Arpin Van Lines Review

In this article, we’ll go step-by-step through each service Arpin has to offer and how the company cares for its customers. Overall, you can expect a full-service team of movers with decades of experience and access to award-winning agents.

Like all of the companies we review, Arpin is a certified and licensed mover with the US DOT and provides transparent services and prices to customers across the US. We’ll dive a bit more into Arpin Van Lines’s ratings for its:

• Transparency 
• Pricing
• Services
• Reputation

Overview of Arpin Van Lines

There are a few important basics to note about Arpin Van lines before we dive in:

• The team offers local, cross country, and international moves
• Customers work with one of 450 local agents around the country
• Arpin serves all of the US and a long list of international locations
• The company also feature military moves and corporate relocations
• It offers a range of extra moving services, including packing and storage
• The company is headquartered in West Warwick, RI, and have affiliate movers and agents across the country

Arpin’s movers and packers also received the coveted ProMover badge from the American Moving and Storage Association in 2009.

In spite of the company’s vast experience, we did detect more customer complaints about the moving process than other businesses. We’ll cover the pros and cons of working with Arpin Van Lines as well as what you can expect when you start the estimate process.

Transparency

Arpin’s website is very detailed and clearly laid out. Find the type of move you need—from local to international—as well as moving services and packages tailored to specific groups. While there were some details we couldn’t find directly on its site, the important details are readily available.

Pricing

Quite impressively, customers have three options when starting the estimate process: ballpark quotes, virtual surveys, and in-home estimates. This is quite uncommon for a full-service company like this, especially for large or cross-state moves.

Once you receive the rough estimate, it is often necessary to arrange a virtual or in-person visit to fully inventory your home. An agent will help you determine your quote based on your items and the details of your home.

We also enjoyed that Arpin offers discounts for those moving outside of the busy season. And qualifying moves between September 1st and April 30th qualify for up to $150 off your bottom line.

Veterans, military members, seniors, and real estate agents receive a range of discounts and special perks as well.

Base Services and Extras

The website does an excellent job at outlining what you can expect once you do connect with an Arpin agent. The company offers what is known as an Accuquote—the highest number you will be charged on moving day. If your move costs less, you will not pay the full amount.

Additionally, every move includes:

• Local, long-distance, and international moving
• Corporate moves
• Military and veteran moves
• Small moves
• Loading and unloading
• Discounted full valuation coverage
• Guaranteed on-time pick up and delivery
• Round-the-clock customer care

A few extra features include packing and unpacking, fragile item packaging, and storage access. We’ll go into these services a bit more below as well.

Communication & Expectations

While Arpin is a moving carrier with its own fleet of trucks, it does work with affiliated agencies across the country. The most common negative review online pertains to being brokered out to other companies without prior knowledge. 

Other complaints mentioned that their household goods were packed too quickly, damaged upon arrival, or not inventoried in the first place.

Overall, it appears that communication and level of care on moving day can be hit or miss. It should be noted that there is an equal number of positive customer reviews as well, but communication does seem to be a major issue.

Policies

Arpin offers a range of moving insurance policies to cover missing items or goods damaged in transit. The company provides a specific phone number and email address to start the claims process from your recent move.

While the company’s cancellation policy is not clearly listed on the website, they did note a flexible cancellation and rescheduling process during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cost

Arpin Van Lines prides itself in packaging together moving services to cover everything you need on the big day. Typically, full-service movers like these can cost a bit higher than the national average since you get a bit more for your money.

According to customer reviews and watchdog sites, Arpin costs an average of $4,100 for a two-bedroom long-distance move. This falls right in the middle of the average range for cross-country relocations.

Like most companies, moving cost breaks down differently for each type of move. Local moves typically break down by the size of your moving team and their hourly rate. Long-distance moves take much longer, even days, so the company determines your price based on distance and the weight of your items.

Additional factors that can tip the scales include:

• Flights of steps or elevator use
• Access from the truck to the front door
• Unique or fragile items
• Rushed delivery
• Busy moving season

International moves also include fees for air and sea-freight costs, special crating, and customs fees.

Quotes & Estimates

As we noted above, customers can choose between:

• Rough estimates online
• In-home walkthrough
• Online virtual home surveys

International and complex moves should be handled directly by an agent since there are so many factors that contribute to the final cost.

Payment Methods

Arping accepts credit cards and personal checks. The final amount must be paid before the truck is unloaded at your destination.

Who is This Company Best for Financially?

Arpin is ideal for families, businesses, and military members looking for the full-moving package. The company allows you to tailor your moving services to your needs and also offers an array of discounts for special groups.

Services

As a family-run business with decades of experience, Arpin has developed into a comprehensive full-service moving and storage company. So, while you may not find the lower prices here, you will find packages that cover all you need for local and long-distance moving.

Entry-Level Services

As we noted above, Arpin offers the standard list of services similar to other large companies in the moving industry. You can contract the company for:

• Local moves
• Interstate moves
• International moving and coordination (with multi-lingual agents)
• Specialty moves for veterans, military members, and corporations

The in-home and online quote process is free to all customers as well as access to a local agent and team of professional movers.

Additional Services

With a large team of national affiliates to choose from, you can trust Arpin to cover standard moving services as well as unique needs like piano moving.

• Packing and unpacking services
• Customized crating
• Storage services
• Appliance installation
• Furniture assembly and disassembly (for items such as bedroom sets, couches, and dining tables)
• Packing supplies

Arpin can also call on its larger network of storage companies to coordinate short and long-term storage as your transition.

When heading abroad, your move will be managed by Arpin International, the arm of the company specializing in global relocations.

Company Strengths

The company website notes that it truly thrives when it comes to full-service moves. The team has extensive experience bundling moving packages for clients to provide a stress-free moving experience to your new home.

So while rental truck companies like U-Haul may be best for DIY moves, full-service brands are ideal for those looking for more personalized care.

Reputation 

Arpin Van lines received an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, but you should note that it is not accredited. However, as we noted earlier, they have earned a ProMover badge, a feat that requires constant re-evaluation for renewal.

The company has very recently been acquired by the Wheaton Group, so it’s hard to say if this will affect its family-focused approach to customer services.

Unfortunately, customer reviews run the gamut for this company. We did find several areas where past clients report excellent services but saw frequent issues in others. We’ve included testimonials in each major category below.

Customer Care

You will find both positive and negative reviews when it comes to customer communication. Reviewers often praise their moving-day team but have issues getting in touch with the office for estimates, claims, and other pressing questions.

As an example, Chris V. on Yelp mentioned, “To date, I’ve not received an email or call from them at all (if they did call and it’s a call I missed, they didn’t even leave a message). Not one peep from them. I chose another company and moved on”

Value

Customers tend to enjoy the easy quote process, especially when working directly with an Arpin agent. From what we can tell, Arpin offers high-quality services for its prices and detailed binding quotes.

Another reviewer on Yelp spoke very highly of their quote and estimate process. “I did my homework for this move investigating the company and looking at most of their competitors, but overall Arpin was chosen due to their excellent service from the start, detailed quote and [promise] not to exceed the binding estimate. My final price came in nowhere near the estimate. In fact, about $1,000 less.”

Efficiency and Reliability

International and long-distance moves require an efficient and trustworthy team. A large number of reviews report that Arpin arrived within their scheduled delivery window, even when heading all the way across the country. 

Handling Items with Care

We came across several complaints about the company—or brokered affiliate companies—breaking or losing items during the process. We found a range of similar complaints on sites like Yelp, Google, and BBB.

A reviewer from Rhode Island noted on Google, “When they put things together in the new place, they didn’t bother to secure some things with screws, misaligned drawers causing more damage to the mechanisms, missed a few planks in the remaining bed’s platform, etc. They ruined our bikes by taking them apart and losing parts/pedals.”

Our Review

Despite Arpin changing hands in the past year, customers report positive experiences from the team. After over 100 years in business, we feel this is a strong option for those planning complicated and long-distance treks to their new home.