North American Van Lines vs United Van Lines

An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top moving companies picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.

North American Van Lines

North American Van Lines

Ranked #3 of 15 in this directory

Reliable interstate moving with ProMover certification

Paid
United Van Lines

United Van Lines

Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory

America's #1 mover for long-distance household relocations

Paid

Our pick: United Van Lines. Our editors rank United Van Lines higher overall in Moving Companies — but North American Van Lines can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review

Compare the details

North American Van LinesUnited Van Lines
Pricing modelPaidPaid
Starting priceSee websiteSee website
CategoryLong DistanceLong Distance
Editorial rank#3 of 15#1 of 15

Strengths

North American Van Lines

  • ProMover certified ensuring adherence to industry best practices
  • Binding estimates protect against unexpected price increases
  • Comprehensive service options from DIY to full-service
  • Dedicated customer service representatives for each move
  • Extensive experience with military and government relocations

United Van Lines

  • Consistently ranked as the #1 long-distance mover in the US
  • Extensive nationwide agent network for local pickup and delivery
  • Full-service options including packing, unpacking, and storage
  • Real-time shipment tracking through online portal
  • Protection plans covering full replacement value of belongings

Watch out for

North American Van Lines

  • !Prices trend higher than non-certified competitors
  • !Scheduling can be inflexible during summer peak season
  • !Some franchise agents have mixed customer reviews
  • !Website booking process requires multiple steps

United Van Lines

  • !Premium pricing compared to smaller regional movers
  • !Quality of service varies by local agent franchise
  • !Scheduling flexibility is limited during peak summer moving season
  • !Binding estimates still sometimes result in unexpected charges

Best use cases

North American Van Lines

  • Military families needing reliable and certified interstate movers
  • Customers who want binding price guarantees to avoid surprises
  • Long-distance moves requiring partial or full packing services

United Van Lines

  • Families relocating across states who need comprehensive full-service moving
  • Corporate relocations where reliability and tracking are paramount
  • Moves requiring temporary storage between pickup and delivery dates

About each tool

North American Van Lines

North American Van Lines is a ProMover-certified carrier offering interstate and international moving services. The company emphasizes transparency in pricing with binding estimates and provides a suite of services including packing, storage, and specialized handling for high-value items.

United Van Lines

United Van Lines has been the top long-distance mover in the US for years, handling hundreds of thousands of interstate moves annually. The company operates through a network of local agents who provide personalized service while leveraging United's national logistics infrastructure for reliable cross-country transport.

Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.

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