North American Van Lines (NAVL) has established itself as one of the top companies for a variety of move types. With over 90 years of experience and a global service area, this moving company has the expertise and connections to help get you where you need to go. Experience and availability are just a few of the reasons the company secured a spot in our list of the best moving companies of 2024.
NAVL is an appealing choice if you don’t want to put down a deposit, which many moving companies require. The company’s bottom-line pricing model can also help you avoid any surprise costs in your final invoice.
However, not all North American Van Lines locations provide equally high levels of customer satisfaction. Some of the company’s 500-plus locations are praised for professionalism and quality, while others receive criticism for exact opposite experiences. The quality of your move will depend on the local branch you use to start your move.
Our thoughts on North American Van Lines
Using our rating system, NAVL earned 4.6 out of 5 stars. The moving company scored high marks for its availability, service options and shipment tracking system. However, we docked some points for the company’s vehicle out-of-service percentage, which is 27.1% compared to the national average of 22.3%, and a lack of financing options compared to some competitors.
It’s available in all 50 states and 130 countries and is a licensed carrier. This means NAVL can directly facilitate long-distance moves but counts on local professional movers to handle jobs outside the company’s coverage area.
What we like
North American Van Lines primarily stands out for its not-to-exceed pricing option, which states that your final moving costs won’t be higher than your quote. This makes it a solid choice if you’re on a strict budget. NAVL’s extensive network and range of plan options make it a top contender for full-service and interstate moves.
In addition to basic moving options, NAVL gives customers the opportunity to add services, including appliance installation, furniture assembly, custom crates for fragile items and vehicle shipping. Depending on your needs, these add-ons can take some extra stress out of moving, and other companies typically don’t offer them.
What we don’t like
Like most nationwide moving companies, NAVL struggles to manage consistent customer satisfaction. While its 500-plus locations answer to a corporate office, each branch runs independently. This setup means quality can vary from location to location, so be sure to research your local branch before signing a contract.
While NAVL does offer convenient storage services, availability varies by location. This can leave some customers in smaller, rural areas with fewer options. If you’re hoping to get free storage for your belongings as part of your standard moving package, try a company like International Van Lines instead.
Compare top moving providers
North American Van Lines doesn’t require a deposit, while some competitors — such as International Van Lines, American Van Lines and Safeway Moving Systems Inc. — do require one.
The table below compares our top moving picks using several key factors.
Moving services North American Van Lines offers
North American Van Lines provides services and supplies for various move types. Thanks to its vast partner network, the company serves all 50 states and 130 countries.
Domestic
North American Van Lines offers long-distance, interstate and local moving services. All moving packages should include labor for loading and unloading, transportation and liability coverage. Additional services can be added for a fee.
The company doesn’t just handle household moves. NAVL also has a corporate relocation program to help with office moves.
International
NAVL provides moving services in 130 countries. The company pairs you with a personal relocation specialist to determine what services you need for your international move. You can select your moving service based on factors like price, transit time, and sea or air freight. It’s recommended that you contact your international mover at least seven to 10 weeks before your target moving date.
Your relocation specialist will go over details about packing, unpacking, storage, insurance, transit times and crating. They should also be ready to answer questions about requirements for clearing customs and visas.
Optional services
North American Van Lines offers a variety of optional services to make your moving experience easier. Installation and assembly services, such as connecting kitchen appliances and furniture assembly, are available. Cleaning services, fragile-only packing, and short- or long-term storage options can also provide added convenience.
NAVL can ship your car, van, truck, SUV or boat with open or enclosed carrier transportation to your new home. Customers needing to transport fragile items like antiques may want to consider exploring NAVL’s custom-built wooden crates. Full-service packing — such as packing, unpacking and packing materials — can be added to your move.
Pricing and quotes
North American’s quote-on-demand feature lets you request a free estimate for your move. First, supply contact information and your ideal moving date. Be sure to account for any special items so they factor into your quote.
For a three-bedroom, 2,880-mile sample move, we got a free quote for around $13,450 without packing and $16,757 with packing costs included. NAVL does not require a deposit, which can be an advantage if you’re moving on a tight budget. Your final costs will vary depending on any other services you add to your move.
To request a free consultation for a custom estimate, visit NAVL’s website. A customer service member will schedule your move’s in-person or virtual assessment. However, you will have to undergo a thorough in-home estimate process to get the quote. We suggest making a detailed list of your belongings beforehand and checking out our guide for streamlining your move.
North American Van Lines availability
North American Van Lines has over 500 agent locations throughout the continent and a global network. It is a member of the worldwide moving conglomerate Sirva Worldwide Inc., which also owns Allied Van Lines, another North American carrier we recommend.
This partnership allows North American Van Lines to serve customers worldwide. If you require international moving assistance, a relocation specialist can provide an estimate and custom packing options and advise you on how to navigate shipping logistics. The move coordinator can also help if you encounter customs issues or need more information on visa requirements.
Guarantees and insurance
Under federal law, companies like NAVL must provide two liability options: released value protection, which is free and offers minimal protection, and full replacement value, which is more expensive but might be worth it for peace of mind.
With released value protection, North American Van Lines covers your move at 60 cents per pound per item. While this insurance coverage puts the company on the hook for lost or damaged goods, it typically doesn’t come close to covering the actual value of the items. You will only be compensated for the weight of the item instead of its actual value.
NAVL’s full replacement value protection plan is based on the value of your belongings at $6 per pound, with a minimum shipment value of $6,000. The weight of your shipment is multiplied by $6 to determine NAVL’s maximum liability.
So, if your shipment weighs 10,000 pounds, the liability amount would be $60,000. The price of this valuation is approximately 5–6% of the weight of your shipment. For example, if your belongings weigh 10,000 pounds, your cost would be around $500–$600.
Customer thoughts
Many individual locations where North American Van Lines operates receive significant positive feedback. Some local branches net praise for highly experienced workers, quick response times and efficiency.
However, a review of NAVL’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) page shows that the company has also received customer complaints. The mover currently has a rating of 1.1 out of 5 stars, with grievances including damaged items, high rates and delivery delays.
However, only about 30 customer reviews are on NAVL’s national BBB hub page. This isn’t enough to make sweeping conclusions about its service, and it’s quite possible that few or none pertain to the specific local branch you would use.
Additionally, NAVL replies to the majority of reviews left on platforms like BBB, offering apologies and some explanations for the issues. The company still maintains an A+ rating on the site.
We suggest reading reviews for the NAVL on multiple platforms, such as BBB and Google Reviews. Search for the NAVL branch in your area, as customer experience can vary greatly by location. For example, the NAVL in Woodfin, North Carolina, has a rating of 2.4 out of 5 stars on Google, while a branch in Lexington, Kentucky, maintains a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Final take: NAVL not requiring a deposit makes up for the lack of financing options
NAVL checks many of the boxes we’d expect from a company with nearly a century in the moving business and a vast partner network. The company stands out by not requiring a deposit, which compensates for its lack of financing options. It also offers a refreshing dose of transparency with its bottom-line pricing model.
It’s a great choice if other movers’ smaller networks don’t serve your destination or you want more agency over your total costs. One downside is it lacks financing options. Try JK Moving if you’re looking to finance your move.
We recommend getting binding estimates from at least three companies before booking with any professional moving company. If you decide to go with NAVL, do your research on the local branch by reading customer reviews.
Our rating methodology for movers
Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.
Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points. We then divide the final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
BBB and Google ratings accurate as of March 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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