United Van Lines Review 2025

United Van Lines offers just about every service you could need during a long-distance move, from auto transport and home cleaning to storage and full-service packing. This makes United a first-rate option for anyone looking for a convenient, one-stop shopping experience for their move.

United has relationships with over 500 agents nationwide, which helps it service most people in the U.S.; however, there are mixed reviews about some partners, so that's something to keep in mind if you're moving high-value or delicate items like antiques.

Learn more about the highest-rated companies on our Best Long-Distance Movers list.

United Van Lines started in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1928, providing return loads for independently-owned moving companies delivering household goods from one city to another. Since then, United has become one of the most recognized names in moving.

In 1992, United became the number one van line in regards to volume and market share, a position the company still holds today.²

United Van Lines has one of the most extensive networks of moving trucks, drivers, and agents across the country. But there are a few states where you can't book a move with United: Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.

United’s rates are fairly competitive. For long-distance moves across the country and regionally, United gave us a ballpark estimate of $8,000–$10,000 to move a three-bedroom house. As with most movers, United's pricing depends on how much stuff you have, where you're moving from and to, and which services you use. 

To get a quote from United, you need to go through the full estimate process. United wants to make sure the quote you receive is as accurate as possible, to avoid sticker shock when it comes time to pay the final bill. 

This is a break from the norm since many other movers will give you a ballpark estimate, either online or over the phone, based on your moving dates, the size of your home, and the zip codes you're moving to and from. While this is convenient, it creates more room for discrepancy between the original quote and the final bill.  We like that United is striving to eliminate that bait-and-switch feeling for which the moving industry is known. 

Even though it's not standard practice, United gave us estimates to move a three-bedroom home across the country (around 2,100 miles) and regionally (about 250 miles). We were quoted between $8,000 and $10,000 for both scenarios, but we are confident that, depending on the specifics of your move, a smaller distance like 250 would cost significantly less than a 2,000-mile move.

Your actual moving quote from United will depend on your personal in-home estimate and a few other factors:

• Your moving date and time
• The actual weight of your moving shipment
• Your moving distance
• Any additional moving services or protection you purchase

United's in-home estimate helps provide accurate pricing based on your actual belongings, how many special or bulky items you have to move, how much your items are likely to weigh, and any extra considerations like stairs, long hallways, or elevators.

For added convenience, United has a virtual home survey tool that allows you to walk an estimator through your home remotely using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Most movers happily list their extra services online, but very few tell you how much those services will cost until after you receive your final estimate.

United opts for a more transparent pricing approach with its full-service packages. It outlines three service packages with a range of both moving services and protection options you can customize to your liking—and it tells you exactly how much extra you’ll pay for each package.

United Van Lines offers three full-service moving packages to fit different needs and budgets. The $225 package includes $5,000 valuation protection, ID theft protection, and Claims Assist. The $425 package adds $25,000 valuation protection, debris removal, and a $250/day delay payment. The $725 package includes all features from the other options, plus TV mount assembly/disassembly for two TVs.

All of United's full-service packages include the following: 

• A personal moving coordinator
• Loading and unloading
• Full Value Protection (unless waived)
• Transport for standard appliances 
• Bed frame disassembly and reassembly
• Furniture placement

Are you concerned about your budget?

If your budget is your biggest concern, get a quote of your own to learn exactly how much your move with United might cost.

United offers a wide range of both included and paid services to give you the moving experience that best fits your needs:

• Local, interstate, and international moving services
• Corporate relocation
• Government relocation
• In-home moving estimates
• Binding quotes
• Customizable packing and unpacking
• Loading and unloading
• Crating
• Home cleaning
• Trash and debris removal
• Home theater and computer network services
• Furniture assembly and disassembly
• Full-value protection for all moves
• Auto transport
• Storage
• Shipment tracking
• Online moving services

Many of United’s services are included in the price of your move, but others add an additional cost to your final moving estimate. Be sure to ask your moving coordinator which services are included and which will require you to expand your moving budget a bit.

United Van Lines has a lot of moving services that take the weight of the move off your shoulders, but one service in particular stood out to us above the rest—its tech services.

United’s tech services are unique in the full-service moving industry. Other movers advertise assistance with appliance installations, but unless you’re taking your gas appliances to your new home, we find these services to be overpriced and generally unnecessary. (Is it really that hard to unplug an electric dryer?)

Tech assistance, on the other hand, is a far more useful service for many households that are looking for a full-service move. United offers disassembly and setup services in two main tech areas: home theaters and PC networks.

If you’re looking to move your in-home cinema to your new abode, United can arrange to have your television and stereo disassembled and set back up in your new house. It can even have its crew take care of your TV stand or wall mount for you so you won’t have to search online for those instructions that you threw away promptly after opening the box.

United will also happily arrange to have your computer and computer network disassembled, packed away, and set up at your new home. We find this service to be especially helpful for those who aren’t so tech-savvy or who have a particularly complicated network setup.

You read that correctly. United finds another way to stand out with its full-value moving protection for every move—a service other movers normally offer as a paid upgrade.

If this doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, we promise, it really is.

Full-service movers usually include only basic liability coverage in the cost of your move. And like the name suggests, it’s pretty basic.

With basic liability coverage, the mover assumes liability for $0.60 per pound per item. This means if your 100-pound sofa gets damaged, your mover would pay you only $60, regardless of the sofa’s actual value. United’s included full-value protection, on the other hand, is much more comprehensive.

United calculates your coverage by multiplying your estimated shipping weight by $6 per pound. If you have a few higher-value items and you don’t think this level of coverage will be enough, United makes purchasing extra coverage easy. Each $1,000 of protection you add will cost you only $5.50.

If you're concerned about protecting their belongings—and don’t want to pay an arm and a leg extra to do it—should definitely give United a look.

United Van Lines is one of the best international moving companies. It excels at overseas shipping and storage services for employees moving for work. The international moving company also tailors moving packages to your budget, so you never have to pay for things you may not need, like packing professionals or monthly storage.

Several other highlights set United Van Lines apart from the competition:

• Wide availability. United Van Lines can ship almost anywhere in the world and has partners in more than 150 countries on all seven continents.
• Tri-regional communications network. United has regional headquarters in three strategically placed areas: Asia, North America, and Europe. As a result, it can help you troubleshoot potential problems without worrying about the difference between time zones.
• Custom clearance management. The best companies not only ship your belongings to another country but also tell you what items aren’t allowed. United assigns a personal coordinator to walk you through the dos and don’ts of clearing customers in your destination country.

United Van Lines has been in the moving business for nearly a century, and you don’t have that kind of staying power without taking care of your customers. United stands out for its customer-first policies (e.g., no deposit), services that go beyond the basics, and convenient tools like virtual home surveys and an easy-to-navigate customer portal.

United’s website is packed with useful resources, including an FAQ section, online quote forms (though you won’t get an instant estimate), and shipment tracking. However, like Mayflower—its sister company under UniGroup—it has limited customer reviews, making it hard to get a full picture of the moving experience.

To learn how a move with United Van Lines goes in real life, we helped a Moving Grant winner, Kerry, move from New York City to Taos, New Mexico, in 2020. 

Kerry’s move with United Van Lines highlights the company’s strengths and areas for improvement. After deciding to switch from International Van Lines due to concerns over transparency and storage practices, Kerry chose United for its reputation and direct handling of her belongings.

The positives were plentiful: Kerry’s belongings arrived safely, on time, and for less than her original quote—an uncommon and refreshing surprise in the moving industry. Kerry gave United's customer service team a big thumbs up, calling out their professionalism and communication throughout her move.

Despite booking on short notice during an unusually busy season, United accommodated her move and kept her well-informed throughout the process.

However, not everything went smoothly. Kerry was worried about some members of the pickup crew who didn't seem very professional and seemed careless with some of her items (fortunately, nothing was damaged). In contrast, the delivery crew was professional and efficient, suggesting that the pickup issues may have been an isolated incident.

• What to Expect When You Move with United Van Lines—Kerry’s Move

We really like United Van Lines's customer-first policies, like no deposit requirements and free cancellation. This means you won't have to make a large down payment (usually around 30% of your total quote) upfront and you won't risk losing money if your plans change. But it's worth noting that your initial estimate may shift if you cancel or reschedule your move.

United also offers binding quotes, which means the price you're given is the price you'll pay—as long as there are no major changes to the services you want and the weight of the items you're moving.

Given United's position as one of the most established moving companies in the industry, we expected to find a wealth of glowing reviews. But, similar to Mayflower, we found surprisingly few. United has low ratings and minimal customer feedback on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). For example, United has a 2.7-star average on Trustpilot from only 10 reviews.

Since both United and Mayflower fall under UniGroup's umbrella, it's worth considering reviews for the parent company. UniGroup has a 1.32-star rating on the BBB from 31 reviews but also holds an A+ and has been accredited since 1983. On Trustpilot, UniGroup has just three reviews, none from 2024, which are similarly unflattering.

Concerning Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) complaints, United lands right in the middle compared to other movers we've researched, with 16 complaints in 2024, as of November 12. Solomon and Sons had the fewest, with four, and American Van Lines had the most complaints, with 26.

United Van Lines estimates fall right in the middle compared to other movers. Its starting cost for a cross-country move is around $8,000, which is more affordable than International Van Lines, Safeway Moving, and Colonial, each starting closer to $9,000. United's maximum estimate of $10,000 is also lower than the $13,000 and $14,000 quoted by IVL and Safeway, respectively. But Mayzlin and American might have UVL beat if you're moving on a budget.

Unlike other movers, United doesn't charge a deposit, so your money isn't at risk if you need to cancel or make changes. On the flip side, however, United doesn't offer any discounts like nearly all other moving companies.

United Van Linesis a great option if you’re planning a long-distance move and need to take advantage of one of its unique moving services. Anyone can benefit from United’s included full-value moving protection—but if you’re moving a home theater or PC network, you should definitely consider contacting United.

One of United’s biggest perks is its no-deposit policy. Moving is stressful and expensive. Having more time before you have to make a big payment can be helpful to many of us. We also like the fact that you can cancel or change your move dates without any hassle and with no penalty.

Due to the large volume of moves that United does every year—and the low number of customer reviews (although mostly negative)—we believe that overall, United’s customer service is generally pretty good, but your experience will depend largely on the United agent you work with. 

Overall, United Van Lines is a good choice if you're looking for a name you can trust, lower up-front costs, and want a moving company with nearly a century of experience.

What's next?

Now that you know everything United has to offer, the next step is to get a quote for your move. Remember, it’s free and easy!

If you want to look at other movers that might be a better fit for you, check out our Best Interstate Moving Companies list.

We used research, first-hand experience, mystery shopping, interviews with the company, and hundreds of online reviews and complaints over the past several years to review United Van Lines.

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1. UniGroup, "About Us, History." Accessed December 18, 2024.
2. United Van Lines, "About Our Leadership Team." Accessed December 18, 2024.