American Van Lines vs. Bravo Moving (2024 Comparison)

Quick answer: In our comparison of American Van Lines vs. Bravo Moving, American Van Lines takes the crown. With their competitive flat-rate pricing, stellar customer service, and nationwide availability, AVL is the better choice for most customers.

While Bravo Moving is a strong option for California-based moves, AVL’s affordability and consistency make them our go-to for long–distance moves.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • Certified crews
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Family-owned
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • California moves
  • Price matching
  • Packing services

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Compare customer experiences

We created the Better Moves Project to allow our readers to share their experiences with companies like American Van Lines and Bravo Moving. Here are some of their biggest strengths and weaknesses based on firsthand customer feedback:

American Van Lines

Most American Van Lines customers told us they appreciated the company’s reasonable rates, reliable communication, and expert handling.

However, a few of them cited inaccurate quotes, timing issues, and some delivery-day snafus.

Customer praises

  • Reliable communication: Jen’s moving coordinator and crew stayed in constant contact with her, calling and texting updates.
  • Careful handling: Phoenix appreciated how carefully AVL’s crew handled her belongings, which didn’t suffer any damage during the move.
  • Affordable rates: Allison compared several quotes, and AVL came out on top as the most affordable.

Customer complaints

  • Poor timing: Jen was notified that AVL wouldn’t be able to make her requested delivery date unless she paid a $500 fee for them to hold her belongings.
  • Inaccurate quote: Phoenix said AVL’s calculation of the weight of his move was off, leaving her with a higher bill to pay than she expected.
  • Delivery-day confusion: Jen said AVL used a third-party to deliver her stuff, and they were confused over which boxes belonged to her.
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover

Bravo Moving

Some of the Bravo Moving customers we talked to praised their efficient services, accurate quotes, and care for specialty items, but a few took issue with their communication, delays, and logistical issues.

Customer praises

  • Efficient service: Greg was wowed when Bravo Moving knocked out his entire move in 24 hours, especially since he moved in peak season​.
  • Specialty items handling: Ana-Lisa said Bravo took the utmost care packing and transporting her signed artwork and antiques, getting them to her new home damage-free.
  • Accurate quotes: Greg said Bravo Moving’s quote was spot on, and he didn’t experience any surprise charges.

Customer complaints

  • Shoddy communication: Ana-Lisa was disappointed in Bravo’s communication, saying they were hard to reach after she booked her move.
  • Delays: Yvonne was frustrated when her moving crew claimed to hit bad traffic on the way from New Jersey to her NYC apartment, arriving nearly twelve hours late and having to return the next day to complete the move.
  • Last-minute rescheduling: Ana-Lisa had to act quickly when Bravo moved up her pickup time with little advanced notice, adding to the stress of her move.
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover

Compare company reputation

American Van Lines

  • BBB rating: A
  • moveBuddha rating: 4.5/5
  • Average Better Moves rating: 3.3/5

American Van Lines is highly regarded for their affordability and professionalism, earning a solid BBB rating and strong ratings from our editorial team.

While their average Better Moves rating isn’t the highest, most customers had a positive experience with AVL and would use them for a future move.

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Phoenix's Move with AVL
“While I felt that there could have been better communication between myself and American Van Lines, the communication I did have was courteous and informative.”
From
WI
To
CA
Cost
$4,140
Size
2 bdrms
Read The Full Story

Bravo Moving

  • BBB rating: B+
  • moveBuddha rating: 4.25/5
  • Average Better Moves rating: 4.8/5

Bravo Moving has a decent reputation, especially for local and regional moves within California. They have a solid track record with our Better Moves participants and scored well in our company review, but their BBB rating suggests they could do a better job resolving customer complaints.

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Greg's Move with Bravo Moving
“I would use Bravo Moving again. They are very efficient and get the job done at a very good price compared to other quotes I received. They got the job done quickly and were careful with our belongings.”
From
OR
To
CA
Cost
$4,400
Size
1 bdrm
Read The Full Story

Round winner: American Van Lines takes round one thanks to their stronger BBB rating and higher moveBuddha score.


Compare services

American Van Lines

American Van Lines offers reliable long-distance moving services in 48 states, with limited local moving packages. They specializes in handling delicate items like antiques and pianos, with full service offerings like packing, unpacking, custom crating, and climate-controlled storage.

Bravo Moving

Bravo Moving focuses on local and regional moves within California and offers some long-distance moving services.

They also offer packing, storage, and specialty handling for fragile items, but they don’t provide quite the same level of customization as AVL​.


Round winner: American Van Lines wins again for their wider range of services and nationwide availability.


Compare state availability

American Van Lines

American Van Lines carries out long distance moves in 48 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. They don’t offer international moves, but you can book the company for a local move in parts of North Carolina, Florida, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Bravo Moving

Bravo Moving primarily serves customers in California, offering local and some nationwide long-distance moves. While their network is extensive for local California moves, their interstate moving services are more limited than AVL’s.


Round winner: American Van Lines outshines Bravo Moving with broader state coverage and more versatility.


Compare cost structure

American Van Lines

American Van Lines offers flat-rate pricing to give customers a binding moving quote, but there have been some complaints about their accuracy.

AVL provides discounts for seniors and military families, and their rates are lower than most competitors for long-distance moves.

Bravo Moving

Bravo Moving provides non-binding estimates, which can lead to discrepancies between the initial quote the and final cost. That being said, some of our readers said their quotes were right on the money.

While their pricing is exceptional for California-based moves, they may not be as competitive for interstate moves.


Round winner: American Van Lines offers consistently lower prices, while Bravo Moving might offer better rates for a local California move.


Compare quote process

American Van Lines

American Van Lines offers virtual and in-home walkthroughs to generate binding estimates. While some customers report occasional discrepancies when they add items to their move, AVL’s process is generally praised for its accuracy and transparency​.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover

Bravo Moving

Bravo Moving provides non-binding quotes. While the process is efficient, it leaves the door open for price increases based on the size of your move.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover


Round winner: American Van Lines wins again for their more reliable and transparent quoting process.


American Van Lines vs. Bravo Moving: Final score

While Bravo Moving is a strong choice for local and regional moves within California, American Van Lines wins overall. AVL’s nationwide coverage, competitive pricing, and expertise in specialty handling make them the better option for most customers.

Comparison category Round winner
Company reputation American Van Lines
Services American Van Lines
State availability American Van Lines
Cost structure American Van Lines
Quote process American Van Lines

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