National Van Lines 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. National Van Lines is described as best for long-distance household moves booked with an independent van line that holds its own household goods carrier authority and runs a national agent network, 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 | National Van Lines | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 76628 | 077949 |
| MC # | 42866 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | both | both |
| Founded | 1929 | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Broadview, IL | Fenton, MO |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Services | Long-distance, Local, Packing, Storage, Corporate, International | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | NATIONAL VAN LINES INC | UNITED VAN LINES LLC |
| Entity status | A | |
| Operating authority held | Household goods, Property, Carrier and broker | Household goods, Property, Carrier and broker |
| Power units on the census file | 212 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 160 | 3,424 |
| Safety rating | S | S |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $2,400–$6,800 | $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.
National Van Lines
National Van Lines Inc files from West Roosevelt Road in Broadview, Illinois, active on the federal census as a carrier and broker with 212 power units, 160 drivers, an MCS-150 filed 8 August 2025 and docket MC-42866 on the registration. The company is an independent van line rather than an agent of another van line, so the federal identity above is the brand's own registration and no van-line corporate number belonging to a third party is stored here. The licensing record carries four authority roles on this docket and they are reported separately rather than merged: motor carrier of household goods, motor carrier of property, broker of household goods and broker of property. Holding broker authority is a fact about the docket and is not a statement that any particular household move is brokered. FMCSA safety rating on file: Satisfactory, dated 13 March 2002, following a compliance review dated 26 July 2011 that the file records as non-ratable; that is a dated federal snapshot and not a current safety score or a recommendation. The company states on its own site that it has moved families since 1929, publishing that year alongside its USDOT number.
- Best for long-distance household moves booked with an independent van line that holds its own household goods carrier authority and runs a national agent network.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1929.
- The compliance review behind the safety rating on file dates from 2011 and the rating itself from 2002, so the rating describes the operation as it was reviewed then rather than as it runs today.
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.
Long-distance household moves booked with an independent van line that holds its own household goods carrier authority and runs a national agent network
The compliance review behind the safety rating on file dates from 2011 and the rating itself from 2002, so the rating describes the operation as it was reviewed then rather than as it runs today.
Long-distance moves with full packing
Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.
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