American Van Lines Review (2023)

Moving labor determines if your valuables arrive in pristine condition during relocation. Specialized labor and expertise are why American Van Lines is one of our top picks for overall best moving companies. Learn more about American Van Lines’ benefits, drawbacks, service options, and its costs.

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Our Take on American Van Lines

American Van Lines is a nationwide mover that is licensed, insured, and registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. During our research, we found the company to be an excellent option for those with specialty items, such as artwork and antiques, as well as specialized storage and auto shipping. Although we noticed the company offers limited moving insurance options, it remains an excellent choice due to its expertise and specialized labor.

While American Van Lines can assist with local, international, and interstate moves, the company specializes in long-distance relocations. American only directly handles local moves in North Carolina, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and South Florida. American Van Lines is available in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.

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Pros & Cons of American Van Lines

American Van Lines’ flat-rate pricing makes it easier to gauge how much full-service moves and specialty services, such as antique packing, will cost you. Though it might require a 50% up-front deposit, the company does include a price-matching option.

American Van Lines State Availability

American Van Lines moving services are available in 48 states. It is not available in Alaska or Hawaii.

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American Van Lines Moving Services

Learn more details about some of American Van Lines popular moving services below:

• Full-service moves: American Van Lines offers full-service options for your international, local, or long-distance move. A background-checked team will dismantle furniture, pack your items, load them onto the moving truck, transport them, unload them, and unpack and reassemble furniture upon delivery.
• Partial-service moves: A budget-friendly moving option is a partial-pack move. American Van Lines will pack difficult and fragile items, such as electronics, glass table tops, and other objects you would feel more comfortable leaving in the hands of professional movers. It then will assist with loading and unloading, as well as transportation.
• Moving supplies: If you plan on doing your own packing, American Van Lines can provide an assortment of moving boxes. In addition to standard box sizes, the company provides custom boxes such as mirror cases, wardrobe boxes, and dish-pack boxes.
• Specialty services: American Van Lines employs certified movers to handle one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture, fine art, antiques, and pianos. Their piano movers are versed in the proper dismantling techniques of all piano types including grand, vertical, electrical, and digital pianos.
• Storage: American Van Lines can safely store your items at one of its state-of-the-art private storage facilities. Private storage units are housed in fireproof and storm-proof buildings with features including climate control, 24-hour security surveillance cameras, and personal storage vaults.
• Corporate relocations: The company also provides assistance with commercial moving, corporate relocations, and office moves.

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American Van Lines Cost

We simulated the quote process with American Van Lines. We noted during the process that the factors that impact the overall cost of your move include the timing of your move, distance of your move, additional services, and the size/weight of your move.

We received a sample quote over the phone with an American Van Lines representative during March 2023 to move a 2-bedroom apartment from Atlanta, Georgia, to Chicago, Illinois, for around $4,000–$5,000. We asked how packing services would influence this price, and we were told it would cost at least $4,800 with packing service and $4,000 without it.

We were also told that our deposit would range from 10%–50% of our total moving cost. How much the despot would depend on our credit score, chosen services, and moving details.

Something we liked about American Van Lines is that it gives you a binding estimate, also known as a flat-rate price, after completing a home assessment to review your inventory. As long as you don’t add to your shipment, binding estimates ensure your moving costs will not change after the move is scheduled.

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American Van Lines Booking Process

You can book your move with American Van Lines by visiting the company’s website and contacting a moving coordinator. You may be asked to hold a home visit for the company to understand your needs better. ​

American Van Lines does not provide quotes online. For the most accurate estimate, the company requests a detailed inventory of your belongings and may arrange a virtual walkthrough to view your home’s layout, including any difficult access points such as narrow stairways.

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American Van Lines Reviews

American Van Lines currently has a A rating* with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). American Van Lines also holds average ratings on customer feedback sites, including Trustpilot and Yelp. American Van Lines is also the recipient of three Newsweek customer service awards in 2019, 2021, and 2022.

Positive customer reviews about American Van Lines frequently mentioned a streamlined process and efficient service. Consistent complaints focus on frequent follow-up calls after requesting a quote and lack of communication on moving day.

Read what customers had to say here:

“From top to bottom, the American Van Lines staff with whom I dealt did an outstanding job of arranging and providing for the transportation and moving support I needed to move appliances and furniture from Ft. Bragg, NC to Charlotte, NC. The assurances I was given were very comforting that the job I needed to have done would be professionally done without any problems, to include having access to a military installation. In short, all that I was told worked out just like it had been explained.” —R. Rocque W. via BBB

“I would highly recommend … American Van Lines. [The movers] was polite and professional from the pickup to the delivery. Communicated timing accurately and regularly and arrived punctually in the timeframe given. [American Van Lines] handled our items with care and was very efficient in both the loading and unloading phase. Great job and would definitely hire again!” —Christina H. via BBB

“Pickup was smooth but once our things left the house they did not communicate with us. I had to call them to get the status. I was told two times our things would get to us in two to four days, when in fact it hadn’t even left CA yet. It took three weeks, which would [have] been fine if they let us know that ahead of time, would [have] planned differently. When they did get here, [there were] only two guys to unload! My husband and I had to unwrap everything or it would [have] taken them two days to finish!” —Lisa C. via BBB

“The office was hard to reach at times, and they delay my moved over 3 days outside the pick up window[,] which caused problems with my landlord. They only reimbursed part of the landlord charges[,] which wasn’t great especially since it was not my fault. I also often got reached out at the end of the day on fridays so it was hard to plan accordingly for things when its the end of the week and everything is closing. Overall, I hated moving …The driver made himself available for any questions and kept me updated on the process. He made things much smoother and gave me the relief I needed.” —Martin K via BBB

*BBB rating is accurate as of October 2023.

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American Van Lines vs. Other Moving Companies

There are a variety of other moving companies that can provide an assortment of full-service and partial-service moving services while also supplying other benefits and additional perks.

American Van Lines vs. International Van Lines

International Van Lines is another popular choice in full-service moves. It offers many of the same services as American Van Lines, while also providing assistance with vehicle and boat relocation. International Van Lines also offers a variety of insurance coverage options for your move, so you know your belongings are well-protected during transit.

We recommend you see how International Van Lines compares to American Van Lines by completing this short form to get an instant quote.

American Van Lines vs. JK Moving

JK Moving also provides full-service moves for moves of any size. Though it provides local moving services only in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, it provides extensive services for cross-country moves and international moves. JK Moving allows you to finance your move easily due to its partnership with Enhancify. This partnership allows you to finance your move with rates as low as 0% same-as-cash.

See what JK Moving can do with your budget by filling out this easy-to-use form to get an online estimate.

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Compare American Van Lines and Top Moving Companies

Our tool below helps you compare American Van Lines with our other recommended moving companies and easily get quotes.

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Our Conclusion

We recommend American Van Lines as a great option for a long-distance mover. The company is widely available, offers storage options, and employs background-checked experts for its specialty services. Its flat-rate, binding estimates also help ensure no surprise expenses on moving day.

However, American Van Lines may be a more expensive option than competitors, and it does require deposits of 10%–50%, depending on the size of your move. Additionally, some customers complain that communication can be difficult.

If you prefer to have more insurance options and additional perks and service, then you may want to spend a bit of time looking into International Van Lines. If you’re concerned about paying for a full-service move, then you may want to consider JK Moving as an option.

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Frequently Asked Questions About American Van Lines

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Our Rating Methodology

The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our moving company ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each company. We conduct research by reading through the company websites, analyzing customer reviews, conducting consumer surveys, requesting quotes, and speaking with customer representatives. We then score each moving company against our review standards for services, contents coverage, scheduling, trailer and container options, additional benefits, and reputation to arrive at a final score out of 100.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.