Colonial Van Lines Review (2026): Cost & Customer Feedback
Here’s the bottom line: Our Colonial Van Lines review finds a Florida-based interstate carrier (USDOT 1434373) that handles long-distance moves across the 48 contiguous states, typically for $4,000 – $8,000+. Customers praise its crews, but some report delivery delays and final bills above their quotes. Below, we cover Colonial’s pricing, services, customer reviews, and how it compares with other best interstate moving companies.
What Colonial Van Lines does well:
- Coverage across the Lower 48: Colonial moves households between any of the 48 contiguous states.
- Full-service add-ons: Colonial offers professional packing, climate-controlled storage, and vehicle shipping alongside your move.
- Virtual estimates: Colonial’s app lets you upload photos and video of your home for a quote, so you don’t need an in-home visit.
- Military & corporate moves: Colonial runs dedicated military and corporate relocation services and offers a military discount.
Where Colonial Van Lines falls short:
- No local moves: Colonial only handles interstate moves, so you’ll need a different mover for a move within your state.
- Partner agents: Colonial works with a network of about 45 agents, so crew quality can vary depending on who handles your move.
- Deposit to book: Expect to put down 10% – 40% of your quote to reserve a date, depending on the move.
Pros & cons of Colonial Van Lines
- Climate-controlled storage
- Quote & supply-ordering app
- Military discount
- Discount boxes & supplies
- Move for Hunger partner
- No instant online quotes
- No local or in-state moves
- No Alaska & Hawaii service
- Partner agents on some moves
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.
Colonial Van Lines vs. top movers at a glance
Here’s how Colonial Van Lines compares with Safeway Moving, Mayzlin Relocation, American Van Lines (AVL), and BLVD Moving on cost, deposit, and our rating. moveBuddha ratings score each mover on 72 data points from 25+ independent sources.
| Mover | Cost, rating & deposit |
|---|---|
| Colonial | $$$ cost 4.7/5 rating 10% – 40% deposit |
| Safeway | $$$ cost 4.8/5 rating 10% – 50% deposit |
| Mayzlin | $$ cost 4.9/5 rating 25% deposit |
| AVL | $$$ cost 4.5/5 rating 10% – 50% deposit |
| BLVD | $$$$ cost 4.25/5 rating 10% ($100 min) deposit |
Jump to the Colonial Van Lines info you’re looking for:
How much does Colonial Van Lines cost?
Colonial Van Lines typically costs $4,000 – $8,000+ for a long-distance move. Colonial prices by shipment weight, so distance, move date, and add-ons like packing or storage all move your total up or down.
Colonial doesn’t offer instant online quotes. You’ll get a price after a phone survey or a video walkthrough in Colonial’s app, and you can ask for a binding estimate that locks your price for the listed services. Learn how each type works in our guide to binding vs. non-binding estimates.
Better Moves Project participant Kallie was quoted $3,898 for her 1,100-mile, two-bedroom move from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Houston. She paid about $4,500 after a $480 long-carry fee that wasn’t on her estimate.
Access fees for stairs, elevators, and long carries add $75 – $500+ to a move when the truck can’t park at your door.
Learn MoreMoves during peak moving season (May – September) usually cost more. Specialty items like pianos and fitness equipment also add to your final bill.
Pro tip: Ask Colonial about its military discount, then check the quote against moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, which weighs distance, home size, move date, and service level together, so you can see whether Colonial’s price fits your actual move.
What services does Colonial Van Lines offer?
Colonial Van Lines handles full-service interstate moves and adds these services on request:
- Professional packing: Colonial’s crew can pack your whole home or just the fragile items, from dishes to dressers.
- Climate-controlled storage: Colonial offers storage-in-transit plus short- and long-term units if your new home isn’t ready. Long-distance movers typically charge about $0.50 per cubic foot per month for storage-in-transit.
- Auto transport: Colonial can ship your car to your new home, so you don’t have to drive it cross-country.
- Military moves: Colonial handles PCS moves for service members and offers a military discount.
- Corporate relocation: Colonial moves offices and relocating employees for businesses of all sizes.
- Furniture disassembly & reassembly: Colonial’s movers take apart and rebuild beds, tables, and other large pieces as part of a full-service move.
- Virtual estimates: Colonial’s app lets you record a video walkthrough for a quote, with no in-home visit required.
Where does Colonial Van Lines operate & is it licensed?
Colonial Van Lines is a licensed interstate household goods carrier based in Pompano Beach, Florida, with active authority under USDOT 1434373 and MC-681534, according to the FMCSA SAFER database. Colonial was founded in 2003 and serves the 48 contiguous states, but not Alaska or Hawaii.
As of September 2026, Colonial holds an A+ BBB rating but isn’t BBB accredited, and it averages 4 stars from 3,025 Trustpilot reviews. Colonial also works with about 45 agents nationwide, so ask who will load and deliver your shipment before you pay a deposit.
What do customers say about Colonial Van Lines?
Colonial customers often praise its professional crews and communication on long-distance moves. Complaints tend to focus on final prices above the quote and late deliveries.
Kallie, one of our Better Moves Project participants, said both of her Colonial crews were hardworking and her shipment arrived inside its delivery window. She also said poor coordination between the driver and the office made her move harder than it needed to be.
Here’s a look at some online feedback from the Better Business Bureau, Google, and Trustpilot:
“Really great experience – streamlined quoting process and all my furniture arrived on time and in good condition.”
—Nolan O., BBB
“Communication was stellar. Movers arrived on time on both ends of the move based on what they told us. The movers were very respectful of my property and my family. Overall, the experience was great.”
—Jeremy B., Trustpilot
“Everybody was very pleasant to work with. Good communication. Solid paper work…. My cost went up by almost $1,000 because the street was 400+ feet from my door and because, at the time of pickup, it was deemed my boxes were ‘heavier than anticipated’. Other than this cost hike… other things were smooth.”
—TP, Trustpilot
“Very careful with my mother’s belongings in a move from Ohio to Tennessee. However, they took five hours to pack a truck with an apartment that was 80% already packed. They were two days later than they said they would be…. There were several things broken and/or missing that will be turned into the company [as a claim]….”
—James M., Google
How does Colonial Van Lines compare to the competition?
Colonial Van Lines fits full-service, long-distance moves, but other movers may win on price, crew model, or deposit. To compare several at once, the moveBuddha Mover Marketplace gets you up to five no-obligation quotes from one request, matched to movers’ real-time availability.
Here’s how Colonial compares with three highly rated movers on BBB rating, service area, and specialty, based on BBB profiles as of September 2026:
| Mover | BBB, states & best for |
|---|---|
| Colonial | A+ BBB rating 48 states Full-service long distance |
| Mayzlin | B+ BBB rating 48 states Personalized service |
| Safeway | B BBB rating 48 states Overall value |
| AVL | C BBB rating 48 states Experienced movers |
Colonial Van Lines vs. Mayzlin Relocation
Mayzlin Relocation stands out for personalized service and clear communication throughout your move. Mayzlin also tends to price lower than Colonial and ranks among the best military movers for its customer service and efficient relocations.
Colonial Van Lines is the larger operation, with a national agent network and add-ons like vehicle shipping. Choose Colonial if you want an established national mover, and choose Mayzlin if one-on-one attention matters more.
Read our full Mayzlin Relocation review
rating
4.79 / 5
Colonial Van Lines vs. Safeway Moving
Safeway Moving is our top pick for best interstate mover, thanks to fair, accurate pricing and quality service. Safeway uses flat-rate, binding pricing, so your price is locked in before moving day.
Colonial offers a more hands-on experience, with a move coordinator who guides you from quote to delivery. Choose Safeway for price certainty, and choose Colonial if you want more guidance on a complex move.
Read our full Safeway Moving review
rating
4.9 / 5
Colonial Van Lines vs. American Van Lines
American Van Lines (AVL) runs its own trucks and crews and offers a dedicated antique and piano moving service. That makes AVL a strong choice for moves involving antiques, pianos, and other fragile, high-value items.
Colonial sits in the same cost tier as AVL and adds flexible services like packing, storage, and auto transport. Go with AVL if specialty handling is your priority, and choose Colonial for a standard cross-country move that doesn’t need white-glove care.
Read our full American Van Lines review
rating
4.9 / 5
How does moving with Colonial Van Lines work?
Here’s what to expect with Colonial Van Lines, from your first quote to delivery day:
- Get a quote: Request a free quote by phone or online form, then share your move date, addresses, and an inventory list. A video walkthrough in Colonial’s app makes the price more accurate. Before you accept, compare it with moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, which runs on 1,000+ live price points collected every month, so you have a real benchmark instead of a single number.
- Book & confirm: Once you accept the quote, you’ll pay a deposit of 10% – 40% to reserve your date. A move coordinator then becomes your main contact.
- Prepare for move day: Expect a call from Colonial a few days before pickup to confirm your inventory and details. Ask about stair, elevator, and long-carry charges now, and declutter and downsize to cut your shipment weight.
- Load up on moving day: A Colonial crew or partner agent arrives to pack or load based on the services you chose. Walk through your home with the crew and confirm the final item count before the truck leaves.
- Transit & delivery: Federal rules require your mover to deliver on the agreed date or within the window on your bill of lading. Kallie’s 1,100-mile shipment arrived 13 days after pickup, two days before her window closed.
- Unloading & inspection: The crew unloads your belongings and reassembles furniture if you paid for that service. Inspect everything and photograph any damage before you sign.
- Claims: Report lost or damaged items to Colonial right away, then file a damage claim within the deadline in your contract. Federal rules give you up to nine months from delivery.
FAQ
How much does Colonial Van Lines cost?
Colonial Van Lines typically costs $4,000 – $8,000+ for a long-distance move. Your price depends on shipment weight, distance, move date, and add-ons like packing or storage. Book a video walkthrough in Colonial’s app for the most accurate quote.
Is Colonial Van Lines a broker or a carrier?
Colonial Van Lines is a licensed interstate carrier, not a broker, according to FMCSA records for USDOT 1434373. Colonial also works with about 45 agents, so a partner crew may handle part of your move. Ask who will load and deliver your shipment before you sign.
Does Colonial Van Lines do local moves?
No, Colonial Van Lines doesn’t handle local or in-state moves. Colonial focuses on interstate moves across the 48 contiguous states and doesn’t serve Alaska or Hawaii. For a move within your state, compare local movers with moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator.
Does Colonial Van Lines offer packing services?
Yes, Colonial Van Lines offers full and partial professional packing as an add-on. Items Colonial’s crew packs are typically covered by the mover, while boxes you pack yourself leave more of the damage risk with you. Ask Colonial to itemize packing on your estimate so you can compare quotes.
Does Colonial Van Lines offer binding estimates?
Yes, Colonial Van Lines offers both binding and non-binding estimates. A binding estimate locks your price for the services listed, though adding services on move day raises the cost. A non-binding estimate is a ballpark, and your final bill is based on actual weight.
What happens if Colonial Van Lines damages my belongings?
If Colonial Van Lines damages or loses your belongings, you can file a claim up to nine months after delivery under federal rules. Free released value coverage pays only $0.60 per pound per item. Ask Colonial about extra protection before move day if you’re shipping anything valuable.
What is Colonial Van Lines’ cancellation policy?
Colonial Van Lines’ cancellation policy depends on your contract, and customers report different refund deadlines. Part or all of your deposit may be non-refundable if you cancel close to your move date. Get the refund deadline in writing before you pay a deposit.
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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