Joyce Van Lines Moving Review
Here’s the bottom line: Joyce Van Lines is a licensed, family-owned carrier we recommend for long-distance and select local moves. Customers who value dependable binding estimates and want one company to handle packing, hauling, and storage will appreciate Joyce’s end-to-end control and nationwide reach.
The company has operated for 40+ years and is a true carrier, not a broker. For more options, compare our picks for the best long-distance moving companies.
- Binding estimates
- In-house certified crews
- Price matches competitors
- Large storage facilities
- Low refundable deposit
Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 3,500+ moving companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
Pros and cons of Joyce Van Lines
- Flexible cancellation policy with low deposit
- Full-service long-distance specialists
- Company-owned fleet & facilities
- Flexible short- and long-term storage options
- “Price Plus Promise” beats reputable competitors’ prices
- Limited local coverage
- Mixed customer reviews
Jump to the Joyce Van Lines info you’re looking for:
What customers had to say about Joyce Van Lines
Firsthand feedback provides an honest look into what it’s like to work with a mover. We analyze FMCSA licensing data, BBB profiles, and third-party review sources, in addition to customer interviews from our Better Moves Project, to evaluate a company’s customer service.
Overall, Joyce has earned a solid reputation on third-party review sites. Many reviews praise their careful crews, accurate pricing, and thorough surveys, while a handful mentioned damages or communication gaps during the claims process.
Review snapshots
Here are a few common themes we saw across the customer reviews we analyzed:
- Professionalism: Many customers highlighted Joyce’s courteous, efficient crews, saying they were professional and easy to work with.
- Punctuality: There were also plenty of reports of on-time deliveries, although delivery windows can vary on long-distance routes, especially during peak season.
- Packing & unloading care: Joyce’s trained crews generally handle people’s items carefully, while there were a few isolated complaints about the condition of their deliveries.
- Billing & claims: Most reviews we encountered praised Joyce for their accurate binding estimates and efficient claims process. Still, a few reviewers noted disputes and slower claims processing.
- Communication: Many reviewers thanked Joyce’s move coordinators for being responsive throughout the move, but a small subset of customers wished they’d had clearer delivery updates.
How to get the best result if you book Joyce Van Lines
These expert tips will help streamline your move with Joyce Van Lines.
- Get a binding estimate: Request a video survey or in-home survey to lock in your rate. Having an accurate inventory list is essential.
- Clarify all add-ons in writing: Stairs, long carry, shuttles, specialty packing and crating, storage, and valuation coverage can change the final cost. Be aware of how different services can impact the cost of your move.
- Confirm your contacts: Ask for your move coordinator’s and crew lead’s names and phone numbers for day-of questions.
- Flag high-value items: Identify your most valuable pieces and discuss custom crating plus insurance options beforehand.
- At delivery: Check off the inventory in real time, note any issues on the bill of lading, and take photos before signing anything.
Tip: Do a room-by-room self-survey to catch attic, garage, and patio items, because missed inventory is the #1 cause of day-of price changes.
Joyce Van Lines pricing
Joyce offers binding estimates after a virtual or in-home survey, along with non-binding ballpark estimates over the phone. Binding estimates mean your price shouldn’t change unless the scope of your move does. For a quick ballpark quote from multiple carriers, try our moving cost calculator.
The company also provides a “Price Plus Promise” that beats competitors’ quotes for comparable services.
Here are a few key pricing factors to keep in mind:
- Binding estimates: You can lock in your rate with a confirmed inventory and services list after completing a virtual or in-home survey.
- Quote factors: Your cost will depend on your move date and seasonality, distance, inventory, access issues (elevators, stairs, long carry), specialty items, and extra services like packing and storage.
- Deposit: Joyce takes a $200 flat deposit, which is refundable up to 48 hours before your move date. This is lower than many of their competitors, making it a flexible choice for your budget.
Joyce Van Lines features and services
Joyce Van Lines is equipped to meet most people’s needs for full-service interstate moves and select local jobs near its hubs.
- Long-distance moves: Interstate moves are Joyce’s core specialty, and the company is actively licensed as a carrier in the 48 contiguous United States.
- Local moves: The company also covers local moves around its branch offices (e.g., Connecticut, Indiana, California, and Florida).
- Packing and unpacking: You can enlist Joyce’s movers to help with full or partial packing, furniture assembly, and setup at delivery.
- Storage: The mover offers short- and long-term storage options, with over 250,000 square feet of secure storage facilities across the country.
- Car shipping: Joyce also coordinates car shipping alongside its household shipments if you need to ship your vehicle.
- Specialty handling: You can count on Joyce’s custom crating and decades of experience handling high-value items.
rating
4.5 / 5
89% of users select this mover
How Joyce Van Lines stacks up against the competition
We always recommend comparing quotes from a few reputable moving companies. Here’s how Joyce Van Lines stacks up against two of the most highly rated movers we’ve reviewed.
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rating
4.5 / 5
Licensed
Insured
Price
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Joyce Van Lines vs. Safeway
Choose Joyce if you want a direct-carrier model with binding estimates after a survey and need storage after your move. Choose Safeway if affordable flat-rate pricing appeals to you and you’re comparing several binding estimates.
Both movers operate as carriers with a large interstate moving network. Safeway often emphasizes promotions and low rates, while Joyce focuses on its legacy as a longstanding carrier with dependable pricing.
rating
4.85 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Joyce Van Lines vs. Mayzlin Relocation
Joyce Van Lines is worth considering if you want a long-tenured, family-owned carrier with binding estimates and sizable company-owned storage centers. Choose Mayzlin if you want another reputable full-service carrier for interstate moves and prefer to compare multiple binding quotes.
Joyce emphasizes owning its fleet and facilities, and offering binding estimates with price matching and a low deposit. Mayzlin markets broad interstate coverage with competitive, full-service moves.
rating
4.9 / 5
89% of users select this mover
How moving with Joyce Van Lines works
From getting a quote to delivery day, here’s the typical step-by-step process of moving with Joyce Van Lines so you know what to expect.
- Request a survey for a binding estimate. Share your move’s locations, dates, access details (elevators, stairs, long carry), and a complete inventory. Request a virtual or in-home survey to secure your pricing.
- Review inclusions carefully. Confirm details like packing/unpacking, materials, furniture prep, bulky items, shuttles, valuation coverage, and any storage needs.
- Reserve your date. Next, you’ll pay a $200 refundable deposit to lock in your moving date.
- Pickup & loading. The crew will walk through your home, pad/wrap furniture, and load items based on your inventory. You’ll be given a delivery window and copies of documents.
- Transit & updates. The movers will transport your belongings to your new home and provide updates about your delivery.
- Delivery, payment & claims. Check items off the inventory, note issues on the bill of lading, photograph any issues, and file claims promptly if there’s a problem.
FAQs about Joyce Van Lines
Is Joyce Van Lines a legit moving company?
Yes. Joyce Van Lines is licensed with the FMCSA (U.S. DOT #247771 / MC #169755) and operates as a carrier with active household-goods authority. Rather than brokering your move out to other companies, Joyce handles your move from start to finish.
Does Joyce Van Lines offer binding estimates?
Yes. Joyce Van Lines provides binding estimates after a virtual or in-home survey confirms the scope of your move. You can also get a non-binding ballpark estimate over the phone to get you started. Your written estimate, based on the survey, is what locks in your price and services.
What is Joyce Van Lines’ cancellation or rescheduling policy?
Joyce Van Lines typically takes a $200 deposit, which is refundable if you cancel at least 48 hours before your move date. To reschedule, contact your move coordinator in writing and request a revised estimate showing the new dates and any price adjustments.
Our research & review process
- We’re not a broker. We never sell or share your information.
- We mystery shop movers to get firsthand data.
- We interview moving customers through the Better Moves Project.
- We review movers’ licensing, insurance, and service history through moveBuddha Verified.
- We compare quotes and track market trends to provide accurate pricing guidance.
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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