Founded in 1976 in Miami, Florida, American Van Lines is an industry giant committed to the environment, sustainability, and quality service. This well-established provider has hubs in Pompano Beach, Texas, North Carolina, and other smaller locations throughout the United States, allowing it to serve customers in all 48 contiguous states. In addition to handling residential moves, you can rely on American Van Lines to offer a variety of specialty services like corporate relocations, commercial moving, and specialty item moving for antiques, pianos, and more.
After hours of research dedicated to learning the ins and outs of American Van Lines, I’ve compiled the following information to help you determine if this is the best moving provider for you. Keep reading for our comprehensive American Van Lines review and how this provider compares to its competitors regarding price, customer service, availability, and moving options.
My Preferred Moving Companies
After researching an extensive number of moving providers, I’ve ranked American Van Lines as my second-favorite mover, beaten only by International Van Lines. American’s transparent pricing, excellent selection of moving options and services, and dedication to environmentally friendly moving practices all contribute to the high ranking.
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My Review of American Van Lines
In an industry filled with moving brokers, American Van Lines (AVL) stands out as a moving carrier, meaning that in-house employees complete all of its offered services. This distinction allows AVL to ensure that its service quality and moving options are consistent for its clients no matter where they are in the nation. I also like that AVL offers a wide range of moving and service options because you’re unlikely to feel limited in any way by what’s available. In addition, this company exercises eco-friendly practices by optimizing drivers’ schedules and routes to save gas, encouraging carpooling when possible, and using sustainable vendors.
On the other hand, I don’t love that American Van Lines is unavailable outside of the contiguous United States so you’ll need to look to other providers if you live in Hawaii or Alaska. Still, I recommend this provider for its stellar customer service, excellent reputation, transparent pricing, and wide selection of services.
My Review Scores for American Van Lines
Below is our quantitative scoring breakdown for American Van Lines. The gray line represents the average score we’ve given moving providers in each category, while the green lines indicate our AVL score.
American Van Lines Pros and Cons
Pros
- Advertises price matching, unlike many providers who might refuse to match competitor pricing or require negotiations to adjust your quote
- Environmentally friendly and gives back to the community
- Only operates as a carrier and doesn’t broker services out to third-party companies, unlike most moving providers that often receive complaints about varying service quality due to working through third-party providers
- Transparent, set pricing for all moves (no guesswork with hidden fees as is the case with other providers offering estimated prices)
- Weekly shuttles to most major U.S. cities
Cons
- Customer reviews note difficult communication
- Doesn’t offer online moving quotes, which is uncommon in the moving industry
- Only services the 48 contiguous states (Hawaii and Alaska are excluded)
What I Liked and Didn’t Like
In the following section, I’ll break down what I liked and didn’t like about American Van Lines within multiple areas of their business.
What We Like
- Regarding moving options, American Van Lines offers nearly every option you could want. AVL executes local moves, long-distance moves, cross-country moves, and international moves. You can even opt for specialty moving options such as corporate relocation, commercial moving, and military moves, and arrange storage options through AVL. I like that you aren’t limited in any way by American Van Lines as long as your move takes place within the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. AVL also offers excellent availability with swift moving deliveries offered seven days a week, along with shuttle services to and from big cities weekly, which is a service I haven’t seen from almost any other moving provider.
What We Don’t Like
- The only drawback of choosing AVL is its limited international moving options. Generally speaking, I’d only choose AVL for an international move if I was interested in a military move. For residents making a move abroad, moving providers like International Van Lines (IVL) provide more options, such as freight shipping and air shipping, making IVL my preferred international mover.
What We Like
- I love that American Van Lines has a full suite of additional services. You can customize your moving package to pick a basic moving package, partial-pack, or full-service move with all the trimmings, such as furniture disassembly, vehicle shipping, specialty packing services for antiques and fragile items, crating, and packing supplies. Another significant benefit of working with AVL is that all of its services are completed in-house, so you will never work with third-party movers, which can lead to variances in services offered and overall service quality.
Compared to other providers, many who operate as brokers, this is a huge win.
What We Don’t Like
- I don’t like that American Van Lines doesn’t offer free storage options. Some providers, like IVL, not only offer storage options but will give you a free month of storage with some moving packages. AVL also doesn’t offer a moving container service, like Allied Van Lines, an excellent budget-friendly option for homeowners interested in a more cost-effective, DIY option.
What We Like
- As of July 2023, American Van Lines has an excellent Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, which I find reassuring as a homeowner. Many moving providers don’t have a rating or have poor customer reviews. Customers frequently praise AVL for its fantastic customer service, specifically pointing out how simple and stress-free AVL technicians made their move and that communication was straightforward. American Van Lines also received Newsweek’s Best Customer Service 2023 award for the fourth year in a row, demonstrating its ability to provide consistent customer service. Overall, I appreciate the personal touch many experienced during their move with AVL and the high customer satisfaction ratings.
What We Don’t Like
- I don’t like that negative reviews report experiencing a drop in customer service quality after contract signing with the company. This is an unusual customer complaint I haven’t seen in reviews for many other providers.
What We Like
- American Van Lines has an excellent reputation with customers, the BBB, and the military community. In particular, the military community praises American Van Lines for its military discount and ability to uphold strict moving day deadlines to coordinate critical military moves.
In terms of cost, I like that AVL offers set pricing because it means the company has a transparent pricing system that sidesteps hidden fees and upcharges that customers frequently experience with less transparent companies. Another benefit of choosing AVL is its commitment to the environment, demonstrated through its recycling initiatives, fuel consumption reduction plan, and process to ensure its supply chain meets responsible environmental and social practices. All of these factors and its thorough employee background checks contribute to American Van Lines’ top-notch reputation, which stands out amongst its competitors because of the many ways AVL contributes back to society while providing excellent service.
What We Don’t Like
- I don’t like that receiving a quote from American Van Lines can be time-consuming. It gives AVL a reputation for frustration related to the quote process, which is something to consider since many moving providers offer online quote calculators. But these calculators are often inaccurate and wildly off from the final quote you receive, so this may not be a significantly better alternative.
What We Like
- Overall, American Van Lines has top-notch nationwide availability. This provider has services in all 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C., which is suitable for most U.S. families interested in moving. Compared to many providers, this is exceptional availability, as many movers only provide services to a handful of states.
What We Don’t Like
- On the other hand, I don’t like that AVL doesn’t provide moving services to Hawaii or Alaska. If your new home is in either of these states, you’ll have to look to other providers offering moving and storage services in these areas. AVL still has better availability than most providers but can’t compete against International Van Lines, which offers availability to all 50 states and over a hundred countries.
Availability of American Van Lines By State
American Van Lines offers services throughout the 48 contiguous states, so families in any state but Hawaii and Alaska can complete their move through this provider.
Not available: Hawaii & Alaska
American Van Lines Vs. Its Competitors
Here’s a snapshot of how American Van Lines compares to its competitors regarding prices, services, warranties, and much more.
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|
Company
|
Best For
|
Rating
|
BBB Rating
|
Cost Range
|
Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 International Van Lines
Get Quote
|
Best Full-Service Mover | A | $1,400–$9,200 | Get Quote | |
 American Van Lines
Get Quote
|
Most Transparent Pricing | A+ | $1,700–$13,800 | Get Quote | |
 Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
Get Quote
|
Best Cost Estimation Tools | B | $1,250 – $8,500 | Get Quote |
| Number of Bedrooms | Average Cost |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $3,600 |
| 2 bedroom house | $4,400 |
| 3 bedroom house | $7,800 – $8,300 |
| 4 bedroom house | $10,000 – $11,000 |
If you’re looking to make a local move, these are some moving estimates we received from American Van Lines for a 250-mile move:
| Number of Bedrooms | Average Cost |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $2,600 |
| 2 bedroom house | $3,800 |
| 3 bedroom house | $5,670 |
| 4 bedroom house | $7,340 |
American Van Lines offers set pricing, which means once you get a quote for your moving services package, your pricing won’t change unless you make a change to your moving services. While AVL’s pricing under this scheme is competitive, it can initially seem higher than estimated costs from other providers.
Other moving companies that provide an estimate range that isn’t binding may appear to have better pricing but may turn out to be just as expensive as AVL after adding hidden fees and totaling the actual cost of the move. In short, AVL’s prices are competitive and may appear a little higher at first glance, but they are often just as cost-effective once you factor in hidden fees and costs that differ from estimates that you may experience with other providers.
How Can You Save Your Money With American Van Lines?
Saving money is front and center for many families preparing for a move. According to Zillow, the average cost of a long-distance move typically ranges between $2,000 and $5,000 — no small sum.
Whether you’re making a local move or looking for affordable options for moving overseas, here are some tips to help you save money on your move with American Van Lines:
- Use AVL’s price matching. Unlike many providers, American Van Lines proudly advertises price-matching services, meaning you can reduce your moving quote if you find a better offer from another moving company. Remember, you’ll need the quote from the other company in writing with necessary information, like the home inventory and services so AVL can check that the quote is for comparable services. This tip can easily save you hundreds of dollars on your move, so take the time to gather multiple free quotes from other providers.
- Ask about discounts. Many American Van Lines customers report receiving senior and military discounts. While I couldn’t confirm the specifics on its website, I recommend asking AVL or any moving company you’re working with to see if you qualify for a discount. Ask about AAA, senior, military, student, first responder, and any other type of discount to see if AVL can offer a discount or match another provider’s discount.
- Browse AVL’s special offers. American Van Lines provides special offers on its website, especially for out-of-state moves to and from big cities like New York and Miami. These special deals can reduce your overall moving expenses by packaging multiple services together.
- Book early. Waiting to arrange a move last minute will cost you more due to a lack of availability. As soon as you know your moving date, I recommend immediately researching moving providers, gathering quotes, and booking with your preferred provider as soon as you’ve made up your mind.
On top of these tips, I recommend looking into relocation assistance programs through the government or community initiatives to help with moving costs. Loans, grants, and rental assistance programs can greatly affect your move’s cost.
How Do You Schedule a Move With American Van Lines?
American Van Lines doesn’t provide online quotes — a minor inconvenience that’s more than made up for by the fact that AVL has set rates for all its moves.
As with many providers, you’ll start by reaching out to American Van Lines via phone at 888- 759-6000. Alternatively, you can fill out AVL’s online contact form. You’ll provide your moving date, name, contact information, and general details about your move. The company will then give you a call to discuss your move further.
After connecting with AVL’s moving coordinator over the phone, you’ll be asked for more details about your desired move, and the representative will schedule an in-home estimate or virtual survey. Your moving coordinator will either visit your home or conduct a virtual survey of your home inventory to record your moving details and prepare the moving crew with the necessary information about the services you need.
Next, you’ll be offered a quote after determining what services and add-ons you want included in your moving services plan. American Van Lines’ quotes are binding — as long as you don’t change your services. A guaranteed price provides additional peace of mind since you won’t be surprised with hidden fees later.
You can also opt for American Van Lines protection plans. With all moves, you’ll receive basic liability coverage, which covers 60 cents per pound per item. If you’re interested in full-value protection for lost, damaged, or destroyed items, you can opt for extra protection.
A deposit is required to secure your move that can fluctuate depending on the type of move and time of year. Customers report deposit requirements anywhere between 10% and 50%.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
So, Should You Choose American Van Lines for Your Move?
American Van Lines offers a range of services, moving options, and competitive rates. Some of its strongest points include its specialty moving services like military moving and corporate relocation, advertised price matching, and the fact that this company works as a carrier. I appreciate that, unlike with many providers, all of American Van Lines’ services are performed by in-house employees trained and background-checked through the company. Many providers broker out services to third-party companies, which can result in inconsistent service or price disputes — a headache for most homeowners and something I want to avoid.
If you’re making a long-distance move to a big city, American Van Lines is a good choice because of its big city moving shuttle service and competitive long-distance rates. However, I recommend booking through International Van Lines if you live outside the contiguous United States or are interested in a non-military international move. Alternatively, U-Pack is an excellent choice if you are on a tight budget and interested in a cost-effective DIY moving container service.
Don’t take my word for it, though. Gather at least three quotes for comparable services for your move so you can begin researching your move and have information to pull for negotiating a lower price and taking advantage of price matching.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
FAQs About American Van Lines
How long does it take for American Van Lines to move you?
In American Van Lines’ terms and conditions, it shares that its estimated delivery is up to 21 business days from the date indicated as your first available date of delivery. All oral communication regarding delivery and pick-up dates should be considered as estimates.
Who is the owner of American Van Lines?
Anthony Disorbo is the owner of American Van Lines. He’s been in the industry since age 15 and grew American Van Lines to over 100 employees. Together, the company has moved over 50,000 households cross country.
Is American Van Lines legit?
Yes, American Van Lines is a reputable moving company with legitimate licensing, a strong reputation since 1967, and a valid U.S. Department of Transportation number, which indicates a healthy safety record on the road.
Can I cancel a move with American Van Lines?
You can cancel a move with American Van Lines and receive a full refund of your deposit if you cancel seven days before your move date. The deposit will be refunded to your credit card. Customers have also reported receiving a more lenient cancellation period if they report they have COVID-19, as AVL wants to accommodate customers who need to cancel due to illness.
Methodology: How We Rank The Best Moving Companies
At Today’s Homeowner, we strive to bring you the most transparent, accurate information for your home improvement projects. Our moving company ratings emphasize what matters most to you — reputable, affordable companies able to tackle a wide range of packing and moving tasks.
Our ratings are based on publicly available information about each company, secret shopping online and over the phone, customer-review analysis, and interviews with former and current professional movers.
A company can earn a maximum of 100 points across four categories converted to a five-star scale. We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and developed the following formula:
- Transparency (30 Points): We awarded top points to companies that supplied quotes quickly and provided easy-to-read moving contracts. We used the availability of sample pricing and quick quote features, GPS tracking, and clear customer service hours to determine this metric. Points were also awarded for up-front communication regarding policies, licensing, insurance, and the clear listing of added fees.
- Basic Service Options (20 Points): While this may seem like a given for most movers, a strong basic service profile is not guaranteed when you book your move. Movers that offer local, long-distance, and international moving, while providing packing and loading with their basic service packages rate highly here.
- Customization Options (30 Points): Aside from basic services, a comprehensive list of added services indicates a mover’s quality. Assembly and disassembly, valuation coverage, piano moving, car shipping, and similar add-ons indicate a mover that puts customer service first.
- Reputation (20 Points): We assessed each mover’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile. We weighed BBB ratings and the company’s complaint response rate to calculate this metric.
We monitor company data on an ongoing basis to keep rankings and information up to date.
