Throughout its 75 years in business, Atlas Van Lines (AVL) has grown to include more than 400 agents throughout the United States and Canada, plus hundreds of other global partners throughout 17 countries. With such an expansive network, Atlas can help with local, cross-country and international moves.
Pros
- Widespread availability
- AAA discounts and other benefits
- Long-term storage options
Cons
- Difficult quote process
- Customer service varies by branch
- Restrictive cancellation policy
Table of Contents
- Atlas Van Lines at a Glance
- Atlas Van Lines Additional Services
- What Sets Atlas Van Lines Apart?
- How Much Does Atlas Van Lines Cost?
- Where Is Atlas Van Lines Available?
- Fine Print
- How Atlas Van Lines Stacks Up
- Atlas Van Lines Reviews
- Is Atlas Van Lines the Right Moving Company for You?
- Methodology
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Atlas Van Lines at a Glance
Operating in all 50 states, Atlas Van Lines offers full-service packing and moving services as well as long-term, secure storage. Although getting a quote can take some time, the pricing is transparent and Atlas can help with just about any situation. Atlas ranks near the top of Forbes Home’s best moving companies list.
Compared with other full-service moving companies, Atlas’s standard prices are mid-range. However, Atlas is also known for offering solid discounts. For example, AAA members moving to a new state get free full-value protection on their items, a $600 value.
From relocating an Apollo space capsule to using a helicopter to move items to and from the floor of the Grand Canyon, Atlas is up for even the most unique of jobs. Through Atlas World-Class Travel, Atlas also partners with travel companies around the world to offer discounts and coordinate flights, car rentals and hotels. What Moving Services Does Atlas Van Lines Offer?
With hundreds of agents throughout the United States, Canada and beyond, Atlas Van Lines can facilitate moves of any size and distance—from local apartment moves to international household moves. Due to its expansive network and solid reputation, Atlas is also used by the military, government and corporations.
Featured Partners
1
International Van Lines
Deposit required
Yes
Service availability
Excellent
Full-service packing
Yes
2
American Van Lines
Deposit required
Yes
Service availability
Excellent
Full-service packing
Yes
3
United Van Lines
Deposit required
No
Service availability
Excellent
Full-service packing
Yes
Local Moves
Atlas agents are located in all 50 states and Canada, so there is a good chance the company is available for local moves near you. Finding the Atlas agent closest to you is simple: Just insert your zip code into the “Find Your Local Mover” tool through the Atlas website.
Long-Distance Moves
Because long-distance moves can be more stressful for the people making a move, Atlas offers support with moving checklists, guides and budgeting resources. With a widespread network of agents, Atlas is a good moving company option for both intra- and interstate moves.
International Moves
Atlas has more than 1,500 global partners in 17 countries around the world who can help with international moves. The company also holds specialized certifications for international moves, including FIDI Accredited International Mover (FIDI-FAIM) and Registered International Mover (RIM®), which show Atlas maintains certain standards.
Fast, Short Moves
With “SimpliCity powered by Atlas,” Atlas gives individuals who are making a move more control over the speed and schedule of the move. Best for moves to or from apartments, condos or small homes, this unique service can be a more budget-friendly option. This service was launched in 2019 and offers date-specific pickup and delivery, expedited transit and simplified pricing.
Atlas Van Lines Additional Services
From long-term, secure storage to packing and more, Atlas offers most moving services—plus some that you may not traditionally associate with moving companies.
Secure Storage
Moving isn’t always as simple as going from Point A to Point B. If there is a gap between residences, Atlas offers secure storage options at 300 locations throughout the United States. Atlas agents independently own the storage facilities, but each warehouse is regularly inspected and graded by Atlas to ensure it exceeds security, organization and cleanliness standards.
Atlas also offers “storage in transit,” which involves moving your belongings into secure containers and holding everything until you are ready.
Packing Services
Although you may opt out of packing services, Atlas is best known as a full-service moving company that packs and unpacks belongings. Customers may also get quotes for partial packing service, special item packing service, unpacking service and packing materials. Atlas packing crews are trained for packing and undergo background checks as part of Atlas’s No Stranger in Your Home program.
Auto Transportation
Atlas loads and secures automobiles for open-trailer transportation using the same methods as car manufacturers. If needed, many Atlas agents offer secure indoor automobile storage. Atlas can also assist with moving antique and collector vehicles, off-road vehicles, campers, motorcycles, jet skis, snowmobiles and more.
Travel Services
One of the more unique offerings from Atlas Van Lines is the Atlas World-Class Travel program, which is a full-service travel agency that can help with reservations, travel plans, car rentals and more. You can manage your trip and receive updates through the Atlas World-Class Travel reservation portal.
What Sets Atlas Van Lines Apart?
With offices throughout all 50 states, Atlas Van Lines has excellent service availability. Although agents independently operate Atlas offices, the company maintains high standards for full-service moves, storage and communication.
Thanks to generous discounts, Atlas is an even more appealing option for AAA members. Among other perks for AAA members, Atlas offers free full-value protection for lost or damaged items when moving state-to-state. Without AAA anyone can purchase the full-value protection or fall back on Atlas’s automatically released value protection, which insures items at a rate of $0.60 per pound.
The extensive Atlas network means people who are moving have more options than with many other moving companies when it comes to long-term storage, storage-in-transit and long-distance moves.
How Much Does Atlas Van Lines Cost?
The final rate of a move with Atlas Van Lines depends on the distance traveled and the weight of the cargo. Additional factors, such as moving specialty items or downgrading to DIY or partial packing services, can affect the overall cost.
In a quote estimate to the Forbes Home team for a sample move that would occur around June 15, 2023, Atlas Van Lines representatives said it would cost $8,374 for a two-bedroom state-to-state move from San Diego to Austin, Texas. During the same timeframe, Atlas provided an estimate of $6,442 for a one-bedroom move from Brooklyn, New York, to Raleigh, North Carolina.
NOTE: Quotes depend on a number of factors, so the two shown here should not be considered a national average. Get a customized quote by reaching out to the company directly.
Breakdown of Costs
Although there are relatively fixed factors for most moves—like the distance the movers have to travel and the weight of the shipment—the expense of moving with Atlas can be shifted up or down depending on other choices. For example, adding full-value protection coverage will add about $600 to your total cost. It’s also possible to save money by packing and unpacking your belongings.
How to Get an Estimate
Unlike some other moving companies, Atlas does not offer instant estimates for moving costs through an online tool. Rather, you can answer a series of questions online and wait for a representative to follow up with you, or you can make a direct phone call to the company. Even then, you’ll need to book an in-home or virtual estimate with a local agent to get a more specific quote.
Where Is Atlas Van Lines Available?
Atlas Van Line operates in all 50 states and Canada. Atlas also has global partners in 17 countries throughout the world who can facilitate international moves.
Fine Print
Atlas Van Lines requires all agents to undergo standardized training and education through a program called Atlas Academy.
That said, Atlas has hundreds of agents who operate as independent business owners. So while there are high standards, parts of the experience can vary from agent to agent—especially when it comes to communication and customer service.
How Atlas Van Lines Stacks Up
Atlas Van Lines vs. International Van Lines
Atlas Van Lines and International Van Lines are relatively comparable in terms of price, availability and services offered. For AAA members, Atlas has the edge thanks to discounts. However, International Van Lines holds the top spot in the Forbes Home list of Best Moving Companies thanks to excellent customer service and a generous cancellation policy.
Learn More: International Van Lines review
Atlas Van Lines vs. North American Van Lines
Similar to Atlas, North American Van Lines operates with a network of hundreds of agents spread throughout the United States and beyond. The average price for a full-service move with North American Van Lines is greater than with Atlas.
Atlas Van Lines representatives gave our team a quote estimate of $8,374 for a two-bedroom move from San Diego to Austin, TX that would take place around June 15 of this year, and an estimate of $6,442 for a one-bedroom move from Brooklyn, NY to Raleigh, NC during the same timeframe.
Meanwhile, North American Van Lines representatives gave us a sample quote of $9,249 for a two-bedroom move from San Diego to Austin, TX that would take place around June 15 of this year, and an estimate of $4,802 for a one-bedroom move from Brooklyn, NY to Raleigh, NC during the same timeframe.
However, North American Van Lines does offer self-packing options.
Learn More: North American Van Lines review
Atlas Van Lines Reviews
Each Atlas Van Lines agent’s business will have their own business page and set of reviews. To best assess what customers say about the company you would use, look at the Atlas website to find your local agent and then further investigate that agent’s online reviews.
Is Atlas Van Lines the Right Moving Company for You?
If you are an AAA member, we suggest you give Atlas Van Lines serious consideration when picking a moving company. Even for non-AAA members, Atlas can be competitively priced for full-service moves and it helps that the company operates both nationally and internationally. Although some customer experiences vary based on the agents they use and there have been reports of damage, Atlas does have a solid reputation built on more than 70 years in business.
Moving Companies By State
Methodology
To determine the rating in this review, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed the top moving companies, with each company’s rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:
Types of Moves (10%)
When ranking for the types of moves category, we looked at each company’s availability of local, long-distance, interstate and international moving.
Services and Options (23%)
Availability of full-service packing and loading, unpacking and furniture assembly are factors in determining each company’s service and options rating. Also examined were available services such as vehicle and specialty moving ability, storage, shipment tracking and container moving options.
Nationwide Availability (25%)
We rated each company on its ability to provide local, long-distance, interstate and international moving services to and from anywhere in the U.S.
Company Information (2%)
A small percentage of our rating relies on how forthcoming individual companies are by providing upfront information about pricing, services and abilities.
Deposits and Online Quotes (12%)
Whether or not a deposit is necessary to lock in a reservation and the presence of an online price quoting system represents a portion of our rating decisions.
Customer Reviews (22%)
Moving is a customer service-focused business. As such, we placed a great deal of importance on customer review information when rating each company. We checked the Trustpilot star rating, BBB accreditation, score, years in business and ratio of complaints to reviews and Google ratings, which all lump into customer reviews.
Other Editorial Judgment Points (6%)
The editorial team looks deeper into categories like excess complaints, add-on services, insurance coverages, sample pricing and other miscellaneous factors that set a company above the competition.
All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the most cost-efficient way to move?
Packing, loading, driving and unloading your belongings is almost always the most cost-efficient way to move—but it certainly isn’t the easiest task. If you want a moving company to help, you can pay less by packing and unpacking your belongings yourself.
Can Atlas Van Lines transport my vehicle?
Yes, Atlas is equipped to move and even store vehicles—including automobiles, snowmobiles, motorcycles, antique cars and more.
Are there items that Atlas Van Lines will not move?
Due to federal regulations, Atlas cannot move hazardous materials. The company also does not move pets and perishable items. They do not move plants for distances farther than 150 miles.
How long has Atlas Van Lines been in business?
Atlas Van Lines was established in 1948 when 33 moving and storage business owners formed an alliance. Atlas has since grown to include hundreds of agents. The Atlas headquarters is now located in Evansville, Indiana.
Does Atlas Van Lines have an app?
Yes, Atlas has the moveAtlas app to offer support with checklists, moving planners and more. However, the best way to manage the specifics of your move is through the Atlas Customer Portal.
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