American Van Lines vs. JK Moving Services (2024 Comparison)

Quick answer: In our head-to-head American Van Lines vs. JK Moving Services showdown, JK Moving Services stands out as the winner if you prioritize premium services, white-glove handling, and nationwide availability.

American Van Lines (AVL) is a strong contender with competitive pricing and specialized services for antiques and pianos, but they fall short in flexibility and scope.

Overall, JK Moving Services is our top pick for a seamless, high-end moving experience.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • Certified crews
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Family-owned
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.6 / 5
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  • White glove
  • Expensive items
  • Guaranteed delivery

Our track record

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Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:

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Compare customer experiences

At moveBuddha, the Better Moves Project lets customers share their real-life insights into moving companies’ strengths and weaknesses. Here’s how American Van Lines and JK Moving Services stack up based on customer experiences:

American Van Lines

The majority of American Van Lines customers said the company was affordable, provided expert care, and communicated well. Even so, a few of our readers were given inaccurate quotes and dealt with some delivery-day confusion.

Customer praises

  • Affordability: Allison went with AVL because their rates were lower than competitors, making her moving costs more manageable.
  • Clear communication: Jen said AVL was easy to reach and made communication simple.
  • Gentle handling: Phoenix thanked her crew for handling all of her belongings so delicately and delivering them all damage-free.

Customer complaints

  • Scheduling problems: While Jen was mostly impressed with AVL’s communication, she wished they had given more advanced notice before arriving at her house.
  • Unreliable quote: Phoenix said his quote was off base and that he paid more in the end because AVL miscalculated the weight of his shipment.
  • Delivery-day mixups: Jen said the delivery crew AVL contracted was confused about which boxes on the moving truck were hers because they weren’t the ones who packed and loaded them.
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover

JK Moving Services

Based on our Better Moves responses, JK Moving Services has a reputation for offering timely services with expert care and attention to detail. However, some customers have complained about their communication, pricing discrepancies, and light damage.

Customer praises

  • Professionalism: Jose was wowed by JK Moving’s professional crews and was happy with the expert handling their partners provided when they disassembled and reassembled his piano and pool table.
  • Timely service: Adam gave JK Moving a perfect score for being punctual, saying everything ran according to schedule.
  • Overall experience: Adam’s move wasn’t perfect, but he gave JK Moving a 4 out of 5 for his overall experience, saying he was satisfied with their services.

Customer complaints

  • Communication: Chloe wasn’t impressed with JK Moving’s communication and said it fell off as her moving date got closer.
  • Pricing discrepancy: Adam was disappointed with the accuracy of his quote, paying more than he expected to despite a thorough inventory.
  • Fragile item handling: Chloe’s tabletop and a few other items suffered some minor damages along the way.
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.6 / 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 has built a solid reputation as a reliable, budget-friendly mover. Their BBB rating and moveBuddha ratings suggest you can count on American Van Lines’s customer support, while their lower moveBuddha rating indicates there’s room for improvement.

mover
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Kathy's Move with AVL
“I really appreciated the personal moving coordinator. I had an email and cell phone number for an individual person I could ask questions of who kept me updated, which was convenient and reassuring. American was also accommodating about the fact that I could not physically be at the pickup location for my items, which were in a storage unit.”
From
DC
To
MO
Cost
$4,074
Size
1 bdrm
Read The Full Story

JK Moving Services

  • BBB rating: A+
  • moveBuddha rating: 4.6/5
  • Average Better Moves rating: 4.0/5

JK Moving is widely recognized for their premium white-glove service, with glowing reviews praising their attention to detail and reliability. Based on their ratings from the BBB, our team, and Better Moves participants, JK Moving Services is a dependable pick.

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Jose's Move with JK Moving
“JK Moving has a stellar reputation and the quote was only slightly higher than others, the final bill was $2,000 less than quoted. The process was overall very smooth and I’d recommend JK Moving.” – Jose
From
UT
To
FL
Cost
$27,453
Size
2 bdrms
Read The Full Story

Round winner: JK Moving Services, with their slightly higher ratings and premium services.


Compare services

American Van Lines

American Van Lines offers long-distance and local moving and storage, specializing in handling antiques, pianos, and artwork. The company also provides packing, unpacking, and custom crating options to protect valuable belongings.

JK Moving Services

JK Moving Services provides premium moving solutions for local, long-distance, and international relocations. JK is known for their white glove moving services and excels at carefully handling fragile and high-value items.

They also offer packing, unpacking, storage options, and 24/7 customer support via their mobile app. While JK’s pricing is higher, their consistent professionalism and attention to detail make them a standout choice​.


Round winner: JK Moving Services takes this round for their superior attention to detail, high-value item care, and premium service options.


Compare state availability

American Van Lines

American Van Lines operates in 48 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. They’re a reliable choice for long-distance moves within this range​. You can also hire them for local moves in Florida, North Carolina, and the Dallas-Forth Worth area.

JK Moving Services

JK Moving is available nationwide and offers international moving services in over 135 countries, making it a top choice for global relocations​. Like American Van Lines, they have a limited local network, only handling local moves in the D.C. area.


Round winner: JK Moving Services wins again with their nationwide coverage and large international moving network.


Compare cost structure

American Van Lines

American Van Lines uses a flat-rate pricing model to avoid unexpected costs. They also offer military discounts to help military members and veterans save on their moves.

JK Moving Services

Based on our cost data and Better Moves reviews, JK Moving is one of the most expensive movers, reflecting their premium services. While they don’t offer price matching, they provide financing options to make costs more manageable​.


Round winner: American Van Lines has the edge here, with more affordable rates on average.


Compare quote process

American Van Lines

AVL offers binding estimates after in-home or virtual walkthroughs. This process is designed to make quotes more transparent, but some customers have reported discrepancies between their quotes and final costs​.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover

JK Moving Services

JK Moving uses an AI-powered app and other tools to provide accurate virtual walkthroughs. Their quote process is quick and easy, but reviews vary on how accurate their quotes are.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.6 / 5

89% of users select this mover


Round winner: JK Moving Services takes the final round for their user-friendly quoting system, while both companies get mixed reviews on how accurate their quotes are.


American Van Lines vs. JK Moving Services: Final score

American Van Lines and JK Moving Services are both excellent choices, but they cater to slightly different needs. American Van Lines is ideal for budget-conscious customers who need specialized services for items like antiques and pianos.

However, JK Moving Services pulls ahead for their superior reputation, premium services, and global reach. If you’re looking for a seamless, high-end moving experience, JK Moving is our top pick overall.

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

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