Moving discounts and how to save
Updated September 5, 2026
Beyond timing your move for the off-season, there are specific discounts and negotiating tactics worth knowing about — some movers advertise them, many don't unless you ask directly.
On this page
- Moving discounts worth asking about
- How to negotiate a moving quote
- What not to cut corners on to save money on your move
- Bundling moving services vs. booking them separately
- Truck rental discounts worth checking specifically
- Stacking moving discounts and where to find current codes
- The one federal tax break still standing: active-duty PCS moves
- Frequently asked questions
Moving discounts worth asking about
- Military and veteran discounts — common among major van lines, not always advertised
- AAA or credit union member discounts — some movers partner with membership organizations
- Employer relocation packages — if your move is job-related, ask HR whether your company has a preferred-vendor discount; see our guide on relocation assistance
- Referral discounts — some companies discount your move if you were referred by a past customer
- Off-season and midweek booking — not a discount code, but the single biggest lever most people control directly
How to negotiate a moving quote
Get 3+ written estimates before committing to any one company. If you have a lower competing quote in hand, ask directly whether the company can match or beat it — this specific approach works better than a vague request for a discount. Flexibility on your exact move date, even shifting by a few days within the same week, can also open up lower pricing if the company has less demand on an alternate date. Many interstate movers have trucks returning empty or partially loaded on certain routes, and a date that fills one of these gaps can translate into meaningful savings.
What not to cut corners on to save money on your move
- Full-value protection on high-value items — the savings from skipping it aren't worth the exposure if something is damaged
- Verifying USDOT/MC registration — never skip this to save time on a cheaper, unverified company
- A written estimate — a verbal-only "deal" with no paper trail is a common way savings turn into a bigger final bill
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Bundling moving services vs. booking them separately
Full-service movers sometimes discount packing when it is bundled with the move itself rather than added later — ask for pricing both ways if you are on the fence about doing your own packing. On the other hand, storage, cleaning, or junk removal add-ons through your mover are not always cheaper than booking a local specialist directly. Compare standalone rates before assuming the bundled price is the better deal. A mover's storage warehouse may charge monthly rates that exceed nearby self-storage facilities, and their cleaning service might be subcontracted anyway with a markup built in.
Truck rental discounts worth checking specifically
If you're renting a truck rather than hiring a full-service mover, the major rental companies advertise standing discount programs that are easy to miss if you don't ask: military and student discounts in roughly the 10-20% range, AAA/CAA member discounts around 10-12%, and union-membership programs (like Union Plus) with similar savings on local and one-way rentals. Moving container companies run their own version of this — military discounts and promotions tied to longer rental commitments are common. (Source: Move.org, MoveBuddha) Rates and codes change often, so check the company's current offers directly rather than relying on an old promo code.
Stacking moving discounts and where to find current codes
Membership discounts and seasonal promo codes can often be combined — check whether a company allows stacking before assuming you have to pick one. Coupon aggregator sites and moving-focused deal pages sometimes surface location-specific or time-limited offers that aren't advertised on the company's main site, so it's worth a quick search before you book. (Source: MoveBuddha)
The one federal tax break still standing: active-duty PCS moves
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended the federal moving-expense tax deduction for civilians, but Congress kept an exception for active-duty military members relocating under permanent change-of-station (PCS) orders — and starting in 2026, that exception also extends to certain intelligence-community personnel relocating under qualifying orders. Eligible active-duty movers can deduct unreimbursed costs — shipping and packing household goods, vehicle transport, one night's lodging at the old and new location, and travel to the new duty station — using IRS Form 3903, which carries over to Schedule 1 of Form 1040. It doesn't cover anything the military already reimbursed, or apply to civilian movers of any kind. (Source: Military OneSource)
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Frequently asked questions
Many do — ask directly, since these aren't always advertised. Military (active duty and veteran), AAA, and union/employer partnership discounts are common enough to be worth asking about specifically with each quote.
Sometimes, especially if you have a competing written quote to reference or you're flexible on your exact move date. It's more effective to ask 'can you match or beat this quote' than to ask for a discount with no context.
It varies — brokers sometimes find a lower price by shopping your move to multiple carriers, but you lose some control over who actually performs the move. See our guide on moving company vs. broker before deciding.
Choosing the lowest quote without checking whether it's binding, non-binding, or missing services — a low non-binding estimate that balloons on moving day often ends up costing more than a higher binding quote would have.