American Van Lines Review 2026: Real Customer Experiences
Here’s the bottom line: Our American Van Lines review finds a Florida-based interstate carrier (USDOT 614506) that four Better Moves Project readers hired for moves of 831 – 2,200 miles, paying $4,050 – $4,816. Readers praised AVL’s dedicated move coordinators and competitive quotes, though two paid well over their quotes after underestimating how much they owned. Below, we cover AVL’s pricing, services, customer reviews, and how it compares with other best interstate moving companies.
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
American Van Lines (AVL) runs its own fleet of trucks and crews, and our readers’ recent experiences show 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 truck breakdown pushed her pickup back two days, Kathy appreciated the professional handling and timely updates from her dedicated moving coordinator.
Kathy shared her experience through our Better Moves Project, which has awarded more than $50,000 in grants to people who document their moves with AVL and other leading moving companies.
Whether you’re moving across the country or just a few states over, these accounts show you what to expect from AVL so you can find the right mover for your needs.
“When it comes to moving, trust matters more than price. What matters is knowing that your belongings are safe, that your timeline is respected, and that your experience is handled by professionals. And that’s what people are really paying for.”
—Anthony DiSorbo, owner, American Van Lines
Pros & 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
- No direct service to Alaska or Hawaii
- Requires a deposit by credit card to book
- Local moves offered in only four states
Why moveBuddha:
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
Jump to the American Van Lines info you’re looking for:
What do customers 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.
Our readers ran into a few delivery delays and handoffs to AVL’s third-party partners, but AVL worked to make things right each time.
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. Many of those complaints describe 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.
What moveBuddha Certified means for AVL customers
The moveBuddha Certified badge next to AVL means the company passed a comprehensive audit covering licensing, insurance, safety, pricing, and customer service. AVL also commits to ongoing oversight by moveBuddha.
Selecting a moveBuddha Certified company offers extra security. AVL must provide transparent rate tables, offer binding estimates by default, keep accurate inventories, give honest delivery windows, send proactive updates, and handle deposits and claims fairly.
What if issues arise? moveBuddha can assist with mediation, and eligible customers may receive up to $1,000 in bonus coverage, on top of the mover’s coverage.
How much does American Van Lines cost?
Four Better Moves Project readers paid American Van Lines $4,050 – $4,816 for long-distance moves of one to two bedrooms, an average of $4,270.
Your final cost depends on your home size, moving distance, and any extra services you book, like packing or storage. The larger your home and the farther you move, the more you’ll pay.
After comparing quotes from four moving companies for her move from Milwaukee to San Jose, California, Phoenix found that American Van Lines offered the lowest estimate and hired AVL as her long-distance moving company.
Here’s how the four quotes Phoenix received for her 2,200-mile move compared:
| Company | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| American Van Lines | $3,984 |
| U-Pack | $4,600 |
| North American Van Lines | $8,011 |
| PODS | $4,506 |
Phoenix’s final bill came to $4,140, about $155 more than her quote. She got her estimate over the phone rather than through a virtual or in-home survey, which likely explains the gap. Even so, AVL landed within 4% of its quote on a 2,200-mile move.
“They landed within $155 of a number they generated over the phone on a 2,200-mile move, which is better than I had any right to expect.”
—Phoenix, Better Moves Project
Here’s what three more Better Moves Project participants who chose AVL paid:
| Better Moves participant | Approximate distance | Route | Final 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 | 831 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, AVL needs to survey your belongings, either with an in-home walk-through or a virtual survey, to accurately predict the cost of your move.
Pro tip: Show AVL every box, closet, and storage unit during your survey, since box count drove Jen’s $1,238 overage. Our guide to binding vs. non-binding estimates explains which quote protects you.
Before you sign, run your move through the moveBuddha moving cost calculator. It draws on 1,000+ live price points collected every month, so you have a concrete benchmark to hold an AVL phone quote against.
What services does American Van Lines offer?
American Van Lines services include the following:
- Local moves: If you’re making a local move in Florida, Texas, South Carolina, or North Carolina, AVL offers hourly rates, packing, and custom crating options to get your household goods to your new home in one piece.
- Long-distance moves: AVL handles long-distance and interstate moves across the 48 contiguous states. For moves to or from Alaska and Hawaii, AVL coordinates with partner carriers.
- 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, which is why we named it best overall for antiques 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 secure, private storage units with surveillance systems and electronic access logs. Its climate-controlled units stay at 65 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Moving boxes and supplies: If you prefer to pack yourself, you can buy packing materials directly from your AVL team. However, this will likely cost more than buying moving supplies yourself.
rating
4.9 / 5
How does American Van Lines compare to other movers?
There are many reasons customers choose American Van Lines over some of our other best moving companies, all of which have solid reputations and offer some of the same services.
Comparing AVL against those movers doesn’t mean calling each one. The moveBuddha Mover Marketplace gets you up to five no-obligation quotes from one request, matched to movers’ real-time availability.
Here’s how these top movers compare on BBB rating, availability, and cost, based on BBB profiles as of September 2026:
| Company | BBB rating | State availability | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Van Lines | C (not accredited) | 48 contiguous states (AK and HI through partners) | $$ |
| Mayzlin Relocation | B+ | 48 (not in AK or HI) | $$ |
| JK Moving | Not rated | All 50 states (local moves in DC, MD, and VA only) | $$$$ |
| Allied Van Lines | A+ | 50 | $$$ |
rating
4.9 / 5
- Certified crews
- Flat-rate pricing
- Family-owned
rating
4.23 / 5
- Specialty packing services
- White-glove reputation
- 80+ years' experience
American Van Lines vs. Mayzlin Relocation
American Van Lines and Mayzlin Relocation specialize in long-distance moves and offer local moving services. Both can help you move a large household.
Most customers love Mayzlin’s excellent communication, while some complain about the lack of communication when working with AVL.
Mayzlin Relocation offers storage, but we found no custom crating service on its website, so customers shipping antiques or fine art that need custom crates should look at 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 a high-end white-glove moving company. Expect JK Moving’s quotes to run much higher than the competition.
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 called Allied Express, 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, its prices are often higher, and its quotes can be less accurate than AVL’s.
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 does moving with American Van Lines work?
American Van Lines made our list of the best moving companies, and customers most often credit its excellent customer service at every stage of the moving process.
Before you book, here’s what AVL’s moving process looks like.
Request a quote
American Van Lines has an online quote system that gives 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 that first number. Online estimates are rarely spot-on, so it’s important to understand binding vs. non-binding estimates. Under FMCSA rules, a binding estimate means you can’t be required to pay more than the estimate at delivery unless you add services. For the best possible quote, ask an American Van Lines rep to survey your home in person or virtually and generate a binding quote.
To sanity-check that first number, the moveBuddha calculator weighs distance, home size, services, and access together, so the range it gives you reflects your move rather than a flat national average.
Some customers stated that the amount they paid differed greatly from the original quote, like Jen, who wound up needing more moving boxes and paid $1,238 more 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 runs its own fleet, which FMCSA records put at 81 trucks and 68 drivers as of September 2026.
AVL can usually accommodate any moving date or time and sometimes handles last-minute moves. AVL doesn’t charge extra for weekend or after-hours moves.
Once a customer service representative books your move date, AVL assigns you a moving coordinator, who will be your point of contact during the move.
Pack & move
If you hire American Van Lines to pack for you, the crew will 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 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 loads the truck, the crew will drive to your new home. If you’re storing items in the meantime, AVL will take them to one of its three company-owned storage facilities until you’re ready for delivery.
AVL says every truck carries a GPS unit and customers get a login to track their shipment online. You can also contact your move coordinator with questions at any point during your move.
rating
4.9 / 5
FAQ
Is American Van Lines legit?
Yes. American Van Lines is a licensed interstate household goods carrier with active FMCSA authority under USDOT 614506 and MC-294798. It has operated in its current form since 1995.
Is American Van Lines a broker?
No. FMCSA lists American Van Lines as a carrier with 81 trucks and 68 drivers as of September 2026. AVL sometimes hands shipments to partner carriers, so ask who will deliver your belongings before you book.
Is American Van Lines expensive?
No. Four Better Moves Project readers paid AVL $4,050 – $4,816 for long-distance moves. That’s far less than white-glove movers like JK Moving, where our reader Jose paid $27,453.
Is American Van Lines an insured moving company?
Yes, but AVL’s standard coverage is carrier liability, not moving insurance. Ask your AVL coordinator for Full Value Coverage if you want your belongings covered at replacement value.
Can you trust American Van Lines reviews?
Yes, if you read them for patterns rather than star ratings. As of September 2026, AVL has a 3.2 out of 5 TrustScore from 372 Trustpilot reviews and a C rating from the BBB, with 359 complaints in three years. Complaints center on delays, damage, and price changes at pickup, while praise centers on AVL’s dedicated move coordinators.
Our research & review process
- We’re not a broker. We never sell or share your information.
- We mystery shop movers to get firsthand data.
- We interview moving customers through the Better Moves Project.
- We review movers’ licensing, insurance, and service history through moveBuddha Certified.
- We compare quotes and track market trends to provide accurate pricing guidance.
How we chose the best moving companies
The moveBuddha team has spent nearly 10 years evaluating moving companies using a rigorous review system to identify the best moving companies. Our thorough methodology evaluates each moving company's services, cost, customer service, and reputation:
Moving services (35%):
We verify operating authority, insurance, and service scope against FMCSA/SAFER and state databases. We confirm availability via standardized mystery-shopping calls (packing tiers, storage type, specialty handling, delivery windows, valuation), and then review contracts alongside complaint and claims patterns over time.
Customer feedback (28%):
We run structured post-move surveys through our Better Moves Project with verifiable documentation. We emphasize on-time performance, care of goods, and estimates’ accuracy, and we investigate outliers before they influence scores.
Online reviews (7%):
We aggregate ratings across multiple third-party sites to reduce platform bias, analyze overall trends and company response behavior, and discount obvious spam/fake signals such as sudden bursts, duplicate language, and low-history profiles.
State availability (12%):
We confirm USDOT numbers, broker vs. carrier status, and any required state permits, then score a state-by-state service matrix that accounts for coverage gaps, seasonal limits, and lane strength. We award additional credit for documented cross-border or specialty lanes.
Additional services (12%):
We verify whether add-ons are performed in-house or subcontracted, look for crew training/certifications for high-value or oversized items, count only documented offerings (tariffs, photos, written service descriptions) confirmed via mystery shopping, and reward robust pre-move planning (virtual surveys, itemized crating).
Quotes/Payment options (6%):
We test standardized move profiles to assess estimate type (binding, not-to-exceed, non-binding), line-item transparency, and disclosed surcharges, require clear written policies for deposits, refunds, and cancellations, and award points for secure, flexible payment methods and customer portals.
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