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Personal Loans for Moving and Relocation in 2025

Annie Millerbernd
Jackie Veling
+1
Annie Millerbernd
+2
Written by 

Annie Millerbernd

,  Co-Written by 

Jackie Veling

,  Edited by 

Kim Lowe

Written by 

Annie Millerbernd

 and 
2 others
Last updated 08/11/2025
Compare lenders offering personal loans for moving and relocation, whether you have good or bad credit, need fast funding or are looking for a small loan.
 

This service is free and will not affect your credit score.

Compare the best debt consolidation loans for you, in one place

Best for Moving loans with fast funding

2025 NerdWallet award winner

Lightstream
NerdWallet rating

4.5

Est. APR

6.49 - 24.89%

Loan amount

$5K - $100K

Min. credit score

660

Loan term

2 to 7 years

Get My Rate

Our take on LightStream

LightStream is a solid option for good- and excellent-credit borrowers, with no fees and a promise to beat competitors’ rates. Read our review of LightStream

Best for Small moving loans

Upstart
NerdWallet rating

4.5

Est. APR

6.70 - 35.99%

Loan amount

$1K - $75K

Min. credit score

None

Loan term

3 to 5 years

Get My Rate

Our take on Upstart

Upstart personal loans offer fast funding and may be an option for borrowers with low credit scores or thin credit histories. Upstart is a solid financing choice for large purchases. Read our review of Upstart

Best for Moving loans for good credit

2025 NerdWallet award winner

SoFi
NerdWallet rating

4.5

Est. APR

8.99 - 35.49%

Loan amount

$5K - $100K

Min. credit score

None

Loan term

2 to 7 years

Get My Rate

Our take on SoFi Personal Loan

SoFi offers large online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers. Read our review of SoFi Personal Loan

Best for Moving loans for good credit

2025 NerdWallet award winner

Discover
NerdWallet rating

5.0

Est. APR

7.99 - 24.99%

Loan amount

$2.5K - $40K

Min. credit score

660

Loan term

3 to 7 years

Read review

Our take on Discover® Personal Loans

With competitive rates and no origination fees, Discover personal loans are good options for borrowers with good and excellent credit. Read our review of Discover® Personal Loans

Best for Moving loans for fair credit

BestEgg
NerdWallet rating

4.5

Est. APR

6.99 - 35.99%

Loan amount

$2K - $50K

Min. credit score

600

Loan term

3 to 5 years

Get My Rate

Our take on Best Egg

Best Egg is worth considering for borrowers looking for a secured loan or to consolidate debt. Read our review of Best Egg

Best for Moving loans for fair credit

2025 NerdWallet award winner

Lending Club
NerdWallet rating

5.0

Est. APR

7.90 - 35.99%

Loan amount

$1K - $60K

Min. credit score

600

Loan term

2 to 7 years

Get My Rate

Our take on LendingClub

A LendingClub personal loan is a standout option for qualified borrowers who want to pay off debt with flexible terms. Read our review of LendingClub

Best for Joint moving loans

Achieve
NerdWallet rating

4.0

Est. APR

8.99 - 29.99%

Loan amount

$5K - $50K

Min. credit score

640

Loan term

2 to 5 years

Get My Rate

Our take on Achieve Personal Loans

Achieve personal loans can be a good debt consolidation option for borrowers with fair credit or better who qualify for a rate discount. Read our review of Achieve Personal Loans

Best for Moving loans for bad credit

Avant
NerdWallet rating

4.0

Est. APR

9.95 - 35.99%

Loan amount

$2K - $35K

Min. credit score

550

Loan term

2 to 5 years

Get My Rate

Our take on Avant

Avant personal loans are a solid option for fair- and bad-credit borrowers who need fast funding, but their rates and origination fees can be high. Read our review of Avant

Best for Moving loans for bad credit

2025 NerdWallet award winner

Upgrade
NerdWallet rating

5.0

Est. APR

7.99 - 35.99%

Loan amount

$1K - $50K

Min. credit score

600

Loan term

2 to 7 years

Get My Rate

Our take on Upgrade

Upgrade accepts lower credit scores than similar lenders, and it offers multiple rate discounts for its personal loans. Read our review of Upgrade

How we chose the best personal loans

Our team of consumer lending experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate lenders and pick the best.

30+

Lenders reviewed

We review over 35 lenders, including major banks, top credit unions, leading digital platforms, and high interest installment lenders operating across multiple states.

25+

Categories assessed

Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories and 27 subcategories, covering affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.

60+

Data points analyzed

Our team tracks and reassesses hundreds of data points annually, including APR ranges, fees, credit requirements, and borrower tools, ensuring up to date, accurate comparisons.

Star rating categories

We evaluate more categories than competitors and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 30 financial technology companies and financial institutions. We collect over 60 data points and cross-check company websites, earnings reports and other public documents to confirm product details. We may also go through a lender’s pre-qualification flow and follow up with company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. Our ratings award fewer points to lenders with practices that may make a loan difficult to repay on time, such as charging high annual percentage rates (above 36%), underwriting that does not adequately assess consumers’ ability to repay and lack of credit-building help. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for personal loans and our editorial guidelines.
Show more

What is a moving or relocation loan?

A moving loan is an unsecured personal loan used to pay for moving expenses, such as movers and new furniture. A personal loan used for relocation comes in a lump sum that you repay, plus interest, in fixed amounts usually over a few years.
These loans are available from online lenders, credit unions and many banks. Online loans typically fund faster, but you may get a better rate from a local bank or credit union.
» MORE: Compare the best unsecured personal loans

How much does it cost to move?

The cost to move depends on several factors, such as how far you’re moving and where to, how much you’re bringing and how you’ll get there.
On average, a move across town costs about $1,710, while a cross-country relocation can cost anywhere from $2,700 to $10,000, according to HomeAdvisor .
Your moving expenses could include:
  • Boxes and supplies.
  • Professional packers or moving crew.
  • Moving truck or trailer.
  • Shipping containers.
  • Airfare.
  • Gas.
  • New furniture.
  • Cleaning service.
  • Security deposit and first and last month’s rent.
Make sure to budget for the move before applying for a moving loan, since you won’t be able to request more money once the loan is funded.
» MORE: How much does it cost to move?

Pros and cons of moving loans

Taking a personal loan for moving expenses is just one financing option. Here are the main pros and cons of getting one for a big move.

Pros of moving loans

  • Lower rates than some credit cards. If you have good credit, you may get a lower rate on a personal loan than on a credit card. Personal loan rates range from about 6% to 36%.
  • Fast funding. If the move is soon, some online loans fund as quickly as the same or next business day after you’re approved. Submitting a complete application with all the required documents can speed up funding.
  • Predictable payments. Personal loans have fixed interest rates, meaning the monthly payment will be the same for the life of the loan. This can help you budget for the payments. Use our personal loan calculator to estimate monthly payments based on loan amount, interest rate and loan term.

Cons of moving loans

  • Long-term debt. You’ll likely be paying for the move long after settling into your new home, since repayment terms on personal loans can extend up to seven years.
  • Fees. Some lenders charge origination fees that usually range from 1% to 10% of the loan amount. This fee is included in the annual percentage rate and may be subtracted from the loan proceeds. For example, a $5,000 loan with a 5% origination fee ($250) would net you $4,750.
  • High rates for bad credit. If you have bad credit (any score between 300 to high 500s) or a lot of existing debt, a personal loan can be expensive. In this case, the interest rate may be above 20% and possibly even higher than 30%.

Should I get a personal loan for moving?

A personal loan is one of a few financing options for your move. Because there aren’t many restrictions on how to use a personal loan, you can spend the funds on moving expenses and things like new home furnishings.
A personal loan may be the right choice if you don’t have savings or cheaper financing options, like a 0% interest credit card or a relocation package from a new employer.

How to get a loan for moving

Borrowers with strong credit and a low debt-to-income ratio have the best chances of qualifying for a low rate on a moving loan, although requirements vary by lender. Building your credit and improving your debt-to-income ratio are good ways to boost your chances of qualifying for a moving loan.
Here are the steps to apply for a personal loan.
  1. Decide how much you need: Personal loans come in a lump sum, unlike a credit card or line of credit, and it’s not always easy to go back and borrow more. Make sure to have a solid estimate of how much the move will cost before you apply.
  2. Pre-qualify: Pre-qualify with a lender to see your estimated loan amount, APR and monthly payments. Pre-qualifying doesn’t affect your credit score, so you can compare offers from a few lenders before committing to a loan.
  3. Prepare documents and apply: Once you’ve decided which offer to accept, gather documents like identification, Social Security number, W-2s and pay stubs. Having all of these documents ready can get you through the application more quickly and may help the lender approve the application faster.
  4. Make a repayment plan: Be sure you have a plan to make your payments on time, which can help you build credit and avoid late fees. Most lenders don’t penalize you for making extra payments or paying the loan off early. If you’re able to pay extra, you’ll save on interest in the long run.
» MORE: Pre-qualify with multiple lenders on NerdWallet

Moving loans for bad credit

Moving loans are available to borrowers even if they have bad credit. Some online lenders, like Upstart, Upgrade, Avant and Universal Credit, have a low minimum credit score requirement, but it’s still best to shop around and pre-qualify with multiple lenders to get the lowest rate.
» COMPARE: Best loans for bad credit
Credit union loans are another good option, since they tend to offer lower rates and more flexible terms for borrowers with lower credit scores. Federal credit union loans can start under $1,000 and have a maximum APR of 18%.
» COMPARE: Top credit unions for personal loans

Alternatives to moving loans

Savings are the cheapest way to pay for a move, so if you have an emergency fund or time to budget beforehand, you could avoid borrowing as much or getting a loan altogether.
If not, compare these alternatives with a personal loan to find the financing option that’s best for your plans:
Relocation package: If you’re relocating for a new job, ask your new company about paying for some or all of your moving expenses. If you didn’t discuss it during the negotiation process, it could be worthwhile to ask before going into debt for the move.
Credit cards: Borrowers with good or excellent credit may qualify for a 0% APR credit card, which charges no interest if the balance is paid off within the promotional period — usually 15 to 21 months.
Family and friends: Getting a loan from family or friends can be a low- or no-interest way to borrow money that won’t affect your credit score. Tread lightly with this option if borrowing money would mean risking your relationship with the lender.
Sell your stuff: Do you really need that piano? Selling larger items like a couch or pool table puts cash in your pocket and reduces moving costs. List items for sale online or hold a moving sale.
» MORE: Where to sell stuff online