Moving Comparison

United Van Lines vs North American Van Lines

Researched and written by Daniel Harper · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks · Last reviewed August 2026

At-a-glance

We publish no numeric score for moving companies, so this page names no winner. United Van Lines is described as best for long-distance moves with full packing, while North American Van Lines is described as best for cross-country moves with high-value items. 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

CategoryUnited Van LinesNorth American Van Lines
USDOT077949070851
MC #67234107012
Carrier or brokerbothboth
Founded19281933
HeadquartersFenton, MOFort Wayne, IN
CoverageAll 50 statesAll 50 states
ServicesLong-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, CorporateLong-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Corporate
Legal name on the federal filingUNITED VAN LINES LLCNORTH AMERICAN VAN LINES INC
Entity statusAA
Operating authority heldHousehold goods, Property, Carrier and brokerHousehold goods, Property, Carrier and broker
Power units on the census file4,7311,333
Drivers on the census file3,4241,357
Safety ratingSS
Federal record as of2026-08-132026-08-13
2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate)$3,100–$7,400$3,000–$7,200

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.

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.

USDOT
077949
Pros
  • Best for long-distance moves with full packing.
  • All 50 states coverage; founded 1928.
Watch out
  • Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.
Read full United Van Lines review

North American Van Lines

North American Van Lines is part of SIRVA and moves interstate household goods through an agent-affiliate network. The federal registration shown here belongs to the van line, not to the local agent that loads the truck.

USDOT
070851
Pros
  • Best for cross-country moves with high-value items.
  • All 50 states coverage; founded 1933.
Watch out
  • Local move pricing is rarely competitive against regional independents.
Read full North American Van Lines review
United Van Lines
Best for

Long-distance moves with full packing

Not ideal for

Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.

North American Van Lines
Best for

Cross-country moves with high-value items

Not ideal for

Local move pricing is rarely competitive against regional independents.

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Frequently asked questions

Is United Van Lines or North American Van Lines better in 2026?
We hold no basis to prefer one over the other. We publish no numeric score for moving companies, and the records we hold for both are the same fields: registration, operating authority, founding year, coverage, and an estimated price range. United Van Lines is described as best for long-distance moves with full packing; North American Van Lines is described as best for cross-country moves with high-value items. Check each company's USDOT record on FMCSA SAFER for authority status and complaint history, then compare binding-not-to-exceed estimates for your own move.
How do United Van Lines and North American Van Lines compare on price?
For a typical 2-bedroom interstate move, United Van Lines estimates land around $3,100–$7,400 and North American Van Lines estimates land around $3,000–$7,200. Actual quotes depend on weight, distance, service level, date, and availability.
Are United Van Lines and North American Van Lines both FMCSA-licensed?
United Van Lines operates under USDOT 077949 and North American Van Lines operates under USDOT 070851. Always verify the specific entity quoting your move on FMCSA SAFER before signing an estimate.
How do I check complaints against United Van Lines or North American Van Lines?
Look up each company by its USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER, which publishes complaint and crash history for the registered entity, and check the state regulator where the move starts. Ratings published by third parties are not shown here unless the specific profile they came from has been recorded.
What estimate type should I ask for?
For interstate moves, ask for a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey. Sight-unseen non-binding interstate quotes are not reliable and tend to grow on delivery day.
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