Moving Van Line Companies

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Moving Van Line Companies Price Comparison

Van line moving options, like Mayflower, NorthAmerican, and United, are the old timers of the moving industry and are best known for doing everything from packing up your stuff to unloading it at your final destination.

The average price of a long-distance move is $5,000, but you can pick and choose from the service menu to bring down the cost.

Companies Mayflower® Transit Logo North American® Van Lines Logo Allied® Van Lines Logo
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(3.86 out of 5)
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(0 out of 5)
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(5 out of 5)
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Offers Local Moves Yes Yes Yes
Locations 500+ 500+ 500+
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How much do moving van line companies cost?

You will pay on average $5,000 for a long-distance, full-service move with a moving van line company.

The price will depend on:

  • The weight of your stuff
  • Required labor
  • Packing and unpacking
  • Loading and unloading
  • Disassembly and reassembly of furniture
  • Transportation
  • Extras like cleaning

Downsizing the amount of stuff you’re hauling and selecting some, but not all, services will bring down the cost of your move.

Moving Van Line Companies

Moving van line companies date back nearly 100 years and have always been known for providing full-service moves. They do everything, including packing and unpacking your stuff, loading and unloading trucks, transporting everything, and disassembling and reassembling furniture. As the moving industry has evolved to include other affordable options like rental trucks and shipping containers, moving van line companies have begun to offer pick-and-choose menus, so clients can do as much or as little as they would like for their move.

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What type of help do you need?

Mayflower®

Mayflower Transit is among Full Service moving companies, which means it does everything from packing and unpacking your stuff to transporting it to and from your destinations. You serve as a manager of the process without having to do any of the back-breaking work.

For more information visit the Mayflower profile page.

Pros

  • Has more than 90 years of experience in the industry
  • Help with every aspect of the move, truly full-service
  • Available nationwide

Cons

  • Super expensive, especially compared to other moving options
  • Inconvenient quote process (typically requires visual estimate)
  • Mayflower experiences vary by location

NorthAmerican®

North American Moving Services is a full-service moving company. Like its competitors, it now provides a pick-and-choose menu of options to help you plan your move. But it remains known for its full-service package, which allows you to do nothing other than organize the move by hiring the company. The crew packs your stuff, dismantles furniture, puts it on the truck, takes it to your final destination, puts back together furniture, and loads your boxes into the appropriate rooms in your new home.

For more information visit the NorthAmerican Van Lines profile page.

Pros

  • Get a lower price with a little conversation and flexibility
  • 88 years of experience and a reputation of reliability
  • Widespread availability

Cons

  • You can still end up with empty pockets
  • Getting a base estimate is a hassle
  • Experience varies by location

Allied®

Anyone looking for a full-service moving experience, with a promise for safely packed items like flat-screen TVs and crystal wine glasses, should give Allied Van Lines a second look. Allied Van Lines is a Full Service moving company, which means you hire them to do everything: pack and unpack boxes, disassemble and reassemble furniture, load and unload trucks, all while you sit back and relax. You just need to pick the services you need most, to better work within your budget

For more information visit the Allied Van Lines profile page.

Pros

  • Has been in the moving business since 1928
  • Attention paid to delicate items
  • Available nationwide

Cons

  • You'll break the bank if you go for the whole shebang
  • You have to jump through hoops to get a base estimate
  • Your experience will depend on your location

How do you book a moving van line company?

  • Visit the company website and request a free quote.
  • Speak with a local agent to schedule either an in-home or virtual estimate.
  • Give customer representatives a tour of your home.
  • Together, take inventory to determine the weight of your stuff.
  • Provide a deposit and get a moving date.

Ideally, you will have a minimum of one month to plan and book the move. Be prepared with information like your starting and ending destinations, the amount of stuff you plan to bring, what services are must-dos, and the dates of your move. The sooner you can schedule, the better off you’ll be because slots go fast during the busy season.

Is a Moving Van Line Company Right for You?

Local Moves

Pros

  • Get all the help you need
  • Customize your move
  • Peace of mind from working with experienced movers

Cons

  • Could break the bank
  • Pain to get an estimate
  • Booking might take too long

Moving van line companies are best known for their long-distance moves, but they provide local moves as well. Those who need someone to do it all, from packing to reassembling furniture in the new home, are a good fit for a local move with one of these well-established companies.

Now that van line companies offer pick-and-choose menus, you can easily customize your move and get as much or as little help as you’d like. This kind of convenience is a benefit whether you are moving nearby or far away.

However, saving your back costs a pretty penny. The full-service option is the most expensive way to move, so you could easily blow your budget. Since the move is local, you might not mind bringing stuff back and forth yourself.

Before you can even get an idea of what you’ll be spending, you will have to invest the time and energy to take inventory of your home with a customer representative. Besides lots of money, you will need lots of time, which isn’t always available, especially with a local move.

Long-Distance Moves

Pros

  • Experienced movers
  • No back-breaking work
  • Someone else does the driving

Cons

  • Budget buster
  • Long planning process
  • You give up some control

Moving van line companies have endured and provided assurance of quality service in an industry that is often characterized by fly-by-night businesses. They are the kings of long-distance moves and know how to execute them from start to finish efficiently.

The best part of investing in a full-service move with a moving van line company is not having to lift a finger. They can do all the work for you, including packing and unpacking and loading and unloading.

When it comes to long-distance moves, a big benefit is having someone else drive a big rig with your entire life packed up in the back. You can get to your final destination however you’d like and without worrying about how to park that giant truck.

While all the perks sound like a dream, they come at a price… a big price! Moving van line companies are known for being expensive, and the average cost is $5,000.

Moving Van Lines Versus Alternative Moving Options

Pros

  • The whole shebang of help
  • Your own driver
  • Get as much help as you prefer

Cons

  • Spend more
  • Invest more time
  • You lose control

What sets moving van line companies apart from other types of services is the fact that they will do it all for you. They literally take on all the heavy lifting of the move, so you can focus on settling into your new place.

In addition to all the back-breaking work, van line companies do all the driving for you. They transport your stuff locally or across state lines, depending on your needs. Some even help you move your stuff internationally.

Moving van line companies are expensive, but you can reduce the cost by picking and choosing van line services. You can always consider other more affordable options like moving containers, freight trailers, and rental trucks.

Alphas who are planning a move might be turned off by the fact that you basically turn over control to the moving van line companies. You will have all the power with a DIY move, but you will also have all the work on your plate. Your preference makes all the difference.

How does moving insurance work with moving van line companies?

Your best bet is to contact your homeowner’s and rental insurance to see if you’re already covered for your move or if you can add coverage for it. However, moving van line companies usually offer some sort of valuation coverage. You could get a bad deal if you go with the cheapest standard coverage because if an expensive item is damaged, destroyed, or lost, you could end up getting far less than it was worth. Increased coverage that has you disclosing the value of high-end items might work for you. Otherwise, pack those Picasso’s yourself.

Are There Any Downsides with Moving Van Line Companies?

Moving with a van line company is the most expensive way to move if you go for the full service.

Getting an estimate is a hassle, so you need additional time for planning your move.

Scheduling on your preferred date can be tough, especially in the busy season, so flexibility is a plus.

Despite offering a full array of services, more affordable, alternative moving options could sway you even if you’ll have to put in a little (or a lot) of work.

Recent Moving Van Lines Company Customer Reviews

Cathy M

Fort Collins, CO
Wrote a review on 7/9/2017
Mayflower® Transit
(5 out of 5 rating)

Very easy to work with. Always available by phone. Able to meet our requests and changes, even last minute changes. Did everything they could to get things done. They couldn't get labor secured on the dates we wanted so gave us the number to get things arranged. This ended up being even better as we felt more in control. We were able to get things scheduled when it worked best for us. Both parties worked with us GREAT! Everything was delivered and picked up as promised. ALL staff were great to work with and very accomodating! I would use them again,

Distance: 850 mi
Cost: $4,500
Per. Mile: $5.29
SqFt. Moved: 4,000

Sue M

Clover, SC
Wrote a review on 6/25/2017
Mayflower® Transit
(5 out of 5 rating)

The company brought 2 containers. I had to order a third one. It was there when I needed it. I needed a fourth one, held my breath and they delivered!! Everything was on time and picked up on time

Distance: 2,000 mi
Cost: $15,000
Per. Mile: $7.50
SqFt. Moved: 3,700

Jerrie C

Washington, DC
Wrote a review on 10/13/2016
Mayflower® Transit
(5 out of 5 rating)

I researched all the storage and move companies before deciding on united mayflower. What turned me in their direction were the side panels of their containers (actual walls - not plywood) and their cost. I was not disappointed. They communicated with me at every step of the process. On the drop off end they delivered on time and positioned the containers where I wanted. They picked them up on the day I requested. The best part about this company was on the delivery side. Jesse called me the morning of delivery and dropped of the first container. He then delivered the second container and picked up the first. He returned two hours later and picked up the second container. The neighborhood I moved into has extremely narrow streets and non-existent driveways so I truly appreciated Jesse and United Mayflower for being so conscientious of my needs. I would hire this company again.

Distance: 1,500 mi
Cost: $3,900
Per. Mile: $2.60
SqFt. Moved: 1,500

AK H

Florence, AZ
Wrote a review on 9/21/2016
Mayflower® Transit
(4 out of 5 rating)

I think they are one of the best container services available. Although the delivery of the containers were delayed, it is expected that some unforeseen mechanical failures occur due to no fault of theirs, customers should accept some delays.

Distance: 375 mi
Cost: $1,700
Per. Mile: $4.53
SqFt. Moved: 2,200

Mayflower® and the Mayflower® logo are the registered trademarks of Mayflower Transit, LLC. NorthAmerican® and the NorthAmerican® logo are the registered trademarks of NORTH AMERICAN VAN LINES, INC. Allied® and the Allied® logo are the registered trademarks of ALLIED VAN LINES, INC.