American Van Lines vs. Allied Van Lines (2024 Comparison)
Quick answer: In our comparison of American Van Lines vs. Allied Van Lines, American Van Lines (AVL) steals the show.
With their competitive flat-rate pricing and reliable service, American Van Lines provides better value for most customers. While Allied Van Lines excels in international moves and car shipping, AVL’s affordability and strong specialty handling give them the edge.
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 rating
4.75 / 5
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 Insured
Price
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Compare customer experiences
At moveBuddha, the Better Moves Project shares real-life accounts of moves with the nation’s biggest moving companies, offering insights into what customers can expect.
Here’s how American Van Lines and Allied Van Lines compare based on our readers’ feedback.
American Van Lines
The majority of American Van Lines customers we spoke to had a positive experience, saying they benefited from affordable moves with consistent communication and careful handling.
Meanwhile, a few AVL customers told us they had to contend with delays, inaccurate estimates, and confusion on moving day.
Customer praises
- Affordable moves: Allison compared a handful of quotes before landing on AVL, saying she was impressed with how much more affordable they were than competitors.
- Dependable communication: Jen says AVL kept her informed about the ins and outs of her move with regular calls and texts.
- Expert handling: Phoenix appreciated AVL’s careful handling and thanked them for delivering her fragile items in perfect condition.
Customer complaints
- Delivery delay: After the delivery driver quit without notice, Allison had to wait an extra 25 days for all of her belongings to arrive at her new house.
- Inaccurate quote: Phoenix said AVL miscalculated her move, leading to a major moving day price increase.
- Timing snafu: While Jen praised their overall communication, she wished the company would’ve given her a little more of a heads-up before her moving crew arrived.
rating
4.5 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Allied Van Lines
Our readers who moved with Allied Van Lines shouted out their specialty handling, pre-move instructions, and overall communication. They also complained about their high prices and minor damage to their belongings.
Customer praises
- Specialty handling: Stephanie thanked Allied for maneuvering her antiques and heirlooms carefully.
- Top-tier communication: Both Pavan and Stephanie praised Allied for keeping them in the loop throughout their moves with regular updates.
- Efficiency: Pavan was impressed by Allied’s efficiency, saying they arrived right on time and carried out his move quickly and precisely.
Customer complaints
- Damages: While Stephanie was mostly happy with her move, she noted that some of her belongings were damaged in transit.
- High prices: Pavan’s actually paid less than the amount he was initially quoted, but he says Allied’s prices were still higher than competitors.
- Inaccurate quotes: As a result, Pavan rated Allied’s accuracy a 4 out of 5. While their pricing error ended up benefiting him, he wished Allied had been more transparent about his quote.
rating
4.75 / 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 recognized for their affordability and expertise in specialty moves. Their strong BBB rating highlights the company’s dedication to addressing customer complaints, and their moveBuddha rating means they have our stamp of approval.
But their average overall rating from Better Moves participants isn’t as high as Allied’s, so they have room to grow.
Allied Van Lines
- BBB rating: A+
- moveBuddha rating: 4.75/5
- Average Better Moves rating: 4.9/5
Allied Van Lines has earned a stellar reputation for its wide-ranging services, including international and long-distance moves.
They have exceptional scores across the board, solidifying them as a dependable moving company.
Round winner: Allied Van Lines wins the first round, with higher ratings from the BBB, the moveBuddha team, and Better Moves participants.
Compare services
American Van Lines
American Van Lines offers reliable local and long-distance moving services, specializing in handling antiques and pianos.
The company provides packing, unpacking, and custom crating to protect valuable belongings, with optional climate-controlled storage.
Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines provides comprehensive local, long-distance, and international moving services. They offer packing and unpacking, custom crating, and specialized handling for fragile items.
Customers appreciate Allied’s 24/7 shipment tracking, which allows them to monitor their belongings throughout the move. However, Allied’s services are often more expensive than AVL’s.
Round winner: American Van Lines, for their more affordable services and expertise in specialty handling, while Allied puts up a good fight with similar services.
Compare state availability
American Van Lines
American Van Lines operates in 48 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, with a large network that’s equipped to handle most long-distance moving services.
However, they don’t offer international moves and their local services are limited to North Carolina, Florida, and the Dallas-Forth Worth area in Texas.
Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines handles local and long-distance moves in all 50 states and provides international moving services, making them a great choice if you need to move your family to another country.
Round winner: Allied Van Lines comes out ahead, thanks to their broader state coverage and international service network.
Compare cost structure
American Van Lines
American Van Lines uses flat-rate pricing, with the goal of giving customers transparent and predictable costs. They also offer discounts for seniors and military families, making them a cost-effective choice if you’re moving on a budget but still want a premium full-service mover.
Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines provides binding estimates, which ensure customers won’t pay more than their initial quote. They also offer discounts to seniors and AAA members and may be willing to negotiate on price.
However, their pricing tends to be higher than AVL’s on average, especially for moves requiring specialty services.
Round winner: American Van Lines takes the lead here, with more affordable rates overall.
Compare quote process
American Van Lines
American Van Lines offers virtual and in-home walkthroughs to provide binding estimates. While some customers have complained about pricing increases, they’re usually a result of adding items to the move.
rating
4.5 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines provides binding estimates after customers complete an in-person or virtual walkthrough. Some customers said they appreciated Allied’s detailed quote process, but others noted cost increases and a lack of transparency.
rating
4.75 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Round winner: American Van Lines wins the final round based on their straightforward, flexible quoting process.
American Van Lines vs. Allied Van Lines: Final score
While Allied Van Lines shines in areas like international moves, shipment tracking, and state availability, American Van Lines is the overall winner. AVL’s competitive pricing, expertise in specialty handling, and responsive customer service make them the better choice for most domestic and long-distance moves.
If affordability and reliability are your top priorities, American Van Lines is the smarter pick, while Allied Van Lines is a strong alternative for international relocations.
| Comparison category | Round winner |
|---|---|
| Company reputation | Allied Van Lines |
| Services | American Van Lines |
| State availability | Allied Van Lines |
| Cost structure | American Van Lines |
| Quote process | American Van Lines |
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