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American Van Lines Review

Monday, February 10th

2025 Moving Company Reviews

American Van Lines Review 1 Star Rating

American Van Lines

1 Star Rating
  • Price estimates as low as $2,880
  • Moves novelty items like pianos or antiques
  • Offers military moving
  • Works with subcontractors

American Van Lines originally opened their moving doors in 1967 in Miami, FL. Rebranding and reopening heir doors in 1995, they now have over 100 employees and have moved over 50,000 families across the country.

Preliminary moving estimate

While American Van Lines only promises to provide a proper estimate once you put in all your information, the company does offer a preliminary look at current costs to move from popular locations. For example, a move between Miami, FL to Atlanta, GA would cost around $2,880 with American Van Lines. This estimate is based on a one-bedroom apartment that has about 4,000 pounds of furniture to move. For a larger moving project, like a 3-bedroom house, the preliminary estimate is around $7,754 for about 14,000 pounds of furniture.

Moves pianos, but they might not make it

American Van Lines offers a comprehensive list of moving options. Whether you're looking to move locally or long-distance, they have something for you. They even provide services for novelty items. These moving types include:

  • Local moving
  • Long distance moving
  • Military moving
  • Moving and storage
  • Commercial moving
  • Corporate relocation
  • Antiques and pianos

If you decide to use a storage option while you figure out your next move, they offer the following features at the American Van Lines facilities:

  • Personal storage vaults
  • Climate-controlled storage units
  • 24-hour security surveillance cameras

Transparent about insurance options

American Van Lines will give you information on valuation and insurance, but it requires a lot of extra research. They provide an embedded PDF from another website that talks about the state-to-state legal requirements for moving services to offer insurance. So, you know you'll be covered by American Van Lines if you're moving from one state to another. However, for local moves, the documentation only says that customers need to check with state laws. You can also make sure to get a printed copy of the liability contracts with American Van Lines before you pay.

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Pay attention to what customers are saying

American Van Lines is rated an average of 2.4 stars across client reviews. Less than half of the total reviews are 5 stars, and the majority of customers rated the company 1 star in total. Since this business is not accredited by the BBB, it's important to note what customers are saying about American Van Lines.

Broken items are a theme with American Van Lines

For example, unhappy customers pointed out that the movers that showed up to do the work were not American Van Lines, but a subcontracted group, despite the fact the customer was promised there wouldn't be any subcontractors. Other customers complained that their items were damaged or went missing during transit. Several reviewers agreed that the initial estimate was way underpriced, and they ended up paying more than double what they were originally quoted.

Few positive reviews

One customer ended up having to hire another moving service to get their items out of storage despite paying American Van Lines to do the work. In contrast, the few positive reviews aside from the company's website noted that the American Van Kines was organized and kept to a timely schedule. They also felt confident with the American Van Lines' representatives' knowledge and customer service.

Not worth the worry

With so many negative reviews, there are not a lot of good things to say about this moving company. One of the best features of American Van Lines is that they do move novelty items like pianos or antiques. However, with many customers frustrated with lost and damaged items, it doesn't seem like a good idea to trust your favorite instrument to this service.

Better choices elsewhere

If you are moving across states, American Van Lines makes it clear how the insurance works, and many of the positive reviews were from customers who used the interstate moving option. So, if anything, they might be worth checking out if you're moving to a new state. However, be wary about contracts and subcontractors with American Van Lines, and definitely look at the higher-ranked moving companies we evaluated before signing on the dotted line here.

Where Can You Find the Best Moving Company?

Are you looking to move somewhere new? Or maybe you're heading back to school and need a way to get the contents of your dorm room from point A to point B? There are lots of reasons you need a moving company - like heavy furniture, or maybe you just don't want to deal with the hassle.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the average person moves about 11.7 times in their lifetime. Younger adults tend to move more frequently than older adults. Those who rent move more frequently than homeowners, although they usually have fewer items to move and lower costs. The most popular reasons for people to move include job changes, housing affordability, and family changes/marriage.

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Moving Company FAQ

The cost of hiring a moving company can vary depending on the distance of the move, the size of the household, and the services provided. It's always recommended to get multiple quotes and compare the cost of services offered by different moving companies before making a decision.
Most moving companies offer general transportation services either in-state or across the country. Some companies even have options for international moves, storing your items for extended periods of time, or packing and unpacking items for you. If you are lucky you can also get a company that will provide transportation for your car.
Many companies will offer this service, but it's important to check before hiring a moving company. A lot of furniture that needs assembly may cost extra, or if you have novelty items like pianos, you may need a moving company that specializes in those things.
Like many aspects of moves, this will depend on the company you choose. Some companies only cover local distances, or will charge extra for long distance moves. Other moving companies provide international services to several countries while some promise to only move within the USA. Keep these requirements in mind when you search for moving companies to make sure the one you choose meets your distance requirements.
By law interstate movers are required to offer two different liability options called "valuation coverage". You can either get Full Value Protection or Released Value. Under Full Value the mover is required to replace, repair, or make a cash settlement for damaged items, and you usually have to pay extra for this option. However, the mover can place limitations on this, so it's important that you get a written statement of these limitations before you agree to the conditions. Under Released Value you don't have to pay extra for insurance, but the liability is limited to $0.60 per pound per item. Released Value must be specifically signed for, otherwise you will be automatically charged for the Full Value option. If you choose Released Value, you can also use third party insurance to cover the rest of the lost value. Many movers will offer third party insurance options on their site. You may also already be covered by your homeowner's insurance. Some of these laws may differ if you are moving within the same state.
This depends entirely on the company, so it's important to know if a mover will be handling your belongings or if they will be subcontracting any part of your move to another company. With sub-contracts, the company you hire will reach out to others to get all the parts of the job done. If you want everything done in-house, it's important to consider that in your search for a moving company.
Many moving companies move your items in "pods” that are weatherproofed and designed to protect your items during transit. However, movers should also be using furniture pads, plastic wrap, and good packing techniques to keep from breaking any of your items during the move.
Make sure you understand the moving company's policies on damage and liability in case something is damaged during the move. Usually you will be reimbursed based on the contract you signed. Sometimes this will include full compensation, having the item replaced with a similar item, or a partial value of the item recovered in cash.
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Continued from above...

No matter what you need to move, or where you need to move it, there are plenty of options out there to help you. But where do you get started? There are so many different moving companies that it can be hard to select the best option for you.

The average cost of using a moving company can vary depending on several factors, such as the distance of the move, the size of the household, and the services provided. For most local moves (under 100 miles), the average cost can range from $150 to$1,000. If you need to move something long-distance (over 100 miles), the average cost can range from $1,000 to $5,000.

However, the fees can vary widely depending on the location, the time of year, and the specific services you take advantage of. Some additional services that can affect the cost of a move include packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, and storage. It is also important to keep in mind that many moving companies will charge additional fees for things like stairs, elevators, long carry, or bulky items.

So how do you choose the best moving company for your needs? There are a lot of factors to consider to ensure a smooth and successful move. If you're not sure where to start, here are a few things to help you with your choices:

  • Licensing and Insurance: Do you want to see that your possessions are protected by clear licenses? Do you want a company that offers additional insurance and upgrades?
  • Price: Are you looking for the cheapest moving option out there? Or do you care more about value for money even if a company is more expensive?
  • Experience: Do you have special items that need specific moving skills, like a piano? Or will a company with general moving experience work for your needs?
  • Range of Services: Do you need a company that just moves your belongings? Or do you need a company that offers additional services like packing or storage?
  • Scheduling Options: Do you need flexible or last-minute scheduling? Or are you okay with a company that has a strict schedule?

To help you find the right moving company to simplify your next house hop, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked today's most popular Moving Companies across the US. We hope this will make it easy to choose the best company to trust with your home and happiness.

Compare Moving Companies

Select any 2 Moving Companies to compare them head to head

best-moving-companies
  • JK Moving Services
  • Two Men and a Truck
  • UPack
  • United Van Lines
  • 1 800 PackRat
  • International Van Lines
  • Allied Van Lines
  • Pods
  • American Van Lines
  • North American Moving Services
JK Moving Services vs Two Men and a Truck JK Moving Services vs UPack JK Moving Services vs United Van Lines JK Moving Services vs 1 800 PackRat JK Moving Services vs International Van Lines JK Moving Services vs Allied Van Lines JK Moving Services vs Pods JK Moving Services vs American Van Lines JK Moving Services vs North American Moving Services Two Men and a Truck vs UPack Two Men and a Truck vs United Van Lines Two Men and a Truck vs 1 800 PackRat Two Men and a Truck vs International Van Lines Two Men and a Truck vs Allied Van Lines Two Men and a Truck vs Pods Two Men and a Truck vs American Van Lines Two Men and a Truck vs North American Moving Services UPack vs United Van Lines UPack vs 1 800 PackRat UPack vs International Van Lines UPack vs Allied Van Lines UPack vs Pods UPack vs American Van Lines UPack vs North American Moving Services United Van Lines vs 1 800 PackRat United Van Lines vs International Van Lines United Van Lines vs Allied Van Lines United Van Lines vs Pods United Van Lines vs American Van Lines United Van Lines vs North American Moving Services 1 800 PackRat vs International Van Lines 1 800 PackRat vs Allied Van Lines 1 800 PackRat vs Pods 1 800 PackRat vs American Van Lines 1 800 PackRat vs North American Moving Services International Van Lines vs Allied Van Lines International Van Lines vs Pods International Van Lines vs American Van Lines International Van Lines vs North American Moving Services Allied Van Lines vs Pods Allied Van Lines vs American Van Lines Allied Van Lines vs North American Moving Services Pods vs American Van Lines Pods vs North American Moving Services American Van Lines vs North American Moving Services
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