North American Van Lines is a full-service mover with more than 90 years of experience, handling local, long-distance, and international relocations through a network of over 500 agents nationwide. It earned a 4.52 out of 5 rating in FreightWaves Checkpoint’s scoring, putting it among the best long-distance moving companies we’ve reviewed.
North American Van Lines
Our rating: 4.52 / 5
Best for complex, full-service moves
500+ agents
Local network covering all 50 states and Canada
130+ countries
International relocation coverage
Since 1933
Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Key Takeaways
- Handles local, long-distance, and international moves.
- Backed by SIRVA: NAVL shares a parent company, SIRVA, with Allied Van Lines, giving it access to a larger corporate network.
- A+ rated with the Better Business Bureau (BBB): The company has held BBB accreditation since 1984.
- No instant online quotes: Getting an exact price requires a phone call or virtual and in-home survey.
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North American Van Lines: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Full service range: NAVL offers local, long-distance, and international moves, plus storage, custom crating, and auto transport.
- Binding and non-binding estimates: You can choose a locked-in price or pay based on your shipment’s actual weight.
- Large agent network: More than 500 agent locations give NAVL a wider service footprint than many national van lines.
- Military move experience: NAVL handles Personally Procured Moves (PPM) for service members relocating under military orders.
Cons
- No instant online quotes: You’ll need to call or schedule a survey to get an exact price.
- Service varies by agent: Local agents carry out NAVL’s moves, so customer experience can differ significantly from one location to the next.
- Claims complaints: A share of BBB and ConsumerAffairs complaints point to slow or denied damage claims.
How Much Does North American Van Lines Cost?
North American Van Lines does not publish flat rates and requires a phone consultation or a virtual or in-home survey before issuing an exact quote. Based on sample quotes and third-party pricing data, local moves typically run $800 to $2,500, while long-distance and interstate moves range from about $2,200 to $10,500 depending on shipment size and distance. Larger cross-country shipments have been quoted as high as $13,000 to $17,000.
| Move Type | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Local move | $800 to $2,500 |
| Long-distance or interstate move | $2,200 to $10,500 |
| Large cross-country move | $11,000 to $17,000+ |
Getting a quote directly from NAVL and comparing it against at least two other movers is the most reliable way to know what your move will actually cost.
Pro tip: Ask for a binding estimate whenever possible. Our guide to getting accurate moving quotes breaks down the difference between binding and non-binding quotes in more detail.
North American Van Lines Services
- Local and long-distance moving: NAVL handles both moves within a metro area and interstate relocations across all 50 states, coordinated through its network of local agents.
- International moving: The company coordinates relocations to more than 130 countries, including customs paperwork and ocean or air freight arrangements.
- Packing and unpacking: Crews can pack an entire household or just fragile and high-value items, then unpack and reassemble furniture at your new home.
- Storage-in-transit: If your new home isn’t ready, NAVL can store your shipment temporarily.
- Custom crating: Oversized or fragile items like artwork, mirrors, and antiques can be custom crated for extra protection in transit.
- Auto transport: NAVL can arrange vehicle shipping alongside your household goods move.
- Corporate and military relocation: NAVL supports employee relocation programs for businesses and handles Personally Procured Moves (PPM) for military members under government orders.
- Shipment tracking: Customers get a dedicated move coordinator and can track their shipment’s status through NAVL’s online customer portal, with updates as your belongings move through pickup, transit, and delivery. Your coordinator is also your direct point of contact if you need a status update by phone.
Like most national van lines, NAVL uses a network of local agents to carry out moves instead of one in-house crew. That structure gives NAVL its nationwide reach. It also means a local agent operating under the NAVL brand staffs the crew that shows up on moving day.
North American Van Lines Policies at a Glance
- USDOT and MC numbers: North American Van Lines is registered under USDOT No. 70851 and MC No. 107012. You can verify its authority and safety history through the FMCSA SAFER database, which currently shows a Satisfactory safety rating.
- Service area: NAVL operates in all 50 states, Canada, and more than 130 countries internationally, through a network of over 500 agent locations.
- Estimates: NAVL offers both binding estimates, which lock in your price, and non-binding estimates, which are based on your shipment’s actual weight and can increase at delivery.
- Deposits: Published customer accounts differ on whether a deposit is required at booking. Since NAVL moves are booked through individual local agents, confirm deposit amount and timing directly with your assigned coordinator before signing a contract.
- Valuation coverage: NAVL includes released value protection at no additional cost, which covers items at $0.60 per pound per article. Full value protection is available for an added fee and covers repair, replacement, or cash settlement for lost or damaged items.
- Discounts: Through the WeSalute+ program, military members and their families get discounts off NAVL’s published tariff rates on interstate packing, moving, and storage services, plus free full value protection coverage during transit.
North American Van Lines Reviews
Here’s how North American Van Lines rates across major review platforms:
| Review Platform | Rating | What Customers Commonly Mention |
|---|---|---|
| BBB (Better Business Bureau) | A+ | Accredited since 1984, but 52 complaints over the last three years, mostly damage and delivery issues |
| Trustpilot | 1.8 / 5 | Claims handling, communication gaps, pricing surprises |
| ConsumerAffairs | 2.8 / 5 | Professional crews and drivers, offset by damage claims and denied settlements |
What Customers Say About North American Van Lines
Positive reviews consistently praise individual drivers and packing crews for careful, professional service. The complaints that pull down NAVL’s average center on the claims process, where customers report denied or heavily discounted settlements for damaged items.
★★★★★ “This was my 7th move and by far the easiest and best.”
Rating: 5/5 (ConsumerAffairs)
“From start to finish everyone we worked with was exceptional.”
– Meleah, South Bend, Indiana
★★★★★ “Professional people who know how to take the worry out of a cross country move.”
Rating: 5/5 (ConsumerAffairs)
“The driver and the packers at both sites were professional people who know how to take the worry out of a cross country move.”
– Frank, Kinnelon, New Jersey
★★☆☆☆ “Ninety percent of the breakage was denied.”
Rating: 2/5 (ConsumerAffairs)
“Ninety percent, yes 90%, of the breakage was denied.”
– Cindy, Kalispell, Montana
North American Van Lines vs. the Competition
North American Van Lines competes with several other established van lines. Here’s how it compares on the factors that matter most.
North American Van Lines vs. Allied Van Lines
NAVL and Allied Van Lines share the same parent company, SIRVA, following a 1999 merger. Both operate as independent brands with their own agent networks, but a few differences stand out.
- Online reviews: Allied scores higher on Trustpilot, though both companies show similar patterns of damage-claim complaints.
- International reach: Allied advertises coverage in over 135 countries, slightly more than NAVL’s 130-plus.
- Pricing approach: Both companies rely on in-home or virtual surveys for exact pricing and do not publish flat rates upfront.
North American Van Lines vs. Safeway Moving
Safeway Moving takes a different approach to pricing than NAVL.
- Pricing model: Safeway uses a triple-check quote system with a price-match guarantee. NAVL offers binding and non-binding estimates but does not price match.
- Storage: Safeway includes 30 days of complimentary storage with interstate moves. NAVL offers storage-in-transit at an added cost.
- Corporate structure: NAVL operates under SIRVA’s larger van line network. Safeway is an independently owned, veteran-owned carrier.
FAQ
Is North American Van Lines legit?
Yes. North American Van Lines is a federally licensed carrier registered with the FMCSA under USDOT No. 70851, and it’s held BBB accreditation with an A+ rating since 1984. Like any large mover, it draws mixed reviews on ConsumerAffairs and Trustpilot, mostly tied to the claims process. Still, its licensing, safety rating, and 90-plus years in business point to a legitimate, established company rather than a fly-by-night operation.
Is North American Van Lines a broker or a carrier?
North American Van Lines is a licensed household goods motor carrier registered with the FMCSA under USDOT No. 70851. Like most major van lines, it fulfills moves through a network of independent local agents operating under its brand, rather than a single in-house crew.
Is North American Van Lines the same company as Allied Van Lines?
No, but they are related. Allied and North American Van Lines merged in 1999 to form Allied Worldwide, which was renamed SIRVA in 2002. Today, NAVL and Allied still operate as separate brands with their own agents and pricing, both under SIRVA’s corporate umbrella.
How much does it cost to move with North American Van Lines?
Local moves typically cost $800 to $2,500, and long-distance moves range from about $2,200 to $10,500 depending on shipment size and distance. NAVL does not publish flat rates, so getting a phone or virtual quote is the only way to see pricing for your specific move.
Does North American Van Lines require a deposit?
Deposit requirements can vary depending on which local agent handles your move. Confirm the exact deposit amount and when it’s due with your assigned coordinator before signing a contract.
What valuation coverage does North American Van Lines offer?
NAVL includes released value protection at no cost, which covers your belongings at $0.60 per pound per article regardless of actual value. Full value protection is available for an added fee and covers repair, replacement, or a cash settlement if items are lost or damaged.
Does North American Van Lines offer military discounts?
Yes. Through the WeSalute+ program, military members and their families get discounts off NAVL’s published tariff rates plus free full value protection during transit. NAVL also handles Personally Procured Moves (PPM) for service members relocating under military orders.
What is North American Van Lines’ safety rating?
The FMCSA lists North American Van Lines with a Satisfactory safety rating. You can look up its current authority and inspection history using its USDOT No. 70851 in the FMCSA SAFER database.
Does North American Van Lines handle local moves?
Yes. Despite being best known for long-distance and international relocations, NAVL also handles local moves through its network of agents, in addition to interstate and cross-country shipments.
