New city, same home. We carry it there.
A move to another city or state is a big change. A new job, a new school, new neighbours, and everything you own on a truck for days. Lifter Shifter plans every part of that journey, so you can focus on the new life waiting at the other end.
We pack your home for a long road trip, carry it in a closed truck on a planned route, keep you updated on the way and deliver it to your new door in the same condition it left.
A long move is not just a local move, made longer
In a local move, your things spend an hour or two on the road. In an intercity move, they may spend days on highways, through heat, rain, potholes and state borders. Boxes rub against each other for hundreds of kilometres. A small gap in packing that would not matter across town can turn into a broken leg on a dining chair by the time the truck reaches another state.
You also cannot just drive over to check on things. Once the truck leaves, you are depending on the mover to keep your goods safe and to tell you honestly where they are.
That is why we plan intercity moves differently. Packing is thicker and tighter. The truck is loaded in a careful order so nothing shifts. The route and timing are planned before pickup. Papers for the goods are kept ready for checks on the way. And your move manager stays in touch until the last box is unloaded.
There is also more to plan on your side. You may be travelling by train or flight while the truck is on the road, so we time the pickup and delivery around your own journey. If your new flat is not ready yet, we can hold your goods in storage for a few days. If you are moving a bike or a car too, we plan them on the same schedule.
See how every move worksDedicated truck or shared truck?
This is the biggest choice in an intercity move, and it changes both the price and the timing. With a dedicated truck, the whole truck carries only your home. With a shared truck, your goods travel with one or two other families going the same way, and everyone shares the cost. Neither is "better". It depends on what matters more to you.
| Dedicated truck | Shared truck | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher, because you pay for the whole truck | Lower, because the truck cost is split |
| Speed | Fastest. Leaves after your loading and goes straight to you | Slower. Waits to fill up and may make other stops |
| Flexibility | You choose the pickup date and a fixed delivery window | Dates depend on the shared schedule; delivery is a range |
| Handling | Loaded once, unloaded once | May be moved within the truck at other stops |
| Best for | Full 2 BHK and bigger homes, tight joining dates, many fragile items | Students, 1 RK and small 1 BHK moves, flexible dates, tighter budgets |
Not sure which one fits? Tell us your joining date and roughly how much you have. Your move manager will price both options side by side, so you can see the real difference in money and days before you decide.
How long will my things take to reach?
Transit time depends mostly on distance, but not only on distance. Trucks carrying goods often have fixed hours for entering big cities. Hill routes and ghat sections are slower. In the monsoon, some highways get waterlogged and drivers wait rather than take risks. Festivals and long weekends can also slow traffic at toll plazas.
Before pickup, we plan the route, the driver's rest stops and the city entry timing at your destination. Then we give you a delivery window, not just a hopeful guess. The table below is a rough guide. Your move manager will confirm the exact window for your route in your quote.
A simple tip: plan to reach your new city a day before the truck, so you can collect keys, check the flat and be ready when we arrive.
| Distance | Example route | Dedicated truck | Shared truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 500 km | Pune to Mumbai | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 5 days |
| 500 to 1,000 km | Delhi to Lucknow | 2 to 4 days | 5 to 8 days |
| 1,000 to 1,500 km | Delhi to Mumbai | 3 to 5 days | 7 to 10 days |
| 1,500 to 2,500 km | Delhi to Bengaluru | 5 to 7 days | 9 to 14 days |
| More than 2,500 km | Guwahati to Bengaluru | 7 to 10 days | 12 to 18 days |
Packed for days on the highway, not hours in town
Long-distance packing has one job: nothing should move inside the box, and nothing should move inside the truck. Here is what we do differently when your goods are travelling to another city.
Extra layers
Fragile items get double bubble wrap and thicker cartons. Furniture gets foam on every corner, then stretch film over it. Glass tops, mirrors and large frames go in wooden crates where needed, because a long road means more vibration.
Moisture and monsoon protection
Mattresses, sofas and wooden furniture are sealed in plastic so damp air cannot get in. In the monsoon, the truck floor gets a plastic layer and the cargo is covered from top to bottom. Electronics are packed dry, never straight after cleaning.
Loading order
Heavy items like the fridge, washing machine and almirah go in first, against the front wall. Strong cartons fill the middle. Light and fragile boxes go on top. Every layer is tied with belts so the load cannot shift on sharp turns or sudden braking.
Numbered boxes and a full list
Every box gets a number and a room label, and the list is shared with you. At delivery, you tick the numbers off one by one, so you know at a glance that everything has arrived.
Papers for your household goods, made simple
When goods cross city and state lines, the truck may be stopped for routine checks. Having the right papers in the truck keeps those stops short. For personal household goods, the paperwork is usually light, but it has to be in order.
Rules can differ by state and can change, so we do not give you a fixed list here. Your move manager will tell you exactly which papers are needed for your route and help you fill them. Most of the work is on our side.
Item list
A list of everything in the truck, signed by you and our team at pickup. It travels with the goods.
A simple declaration
A short note saying the goods are your used personal belongings, not items for sale. We give you the format.
Your ID copy
A copy of a photo ID, and sometimes an address proof, to show whose goods are in the truck.
Vehicle papers, if any
If a bike or car travels too, copies of its registration and insurance go along with it.
What to do, and when, before a long move
An intercity move has more moving parts than a local one: your own tickets, school transfers, a notice period on your rented flat and a joining date at work. Spreading the work over a few weeks keeps the last days calm. Here is a simple countdown most families can follow.
Three to four weeks before
Book your move and fix the pickup date. Give notice to your landlord and your society. Book your own train or flight so it lands a day before the truck. If you need storage at the other end, tell us now.
Two weeks before
Start giving away or selling things you do not want to carry, like old furniture, extra utensils and plants. Every item left behind is one less item to pay for and unpack. Ask your children's school for transfer papers.
The last week
Use up frozen and open food. Keep important papers, jewellery and medicines in one bag that travels with you. Arrange the gas connection transfer and note the final meter readings.
Packing day
Be at home to show the team what is going and what is staying. Check the item list before you sign it, and keep your copy safe until delivery.
You'll always know where your home is
The hardest part of a long move is the waiting. Your things are somewhere on a highway, and you are in a new city with an empty flat. So we do not leave you guessing. Your move manager shares updates at each stage: when the truck leaves, when it crosses key points on the route and when it is close to your new city.
You also get the driver's and move manager's numbers. If there is a delay because of rain, a road closure or city entry timing, we tell you as soon as we know, along with the new expected time. No silence, and no surprises on the doorstep.
- Packed, listed and loaded
- Left the old city
- Crossing the state border
- Reached the new city
- Unloaded and set up
What happens when the truck reaches your new city
Unloading in a new city is just as careful as packing in the old one. A local team meets the truck, so the people carrying your things up the stairs are fresh, not tired from the journey.
Before the day, check the rules at your new building too. Many societies need advance notice for a truck, fixed shifting hours and a service lift booking. Your move manager will remind you, but only you can ask your new society office.
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1
A call before arrival
We call you before the truck reaches, so you can be home, book the lift and keep the parking space free.
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2
Check the seal and the list
The truck is opened in front of you. You tick off box numbers as each one comes out.
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3
Room by room
Boxes go to the rooms on their labels. A quick sketch of your new flat helps the team place things right.
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4
Furniture fixed, then sign-off
Beds and wardrobes are put back together. Note any concern on the delivery form before you sign.
Moving your bike or car together
Driving your own car across states sounds like an adventure until you think about long hours, tolls, fuel and a family to look after. Most people choose to send their vehicles with their home. When you book both with us, we plan them on one schedule, so your scooter is not stuck in one city while your sofa is in another.
Keep the original registration papers and insurance with you, and hand over copies to us. Remove toll tags, music systems or anything loose that you want to keep. If your bike or car will stay in the new state for a long time, ask your move manager about re-registration rules there, so you can plan for it early.
A new city feels like home faster with a plan
Your things arriving safely is only half the move. The other half is getting your life running again. These simple steps, done in the first couple of weeks, save a lot of running around later.
Get to know the area
Walk around in the first evening. Find the nearest chemist, grocery shop, ATM and hospital. Save a local auto or cab number and ask a neighbour about the milk and newspaper delivery.
Basics for the house
Book the internet connection early, as it can take a few days. Arrange the gas connection transfer, note the electricity meter reading on day one and find out the water timings if your building has them.
Update your address
Change your address with your bank, your mobile operator, your employer and any online shopping or delivery apps. Over the next few weeks, update it on your ID documents and vehicle papers as the rules require.
Help the family settle
Set up the children's room first so they have a familiar corner. Plan a small outing in the first weekend. Introduce yourselves to the neighbours; they are your best guide to the new city.
Intercity moving questions
Long-distance moves raise more questions than local ones. Here are the ones we hear most. For anything else, call us or write to packersuper5@gmail.com.
Read all questionsHow is the price for an intercity move worked out?
Mainly by the amount you are moving, the distance, and whether you choose a dedicated or shared truck. Floors, lift access and add-ons like a car also count. Everything is listed in your written quote.
How early should I book?
Two to three weeks ahead is best. If you want a shared truck, booking early gives us more time to match you with a truck going your way.
My new flat is not ready yet. What can I do?
We can keep your packed goods in storage for a few days or weeks and deliver them when you are ready. Read about storage.
Are my goods insured on the highway?
We offer transit insurance for the journey at an extra cost. For long routes we strongly suggest it, and your move manager will explain the cover in plain words.
Can I carry plants or food items?
Most plants do not survive days in a closed truck, so we suggest giving them to friends. Sealed dry food is fine, but open or liquid food should not travel.
Can I travel in the truck with my goods?
We do not suggest it. A moving truck is not built for long trips with passengers, and the driver's stops are planned around the goods. Travel by train, flight or your own car, and reach a day before the truck so you are ready to receive it.
What if the truck is delayed?
Delays can happen because of weather or road closures. If one happens, we tell you straight away, explain the reason and share the new expected time.
Moving to a new city? Let's plan the road.
Tell us your two cities and your moving date. We will send a written price for both truck options, with a likely delivery window.