Moving container, rental truck, or full-service movers: what's the real difference?
The difference is who loads, who drives, and who answers for damage. With a rental truck, you do all three. With a container, you pack and load, and the company drives. With full-service movers, the company does all of it, and the federal mover rules on estimates, claims and arbitration apply to interstate moves.
With a container, ask the company in writing what damage it accepts responsibility for, and what coverage it sells. If you loaded the container yourself, the answer may differ from a mover's. Homeowners and renters policies usually give only limited coverage for goods in transit.
Check where the container can sit. Many cities and counties require a permit to put one on the street. Montgomery County, Maryland, for example, requires a right-of-way permit that lasts at most six months. Check your city and your HOA or building rules too.
Price depends on distance, dates and how long you keep the container, so there is no safe average. Get all-in quotes in writing that include mileage, fuel, delivery, pickup and storage days.
Source: FMCSA, Who Regulates Local Movers; NAIC, Leaving Home: Insurance Considerations for a Move; Montgomery County (MD) DPS, Portable Storage Containers in the Right-of-Way · Checked October 2026