Can You Move Artwork Long Distance or Out of State?
Can You Move Artwork Long Distance or Out of State?
Last updated: October 2026
Yes. Art and antiques both.
We're licensed for interstate moves under MC 1694629 and US DOT 4338139. And on a long-distance move with us, the same truck and crew handle your pieces from pickup to delivery. They're never handed off to another company along the way.
For art, that second part matters most. A lot.
Why one truck and one crew matters
Every time a piece changes hands, there's a chance something goes wrong. A crate gets set down on the wrong side. A painting gets stacked where it shouldn't be. Some long-distance moves pass through several trucks and several crews before they arrive.
Ours don't. The crew that loads your painting in Chicago is the crew that unloads it at the other end. Our post on moving brokers vs. real movers explains why that difference matters.
Crating for the long haul
A long drive means hours of road vibration and more time in the truck. Pieces that might travel across town in a blanket often need more for a trip across the country, since a painting that rides comfortably for twenty minutes on city streets is a different story after two days of interstate miles and a few rough stretches of construction. Plan for the long haul.
For oversized, glass-faced, or high-value pieces, we build custom crates ourselves. That includes mirrors, marble, glass, and especially delicate antiques. Read do you build custom crates for art and fragile items for which pieces need one.
How long it takes
For nearby states, delivery is often next-day or two-day. For cross-country moves, delivery typically lands within a one-to-two-week window that we agree on with you in advance. Our post on how long long-distance delivery takes covers the details.
Coverage for valuable pieces
Every move includes our standard coverage, which is based on weight. For art and antiques, that rarely reflects what a piece is worth. You can buy full coverage insurance through us or through your own insurer. For a long-distance move with valuable pieces, it's worth arranging before the truck leaves.
Planning a long-distance art move
Book early. Three to four weeks is comfortable for most long-distance moves, and summer fills earlier. Read how far in advance to book a long-distance move.
Make a list of the special pieces. Paintings, mirrors, sculptures, antiques. Photos help us plan the crating.
Plan the other end. If an installer or gallery is receiving the pieces, tell us who and when.
Keep the smallest valuables with you. Jewelry and small heirlooms are better in your car than on any truck.
Pianos and clocks too
Moving a piano or a grandfather clock along with the art? Our long-distance piano moving service and grandfather clock and organ moving service cover those.
Long-distance art and antique moves are part of our artwork moving service and antique furniture moving service, within our moving services and our long-distance moving service.
Call (773) 275-4100 or email info@wcmoving.com, and send us photos of the pieces that matter most.
