American Van Lines Review 2024: Real Customer Experiences
Here’s the bottom line: American Van Lines is a highly-rated full-service moving company that customers trust. Many of our readers say they appreciate their comprehensive moving services, competitive pricing, and responsive customer service.
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
American Van Lines (AVL) is known for its long history and extensive fleet, and our readers’ recent experiences highlight how the company’s reputation holds up in practice.
AVL’s clear communication and organized coordination stood out when our reader Kathy arranged her move from Washington D.C. to St. Louis. Even when a last-minute truck change delayed her pick-up, Kathy appreciated the professional handling and timely updates from her dedicated moving coordinator.
We’ve gathered detailed insights from countless customers like Kathy with AVL and other leading moving companies through our Better Moves Project.
Whether you’re moving across the country or just a few states over, these accounts give you an idea of what to expect from AVL and find the right mover for your needs.
Pros and cons of American Van Lines
- Climate-controlled storage and custom crating options
- Several moving discounts, including for military members and seniors
- Operates as a carrier with its own in-house movers
- Flat-rate, all-inclusive pricing
- Not available in Alaska or Hawaii
- Requires a 50% deposit upfront via credit card
- No online shipment tracking
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Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 2,500+ moving companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving & auto transport grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
What customers had to say about American Van Lines
Kathy is one of several Better Moves Project participants who loved AVL’s dedicated employees, attention to detail, and packing and storage services.
While our readers experienced a few issues with delivery delays and AVL’s third-party partners, we found that the company goes above and beyond to do right by its customers.
Something is bound to go wrong with a move, but how a moving company handles those missteps makes a difference, something that Jen, another reader, appreciated about AVL.
Critical reviews cite issues like late arrivals and inaccurate quotes. While some complaints are valid, most negative reviews are about logistical problems that can happen with any moving company, like communication delays during peak moving season.
Positive customer reviews say the company has friendly, professional, and on-time staff. Others say AVL employees were communicative and helpful throughout the process. For example, Allison had a great experience during her move. Here’s what she had to say:
However, reader Phoenix found AVL’s communication a little lacking. Even so, she had an overall positive experience.
American Van Lines pricing
Based on actual quotes our readers received, the average cost of moving with American Van Lines is $3,948.
The final dollar amount you pay will depend on the unique factors of your move and any extra services you book. The larger your home and further your moving distance, the more expensive it will be.
After comparing quotes from four moving companies for her move from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to San Jose, California, Phoenix found that American Van Lines offered the lowest estimate and ultimately chose them as her long-distance moving company.
Here’s a breakdown of the quotes each company gave her:
| Company | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| American Van Lines | $3,948 |
| U-Pack | $4,600 |
| North American Van Lines | $8,011 |
| PODS | $4,506 |
The final cost of Phoenix’s move was slightly higher than her quote, at $4,140, which can be attributed to her getting a quote over the phone rather than choosing a virtual in-home estimate. Even so, the quote was very close to the actual cost of the move.
Take a look at some quotes from a few more Better Moves Project participants who chose AVL:
| Better Moves Participant | Approximate Distance | Route | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allison | 1,584 miles | Weehawken, NJ, to Denton, TX | $4,050 |
| Jen | 1,360 miles | Columbia, MO, to Santa Clara, UT | $4,816 |
| Kathy | 2,900 miles | Washington, DC, to St. Louis, MO | $4,074 |
We recommend getting a binding or flat-rate estimate to avoid a price increase like Phoenix’s. For a binding estimate, an American Van Lines agent will need to come to your home and perform a walk-through to accurately predict the cost of your move.
To get started, you can check out our moving cost calculator to get a general idea of your move’s cost.
American Van Lines services
American Van Lines services include the following:
- Local moves: If you’re making a local move, AVL offers affordable hourly rates, packing, and custom crating options to get your household goods to your new home in one piece.
- Long-distance moves: AVL offers long-distance moves and interstate moving services nationwide, except to and from Alaska and Hawaii.
- Packing: You can upgrade your moving package to include hiring professional packers, and American Van Lines will safely wrap, pack, and inventory your items before picking them up on your moving date.
- Military moves: There’s a reason AVL is on our list of best military movers. Military members can book an in-home estimate, packing services, packing materials, short- and long-term storage units, furniture assembly and disassembly, and access military moving discounts.
- Corporate relocation: AVL offers commercial relocation help, including disassembling and reassembling furniture and commercial storage.
- Antique and piano moving: Whether you’re moving antiques or need to ship a piano to your new home, AVL specializes in transporting oversized or fragile items, earning the top spot on our list of the best antique moving companies. We recommend calling AVL to request a custom crating quote for high-value antiques.
- Storage options: AVL offers safe, secure, and private storage units with video surveillance, optional climate control, and fire and storm protection.
- Moving boxes and supplies: If you prefer to pack yourself, you can buy packing materials directly from your AVL team. However, this will likely be more expensive than procuring moving supplies yourself.
rating
4.5 / 5
89% of users select this mover
How American Van Lines stacks up against the competition
There are many reasons customers choose American Van Lines over some of our other best moving companies, all of which have excellent reputations and offer some of the same services.
Let’s take a look at some of the similarities and differences between these top movers.
| COMPANY | BBB SCORE | STATE AVAILABILITY | COST |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Van Lines | A+ | 48 (not in AK or HI) | $$ |
| Mayzlin Relocation | A- | 48 (not in AK or HI) | $$ |
| JK Moving | A+ | All 50 states; limited local moves | $$$$ |
| Allied Van Lines | A+ | 50 | $$$ |
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rating
4.5 / 5
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rating
4.75 / 5
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American Van Lines vs. Mayzlin Relocation
American Van Lines and Mayzlin Relocation specialize in long-distance moves and offer local moving services. While both can help you move a large household, AVL has a minimum move size, so those with smaller moves should look at Mayzlin Relocation.
Most customers love Mayzlin’s excellent communication, while some complain about the lack of communication when working with AVL.
It’s also worth noting that as solid as Mayzlin Relocation is, they don’t have the same custom crating or storage options as American Van Lines, so customers who need those types of services will need to work with AVL.
For customers like Elizabeth who prioritize communication, Mayzlin Relocation is a solid option,
American Van Lines vs. JK Moving
American Van Lines and JK Moving provide mix-and-match services for local and long-distance moves. However, JK Moving only provides local moving services in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.
While American Van Lines offers affordable quotes, JK Moving is often known as a more high-end white-glove moving company. You can expect their quotes to be much higher than the competition.
That being said, JK Moving has fewer damage reports and customer complaints than the industry average. Customers who don’t mind paying extra for a more premium experience will likely prefer JK Moving to AVL.
Our reader, Jose, found JK Moving’s prices reasonable for the company’s top-tier moving services.
American Van Lines vs. Allied Van Lines
American Van Lines and Allied Van Lines could both be a good fit whether you want a full-service move or prefer to pack your items yourself.
Allied Van Lines offers a moving container option similar to PODS, giving customers a DIY moving option with the added benefit of loading and unloading labor.
While Allied Van Lines offers more services than American Van Lines, their prices are often higher, and quotes can be less accurate than those American Van Lines provides.
Customers looking for a full-service move at a reasonable cost should choose American Van Lines over Allied Van Lines. However, customers who want a DIY move will likely prefer Allied Van Lines.
Allied Van Lines helped Pavan safely move his belongings cross-country, communicating with him throughout the process.
How moving with American Van Lines works
American Van Lines is one of the best moving companies in North America for a reason. Customers rave about their excellent customer service at every stage of the moving process.
Before you book, let’s take a look at AVL’s moving process.
Request a quote
American Van Lines has an online quote system that will give you a bare-bones estimate of your moving costs. You’ll fill out a short form, and a representative will contact you with your quote.
Don’t get too attached to this quote, though. Online estimates are rarely spot-on, so it’s important to understand the types of estimates you can get. For the best possible quote, we recommend asking for an American Van Lines rep to visit your home and generate a binding quote.
Some customers stated that the amount they paid differed greatly from the original quote, like Jen, who wound up needing more moving boxes and spending $1,000 higher than her initial quote.
Book the move
If the quote works for you, the next step is to sign the binding estimate and pick your move date. Whether you’re planning a large or small move across state lines or across the country, American Van Lines has a massive network of trucks and drivers to get the job done.
They can usually accommodate any moving date or time and sometimes accommodate last-minute moves. Unlike other companies, there are no extra fees for choosing weekend dates for your move.
Once a customer service representative books your move date, they’ll assign you to a moving coordinator, who will be your point of contact during the move.
Pack and move
If you hire American Van Lines to pack for you, they’ll arrive at your home on the specified day and carefully pack all of your belongings.
If you only booked moving services, a moving truck or van will arrive at your property on the day of your move, and the crew will help load your items into the truck.
Most Better Moves Project participants wish they’d given themselves more time to pack, so give yourself more time than you think you’ll need.
After AVL packs the truck, the crew will drive to your new home. If you’re storing items in the meantime, they will take them to one of their top-rated storage facilities until you’re ready for delivery.
While they don’t offer online shipment tracking, you can contact your move coordinator with questions at any point during your move.
FAQ
Is American Van Lines legit?
Yes, American Van Lines is a legitimate moving company. The company is licensed with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT#614506) and has been in business since 1967.
Is American Van Lines an insured moving company?
American Van Lines is an insured moving company. However, they may not offer full-value protection on all moves, so ask your coordinator if you should purchase extra coverage.
Is American Van Lines expensive?
American Van Lines isn’t expensive compared to white-glove moving services like JK Moving, but it isn’t necessarily the cheapest in the industry, either. American is known for its excellent service at a reasonable price, making it valuable for full-service relocations.
Will American Van Lines disassemble furniture?
Yes, American Van Lines will disassemble furniture at your current home and reassemble it at your new home. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to pay for full packing services in order to get furniture disassembly and reassembly.
Is American Van Lines a broker?
No, American Van Lines is not a broker. AVL is a direct moving company. Unlike moving brokers, which act as intermediaries connecting customers with various moving companies, AVL operates their own fleet of trucks and employs moving staff to provide comprehensive moving services directly to customers. This allows AVL to have more control over the quality and consistency of their services.
Our rating methodology
At moveBuddha, we understand that all moving companies aren’t created equal. We undertake a rigorous review process to rate and review companies like Safeway Moving to ensure we provide accurate recommendations.
Here’s a breakdown of the methodology we use to rate movers:
- Customer satisfaction: In addition to looking at reviews with the BBB, Google, and other third-party sites, we rely heavily on interviews with Better Moves Project participants to understand the pros and cons of each mover.
- Standard services: We look at what services are included as part of a company’s standard offerings, and which ones you can only get for an additional fee.
- Reputation: We evaluate a company’s industry ratings, including aspects like carrying sufficient insurance coverage and compliance with applicable regulations.
- Add-on services: We look at any add-on services that can simplify a move, such as custom crating or storage options — services that aren’t offered by all moving companies.
- Availability: The areas a company serves — as well as whether they offer local, long-distance, or international services — is another important consideration. Widespread availability is most useful.
- Type of mover: A moving company’s capability (such as full-service vs. DIY) will directly impact its service offerings.
- Payment: Ease of making a payment (including submitting a deposit) with multiple options (credit card, check, cash, etc.) can also make moving easier.
- Scheduling: How easy is it to book a move? What kind of lead time is needed? Readily available booking services and streamlined scheduling will help get your move underway.
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