International Van Lines is one of the Forbes Home team’s top picks for the best moving companies, scoring 4.6 stars out of a possible 5. This is due in part to its widespread availability, extensive list of services, generous cancellation policy and competitive pricing
To help you better understand whether International Van Lines is right for you, we’ve analyzed the company’s service offerings, customer reviews, quote process and more to create a comprehensive review.
NOTE: While International Van Lines offers services almost anywhere, it only directly handles moves in a limited number of locations. It acts as a broker in the other areas, depending entirely on contracting third parties. Our review focuses on the company’s performance as a carrier. Brokering is a common practice within the industry, so it’s essential to research the broker and the carrier they choose to work with.
Pros
- Full-service options available
- Accommodates local, long-distance and international moves
- Extra insurance coverage is available
Cons
- Requires a 25% deposit
- Inconvenient quote process
Table of Contents
- International Van Lines: An Overview
- International Van Lines Services
- How Much Does International Van Lines Cost?
- International Van Lines Quote Process
- International Van Lines Reviews and Experience
- International Van Lines Survey Results
- What We Like About International Van Lines
- What We Didn’t Like About International Van Lines
- International Van Lines vs. Competitors
- Methodology – How We Selected the Best Moving Companies
International Van Lines: An Overview
International Van Lines (IVL) is a full-service moving company headquartered in Coral Springs, Florida. It offers both local and long-distance packing and shipping services (including vehicles), and its extensive service network covers all 50 states (yes, even Alaska and Hawaii) and more than 150 countries.
Because IVL is a full-service moving company, it doesn’t offer van or truck rentals as self-service options. It will pack, move and unload any size residence or office you need.
Featured Partners
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International Van Lines
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American Van Lines
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Blvd Moving
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Mayzlin Relocation
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International Van Lines Services
Local Moves
Moving across town isn’t an issue with IVL because the company offers local moving and packing services. According to IVL’s website, local moving is priced hourly and can change depending on the number of movers and types of services required. The company may also use subcontractors from its network to facilitate your move.
The website also states that rates will be lower if you pack the items yourself, but won’t change significantly, so it recommends using its packing services.
Long-Distance and International Moves
International Van Lines has built its reputation on handling complex, high-mileage moves, whether you’re relocating across the country or across the globe. For domestic moves, IVL brings the kind of scale and experience you’d expect from one of the more established long-distance moving companies, offering packing, storage, vehicle transport and even GPS tracking for peace of mind in transit.
Internationally, the company leans on a network of over 3,000 global partners to move everything from household goods to office equipment, with air and ocean freight options depending on how fast (or budget-friendly) you need the move to be. You can choose from services such as:
- Port-to-port: You handle the drop-off and pickup at each port, which can help reduce costs if you’re comfortable managing logistics.
- Door-to-port: Your items are picked up from your home and shipped to a designated port for pickup on the other end.
- Port-to-door: You drop off your shipment at a port, and IVL ensures it arrives safely at your new doorstep.
- Door-to-door: This is the all-inclusive option, IVL or one of its vetted partners handles everything from pickup to final delivery.
What adds to the flexibility is the ability to mix and match services. IVL even offers help with corporate relocations and auto transport, similar to what you’d find from some of the best car shipping companies.
Just a heads-up though, IVL does use subcontractors for certain moves, which can occasionally affect consistency in pricing or service. But if you’re looking for one provider that can juggle logistics on a global scale, IVL remains a standout among top international moving companies.
How Much Does International Van Lines Cost?
We were unable to obtain moving cost information from IVL, as the company required a video or home walkthrough to determine a moving estimate. Though this can make price comparisons take a bit longer, it isn’t always a bad thing when companies require this, as it’s often with the goal of more accurate estimates. Just be sure to factor in the time it will take to meet this requirement and have things ready as quickly as you can for assessment.
International Van Lines Quote Process
Receiving a quote from IVL is frustrating, to say the least. When writing this review, it appears the company has two options for getting a quote. The company’s website promotes a “Get A Free Moving Quote” page and a moving cost calculator.
On the “Get A Moving Quote” page, we entered a scenario to estimate a cross-country move for a 3-bedroom home and vehicles from Tuscon, Arizona, to Chicago. After submitting our initial information through the form, we landed on a page that said someone from the company would contact us via phone soon.
When our research team followed up, we were unable to obtain a moving quote without an in-home or virtual survey of our items, which helps the company reduce unwanted surprises on moving day, but can make comparison shopping trickier.
International Van Lines Reviews and Experience
International Van Lines has a mixed online reputation. As of Jan. 16, 2025, it holds a 3.02 out of 5 stars on the BBB with an A+ rating, though it isn’t accredited. It’s ranked higher on Trustpilot, with a 4.3 rating. Our Consumer Sentiment Index analyzed nearly 40,000 reviews and gave the company a 3.8, noting its strongest category as Insurance and Liability Coverage.
The reviews range from glowing anecdotes of pain-free moves to others complaining about price differences between initial quotes and actual moving costs. Keep in mind that IVL works with third-party companies (especially for local moves), which may explain the range of customer experiences with the company.
International Van Lines Survey Results
Customers seemed to have mixed reviews of International Van Lines in our survey of 2,000 recent moving customers. For instance, it scored below average when asked how likely customers would be to recommend it to their friends and family, with just 23% saying they would be extremely likely to. Its pricing also stood out, as customers spent an average of $2,217, higher than the overall average of $2,043. Additionally, 16% of its customers we surveyed said their costs were significantly higher than estimated, which was a much bigger percentage than average.
That said, it did have some positive attributes, with 82% of customers saying the company’s staff was helpful during their move, higher than average.
What We Like About International Van Lines
IVL offers many flexible moving and packing options for its customers. The company assigns two account managers to every move so that questions and any issues can be addressed in a timely manner.
The company’s large service area and full-service features are its strongest appeal, especially with its long-distance and international options.
What We Didn’t Like About International Van Lines
We don’t like that the company requires a 25% deposit to book; however, its cancellation policy is generous, allowing you to cancel up to 48 hours before the moving date. Additionally, the quote process can be cumbersome and left us wanting more immediate answers. Having even a rough estimate of costs would be more helpful than waiting for a call to receive a specific quote.
International Van Lines vs. Competitors
International Van Lines vs. Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines and International Van Lines share a commitment to accurate quotes and both have wide availability. We were able to obtain price information from Allied, which suggests that it might be a bit easier with that company. Allied also doesn’t require a deposit.
Learn more: Allied Van Lines review
International Van Lines vs. American Van Lines
American Van Lines and IVL both require deposits, though customers report up to a 50% requirement with AVL. Although we were able to obtain a quote from American Van Lines, we weren’t able to do so with International Van Lines. However, AVL, isn’t available in all 50 states (Hawaii and Alaska are the exception), where IVL is.
Learn more: American Van Lines review
Moving Companies By State
Methodology – How We Selected the Best Moving Companies
We developed our list of the best moving companies by first identifying competitors that met basic criteria such as licensing, insurance and legal registration. We reviewed the 69 most widely available companies from that list and scored them all based on 89 different attributes. Each company’s rating is determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, such as an in-house Consumer Sentiment Analysis, pricing, moving services and options, nationwide availability and more.
You can find out more about how Forbes Home rates moving companies on our detailed methodology page.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I get an International Van Lines moving quote?
You can begin the quote process online but need to speak with a customer service rep for any specific figures. The company has an online moving cost calculator, but its accuracy is unclear.
Can I move a vehicle with International Van Lines?
IVL offers domestic and international transportation for various vehicles. The company offers moving services for boats, motorcycles, cars, trucks and SUVs. Costs vary depending on destination and vehicle type.
Is International Van Lines a broker or a carrier?
International Van Lines operates as both a moving carrier and a broker, depending on the type and location of your move. For many long-distance and international relocations, IVL acts as a broker, partnering with third-party carriers to manage the logistics. However, the company also has its own fleet and handles some moves directly, particularly in major metro areas. This dual model gives IVL more reach and flexibility, but it also means service consistency can vary depending on who actually executes your move. If having a single point of contact matters to you, it’s worth asking upfront whether your job will be brokered out.
