Paxton 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. Paxton Van Lines is described as best for washington dc region household, government and international moves where a freight-forwarder capability matters, 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 | Paxton Van Lines | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 7543 | 077949 |
| MC # | 061481 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | Not published by the company | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Springfield, VA | 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 | PAXTON VAN LINES 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 | 20 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 8 | 3,424 |
| Safety rating | Satisfactory | S |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $2,200–$6,200 | $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.
Paxton Van Lines
Paxton Van Lines Inc files from 5300 Port Royal Road in Springfield, Virginia with 20 power units, eight drivers, and both household goods and general freight cargo entries. The licensing record carries two dockets for the registration: common authority active under MC-061481 with household goods and property authority, and a separate freight forwarder docket with contract authority active, which is what supports the group's international shipping work. The rating on file is Satisfactory, from a compliance review recorded in 2009. The wider Paxton group holds several other registrations, active and inactive, and household interstate moves run under the van-line registration listed above, so the entity named on a quote is worth confirming before signing.
- Best for washington dc region household, government and international moves where a freight-forwarder capability matters.
- All 50 states coverage.
- The group trades through several registered companies and publishes no founding year of its own, and eight drivers against 20 power units means much of the crew capacity is contracted.
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.
Washington DC region household, government and international moves where a freight-forwarder capability matters
The group trades through several registered companies and publishes no founding year of its own, and eight drivers against 20 power units means much of the crew capacity is contracted.
Long-distance moves with full packing
Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.
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