PODS Moving and Storage Review 2024
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PODS is a moving container company providing local, regional and international services. Unlike many similar companies, it delivers storage units to keep on your property or at PODS facilities. It also offers instant online quotes for local moves. PODS serves 46 states, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. It isn't available in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming.
Services
Unlike full-service companies such as Mayflower Transit, PODS doesn’t provide loading and unloading services. However, its partner providers can connect you with local companies that do. You’ll be responsible for additional fees. But that doesn’t mean PODS comes up short in its breadth of services.
Here’s what it offers.
Moving services: PODS moves your belongings to your new home locally, regionally or internationally. You can load the steel-framed containers on your own or with the help of a third-party company.
PODS City Services: PODS provides some exclusive services to customers moving to metro areas. Local drivers stay with the container as you load and unload. According to the PODS website, the company handles local permits.
Container services: PODS delivers containers, which you can keep on your property for as long as you would like. These units are rented by the month. You can also request that your container be moved to a different location.
Storage centers: PODS ships containers to your property, then delivers the loaded units to one of its storage centers. You can schedule visits to these storage units. Or you can call to have your containers delivered back to you or to another location.
PODS offers three types of containers.
16-foot containers with up to 1,200 square feet: Best for three to four rooms. According to the PODS website, it’s comparable to a 10-by-15-foot storage unit or a 20-foot truck.
12-foot containers with up to 800 square feet: Best for two to three rooms. These are comparable to a 10-by-10 storage unit or a 15-foot truck.
8-foot containers with up to 500 square feet: Best for studios. They’re comparable to 5-by-10 storage units or 10-foot trucks. According to the PODS website, this option is popular with college students.
The company has a calculator tool that can help you determine which size would best suit you and estimates the price.
The company also provides its services to businesses, and it offers military discounts.
PODS specializes in contactless services. This means you don’t have to be present for delivery or pickup.
How to get a quote
Because of its range of services, PODS quotes can vary widely. We’ll break it down for you.
Moving quotes
If you’re moving locally, you can get an instant quote by visiting the PODS website. You’ll enter the following information.
Current ZIP code.
Destination ZIP code.
Moving date.
Email address.
Whether you’re moving to a residential or business location.
For long-distance and international quotes, you’ll have to call the company at (855) 706-4758.
The total price depends on several factors such as your container’s size, distance and season. You can get a personalized quote by answering a brief questionnaire.
Container quotes (for keeping on your property)
The PODS website provides you with storage quotes after you enter your ZIP code, estimated time frame, start date and email address.
Storage quotes
According to the PODS website, storage units start at $149 a month and average pickup fees are $74.99. There’s no deposit required.
You can rent storage units with your credit card. So it may be a good idea to use a credit card with a long 0% intro APR period.
What’s included in the basic price?
Moving cross-country with PODs costs about $3,400 to $6,000 (including one month of storage), according to estimates the company published in 2024. Moving 100 to 500 miles, including a month of storage, runs between about $1,100 to $2,700. The company doesn’t require a deposit. And it doesn’t charge by weight. So the quote price is all-inclusive for moving services.
PODS doesn’t offer add-on services beyond its loss and damage coverage.
Loss and damage protection
By law, moving companies are supposed to offer some sort of insurance or "valuation options." But PODS and other moving container companies aren’t required to provide coverage as extensive as full-service moving companies are. Still, PODS offers satisfactory options.
The policies cover your property whether it’s stored in a PODS container, at one of its storage facilities or on transit. Here’s what it offers.
Content Protection: This covers your container and your belongings. PODS charges monthly fees based on your coverage level, which can range from $5,000 to $300,000. There’s a $100 deductible per claim. This means covered damage or loss needs to exceed $100 before PODS can pay claims. For certain markets, your quote would include up to $10,000 of Content Protection. You can access its content protection brochure to learn more about rates and items that aren’t covered.
Container Protection: This covers your container only. Coverage applies regardless of the cause of damage to your container unless you intentionally caused it. Container Protection costs $10 per month. In some markets, Container Protection is included in your quote.
Rates for loss and damage protection are subject to change. For complete details, see the PODS terms and conditions page.
Changes and cancellations
You can get a full refund if you call PODS before 4 p.m. local time three days before delivery; otherwise you may be charged a fee. You must call 855-706-4758 to cancel your order.
