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United Van Lines is one of the best moving companies we reviewed, outperforming several competitors on pricing policies, features and customer satisfaction. People who want a mover that offers additional services, such as help with packing or car transportation, might find a good fit with United.
The moving company offers binding quotes, which means no surprises. Also, it doesn't charge upfront deposits or fees to pay with a credit card. And compared to the other moving companies we reviewed (and its sister company Mayflower), it had a relatively low customer complaint rate with the Better Business Bureau.
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United Van Lines is owned by UniGroup, the same corporation that owns Mayflower Moving. Many of its offerings are similar to Mayflower’s.
United Van Lines is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and has more than 300 agents. It is a full-service mover, meaning it does more than drive the truck. Here are some of the company’s major offerings and what we think you should know.
United Van Lines transports and unloads for cross-town, interstate and cross-country moves in all 50 states.
The company does not require an upfront deposit or prepayment, and there is no fee to pay with a credit card.
If you need help, you can contact customer service via phone, online form or the company’s app and moving portal (there’s also a chat function on the website, but we didn’t find it very useful).
If you have a really small move – like a one-bedroom or studio, or maybe a dorm room or storage unit – you might save money by using United’s Snapmoves service instead of its regular service. There are two offerings here:
Snapmoves Standard, which is best for people who don’t need to move their stuff on a certain day (you get a five-day delivery window).
Snapmoves Priority, which costs more because they give you an exact move day.
United Van Lines does international moves to over 150 countries, though you’ll also likely work with one or more other companies for a move outside of the United States or Canada. You do get a single point of contact at United Van Lines, which we think is helpful.
Basically, for international moves United will load your packed items and take them to the departure point (where that is depends on whether you’re sending your things via land, sea or air). Once your things get to the international destination, customs processes the shipment and clears it for transfer to a moving crew that delivers and unloads your items.
United can store shipments in warehouses it uses around the country, which we like because many people who move may need extra time to find or prepare their new homes. Storage costs extra, though, so be sure to tell the mover what you need so you get an accurate quote.
Usually, there are two ways to go about managing storage with a mover:
Have the mover take some or all of your stuff to a storage unit that you’ve rented.
Have the mover store some or all of your stuff at one of its own warehouses.
Packing and unpacking can be the worst part of the moving process, so if you can afford to pay extra for some help here, it’s worth considering.
When you have movers pack for you, they show up with all the boxes and packing materials, wrap and pack everything and then label the boxes. If you also have them unpack for you, this means that after they unload everything, they open the boxes, remove the packing materials, arrange your things according to your instructions and then take away the packing materials and empty boxes.
If you want, you can have United only pack or unpack some rooms or some things (which can save money).
United Van Lines can pack antiques, fragile items and similar stuff in custom-made crates for protection.
To ship a car or truck, United loads it onto a car carrier. The company uses open-sided and enclosed car carriers. Open-sided is usually cheaper; enclosed is mostly for high-value or antique vehicles.
Example of open car carrier. Courtesy Getty Images.
If your vehicle is any of the following, it may need an enclosed carrier or special treatment:
Over 25 years old.
Has a lift kit, dually wheels, cab lights, a camper shell or oversize tires.
Is over 75 inches high or over 220 inches long.
Weighs more than 5,000 pounds.
Doesn’t work.
Is worth more than $60,000.
Car carriers are considered oversize vehicles. If your neighborhood doesn’t allow or can’t fit oversized vehicles, you may need to arrange to have the mover pick up or drop off your vehicle somewhere else.
Like most moving companies, United Van Lines doesn’t provide price quotes online. And like most moving companies, the reason is that the quote depends on several specific-to-you factors, such as:
How much stuff you have.
What kind of stuff you have.
Where your stuff is going.
How accessible the locations are.
When you want to move.
Another reason is the law. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires movers to do a “physical survey of your goods” if the mover has a place of business within 50 miles of your house. You can waive this requirement if you want, but you have to do it in writing before the mover loads your shipment .
The basic price for a United move includes:
A personal move coordinator, who helps with the logistics of your move.
Full loading, transport and unloading (note: “loading and unloading” is not the same as “packing and unpacking;” packing and unpacking costs extra). After unloading, movers will also place furniture in the room of your choice.
Disassembly and reassembly of standard bed frames, as well as moving appliances such as washing machines or refrigerators.
“Full Value Protection” coverage (see below), which covers certain losses and damage that occur during the move up to a certain limit.
United Van Lines provides two kinds of price quotes.
Nonbinding estimates give you an approximate cost. They can be great for getting a quick, ballpark sense of cost, but the downside is that they can change by a lot. The final cost comes when the mover weighs the shipment.
Binding quotes guarantee you won’t be changed more than the estimate. They can be great for giving you certainty and peace of mind, but the downside is that the quote process might take longer and the mover can charge for a binding quote .
Getting a quote from United Van Lines starts with setting up an appointment for a walkthrough in your home so the company can see what you’re moving and how hard it will be to get out. United can do this part virtually if you want.
Beware of websites that claim to tell you how much your move is going to cost. None of the full-service moving companies we reviewed provide price quotes online. Virtually every moving company requires contact with a salesperson and a visual survey of your belongings in order to provide a reliable cost estimate.
United Van Lines will pack and shop unusual things such as pianos, hot tubs, giant TVs and golf carts. This is called “special-item” service. But United Van Lines won’t move everything.
Batteries powering personal mobility devices.
Cordless power tools.
Scuba tanks.
Firearms (unloaded).
Clean gas cans and other fuel storage.
Alcoholic beverages.
Batteries, including car batteries.
Household cleaning products.
Corrosive chemicals or poisons.
Lawn and garden chemicals.
Flammables and explosives.
Live animals or plants.
Gas and oil products.
Compressed gas cylinders.
Candles.
Illegal items or substances.
Ammunition, including gunpowder.
United has a customer portal that you can log into to see all of your move information, including the location of your shipment and the delivery date. However, you can’t find the exact location of your shipment; you have to talk to the move coordinator to get that information.
The United Van Lines shipment tracking screen.
Moving companies are liable for loss or damage to your stuff during transportation. But the extent of that liability depends on which kind of liability coverage you choose. Federal law requires movers to offer you two liability options:
Released Value. This protection is free but only pays 60 cents per pound. So if the movers ruin your 300-pound couch, you only get $180, even if the couch was expensive.
Full Value Protection. Under this option, the mover is liable for the replacement value of items that it loses, damages or destroys. You have to pay extra for this option, but unless you explicitly choose the Released Value option, movers must automatically move your stuff under the Full Value Protection level of liability. In this scenario, if the movers ruin your 300-pound couch, they have to repair the couch or pay the replacement value of the couch.
You pay extra for more damage protection. United offers three packages that include add-on services.
Option 1: $225
$5,000 additional value protection.
Gold Standard Protection (which covers pairs and sets, damage to mechanical or electronic objects and damage due to acts of God, such as a natural disaster).
Identity theft protection.
Claims assist.
Option 2: $425
All Option 1 services, plus:
$25,000 additional value protection.
Debris removal
Additional delay claim payment ($250/day).
Option 3: $725
All Option 1 services, plus:
$25,000 additional value protection.
Basic wall mount disassembly and set up (up to two TVs).
Additional delay claim payment ($250/day).
Another option is to get third-party insurance for your move. Sometimes movers will sell you a policy. Your homeowners insurance might also provide some coverage.
Liability coverage isn’t the same thing as insurance, so state insurance laws don’t apply to the coverage movers provide.
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