Michael's Moving and Storage vs United Van Lines
Researched and written by Daniel Harper · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks · Last reviewed August 2026
We publish no numeric score for moving companies, so this page names no winner. Michael's Moving and Storage is described as best for boston-area household and commercial moves where the shipment moves under the company's own household goods authority rather than a brokered assignment, while United Van Lines is described as best for long-distance moves with full packing. Compare the registration and authority records below, verify each USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER, and get a binding estimate from both before booking.
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Side-by-side
| Category | Michael's Moving and Storage | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 608571 | 077949 |
| MC # | 465895 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | Not published by the company | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Allston, MA | Fenton, MO |
| Coverage | Interstate (48) | All 50 states |
| Services | Local, Long-distance, Packing, Storage, Corporate | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | MICHAEL'S MOVING AND STORAGE INC | UNITED VAN LINES LLC |
| Entity status | A | |
| Operating authority held | Household goods, Property | Household goods, Property, Carrier and broker |
| Power units on the census file | 14 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 3,424 | |
| Safety rating | S | S |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $1,400–$4,600 | $3,100–$7,400 |
Legal name, entity status, operating authority, fleet counts and safety rating come from the FMCSA motor carrier census and licensing files, and appear only where the identifier on the federal record matched the company record on this page. Where a row is absent for one company, this site holds no verified federal value for it.
Michael's Moving and Storage
Michael's Moving and Storage Inc files from Ashford Street in Allston, Massachusetts, active on the federal census with household goods and general freight cargo entries, fourteen power units and a current MCS-150 filing. The licensing file returns two authority roles on the one docket and they are reported separately: motor carrier of household goods, active, and motor carrier of property except household goods, also active. No broker authority was located and none is claimed. The company's own website prints its federal registration number with leading zeros; that is a formatting difference on the same number rather than a competing value, so it is normalised and no source conflict is recorded. No van-line affiliation was verified. The company states only how long it has served Greater Boston, not a year, so no founding year is published here.
- Best for boston-area household and commercial moves where the shipment moves under the company's own household goods authority rather than a brokered assignment.
- Interstate (48) coverage.
- The company publishes no founding year of its own and describes its history only in relative terms, so the length of its trading record cannot be stated exactly.
United Van Lines
United Van Lines is the largest brand under UniGroup and publishes the annual National Movers Study. It offers shipment tracking and a published claims process; we hold no dataset that compares its claims outcomes with other carriers.
- Best for long-distance moves with full packing.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1928.
- Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.
Boston-area household and commercial moves where the shipment moves under the company's own household goods authority rather than a brokered assignment
The company publishes no founding year of its own and describes its history only in relative terms, so the length of its trading record cannot be stated exactly.
Long-distance moves with full packing
Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.
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