International Van Lines
International Van Lines is a nationwide moving company with extensive experience and detailed quotes. If you aren’t able to move into your new home right away and need to store your belongings, IVL offers one month of free storage.
Our rating: 3.9
Best for: Transparent pricing
USDOT#: 2293832
International Van Lines at a glance
One of our best moving companies, International Van Lines, is noteworthy for transparent pricing and diverse item protection options. However, the fact that it brokers out moves if the company doesn’t cover a particular service area and has questionable online reviews may raise concerns for some customers.
Fast facts
- International Van Lines (IVL) has been in business since 2000, handling over 20,000 moves annually.
- IVL is known for its clear cost breakdowns, but you must speak with a representative to get a quote.
- The moving company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but other sites like Yelp and Reddit show 1- and 2-star customer experiences.
What we like
We like that International Van Lines provides transparent pricing and a detailed quote breakdown in a follow-up email. It also offers two insurance options — weight-based valuation and itemized valued inventory — but the cost differs if you self-pack (3%) or pay for packing (4%). This allows customers to customize protection for their belongings. IVL services all 50 states, making it a convenient choice for many homeowners.
What we don’t like
International Van Lines’ most significant drawback is it brokers out some moves. This means you may not know who will be handling your belongings. Compared to other moving companies, IVL can be pushy — the representative we spoke with tried to pressure us into moving sooner than we planned. IVL may not be the perfect choice for homeowners needing junk removal services or help with appliance disconnection and hookups.
* BBB ratings are accurate as of July 2024.
International Van Lines pros and cons
International Van Lines can be a promising choice for those moving on a budget. The company’s clear pricing structure helps customers understand exactly what they’re paying for. After you get a quote on the phone, IVL follows up with an email breaking everything down from mileage, origination and destination charges to the estimated volume of goods and insurance protection. Also, seniors and people who ship vehicles receive a 15% discount.
IVL requires a 25% deposit to book a move, which may hinder people with limited up-front funds. The company also subcontracts many local moves, leading to potential inconsistencies in service quality. Customers should also know about the numerous negative experiences shared on third-party websites like Yelp and Reddit.
Pros
- Affordable compared to some competitors
- Transparent pricing with breakdown emailed after call
- 15% discount available (you must ask)
Cons
- 25% deposit required
- Subcontracts a lot of local moves
- Poor customer commentary on sites like Yelp and Reddit
How much does International Van Lines cost?
The cost of moving with International Van Lines depends on your specific needs as well as:
- Distance (based on ZIP codes you provide)
- Number of floors your homes have
- Weight and size of your items
- What time of year you move
To get a quote, you must provide a detailed home inventory, including all the furniture and an estimated number of boxes needed.
For example, for a March move from a single-story, two-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Dallas to San Diego (same home specs), our representative quoted:
- $5,259 if IVL packs everything
- $4,598 if we pack and IVL moves
IVL told us that moving during peak season would significantly increase costs. According to the representative, the same move could be between $6,000 and $8,000 in May.
You can’t save on your move cost by paying for the project fully up-front, but seniors receive a 15% discount, as do people who ship a vehicle.
What services does International Van Lines offer?
Among the moving services available from International Van Lines are:
- Local moving: For moves within your state, IVL calculates hourly rates based on the time, labor and services needed.
- Long-distance moving: IVL charges for moves within the United States according to the weight of your belongings and your packing and storage needs.
- International moving: IVL assigns a move coordinator to help with every aspect of an overseas move, from packing to storage.
- Corporate moving: IVL can pack and transport company and employee belongings to new locations for work relocation.
Optional services include:
- Car transportation: IVL offers stateside car transportation (enclosed or open-air trailers) and international car shipping.
- Furniture assembly: IVL can disassemble, reassemble and create custom crates for unique belongings.
- Packing services and supplies: IVL can provide professional packing services. If you are packing yourself, you can purchase moving kits, boxes and other supplies.
- Storage solutions: Short-term, long-term and storage-in-transit options are available, with one free month (the cost for additional months depends on volume).
You must pay a 25% deposit to secure a moving date. This price is high but shouldn’t be a concern as long as you follow through with the move. The deposit is fully refundable if you cancel within 48 business hours before the moving date.
For the remaining 75% of the cost, you must pay half the balance by moving day and the remaining half upon delivery.
International Van Lines services
|
Offered?
|
|
|---|---|
| Antiques | ? |
| Appliance disconnection and hookup | - |
| Art and collectibles | ? |
| Furniture disassembly and assembly | ? |
| Junk removal | ? |
| Loading and unloading | ? |
| Oversized hauling | ? |
| Packing and unpacking | ? |
| Pianos | ? |
| Storage | ? |
| Vehicle shipping | ? |
International Van Lines add-ons and optional features
International Van Lines provides optional packing services, allowing customers to save money by packing themselves. The price difference between self-packing and IVL’s packing service is around $600.
IVL also has services like car transport (price varies based on vehicle details) and storage options at 65 cents per cubic foot per month.
Customers can expect extra fees in certain circumstances:
- Stairs: $75 per flight
- Elevator access: $75
- Bulky items (e.g., pianos): $150 minimum, up to $350
The moving company can also handle fragile-only packing and unpacking for valuables like antiques. IVL doesn’t offer pricing for these on its website, but you can get a quote on the phone when they ask for your list of items.
International Van Lines customer experience
pro tip
- Before calling for a quote, gather a comprehensive list of everything you plan to move. This helps ensure an accurate quote, as the representative will create it based on what you share with them.
International Van Lines has room to improve its customer service. We connected with a representative quickly during peak hours, but the quote process took 30 minutes.
Our representative pushed us to move quickly to secure a quote, saying costs would jump substantially in May. An online pricing system on which customers could check off items they need would be more efficient and ensure accuracy rather than relying on a high-pressure phone call.
Customer reviews vary, which isn’t surprising. Some reviewers praise the company’s efficient delivery teams, while others express frustration with poor communication and not knowing who the actual movers are until moving day.
International Van Lines liability coverage
pro tip
- Full-value protection coverage isn’t included by default. If you want extra coverage for specific items, let your agent know so they can quote accordingly.
Besides the free basic liability coverage of 60 cents per pound per item, International Van Lines offers weight-based valuation and itemized valued inventory.
Weight-based valuation covers your entire shipment at replacement cost. This is calculated by multiplying the weight of your shipment in pounds by $14, plus any high-value items (valued at $1,500 or more). Itemized valued inventory requires you to list every item at its replacement cost; only those listed items will be covered.
International Van Lines vs. competitors
International Van Lines offers similar moving services (local, long distance, interstate and international) and coverage options compared to other moving companies like Solomon & Sons Relocation Group and Suddath Relocation Systems.
IVL’s prices are usually low, even during peak season. IVL quoted us an average of $7,000 for a 1,378-mile May move with an estimated volume of 4,627 pounds (based on our items list). Solomon & Sons quoted us a price of $5,152 for the same move. IVL is slightly higher but serves all states, while Solomon & Sons doesn’t provide moves in Arkansas, Hawaii, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wyoming. If you’re looking for a budget move outside of those states, IVL is an option.
IVL’s deposit amount (25%) is similar to Solomon & Sons (20% to 35%). Suddath doesn’t require a deposit, but its quote for the same move was much higher, starting at $12,500.
Finally, it’s worth noting that competitors like Suddath and Solomon & Sons don’t broker moves, while IVL does. This means there’s a risk of poor service quality if you get assigned a bad mover.
International Van Lines competitor comparison
|
Our score (out of 5)
|
Best for
|
State availability
|
Country availability
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Van Lines | 3.9 |
Transparent pricing |
50 |
150 |
| Atlas Van Lines | 4.5 |
Overall |
50 |
17 |
| North American Van Lines | 4.5 |
Flexible pricing |
50 |
130+ |
| Mayflower | 4.4 |
Large moves |
45 (excludes DE, HI, RI, SD and WV) |
150 |
| United Van Lines | 4.2 |
Liability coverage |
46 (excludes HI, RI, VT and WV) |
150+ |
| Suddath Relocation Systems | 4.2 |
Military moves |
48 (excludes AK and HI) |
180 |
| Solomon & Sons Relocation Group | 4.1 |
East Coast moves |
43 (excludes AK, HI, MT, NE, ND, SD and WY) |
Not listed |
| Allied Van Lines | 4.1 |
Full-service moves |
50 |
175 |
| Good Greek Moving & Storage | 4.0 |
Junk removal |
50 |
Call to request |
| JK Moving Services | 4.0 |
Premium moves |
50 |
170+ |
Methodology
The CNN Underscored team conducted an in-depth analysis of 52 providers to determine our top moving company rankings. Companies that provide a wide range of move types, such as local, long-distance and international, scored the highest. We assessed the breadth of services available, including packing, unpacking, storage solutions and car shipping.
We also factored in each company’s national coverage and online capabilities, such as real-time GPS tracking and virtual quotes. Finally, our team of moving experts shared their experiences and invaluable insights to help finalize the rankings.
