American Van Lines vs. Bold Moving and Storage (2025 Comparison)

Quick answer: In our comparison of American Van Lines vs. Bold Moving and Storage, American Van Lines (AVL) comes out on top. With their competitive nationwide pricing, expertise in specialty handling, and extensive coverage, AVL provides better value for most customers.

While Bold Moving and Storage offers personalized service and has a positive reputation for East Coast moves, AVL’s consistency and affordability make them a smarter choice for most long-distance and specialty moves.

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  • Certified crews
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Family-owned
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  • East coast only
  • Fast delivery
  • Dedicated trucks

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Compare customer experiences

At moveBuddha, the Better Moves Project provides real-life feedback from customers to showcase the strengths and weaknesses of some of the nation’s top moving companies.

Here’s how American Van Lines and Bold Moving and Storage perform based on reviews from our readers:

American Van Lines

The bulk of American Van Lines reviews we received were positive, and several of them praised AVL’s competitive costs, dependable communication, and expert handling.

That being said, there were a few complaints about the accuracy of their quotes, problems with timing, and mixups with contractors.

Customer praises

  • Steady communication: Jen said both her moving coordinator and moving crew kept her updated throughout the moving process with regular texts and calls.
  • Expert handling: Phoenix thanked her AVL crew for handling her stuff so carefully, noting that there were no damages when her belongings were delivered.
  • Reasonable rates: Allison got multiple quotes, and AVL shined as the most competitively priced option for her move.

Customer complaints

  • Timing issues: While Jen requested a delivery date early on, AVL notified her at the last minute that they could only honor her request if she paid them to hold her belongings over the weekend.
  • Inaccurate estimate: Phoenix said AVL got her weight estimate wrong during the inventory process, charging more than she anticipated on moving day.
  • Delivery confusion: Jen complained about AVL’s use of a third-party delivery crew, saying they were confused about which boxes were hers because they didn’t load them.
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover

Bold Moving and Storage

Bold Moving and Storage customers called out their competitive rates, careful handling, and punctuality. Even so, a handful of readers were disappointed with their communication and experienced moving day surprises.

Customer praises

  • Competitive quotes: Ross said Bold Moving and Storage provided him with a reasonable quote, which led him to choose the company for his move.
  • Careful handling: Cindy said Bold handled her antiques with the utmost care, using extra packing materials to wrap them.
  • Timeliness: Daniel thanked his moving crew for showing up on time and delivering his belongings to his new home promptly.

Customer complaints

  • Last-minute notifications: April said Bold didn’t give her much warning before arriving at her home, leaving her with too little time to prepare.
  • Labeling issues: Daniel noted that Bold didn’t label his boxes clearly, and some of them wound up in the wrong part of the house, leaving him with more work to do.
  • Delivery notification: Ross said his moving crew could have done a better job notifying him about their arrival and wished he’d had a clearer picture of their timeline.
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover

Compare company reputation

American Van Lines

  • BBB rating: A
  • moveBuddha rating: 4.5/5
  • Average Better Moves rating: 3.3/5

American Van Lines’ strong BBB rating reflects their commitment to resolving customer complaints effectively and providing consistent service. They also scored well in our company review, which factors in customer experience; however, the company earned mixed customer satisfaction ratings from our Better Moves participants.

Bold Moving and Storage

  • BBB rating: A+
  • moveBuddha rating: 4.3/5
  • Average Better Moves rating: 4.4/5

Bold Moving and Storage has an A+ rating from the BBB, meaning they’re quick to address customer concerns. They also fared well in our assessment and got solid ratings from our readers who participated in the Better Moves project.


Round winner: While both movers are reputable, Bold Moving and Storage has a slight edge here with higher ratings from Better Moves participants and the BBB.


Compare services

American Van Lines

American Van Lines offers a comprehensive range of services, including local and long-distance moves. They specialize in handling fragile and high-value items like antiques and pianos and also provide packing, unpacking, climate-controlled storage, and custom crating.

Their suite of full-service interstate moving services is equipped to meet most movers’ needs.

mover
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Phoenix's Move with AVL
“While I felt that there could have been better communication between myself and American Van Lines, the communication I did have was courteous and informative.”
From
WI
To
CA
Cost
$4,140
Size
2 bdrms
Read The Full Story

Bold Moving and Storage

Bold Moving and Storage focuses on regional and interstate moves along the East Coast. The company provides packing and unpacking, specialty handling for fragile items, and short-term storage.

While Bold is praised for their personalized customer care, their smaller network limits their ability to match AVL’s nationwide reach and range of services​.

mover
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April's Move with Bold Moving and Storage
“I was impressed with the moving team’s friendliness and communication. They arrived on time and transported my fragile antiques without a scratch. However, I wish there had been more communication when my items were in transit. Plus, the last-minute notice that my belongings were arriving was stressful.”
From
PA
To
FL
Cost
$6,345
Size
4 bdrm
Read The Full Story

Round winner: American Van Lines wins this round for their broader service offerings and nationwide coverage.


Compare state availability

American Van Lines

American Van Lines operates in 48 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Their extensive coverage makes them a strong choice for long-distance moves across the country​.

In addition to long-distance moves, they also handle local moves in parts of Florida, North Carolina, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Bold Moving and Storage

Bold Moving and Storage primarily serves the East Coast and southern states, focusing on interstate moves originating in Virginia, Maryland, and the surrounding areas. While they’re well-suited for regional moves, Bold’s reach is limited compared to AVL’s​.


Round winner: American Van Lines takes this round for their broader state availability.


Compare cost structure

American Van Lines

American Van Lines uses a flat-rate pricing model, providing customers with clear and predictable quotes. They also offer discounts for seniors and military families, making AVL an affordable option for moving on a budget​. Based on our cost data, AVL is an affordable pick that offers reasonable rates for most interstate moves.

Bold Moving and Storage

Bold Moving and Storage also uses binding estimates geared toward providing customers with accurate quotes.

While their pricing is competitive for smaller and regional moves, they don’t offer the same breadth of discounts as AVL and might not be as affordable for every move​​.


Round winner: American Van Lines wins again for their competitive long-distance moving costs and discounts.


Compare quote process

American Van Lines

American Van Lines offers virtual and in-home walkthroughs to generate binding estimates. Most customers find AVL’s quoting process to be reliable and straightforward, but some have noted pricing discrepancies, which is a common complaint in the industry.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover

Bold Moving and Storage

Bold Moving and Storage also provides binding quotes after customers complete a virtual inventory. Similar to AVL, some Bold customers have complained about price increases, but they’re usually due to changes in the scope of a move.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5

89% of users select this mover


Round winner: It’s a tie. Both companies have a similar quote process that produces binding estimates.


AVL vs. Bold: Final score

While Bold Moving and Storage is a strong contender for smaller regional moves along the East Coast, American Van Lines is the overall winner.

AVL’s competitive pricing, expertise in specialty handling, and nationwide reach make them the better option for long-distance and complex moves.

If you’re seeking a personalized experience for a smaller regional move, Bold Moving and Storage is a strong alternative, but American Van Lines is our top choice for most moves.

Comparison category Round winner
Company reputation Bold Moving and Storage
Services American Van Lines
State availability American Van Lines
Cost structure American Van Lines
Quote process TIE

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