Updated: January 19, 2023
Editorial Breakdown
Coverage Area
Easy Quotes
Price
Ease of Purchase
Overall Rating
Bottom Line
United Van Lines offers over eight types of moving services with the goal of lightening your load on your moving day. Check out our top recommendations for long-distance movers buy clicking the link below.
With 90 years of in the moving business, United Van Lines has become one of the most experienced moving companies in the United States. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, United Van Lines’ nearly 5,000 drivers have traveled almost 135 billion miles. That experience combined with extensive knowledge about every aspect of a move is part of what has made United Van Lines one of the top-rated moving companies in the United States since 1992.
The full service moving company is one of the largest in the United States with over 7,500 trucks. The organization is made up of more than 400 independently-owned agencies that affiliate under the United banner for access to centralized support and resources. They offer moving services for local and long-distance interstate moves, international moves, and also operate a nationwide auto transport program.
Depending on the moving service you need, there are also various a la carte options offered by United Van Lines that make your move as uncomplicated as possible. Some of these options include:
These additional offerings can be added to your moving contract individually or bundled in one of five packages to save you both time and money.
Pros
Cons
You start the quote process with five steps to get a general estimate of what your move will cost. Visit United Van Lines’ website and enter the following:
We tried the quote tool on the website and received an estimated cost for a move from South Carolina to Georgia (approximately 250 miles) for a one-bedroom apartment. The estimate was $1,900 if you pack everything to $2,400 if you have United Van Lines do the packing.
The quote specifies that the actual cost will vary based on different factors such as the moving dates and times, actual weight vs. the estimated weight of your belongings, total distance of the move and any unanticipated transportation and storage services. Any additional service or protection options you select such as supplemental insurance or clean up service will add to the cost of the quote. To determine how much coverage you need, see the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s tips for understanding the valuation of what you ship.
If you decide to move with United Van Lines, request a firm quote, and an agent will come to your home to survey your belongings to estimate their size and weight. The agent will then go over packing, protection and service options to help create a customized moving package that will fit your needs as well as your budget.
Your final estimate includes the calculation of local, residential moving quotes according to United Van Lines’ federally-registered moving tariff. Your rate depends on a combination of mileage, weight, time-frame and any extra services you select.
For interstate moves, the transportation charges depend on the actual weight of goods once your shipment is loaded onto a truck and weighed, and the distance between your old home and your destination. It’s a good idea to compare rates from multiple companies when considering any move but especially long-distance moves.
United Van Lines offers international moving services to over 180 countries. Their highly trained international move team will be there every step of the way and can provide information about travel, language, customs and even culture, to prepare you for your adventure abroad. Their visa and immigration services help make sure that your paperwork is all in order and their family relocation assistance is top notch.
United offers options, pet transportation and school assistance where a liaison helps you find the best schools in your new location. Settling-in services include area orientations, utility connections and finding the right bank.
| Package | Cost | Services Included | Extra Choices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $195 | $5,000 Additional Valuation Protection Gold Standard Protection® Claim Assistance Identity Theft Protection | No extras included |
| Plus 1 | $395 | $25,000 Additional Valuation Protection Gold Standard Protection® Claim Assistance Identity Theft Protection Increased Destination Waiting Time | Select one of the following: Destination Debris Pickup PC and Network Disassembly PC and Network Setup Home Theater Stand Mount Disassembly Home Theater Stand Mount Setup Home Theater Wall Mount Disassembly |
| Plus 2 | $595 | $25,000 Additional Valuation Protection Gold Standard Protection® Claim Assistance Identity Theft Protection Increased Destination Waiting Time Additional Delay Payment | Select two of the following: Destination Debris Pickup PC and Network Disassembly PC and Network Setup Home Theater Stand Mount Disassembly Home Theater Stand Mount Setup |
| Plus 3 | $795 | $25,000 Additional Valuation Protection Gold Standard Protection® Claim Assistance Identity Theft Protection Increased Destination Waiting Time Additional Delay Payment | Select three of the following: Destination Debris Pickup PC and Network Disassembly PC and Network Setup Home Theater Stand Mount Disassembly Home Theater Stand Mount Setup Home Theater Wall Mount Disassembly Move-Out Cleaning Service |
| Plus 4 | $1,195 | $30,000 Additional Valuation Protection Gold Standard Protection® Claim Assistance Identity Theft Protection Increased Destination Waiting Time Additional Delay Payment | Select four of the following: Destination Debris Pickup PC and Network Disassembly PC and Network Setup Home Theater Stand Mount Disassembly Home Theater Stand Mount Setup Move-Out Cleaning Service Move-In Cleaning Service Home Theater Wall Mount Disassembly Home Theater Wall Mount Setup |
| Plus 5 | $1,395 | $30,000 Additional Valuation Protection Gold Standard Protection® Claim Assistance Identity Theft Protection Increased Destination Waiting Time Additional Delay Payment | Select five of the following: Destination Debris Pickup PC and Network Disassembly PC and Network Setup Home Theater Stand Mount Disassembly Home Theater Stand Mount Setup Move-Out Cleaning Service Move-In Cleaning Service Home Theater Wall Mount Disassembly Home Theater Wall Mount Setup |
United Van Lines’ customers run the gambit from love to very dissatisfied, mostly depending on the local agent company used for the move. Those in the love category frequently use words like “excellent,” “professional,” “courteous” and “friendly” to describe the agents, coordinators, and movers. For those with less favorable experiences, stories of late deliveries and miscommunications seem to be at the forefront.
Some customers have reported that procedures, such as the color coding system used on boxes, vary between agents making it difficult to know which room your boxes should go into at the destination.
Ideally, these steps should be taken no less than eight weeks before your move.
Determine what items you will dispose of five weeks before you move, then start packing boxes no later than three weeks before moving day to give yourself plenty of time to get prepared.
Hazardous or perishable items such as aerosol cans, ammunition, cleaning solvents, fertilizer and fuels/oils can’t be boxed up and shipped with your load. If you aren’t sure if something falls into either category, talk to a representative.
After delivery, by law, you have nine months to report any problems to the moving company and file a written claim. The mover then has 30 days to acknowledge receipt of your complaint and within 120 days of receiving it, they must either make an offer to pay your claim or deny it.
United Van Lines suggests that you start unpacking in the kitchen to make sure that you can eat the first night in your new home. However, if you need rest more than dinner after your move, start with the bedroom and bathroom.
United Van Lines offers more services than any other moving company we have found, and their nearly 100-year history means they have a significant amount of experience in the industry. They can handle any size move to almost any location in a professional manner.