Allied Van Lines is a long-established mover founded in 1928, known for fixed pricing, custom crating, and portable storage. It’s a reliable choice for long-distance and international moves, with local rates typically running $50 to $200 per hour. They almost exclusively use in-house crews and earn high marks for communication and reliability.
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Key Takeaways
- Allied Van Lines’ fixed pricing and binding estimates help eliminate surprise costs
- Custom crating and fragile-only packing for high-value items
- Good option for full-service international moves with GPS tracking and customs help
- Portable storage options (Allied Express) include labor assistance
- Strong nationwide network with in-house movers
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Allied Van Lines: Pros & Cons
Allied earns praise for their full-service offerings and transparency, though it’s not without limitations. Here’s how it stacks up:
Pros
- In-house moving crews and drivers
- Dedicated moving coordinators for personalized support
- Comprehensive contents protection plans, including full-value coverage
- Moving containers with loading and unloading help
- 24/7 online shipment tracking
Cons
- No ballpark estimates
- Limited discounts
How Much Does Allied Van Lines Cost?
Allied’s pricing varies based on distance, weight, and chosen services. For local moves, rates generally range between $50 and $200 per hour. Long-distance moves depend on distance and volume.
Customers report that Allied’s binding estimates are usually accurate or slightly overestimated, which can result in favorable final pricing. The company’s fixed-rate approach helps minimize surprises. To see how Allied’s pricing stacks up against other movers for your specific route, run your numbers through FreightWaves’ moving cost calculator.
Pro tip: For the most accurate Allied estimate, request an in-home or virtual survey so accessorials (stairs, long-carry, shuttle) are listed upfront.
Allied Van Lines cost by home size for a long-distance move: $2,000–$5,500 for a studio or one-bedroom, $3,500–$9,800 for two bedrooms, $5,500–$12,500 for three bedrooms, and $8,000–$15,000+ for four or more bedrooms. Peak-season moves with packing land at the high end. Local moves are billed at $50–$200 per hour.
Allied Van Lines: Sample Route Pricing
These real-world style examples show how inventory size, distance, seasonality, and specialty handling can shift a quote.
| Move Scenario | Route | Approx. Cost | Conditions That Affect Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-bedroom full-service move | New York → Florida | $9,450 | Peak summer timing, elevator building at origin, partial packing for kitchen + fragile items |
| 3-bedroom move with storage-in-transit | Illinois → Texas | $7,200 | 30 days storage-in-transit, flexible delivery window, standard packing materials |
| 1-bedroom specialty shipment | California → Washington | $4,850 | Antique crating + valuation coverage upgrade, tighter pickup window, long-carry at destination |
Allied Van Lines Services
- Household moving services: Loading, unloading, furniture disassembly and reassembly, fragile-only packing and custom crating
- International moving: Covers moves in more than 130-plus countries with GPS tracking and streamlined customs clearance
- Long-distance and cross-country moving: Operates in all 50 states with in-house staff and affiliated agents
- Military relocation services: Offers PPM-compliant plans, secure storage, and time-sensitive transport
- Corporate relocation: Employee moves, office relocations, and temporary storage
- Portable storage with Allied Express: Combines containers with movers for hybrid DIY moves
- Storage services: Short-term trailer storage (up to 90 days) and long-term climate-controlled options
- Vehicle shipping: Cars, motorcycles, and boats shipped separately or with household moves
- Packing and moving supplies: Offers specialty boxes and protective wraps for DIY or full-service packing
- Insurance and protection plans: Includes basic liability, and full-value coverage available for added security
Allied Policies and “Fine Print” at a Glance
- USDOT and registration: Allied Van Lines operates under USDOT #76235 and MC #15735. FreightWaves verified this registration directly through the FMCSA SAFER database, where you can also check insurance and complaint history. Allied is a subsidiary of Sirva, Inc.
- Service area: Allied provides nationwide coverage across all 50 states and also supports international relocations through its global network.
- Payment and deposits: Allied typically requires a signed estimate after a virtual or in-home survey. Deposit requirements vary by agent. Customers usually pay via credit card, certified funds, or approved electronic payment options.
- Discounts: Allied may offer discounts for military members, seniors, AAA members, and corporate relocation programs.
- Cancellation: Cancellation policies vary by agent and how close you are to your scheduled pickup date. Fees may apply if labor, packing services, or transportation capacity has already been reserved.
Allied Van Lines Customer Reviews
| Review Site | Rating | Positive Reviews Mention | Complaints Include |
|---|---|---|---|
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) | A+ | Professional crews, long-standing brand trust, strong national network | Claims handling, agent communication |
| Trustpilot | 2.1 / 5 | Smooth deliveries, helpful coordinators | Delivery delays, damage complaints, pricing concerns |
| ConsumerAffairs | 2.9 / 5 | Good packing quality, responsive customer service, experienced drivers | Occasional billing surprises, claim resolution frustration |
Real Customer Reviews
★★★★★ “Professional movers on both ends.”
Rating: 5/5 (ConsumerAffairs)
“Allied is professional, courteous, fast, no surprises, experienced employees, communicative. Moving across the country is stressful. I paid more for Allied because I didn’t want surprises. They gave me a price and that was that. These movers were receptive, experienced, professional, fast and mindful of not damaging my houses on both ends. I highly recommend Allied.”
– Kay
★★★★★ “The packing/loading/unloading teams were friendly and efficient”
Rating: 5/5 (ConsumerAffairs)
“The entire process from sales and contracting through packing, loading, arrival timing and unloading went as smoothly, efficiently, and professionally as possible. Steve ** in Sales was affable and knowledgeable and put our contract in order quickly, even when we made a change two weeks before our move date. Tammy **, our move coordinator, kept us informed through the process. Our driver, Felix ** was the best driver we have ever had for the three moves we have done with Allied since 1996. His experience of 30 years made this a very stress-free move.”
– Tim
★★★☆☆ “They were very professional, efficient and nice.”
Rating: 3/5 (ConsumerAffairs)
“Theresa and office staff were great with the coordination and communication. My issue is with the driver and some of the crew. … The new crew arrived Wednesday and they were fantastic. My experience with them redeemed the situation the day before. … Overall there were highs and lows of the whole situation. Thankfully office staff and the second crew were able to prevent the situation from being a complete fail.”
– Rachel
Allied Van Lines vs. the Competition
Allied Van Lines is regarded as a premium mover, but how does it compare to other top names in the industry? Here’s a side-by-side look at Allied and two top competitors.
Allied Van Lines vs. Colonial Van Lines
| Category | Allied Van Lines | Colonial Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| Service delivery | In-house crews and agents for stronger quality control | Often brokers moves to third-party carriers |
| Specialization | Supports international and high-value shipments with GPS tracking | Focuses more on domestic, military, and corporate relocations |
| Pricing and availability | Offers binding, fixed-rate quotes | More flexible but potentially variable pricing |
Bottom line: Choose Allied for consistency and international expertise, choose Colonial Van Lines for flexibility and budget-sensitive moves.
Allied Van Lines vs. Safeway Moving
| Category | Allied Van Lines | Safeway Moving |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Typically priced higher, reflecting broader service scope and international capabilities | Offers price-match guarantees and lower-cost fixed-rate options |
| Services | Handles international, military, and containerized moves in addition to domestic relocations | Focused on domestic moves with more limited add-on services |
| Tracking and transparency | Provides real-time tracking for international shipments and structured coordination through its agent network | Does not offer real-time shipment tracking |
Bottom line: Allied is best for international and military moves or high-value items, but choose Safeway Moving to fit a tighter budget or a domestic relocation.
FAQ
Does Allied Van Lines offer binding estimates?
Yes. Allied offers both binding and not-to-exceed estimates after a virtual or in-home survey. A binding estimate locks in your price based on the agreed inventory and services, as long as the scope of the move doesn’t change. A not-to-exceed estimate caps your cost, meaning you won’t pay more if the shipment weighs less than expected.
Is Allied good for international moves?
Absolutely. Allied has an international reach covering 130-plus countries and offers support with customs paperwork, international freight logistics, and shipment tracking.
Are portable containers available?
Yes, Allied offers their own brand of portable storage, Allied Express, that is similar to PODS and other DIY moving services. Unlike PODS and other container companies, however, Allied provides two to four professional movers to load and unload your Allied Express container.
What insurance is included?
Allied includes basic liability coverage at no extra cost, which will cover only $0.60 per pound per item. For more protection, customers can opt for full-value coverage, which reimburses based on the actual item value.
How much does Allied Van Lines cost for a long-distance move?
Allied’s pricing is primarily based on shipment weight, distance, access conditions (stairs, elevators, long-carry), timing, and any add-on services like packing or storage. For interstate moves, costs commonly range from $2,000 to $15,000+ depending on home size and route. The most accurate way to price your move is through a virtual or in-home survey, which allows Allied to provide a binding or not-to-exceed estimate.
Is Allied Van Lines a broker or a carrier?
Allied Van Lines is a carrier operating through a national agent network, not a typical moving broker. That means your move is handled by Allied-affiliated agents rather than being sold off to an unrelated third-party carrier. FMCSA records also list broker authority under Allied’s MC number, which is common among large van lines that coordinate agent networks, but your day-to-day experience depends on the specific local agent assigned to your origin and destination.
Does Allied Van Lines require an in-home or virtual survey?
Yes. Allied requires a virtual or in-home survey before providing an estimate and booking your move. This survey is what allows Allied to offer binding and not-to-exceed pricing instead of a rough ballpark estimate.
