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United Van Lines Review
By kristin MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Moving to a new home is a stressful undertaking, but choosing the right moving company can make your transition run more smoothly.
If you’re looking for a full-service move across the country or a simple move across town, United Van Lines offers a variety of options to personalize your move according to your needs. It’s our top pick for best moving companies in the U.S. for full-service moves.
This review of United Van Lines will cover everything you need to know about the company and its services.
Table of contents
- United Van Lines overview
- United Van Lines services
- United Van Lines credentials
- United Van Lines’ accessibility
- United Van Lines’ customer satisfaction
- United Van Lines FAQs
- How we evaluated United Van Lines
United Van Lines overview
- Multiple service levels and add-ons
- Exclusive use of container
- Snapmoves program available for small moves
- Difficult to get a general quote quickly
- More expensive than the competition
- Low customer service ratings
Founded in 1928 and headquartered in St. Louis, United Van Lines (UVL) is the largest full-service moving company in the U.S. A subsidiary of UniGroup, it has 300 affiliated agents nationwide and services 150 countries around the globe. It’s also an approved military carrier for the General Service Administration (GSA).
In addition to being one of our top picks for moving companies across the country, it’s also one of our top picks for long-distance moving companies, interstate moving companies and Florida moving companies.
United Van Lines services
United Van Lines offers a variety of service plans, insurance options and add-ons for individuals, corporations and military members. Read on for more details about its services, restrictions and costs.
What it offers
The company offers the following services:
- Long-distance moving
- International moving
- Corporate moving
- Local moving
- Snapmoves for small moves
- Packing and unpacking
- Loading and unloading
- Storage
- Car shipping
- Add-on protection options
Moving services
United Van Lines’ long-distance moving services are for moves outside a 50-mile radius or across state lines. Also referred to as interstate or cross-country moves, long-distance moves include packing, unpacking, transportation and clean up. Additionally, United Van Lines has a cash-back rewards program for long-distance moves if you use a real estate agent from its partner CityPointe Real Estate.
United Van Lines provides international moving services to 150 countries. In addition to transportation and packing services, an international move includes a pre-move consultation to help you customize your move. Additionally, you get a manager to help you with important documents — such as customs paperwork.
Local moves take place within a 50-mile radius of your current home. You can choose a full-service or a more customized route where you pick and choose from optional services. Take note that United Van Lines connects you with independent agents who may offer specialized services for local moves.
United Van Lines stands out for its Snapmoves program. This program is for individuals and corporations moving to or from small, one- or two-bedroom apartments or small homes. Total inventory weight must be less than 5,000 lbs. Snapmoves offers fast quotes and has two levels of service:
- Snapmoves Standard: For people who can be more flexible with their moving date and offers guaranteed delivery within a 5-day window
- Snapmoves Priority: For people who need a fixed moving date. This option has an additional cost
Additional services
United Van Lines’ extensive options include packing, storage and car shipping. Here is a detailed look at what you can expect:
Full-service moves with United Van Lines are comprehensive, with a list of options to pick from:
- A moving coordinator who will be your point-of-contact (included for all plans)
- Movers to load and unload your household items
- Full or partial packing options
- Technology installation
Packing options include:
- Full-service packing plan
- Customized service packing plan
- DIY packing, where you pack and UVL wraps, loads, transports and unloads your items
- Customized crating options are available for antiques and fragile items
Storage is available if you need more flexibility with your delivery date. United Van Lines’ independent agents facilitate it, including options for short- and long-term residential and corporate storage units. The storage services are flexible, and you can easily arrange a pick-up time for your items.
Car shipping options include:
- Door-to-door shipping: This option depends on local laws and may not be available for all locations. Your car is picked up and dropped off at your home or location of choice
- Terminal-to-terminal auto transport: This option includes car storage and flexible pick-up times at a facility
Clean-up is a part of every moving service and includes debris removal.
Moving protection
All levels of service include Full Value Protection. You must fill out the High Value Inventory form and the company determines the valuation by your shipment weight, at $6 per pound. You can increase or decrease this value at a later date. If you decide to forgo this option, you’ll still be covered by federal law for a minimum valuation of $0.60 per pound, per article.
Add-on services allow you to customize your move with additional insurance or services, including the following:
- Mechanical malfunction waiver
- Acts of God waiver
- Additional delay payment
- Increased destination wait time
- Identity theft protection
What it doesn’t offer
Overall, United Van Lines’ services are comprehensive; however, they don’t perform the following services:
- Disconnecting and reconnecting appliances
- Disconnecting utilities services
- Removing or installing air conditioners, televisions or other similar items
- Servicing or addressing issues with electrical, plumbing or carpentry
Additionally, United Van Lines doesn’t offer DIY, portable moving containers. To address this limitation, United Van Lines joined forces with Mayflower to form United Mayflower, which provides portable container services. Note that both companies share the same parent company, Unigroup.
United Van Lines’ cost
It’s difficult to determine the exact amount you’ll pay for moving services before you book; however, the following factors may determine moving costs:
- The distance of your move
- The weight of your inventory
- The number of large items you have
- The number of bedrooms and size of your current home
- The date and season of your move
- Type of service or moving package that you choose
- The additional services you choose
- The type of insurance you choose
United Van Lines won’t give you the exact price of your move until after its movers weigh and inventory your belongings. However, the average cost for a long-distance move for a small house or apartment can run between about $3,500 to $6,300. A four-bedroom, full-service, long-distance move of 2,500 miles or further will run you upwards of $10,000.
If you’re interested in learning more about possible tax deductions for your move, read our article about moving expenses.
United Van Lines credentials
United Van Lines is an international carrier that provides a variety of moving services. Read on for more information about its credentials.
Licenses and registrations
United Van Lines is a licensed carrier (USDOT: 077949 and TxDMV: 5253). It owns a number of the agencies that perform its services, and works with a network of 300 agents who also operate their own businesses. UVL is a subsidiary of Unigroup (USDOT: 756209).
Awards and certifications
We didn’t find any information about recent awards for United Van Lines. However, it won the 2019 award for Outstanding Performance at Cartus Corporation’s 2019 Global Network Conference.
United Van Lines’ accessibility
United Van Lines is accessible through phone, chat and online forms. Here’s a closer look at its accessibility.
Availability
United Van Lines services over 500 locations across all 50 states and 150 countries internationally. It works through a network of company-owned agencies and has quite a large fleet of 2,157 trucks, 2,507 tractors and 4,302 trailers.
Contact information
You can call customer service by phone at 877-740-3040. You can also reach a live agent through the website’s chat function. Its website also provides an online form to send via email. Additionally, you can initiate a free, no-obligation moving quote online and get a call back from a representative. Customer service hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST.
User experience
United Van Lines stands out for its website, which is easy to navigate and informative. It has helpful moving resources and tools, including moving checklists, timelines and packing videos. It also has an online chat function to talk with a live agent. Customer service response times are quick, from what we found.
Limitations
While you can get a no-obligation quote for free, quotes take a few days to arrange. You first have to call, fill out an online form or chat with customer service online. It takes your contact information, and then a representative reaches out to you to set up an appointment for an estimate either in-person or through live video. Appointments may take two or three days to arrange.
United Van Lines’ customer satisfaction
United Van Lines boasts high customer ratings on its website (4.43 out of 5 stars). Let’s take a closer look at its customer satisfaction:
Customer complaints
United Van Lines is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), where it currently holds a rating of 1 out of 5 stars. However, that rating stems from only 28 reviews. Negative customer reviews mention aggressive marketing tactics after getting a quote and unprofessional movers.
Third-party ratings
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) database, United Van Lines has a satisfactory safety rating, the organization’s highest rating. The FMCSA is a federal government agency that regulates commercial vehicle safety.
United Van Lines FAQs
How to file a claim against United Van Lines?
Once you book a move with United Van Lines, you will gain access to an online customer account. If something is damaged during the move, you can begin the claims process through the online portal. You'll need your order number and a detailed description of the item.
How to get a United Van Lines estimate?
Getting an estimate with United Van Lines is a multi-step process. First, you initiate the process online by filling out a form on the website, through the chat function with a live customer service agent or by calling customer service. The agent will make an appointment for you to do an in-person or virtual video conference.
Be prepared to wait two to three days for an appointment. During your in-person or video conference, you'll provide more details about your move and inventory. You'll then receive an estimate. You should know that estimates may change until you commit to a binding estimate and you'll receive an exact cost after your movers weigh your items in the truck.
What items are prohibited in a United Van Lines moving?
United Van Lines complies with federal and state regulations concerning items that carriers are prohibited from moving. The list includes:
- Flammable items, including wax candles
- Items containing chemicals, such as lawn and garden care and cleaning products
- Ammunition, gunpowder and explosives
- Corrosive items, batteries, alkaline and lead-acid
- Gas, compressed gas or oil
- Plants and livestock
How can you book a move with United Van Lines?
The process of booking a move begins with an estimate. You can call the phone number at 877-740-3040 or request a quote online. You'll make an appointment for an in-home estimate or virtual survey.
During the survey, you must give the agent a tour of the house, garage and yard. The agent will also need to see the outside of the home and entryways to best gauge access to your home.
After this meeting, you'll receive a quote, and your agent will help you customize your quote to fit your needs. Once you confirm the estimate, you'll designate a firm moving date and book your move.
United Van Lines will assign you a moving coordinator and give you access to an online account (which you can use for shipment tracking). United Van Lines doesn't require an upfront deposit to book a move. If you use a credit card, you won't be charged until after the move begins.
How we evaluated United Van Lines
We reviewed United Van Lines for the variety of moving services it offers as well as add-on and insurance options. We evaluated its website for ease of use and transparency regarding package details, estimates and moving resources.
We reviewed its customer service by contacting the company through the website’s form, phone and chat. We also analyzed customer reviews and complaints on websites like the BBB and FMCSA.
Summary of our United Van Lines review
United Van Lines is a full-service moving company with years of moving experience that offers long-distance, local and international relocation services for individuals, military members and corporations.
It offers a variety of options for customization at every service level and programs to make small moves more affordable. Although UVL’s pricing is higher than its competitors, and initial price quotes are difficult, United Van Lines balances those drawbacks with stability, flexibility and personal attention to ensure your move goes smoothly.
Kristin Cobos has worked as a writer, researcher, and educator for 18 years. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Webster University in Leiden, Netherlands and M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language from Southern Illinois University — Edwardsville. She covers finance and technology.