National Van Lines Review

In order to help you decide whether or NVL is the right fit for your move, we have done in-depth research on the company and its practices, comparing them to other similar industry leaders. In this article, you will learn about National Van Lines:

• Transparency: Clarity of pricing is one of NVL’s hallmarks. From initial contact, through the estimate process, and until clients are settled in their new homes, National Van Lines is very involved. They encourage constant contact through the duration of the move. Going off of customer reviews, this company’s office staff and movers are adept at being up-front and communicative at all points.
• Pricing: Price-wise, National Van Lines is only slightly above the national average. This looks to be a fact across the board, for all services performed. However, their customer reviews and track record make the small price bump more than worth it.
• Moving services offered: National Van Lines offers a standard array of moving services with their basic move packages. Beyond that, their extra specialty services are also a notable feature in this company’s reputation within the moving industry.
• Reputation among past clients: Across multiple platforms – even the often-negative review site, Yelp – the prevailing sentiment is that NVL is committed to customer service. From the office staff, down to the drivers and moving helpers on their jobs, this company is committed to making a client’s transition into a new home as smooth as possible.

Transparency

Transparency begins with a prospective client’s initial call or email to schedule an estimate. Thanks to ReloQuote, and an incredibly responsive team on the administrative side of things, ease of access to National Van Lines’ services is a key element of their business model. Move coordinators and estimators are trained to be prompt and forthright with their analyses of moves and their processes with clients.

Once booked, move coordinators are simply an email or phone call away at any point during a move. They will work with clients to arrive at a price that is agreeable to both parties. In an industry with a lot of shady operators, this is refreshing to see. From local, to cross-country moves, customers always seem to be satisfied with the clarity of pricing.

Pricing

The overall cost for National Van Lines’ services is slightly above the industry average across the board. If customer reviews are a solid enough indicator, it would seem that clients are more than willing to pay the minimally higher price for the quality of service that NVL offers.

When calculating long-distance move costs, hourly pay rates are not used to determine the final figure. Instead, a combination of shipping weight and move distance are the primary factors. When you are completing your estimate in-person, or virtually via ReloQuote, you will be given a ballpark figure. This number is typically reliable enough if no inventory is added between then and moving day. Your belongings will be loaded onto a truck, which has been weighed before pickup. After the second weigh-in at a US Department of Transportation weigh station, you will be given the final total for what your move will cost.

Customer reviews are telling when it comes to price. For a long-distance move from Michigan to California (a little over 2,000 miles), the cost was around the $4,500 range. This was with minimal packing, for a lightly furnished two-bedroom home. Industry averages for this kind of move begin at $3,800 and can be as high as $7,000. The very high-end cost only comes into play if clients need to add multiple optional services to their move. Having your professional movers handle full-service packing, unpacking, custom crating, and decluttering will definitely make your move easier. However, the added costs should be kept in mind.

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National Van Lines’ leading service may be long-distance moving, but they do also take on their share of local moves. Given National Van Lines’ presence across the country, their local agents’ hourly rates could vary a great deal. Rates fluctuate with the seasons and change from region to region. Most prices for two movers and a truck fall somewhere between $90 and $120 per hour. If your local move is in the New York or Los Angeles area, your price will be in the higher end of that range. Costs will be lower in less population-dense areas. Small or medium local moves routinely cost $1,000 or less.

Moving Services Offered

Local Moves

For your local or intrastate moving needs, National Van Lines has you covered. NAVL’s specialty is definitely long-distance relocations, but their local agents in 33 states will happily provide a customized full-service moving experience for you.

Long-Distance Moves

National Van Lines is fully licensed to carry out both cross-country and interstate moves. As a company in good standing with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, its reputation is solid when compared to other interstate movers. For all long-distance moves, you will have a customized moving plan drafted, which covers all possible bases during your relocation.

International Moves

Changing residences is difficult in the best of times. Changing countries can be exponentially more so. NVL’s International division is geared towards making sure that clients only have to deal with one company during international moves. This process begins with NVL providing a dedicated move coordinator, who walks clients through every step of their relocation.

Prospective clients are advised on costs at every point in their move, from point “A” to point “B.” This door-to-door service is a hit with clients, who credit it with making their moves less stressful all-around. All clients are provided with 24/7 shipment tracking, over land, sea, and air. You will never be totally out of touch with your things if you book National Van Lines for your international move.

Special Item Moving

NVL offers custom crating and specialized moving for unusual items, aside from their usual moving services. This is ideal for moving antiques or valuable art pieces. If you’re moving cross-country or overseas, it may actually be necessary to purchase these services. They provide similar services for all sizes of televisions and glass or fragile items.

As a bonus, National Van Lines also moves pianos and pool tables. The latter of the two usually requires a specialized mover to transport. The weight and fragility of the slate slabs in the tabletop make them a rather troublesome item to move.

Commercial Moving

National Van Lines employs the latest in corporate relocation tech in order to make your business’s transition to a new office or city as smooth as possible. Their vetted employees help to provide fully customized commercial packages that are specific to the client’s industry. This, along with expedited moving services, ensure minimal interruptions in your day-to-day operations.

Full-Service Packing and Unpacking

NVL and its local agents offer a variety of packing options. Depending on the agent or moving company you’re dealing with, you will also be able to purchase packing supplies. This gives you a choice between packing on your own or hiring movers to do it for you. Many of NVL’s local agents offer fragile-only packing as an option. You won’t have to take an “all or nothing” approach to hiring help for this part of your move.

Auto Transport

If you’d rather not put the miles on your personal vehicle when moving cross-country, NVL has specialized auto transport options that can be tailored to meet your needs. For international moves, this service is often a necessity.

Reputation Among Customers

National Van Lines maintains an A+ rating on Better Business Bureau. Their overall customer rating on that site, across nearly 100 reviews, is 4.37/5. Clients are most complimentary of NVL’s communication and professionalism at all points in the moving process. Most commonly cited are the excellent office staff and move estimators. Regional and national level account staff are very experienced in handling all sizes of moves, and it shows in their handling of every possible situation.

BBB reviews are similarly positive about the actual moving staff. With the number of locations across the country, it can be incredibly difficult to maintain any kind of consistency with employee training. This is especially true when National Van Lines works through local agents, many of whom are locally owned and operated.

Another positive about NVL is that they seem relatively easy to book last minute. If you aren’t lucky enough to have the preferred 8 week lead time before a move, it may not matter when it comes to National Van Lines. The ease of working with their office staff is definitely an asset here. Many clients praise the speed of their booking process, which can be completed within days of initial contact, if not sooner.

Another positive is the depth of NVL’s website, nationalvanlines.com. Their moving guide section is full of helpful checklists and process write-ups which are geared towards helping clients along the way, even if they decide to book with another carrier. Also featured are seasonal moving guides and a moving scam avoidance article. It is very obvious that this section was created with clients in mind, not just to drive traffic through their site.

If there is a negative to be found with National Van Lines’ reputation, it may be in the haste that some of their movers pack goods and load trucks. The most common complaint centers around broken furniture or goods. This comes down to shoddy or rushed packing practices and shifting of the load during transit. The latter of these issues can and should be avoided. Proper truck packing is something all experienced professional movers have an intimate knowledge of.

Another drawback for this carrier is its somewhat low count for local agents in the United States. Many states, namely in the southeast, do not have a single NVL local agent. You may be better served booking with another large carrier if you’re from this geographical area.