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Nilson Van & Storage review (2026)

Daniel Harper, Senior Moving Industry Research Editor at BestMovers.info
Researched and written byDaniel HarperSenior Moving Industry Research Editor
Amanda Brooks, Senior Editorial Reviewer at BestMovers.info
Reviewed byAmanda BrooksSenior Editorial Reviewer

Last reviewed August 2026How we research moving companiesEditorial standards

Nilson Van & Storage is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under USDOT 122025 and MC 109331. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Columbia, SC, Nilson Van & Storage covers all 50 states. A two-bedroom interstate move with Nilson Van & Storage is estimated at $1,900–$5,400, before packing, valuation, and storage. BestMovers.info publishes no numeric score, star rating or ranked order for moving companies. On the documented record, Nilson Van & Storage is most relevant to carolina household and government moves handled by a long-established regional carrier with its own drivers.

Key facts

USDOT number
122025
MC / docket number
MC-109331
FMCSA legal name
NILSON VAN & STORAGE
Carrier or broker
carrier
Carrier operation
Interstate
Federal filing address
6821 N Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203
Power units
43
Drivers
36
MCS-150 filed
2026-05-05
Safety rating
Satisfactory
Last compliance review
1992-11-25
Founded
1938
Headquarters
Columbia, SC
Coverage
All 50 states
2-bedroom interstate estimate
$1,900–$5,400
Services
Long-distance, Local, Packing, Storage, Corporate
Data as of
2026-08-16
Last verified
2026-08-18
Verdict

Nilson Van & Storage

We do not publish a numeric score for moving companies.

Nilson Van & Storage has filed under that exact legal name since the census began and operates from 6821 N Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina, the address published on its own site, with 43 power units and 36 drivers and both general freight and household goods cargo entries. The licensing record carries common and contract authority active with household goods authority. The company states it was founded in 1938 on a small personal stake and remains single-family owned. Interstate shipments move through the Mayflower Transit network, whose registration is Mayflower's own. An unrelated Utah company sharing part of the Nilson name is recorded as a rejected match so it cannot be attached to this profile later.

Best for
Carolina household and government moves handled by a long-established regional carrier with its own drivers
Main trade-off
The recorded safety rating dates from a compliance review in 1992, so the rating on file is old rather than a recent assessment.

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What is Nilson Van & Storage's USDOT number and is its authority active?

The USDOT number of Nilson Van & Storage is 122025. This reflects the federal record as of 2026-08-16.

Is Nilson Van & Storage the same company as Mayflower Transit?

No. Nilson Van & Storage operates as an agent of Mayflower Transit, which is a separate company with its own federal registration, USDOT 125563. The van line's number appears in agent branding and interstate notices, not as this company's own registration. The record that belongs to the company itself is USDOT 122025, and that is the one we publish above.

The distinction matters when you check a mover. A van line's safety history, fleet size and insurance filings describe the van line. They say nothing about the agent that will pack your home, load the truck and hold your contract.

Read from https://nilsonvan.com/about-us/ on 2026-08-16.

Is Nilson Van & Storage licensed to move within South Carolina?

For a move that stays inside South Carolina, movers are authorised by South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff, Transportation Department, part of the South Carolina Public Service Commission and Office of Regulatory Staff, and the authorisation is called Class E Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. The agency publishes no public lookup; it verifies authorisation by phone on 803-737-5230, or 1-800-922-1531 within South Carolina. We have not verified Nilson Van & Storage's South Carolina authorisation, and nothing here says it lacks one. Holding federal interstate authority is a separate thing from holding state authorisation for a move that starts and ends inside one state.

What is Nilson Van & Storage's USDOT number?

Nilson Van & Storage carries USDOT number 122025 and docket number MC-109331 on the FMCSA company census file. The registered legal name is NILSON VAN & STORAGE. The filed physical address is 6821 N Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203. The registration covers interstate operations. The census records the operation classification for Nilson Van & Storage as authorized for hire.

Federal source: FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot for USDOT 122025 · Data as of August 16, 2026

How big is Nilson Van & Storage's fleet?

Nilson Van & Storage reports 43 power units and 36 drivers on its federal registration. Power units count trucks, tractors and other self-powered vehicles the company operates, not trailers. Nilson Van & Storage last updated that federal registration on May 5, 2026, so the counts describe the fleet as filed on that date rather than today.

Federal source: FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot for USDOT 122025 · Data as of August 16, 2026

Does Nilson Van & Storage have a federal safety rating?

Nilson Van & Storage holds a federal safety rating of Satisfactory on its census record. A safety rating is assigned after a compliance review, and the most recent review of Nilson Van & Storage on the federal record is dated November 25, 1992. The rating reflects that review and is not updated continuously.

Federal source: FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot for USDOT 122025 · Data as of August 16, 2026

Is Nilson Van & Storage a carrier, a broker, or both?

Nilson Van & Storage holds motor carrier authority on its federal licensing record and does not hold property broker authority. Carrier authority means Nilson Van & Storage is licensed to perform moves with its own trucks and crews rather than arrange them through another company. The crew that arrives on moving day works under this authority, and Nilson Van & Storage carries the federal liability for the shipment. The licensing record for Nilson Van & Storage shows household goods authority, property authority, and no broker authority.

Federal source: FMCSA licensing record, read by hand · Data as of August 16, 2026

Is Nilson Van & Storage authorised to move household goods?

Nilson Van & Storage holds active operating authority covering household goods on its federal licensing record. This is a stronger statement than the cargo classification on the census registration. Authority is the licence to carry that freight for hire, and it has to be active for Nilson Van & Storage to move a household across state lines lawfully.

Federal source: FMCSA licensing record, read by hand · Data as of August 16, 2026

Information provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

How much can a mover charge above a non-binding estimate?

On an interstate move priced with a non-binding estimate, a mover may require no more than 110% of the estimated charges before it will release your goods at delivery. That cap is set by 49 CFR 375.407, and it applies to the mover you hire regardless of what the final weight turns out to be. Anything owed above that amount is not payable on delivery day: the mover must bill you for it, and you have 30 days from delivery to pay it under 49 CFR 375.407.

Source: 49 CFR 375.407, eCFR

What is a mover liable for if my belongings are damaged?

Every interstate mover must offer released value, the no-extra-charge level of liability set by 49 CFR 375.701. Under released value the mover owes 60 cents per pound per article, so a claim is settled on what a damaged item weighs rather than on what it is worth. A heavy item pays out more than a light expensive one. The alternative is full value protection, which a mover must also offer, costs extra, and settles at repair, replacement, or a cash equivalent. Released value applies by default if you sign nothing else.

Source: 49 CFR 375.701, eCFR

How can I verify Nilson Van & Storage?

Federal record: FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot for USDOT 122025 · Data as of 2026-08-16 · Last verified 2026-08-18

Nilson Van & Storage in one paragraph

Nilson Van & Storage has been operating since 1938 (about 88 years), runs out of Columbia, SC, and covers all 50 states. Current FMCSA filing shows USDOT 122025 and MC 109331. Nilson Van & Storage has filed under that exact legal name since the census began and operates from 6821 N Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina, the address published on its own site, with 43 power units and 36 drivers and both general freight and household goods cargo entries. The licensing record carries common and contract authority active with household goods authority. The company states it was founded in 1938 on a small personal stake and remains single-family owned. Interstate shipments move through the Mayflower Transit network, whose registration is Mayflower's own. An unrelated Utah company sharing part of the Nilson name is recorded as a rejected match so it cannot be attached to this profile later.

Estimated cost of a move with this carrier

This is an estimated quote range, not a record of prices paid. For a 2-bedroom interstate move, Nilson Van & Storage quotes generally land in the $1,900–$5,400 range, with the midpoint of that estimated range near $3,650. The low end of that range usually applies to off-season runs under 1,000 miles with self-packing; the high end shows up on full-service summer moves over 2,000 miles.

Local hourly pricing through Nilson Van & Storage is not published by the company and we hold no rate card for it. Our national editorial estimate for a two-mover crew and a truck on a local move is $105 to $155 an hour, May 2026, and it is a model figure rather than a quote from this carrier. Ask whether travel time, fuel surcharge, and stair fees sit inside or outside the hourly number, because that is where two apparently identical quotes diverge.

Where this carrier may fit

Carolina household and government moves handled by a long-established regional carrier with its own drivers. That is an editorial view of fit, not a measured performance result: we hold no complaint-rate, claims-outcome or satisfaction dataset for Nilson Van & Storage. Three things make any move with this company more predictable, whatever the carrier: an inventory list locked in two or more weeks ahead, a binding not-to-exceed estimate in writing, and a destination ZIP the company services directly rather than through a subcontracted agent.

How to work around the main trade-off

The trade-off summarised at the top of this page is the one that most often costs readers money with Nilson Van & Storage. Two questions defuse it at quote stage: ask for the specific line items that drive the number up on your move profile, and ask whether the crew at your origin is employed directly or subcontracted to a local agent.

Then price the same inventory with one alternative below. A second quote on identical inventory is the only reliable way to tell whether the premium buys you anything on your particular lane.

Nilson Van & Storage vs the competition

CarrierFounded2BR price range
Nilson Van & Storage1938$1,900–$5,400
Allied Van Lines1928$3,200–$7,500
Atlas Van Lines1948$3,000–$7,200

Booking process, step by step

  • Request a quote with a complete inventory list. Online forms are fine for a first pass; a video survey is what makes a binding number stick.
  • Insist on binding-not-to-exceed in writing. Federal rules let a carrier collect up to 110% of a non-binding estimate at delivery, with the balance billed later; a binding not-to-exceed estimate removes that exposure.
  • Confirm valuation coverage. Released value (the federal default) pays $0.60 per pound. Full-value protection costs more but actually replaces a damaged TV.
  • Confirm pickup and delivery windows. For interstate jobs the delivery window is a range, not a date — plan accordingly.
  • On move day, walk the truck and check the inventory list before signing the Bill of Lading. Note any pre-existing damage on the form.

What this page does and does not say

We publish no numeric score, star rating or ranked order for Nilson Van & Storage, and we recommend no company over another. What this page carries is the federal registration record above and the sourced facts beside it. Read those, then price the same written inventory with one alternative before you sign.

Updated August 2026 Reviewed by Amanda Brooks182 company profiles published

Compare side by side

Nilson Van & Storage vs Allied Van LinesNilson Van & Storage vs Atlas Van LinesNilson Van & Storage vs United Van Lines

Where Nilson Van & Storage is documented

These links follow the company's documented location only. They are not a service-area claim.

Moving companies in South Carolina

Frequently asked questions

Is Nilson Van & Storage licensed and insured?
Nilson Van & Storage operates under USDOT 122025 and MC 109331. Verify current standing, insurance on file, and household goods authority on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before signing a contract.
How much does Nilson Van & Storage cost for a 2-bedroom move?
A 2-bedroom interstate move with Nilson Van & Storage is typically estimated at $1,900–$5,400. Final price depends on distance, season, packing services, and access conditions on both ends.
Does Nilson Van & Storage offer binding estimates?
Nilson Van & Storage offers binding-not-to-exceed quotes on request. Always ask for one in writing before move day, especially on interstate jobs.
What services does Nilson Van & Storage include?
Nilson Van & Storage offers long-distance, local, packing, storage, corporate. Confirm which add-ons are bundled into the base quote and which are billed separately.
Where does Nilson Van & Storage operate?
Nilson Van & Storage covers all 50 states and is headquartered in Columbia, SC, where it has been based since 1938.
Who is Nilson Van & Storage best suited to?
Nilson Van & Storage suits carolina household and government moves handled by a long-established regional carrier with its own drivers. The main trade-off to plan around: The recorded safety rating dates from a compliance review in 1992, so the rating on file is old rather than a recent assessment. Compare at least one alternative quote before you sign.

Sources