With nearly a century of experience and a national agent network under their belts, National Van Lines is one of the biggest names in the world of full-service moving.
But like many players in the traditional moving space —such as Mayflower, United, and Allied —North American isn’t a whole lot different from other movers in its category.
First of all, the company comprises a national network of independently owned and operated agents who handle everything from estimates to the physical move itself. This model allows for broad service coverage, but it also means your experience can vary depending on which local agent is assigned to your move — and, of course, on the individual crew members who show up to do the actual moving.
This makes it challenging to give a definitive assessment of the company as a whole —and to compare it to its competitors. But with our first-hand experience and some deep research, we’ve done our best to highlight the key differences and what you should know about moving with North American Van Lines in the review below.
Overview: North American Van Lines
As mentioned above, North American is fairly similar to the other big names in traditional full-service moving —offering a long history of interstate moving, good customer service, and convenient, hands-off moving.
Like others in its space, North American comes with some familiar drawbacks. These include very high pricing, rigid scheduling, and —depending on the time of year you move — long delivery windows.
This is where newer moving models like semi-trailer and portable storage companies (like PODS) offer a compelling alternative. By pairing an alternative method with hired loading and unloading help, you can essentially get the same full-service experience, but without the full-service price tag and more flexibility than the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional van lines.
We’ll go more into depth below on how North American compares to similar companies in the full-service moving space, but for now, here are the pros and cons of moving with North American in general versus other moving solutions.
| Pros | Cons |
| 92 years of experience and a reputation for reliability | Full-service moving is the most expensive long-distance solution |
| Widespread availability (50 states) | Quick estimates aren’t available — you need to schedule an in-home moving inventory |
| Includes loading, transport, and unloading | Experience varies by location |
What to Know About North American Van Lines
Founded in 1933 and based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, North American Van Lines (NAVL, for short) operates under SIRVA, a privately owned American moving industry holding company that also owns Allied Van Lines.
With over 500 agents across the U.S. and Canada and international moving services available to over 130 countries, the company is known for its vast service area as well as its range of local and long-distance moving services. They are primarily known and operate as a long-distance mover.
North American Quick Facts
- Coverage Area: NAVL operates in all 50 U.S. states (including Alaska and Hawaii), throughout Canada, and offers international relocation services to over 130 countries.
- Licensing: As a regulated carrier and broker, NAVL holds U.S. DOT #70851 and MC #107012.
- Safety Compliance: The company maintains a satisfactory safety rating per FMCSA data and operates over 1,300+ vehicles and drivers.
How North American Van Lines Works
Most van lines follow the same general quote and booking process, and North American is no different. Typically, you’ll go through a four-step process:
- Get started by requesting an estimate from the NAVL website or give them a call to schedule an in-home visit
- A local agent will visit your home and conduct a moving inventory. If you need any specialty or bulky items moved, packing, or storage services, let them know. They’ll punch in your specific move data into their tablet computer and generate a binding aka not-to-exceed quote for your move.
- You’ll receive your quote in writing via email and you can either book via email or by phone. No deposit is required.
- One business day before your move, payment is due.
North American Van Lines Moving Services
North American Van Lines is a full-service mover that specializes in long-distance moves. As such, they take care of loading, transport, and unloading. Furniture assembly and disassembly are available but at an extra charge.
The company offers additional services to make the relocation process as hands-off as possible for customers: packing (including white glove packing of fragile and specialty items), unpacking, and vehicle shipping.
They can also provide all the moving supplies, including specialty packing boxes like wardrobe, mattress, and mirror boxes —although you can probably pick these things up for less money on your own.
Here’s their menu of services from their website:
- Full-Service moving (households and offices)
- Corporate relocation services
- Military Personally Procured Moves (PPMs)
- International moving services to over 130 countries
- Temporary and long-term storage
- Packing services
- Auto transport
- Debris Removal and cleanup
- Moving supplies and specialty boxes
- White glove services for packing fragile, high-value, and specialty items
North American Van Lines Costs
Below, you’ll see a comparison of moving costs based on distance, along with the different factors that can impact the price of your particular move. These estimates come from the North American Van Lines website, but you can expect similar prices from other long-distance full-service moving companies.
As you can see, the ranges can be significant. That’s because long-distance van line pricing is primarily based on how much stuff you’re moving — not just how far it’s going. There’s really no way to know exactly how much your particular move is going to cost until an agent comes to your home and takes inventory. This crucial step allows the company to get a solid understanding of the size and weight of your shipment before quoting a price.
Average North American Moving Costs
| Type of Move | Average Cost | Cost Range | Distance | Factors Affecting Costs |
| Local Move | $1,450 | $800 – $2,500 | <50 mi | Distance, number of items, time of year, moving day |
| Long-Distance Move | $3,400 | $2,200 – $10,500 | 50 – 400 mi | Distance, moving company, number of items, additional moving services, time of year, moving day |
| Cross-Country Move | $7,650 | $4,400 – $17,000 | >400 miles | Distance number of items, additional moving services, time of year, moving day |
To get a clearer picture of North American’s pricing, we went ahead and collected two quotes for moving our three-bedroom, 2,000-square foot home in Tampa Bay.
The quote was for loading, transport, and unloading. No packing or storage services were included, but we did have a piano that needed special packing.
Sample Move #1: Tampa Bay to Los Angeles
| Item | Cost |
| Labor and Transportation (Based on 10,000 lbs) | $10,407.55 (Includes moving one “bulky Item,” an upright piano, for $109.14) |
| Valuation | $689.00 |
| Packing materials | $63.56 |
| Total | $11,160.11 |
Sample Move #2: Tampa Bay to Austin
| Item | Cost |
| Labor and Transportation (Based on 10,000 lbs) | $7,644.85 (Includes moving one “bulky Item,” an upright piano, for $109.14) |
| Valuation | $486.00 |
| Packing materials | $63.56 |
| Total | $8,194.41 |
Both estimates were for a mid-August move (peak moving season) with a $0 deductible for the valuation coverage. You can see below how the cost varies depending on the deductible amount.
North American Van Lines Discounts
North American Van Lines offers discounts, but only through partner organizations like Union Plus and the Senior Citizens’ League, so you must be a member to qualify.
North American Van Lines Insurance
Like other moving companies in its space, North America Van Lines offers two kinds of coverage options, which technically isn’t actually “insurance” but rather valuation coverage.
Interstate moving companies are required by federal law — through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — to provide valuation coverage for their customers’ belongings based either on their weight or declared value. Insurance, on the other hand, is provided by a third-party company and regulated by state insurance departments —not the federal government.
Here are the two kinds of moving valuation coverage that North American offers, just like any other interstate moving company:
- Basic Coverage (aka “Released Value Protection”): Free of cost, this is as barebones as you can get out of the coverage options. If something happens to your stuff on the road, you’ll be reimbursed at $.60 per pound per item —it doesn’t matter the actual value of your belongings. Our items were estimated to weigh 10,000 lbs., so if anything were to happen to our stuff along the way, we would receive $6,000 for all of our earthly possessions.
- Full Value Protection: In this case, North American is liable for the replacement value of any lost or damaged items — based on current market value, not necessarily what you originally paid. It’s typically priced at around 1% of the declared value of your belongings, depending on the deductible.
Here’s a cost breakdown of our different coverage options with North American Van Lines.
Sample Move #1: Tampa Bay to Los Angeles
| Coverage Type | Max Protection | Deductible | Total Price |
| Full Value Protection | $100,000.00 | $0 | $11,160.11 |
| Full Value Protection | $100,000.00 | $250 | $10,957.11 |
| Full Value Protection | $100,000.00 | $500 | $10,854.11 |
| Basic Coverage | $,6000.000 | N/A | $10,471.11 |
Sample Move #2: Tampa Bay to Austin
| Coverage Type | Max Protection | Deductible | Total Price |
| Full Value Protection | $100,000.00 | $0 | $8,397.41 |
| Full Value Protection | $100,000.00 | $250 | $8,194.41 |
| Full Value Protection | $100,000.00 | $500 | $8,091.41 |
| Basic Coverage | $,6000.000 | N/A | $7,709.41 |
Given how small a percentage it was of our total moving bill — and the higher risk of damage or loss for a long-distance move — opting for full value protection seems entirely worth it to us.
Is a Long-Distance Full Service Mover The Right Option?
| Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Service Mover |
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| Semi-Trailer |
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| Moving Container |
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| Rental Truck |
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Now, how do these methods compare cost-wise? As with most things in life, the rule of thumb with moving services is that the less work you do on your own, the more you’ll pay.
2025 Cross-Country Moving Costs: 2–3 Bedroom Home*
| “DIY” Moving (Moving Truck) | Moving Truck (with Labor) | Freight Trailer Moving | Portable Container | Full-Service Moving* | |
| Loading & Unloading | N/A | $421 | $421 | $421 | Included |
| Moving Truck / Container | $4,514 | $4,514 | $4,354 | $4,786 | Included |
| Gas | $896 | $896 | Included | Included | Included |
| Grand Total | $5,410 | $5,831 | $4,775 | $5,207 | $9,500 |
Still, it’s pretty amazing just how pricey hiring a full-service moving company can be. At the same time, it’s also amazing just how much effort a totally DIY move requires. (If you need more proof of that, check out How I Moved Across the Country Completely by Myself.)
If cost isn’t a concern and you don’t want to lift a finger for your long-distance move, a full-service mover like North American probably makes the most sense. It may be worth running a quick cost-benefit analysis — for instance, if missing work, school, or other obligations would cost you more than the price of convenience, full-service could be the smarter financial choice.
“North American Van Lines is a full-service mover that specializes in long-distance moves. As such, they take care of loading, transport, and unloading.”
For many people moving long-distance or cross-country (especially those whose moving dates are up in the air or who need temporary storage), PODS is particularly attractive thanks to their built-in storage solution. You can store your items anytime you want as part of your move, either in your driveway or at a PODS storage facility, without having to load and unload your items or rent a moving truck multiple times.
Pairing a solution like moving containers or freight trailer moving with hourly loading/unloading help offers a sweet spot that balances cost with convenience.
The North American Van Lines Experience: What to Expect
Here’s what we were able to gather about NAVL’s customer service after our recent experience with the company and our research into their customer reviews.
Our Experience
The last time we reviewed North American Van Lines in 2021, we reported that NAVL offered great customer service. The representative who conducted the home tour was helpful and willing to work with us to reduce the price. He kept saying he wanted to help and win our business. He even unlocked a discount to decrease the price by $400!
Our experience was different this time around. While our agent wasn’t unfriendly, he wasn’t exactly the talkative type and didn’t seem nearly as invested in winning our business as our agent last time.
When we started asking about ways to save money, he said we could get less insurance coverage. When I emailed him later asking if North American offers price matching in case we get a lower quote from another full-service mover, he responded, “I have provided to you the best price I can give to you for the services you require.”
That doesn’t mean that North American’s Van Line’s customer experience has taken a dive over the past couple of years —it just highlights the fact that customer service is variable with these bigger companies that rely on individual agents. But since you’re dealing with a company that has a really strong reputation and has been in the business for a while, chances are good that you’re not going to have a terrible experience.
Customer Reviews
When evaluating a mover like North American Van Lines, it’s important to look at customer feedback across multiple platforms — including the BBB, Facebook, Google, and Trustpilot. Like most major van lines, NAVL has a mix of rave reviews and frustrated ones.
It’s worth noting that some review platforms often involve a pay-to-play element. Companies that haven’t claimed their profiles may show lower scores, since they can’t respond to reviews, flag suspicious activity, or invite satisfied customers to leave feedback — all of which can skew results, especially in industries where people are more likely to post when things go wrong.
“While [North American] has its own extensive fleet of national trucks and drivers in order to deliver its own services, it is legally allowed to contract with separate third-party companies to perform moving jobs”
For instance, you’ll note in our comparison chart below that North American has a TrustPilot score of 1.9/5.0 stars, considered to be “poor,” but their review page says “unclaimed profile.” While a low score like North American Van Lines’ 1.9 stars may give you pause, it’s important to compare ratings across multiple platforms and look for consistent complaint patterns before jumping to any conclusions.
So that’s what we did. After digging into NAVL’s reputation across the web, we noticed recurring themes in both their positive and negative reviews:
Common Complaints:
- Rude or unprofessional agents or movers
- Poor communication
- Damaged or missing items
- Delays in delivery
- Surprise costs
Positive Feedback:
- Professional and courteous crews
- Good communication throughout the move
- Care taken to avoid damage
- Timely delivery
- Competitive and accurate pricing
Noticing a bit of “he said, she said,” where one person reports a frustrating experience and another praises the exact opposite? This kind of feedback is fairly typical for the moving industry.
Moral of the story: For any long-distance move, you should deeply consider getting full value coverage and even third-party insurance for any especially high-valued items. And don’t pack items of high sentimental value like your wedding albums in the moving truck —bring those along with you! It’s also a good idea to build a buffer into your budget to account for potential delivery delays or added costs from date changes, inventory adjustments, or special handling fees.
North American Van Lines Pros and Cons
No moving company is perfect, and North American Van Lines is no exception. While it offers the convenience and comprehensive support you’d expect from a full-service moving company, there are also some drawbacks to keep in mind. Here’s a look at the biggest pros and cons that stood out to us based on our research and experience.
Pros
- They’ll handle everything — for a price. Full-service moving saves you stress and effort, though that peace of mind comes with a mighty high price tag.
- No deposit required. You don’t have to pay until the day before your move — a helpful perk, although it’s fairly common among major van lines.
- Shipment tracking and support are included. These tools offer some reassurance during a long-distance move, though they won’t necessarily speed things up.
- Moving concierge services are provided free of cost for transferring TV, internet, home security and other home services. These may be available with other van lines, but they’re not typical with other moving solutions.
Cons
- You might break the bank. No matter how you look at it, full-service moving packages are expensive for long-distance moves. Is it really worth it when you could just rent a moving container or freight trailer space and hire some moving help for a similar experience? It’s your call.
- The timeline for getting an estimate is a turn-off. As with other moving van lines, you have to jump through hoops to schedule a home tour and then wait for your emailed quote. In a world where we’ve become used to immediate, easy answers, this can be a hard pill to swallow.
- Experience varies by location. Each North American location is run by a different company. With agents all over the country, you’ll find the experience will vary from place to place. Check out Google and other reviews about your local agent by searching for North American Van Lines + your ZIP to find out what your individual experience might be like.
North American Van Lines vs. Other Long-Distance Full-Service Providers
As mentioned above, North American Van Lines offers an experience that’s pretty typical of its category. At the same time, there are some differences between the company and other full-service moving van lines.
“NAVL operates in all 50 U.S. states (including Alaska and Hawaii), throughout Canada, and offers international relocation services to over 130 countries.”
When comparing movers, be cautious of reviews that rely on shallow or outdated research. They often highlight a feature as unique to one company when it’s actually the industry standard, or frame a common drawback as if it only applies to one provider. For example, we saw GPS tracking listed as a standout pro for North American Van Lines, as if other movers don’t offer it. In reality, most do. That said, North American’s shipment tracking was named best in its category by U.S. News & World Report.
We’re reluctant to make any broad, sweeping statements about how North American Van Lines differs from others in its category — because frankly, they don’t differ all that much. As we said earlier, your experience will depend largely on your local agent and the crew assigned to your move. Still, here’s a breakdown of a few tangible differences among the major full-service providers.
| Company | Differentiator | Potential Drawbacks | Credentials |
|---|---|---|---|
| North American Van Lines | 👍 Online shipment tracking voted best in its category
👍 No deposit required |
❌ Common long-distance full-service pitfalls: (high pricing, etc.) | |
| Allied Van Lines | 👍 Container moving option
👍 More customized pricing 👍 Largest mover network in the world 👍 No deposit required |
❌ Common long-distance full-service pitfalls: (high pricing, etc.) | |
| Mayflower Transit | 👍 Container Moving Option
👍 No deposit required |
❌Services just 46 states
❌ Common long-distance full-service pitfalls: (high pricing, etc.) |
Not BBB accredited |
| Colonial Van Lines | 👍 Family-owned
👍 Great customer service with long-tenured staff 👍 Military discount available 👍 Competitively priced; may be open to price matching 👍 Well-trained crews |
❌Deposit required
❌ No local moving ❌No international moving ❌ Common long-distance full-service pitfalls: (high pricing, etc.) |
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Read Next: How to Prepare for a Long-Distance Move
FAQs
Who owns North American Van Lines?
According to their website, North American is owned by their parent company SIRVA, Inc., the world’s largest global relocation and moving services company. They also own Allied Van Lines and Smartbox Solutions, a moving container shipping company.
Is North American Van Lines legit?
In business since 1933 with high ratings, North American Van Lines has a strong reputation in the full-service moving industry. It is also a BBB accredited business with an A+ rating.
Is North American Van Lines a broker?
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), North American Van Lines is listed (under USDOT 70851) as both a carrier and broker. While the company has its own extensive fleet of national trucks and drivers in order to deliver its own services, it is legally allowed to contract with separate third-party companies to perform moving jobs —for example, in case of low availability in certain markets or times of year.