Adams Van Lines Review
Here’s the bottom line: Adams Van Lines is a Miami-based moving broker (USDOT 2886867), so it books your move with a partner carrier instead of moving you itself. moveBuddha doesn’t recommend working with brokers, since you don’t get to choose the company that actually handles your belongings. The BBB gives Adams an A- rating, but it isn’t accredited and has 30 complaints in the past three years, many about final bills coming in higher than quoted.
Adams Van Lines pros & cons
- Free quotes online & by phone
- Binding quotes available
- Full-service packing & unpacking
- Climate-controlled storage
- Broker, not a moving company
- Frequent complaints about price hikes
- Not BBB accredited
- No car shipping
Key takeaways
- Adams Van Lines (USDOT 2886867, MC-969195) holds broker authority only from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), so a separate carrier handles your belongings.
- Adams is based in Miami and focuses on moves to and from Florida cities like Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville.
- Adams Van Lines has an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but it isn’t accredited and scores 1.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot across 45 reviews, as of September 2026.
Why moveBuddha:
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
Jump to the Adams Van Lines info you’re looking for:
How much does Adams Van Lines cost?
Adams Van Lines estimates $278 - $8,000+ for a local move from Miami, and moves outside the local area run $320 - $9,700+ depending on distance. Your final price depends on your home size, the weight of your belongings, your move date, and add-ons like packing, bulky items, and long carries.
Adams publishes these ballpark ranges by distance on its Miami moving page:
| Move distance | Adams’ estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Local move | $278 - $8,000+ |
| Under 50 miles | $320 - $5,700 |
| 250 miles | $850 - $5,700 |
| 1,000+ miles | $1,400 - $8,100 |
| 2,500+ miles | $1,900 - $9,700+ |
These ranges aren’t quotes, and Adams isn’t bound by them. To get an actual price, request a quote on the Adams Van Lines website or call (855) 254-0416 for a phone consultation.
Adams offers binding quotes, which lock in your price as long as your inventory and move details don’t change. Because Adams is a broker, confirm the carrier that performs your move will honor that written estimate on moving day.
Pro tip: Ask for your binding estimate in writing, with the carrier’s name on it, before you pay a deposit. Learn what to look for in our guide to binding vs. non-binding estimates.
Before you book, check your Adams quote against the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator. It weighs distance, home size, move date, and service level together, so the range you get reflects your actual move rather than a generic average.
What services does Adams Van Lines offer?
Adams Van Lines books residential and commercial moves through its partner carriers, with packing and storage available as add-ons. Here’s what the company lists on its website:
- Local & long-distance moves: Adams coordinates residential moves within Florida and across state lines, with Miami as its home base.
- Commercial moves: Adams books office and business relocations for corporate customers.
- Packing & unpacking: Full-service packing is available if you’d rather not box up your home yourself.
- Storage: Adams offers short- and long-term storage, including climate-controlled units for temperature-sensitive items.
Adams Van Lines doesn’t list car shipping, so you’ll need a separate auto transport company if you’re bringing a vehicle. Adams also doesn’t advertise international moves or moving containers on its site.
How does Adams Van Lines compare to other movers?
Adams Van Lines didn’t make our list of the best moving companies, which we rank using a 72-point rating system. The two movers below top our interstate rankings and handle your move directly as licensed carriers.
Adams Van Lines vs. Safeway Moving
Safeway Moving ranks No. 1 on our list of the best interstate moving companies. Unlike Adams, Safeway is a licensed interstate carrier, so the company you book is the company that moves you.
Safeway was founded by a U.S. Army veteran, gives flat-rate binding quotes, and includes 30 days of free storage-in-transit with every interstate move. The BBB gives Safeway a B rating.
rating
4.9 / 5
Adams Van Lines vs. American Van Lines
American Van Lines ranks No. 2 on our list of the best interstate moving companies and has been in business since 1995. It’s also a licensed carrier rather than a broker.
American Van Lines is registered with the Department of Defense as a certified transportation provider for military moves. That makes it a stronger pick than Adams if you’re relocating on orders.
rating
4.9 / 5
Here’s how the three companies compare side by side:
| Company | Type | BBB rating | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Van Lines | Broker | A- | FL-based, interstate |
| Safeway Moving | Carrier | B | 48 states |
| American Van Lines | Carrier | C | Nationwide |
The takeaway: if you want one company accountable from quote to delivery, Safeway Moving is the stronger choice for most long-distance moves.
How does moving with Adams Van Lines work?
Moving with Adams Van Lines starts with a phone consultation, where an agent asks about your home, your timeline, and the services you need. From there, Adams builds a moving plan and a quote, then books a partner carrier with availability on your dates.
Once you’re matched, most of your communication shifts to that carrier. You can still contact Adams by phone for support, and the company follows up after delivery to ask about your experience.
Adams Van Lines is a broker, so the crew that shows up on moving day works for a different company. Ask for the carrier’s name and USDOT number before you book.
Learn MoreThe FMCSA explains the difference between movers and brokers and why it matters if something goes wrong. Adams recommends booking 2 - 3 months ahead, and it doesn’t advertise delivery date guarantees, so build some flexibility into your plans.
moveBuddha isn’t a broker and doesn’t recommend booking through one. If you’d rather compare several carriers than get matched with one, the moveBuddha Mover Marketplace collects up to five no-obligation quotes from vetted movers with one request, so movers compete for your business instead of a broker picking for you.
Should you use Adams Van Lines?
Adams Van Lines can work if you’re moving to or from Florida and you’re comfortable vetting the carrier it assigns. If you want a mover with a cleaner complaint record and direct accountability, look elsewhere.
Use Adams Van Lines if:
- You’re moving to or from Miami or another major Florida city.
- You’ll research your assigned carrier’s USDOT record before moving day.
- You want a binding quote in writing before you book.
Skip Adams Van Lines if:
- You want a mover with consistently positive reviews.
- You need to ship a car with your household goods.
- You want the company you book to handle the move itself.
A moveBuddha Certified mover adds $1,000 in extra coverage and dispute mediation if something goes wrong, so you have a backstop beyond the carrier’s own liability coverage.
FAQ
Is Adams Van Lines a broker or a moving company?
Adams Van Lines is a household goods broker, not a moving company, and moveBuddha doesn’t recommend booking through brokers. It holds FMCSA broker authority under USDOT 2886867 and books your move with a partner carrier. Ask which carrier you’ll get and check its USDOT number before you sign.
Is Adams Van Lines legit?
Adams Van Lines is a legitimate, federally registered broker with active FMCSA authority. The BBB gives it an A- rating, but it isn’t accredited and has 30 complaints in the past three years. Get your estimate in writing and read recent reviews before you book.
How much does Adams Van Lines cost?
Adams Van Lines estimates $278 - $8,000+ for a local move and $1,900 - $9,700+ for a move over 2,500 miles. Your final price depends on distance, home size, and add-ons like packing. Compare any quote against the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator before you commit.
Does Adams Van Lines offer discounts?
Adams Van Lines doesn’t advertise discounts on its website. Seniors, students, and military members should still ask when requesting a quote. You can also find savings in our guide to moving discounts.
Can Adams Van Lines handle cross-country moves?
Adams Van Lines can book cross-country moves through its partner carriers. Its website focuses on moves to and from Florida. Adams estimates $1,900 - $9,700+ for moves over 2,500 miles.
Does Adams Van Lines ship cars?
Adams Van Lines doesn’t list car shipping among its services. You’ll need to book a separate auto transport company for your vehicle. Schedule the car shipment early so it arrives close to your household goods.
How much should I tip movers?
You should tip movers 5% - 10% of the total moving cost for a standard move. Tip 15% - 20% for outstanding service or a large, complex move. See our movers tipping guide for flat-rate options.
How we chose the best moving companies
The moveBuddha team has spent nearly 10 years evaluating moving companies using a rigorous review system to identify the best moving companies. Our thorough methodology evaluates each moving company's services, cost, customer service, and reputation:
Moving services (35%):
We verify operating authority, insurance, and service scope against FMCSA/SAFER and state databases. We confirm availability via standardized mystery-shopping calls (packing tiers, storage type, specialty handling, delivery windows, valuation), and then review contracts alongside complaint and claims patterns over time.
Customer feedback (28%):
We run structured post-move surveys through our Better Moves Project with verifiable documentation. We emphasize on-time performance, care of goods, and estimates’ accuracy, and we investigate outliers before they influence scores.
Online reviews (7%):
We aggregate ratings across multiple third-party sites to reduce platform bias, analyze overall trends and company response behavior, and discount obvious spam/fake signals such as sudden bursts, duplicate language, and low-history profiles.
State availability (12%):
We confirm USDOT numbers, broker vs. carrier status, and any required state permits, then score a state-by-state service matrix that accounts for coverage gaps, seasonal limits, and lane strength. We award additional credit for documented cross-border or specialty lanes.
Additional services (12%):
We verify whether add-ons are performed in-house or subcontracted, look for crew training/certifications for high-value or oversized items, count only documented offerings (tariffs, photos, written service descriptions) confirmed via mystery shopping, and reward robust pre-move planning (virtual surveys, itemized crating).
Quotes/Payment options (6%):
We test standardized move profiles to assess estimate type (binding, not-to-exceed, non-binding), line-item transparency, and disclosed surcharges, require clear written policies for deposits, refunds, and cancellations, and award points for secure, flexible payment methods and customer portals.
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