Customers generally seemed pleased with what they received for Mayflower’s cost.

For example, Patrick from Florida reported, “Mayflower’s prices were competitive. This is the first time I’ve done a major move. All of the policies were clearly explained and my contact always gave me the most economical option. They arrived on time, nothing broke en route or when they unloaded it, they practiced good covid precautions.”

Handling with Care

Unfortunately, we did come across several customers with missing or damaged items. Since Mayflower offers extensive moving coverage, we recommend upgrading if you have expensive or fragile items.

A reviewer from the Phoenix, Arizona location noted on Google, “I used Mayflower’s moving and storage services for an out-of-state move almost two years ago. The moving part seemed to go well, but the storage in their Phoenix facility was atrocious. They damaged 21 of my ~300 items. Twenty pieces of furniture and one box had been clearly pierced by a forklift. They wouldn’t respond, and I argued with them for months to get money for repairs.”