Atlas Van Lines is a well-established company offering a wide range of services in all U.S. states and internationally. Atlas has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and we awarded the company an impressive 4.5-star rating. While not the most budget-friendly moving company, its pricing is competitive. However, from our experience, the company isn’t so convenient when you’re looking to do a quick comparison of company prices: Atlas Van Lines requires a virtual or in-home consultation to provide a quote, and its customer service levels, like with any company, can vary depending on the local agent you work with.
Pros
- Wide range of customizable services
- Competitive pricing
- Widespread availability
Cons
- Customer service varies by agents
- No quick quotes available
- Restrictive cancellation policy
Table of Contents
- About Atlas Van Lines
- What Moving Services Does Atlas Van Lines Offer?
- Planning a Move: We Put Atlas to the Test
- What We Think Sets Atlas Van Lines Apart
- What We Think Lets Atlas Van Lines Down
- How Much Does Atlas Van Lines Cost?
- Atlas Van Lines Cost Factors
- How Does Atlas Van Lines Work?
- Where Is Atlas Van Lines Available?
- How Atlas Van Lines Stacks Up
- Atlas Van Lines Reviews and Experience
- Bottom Line: Is Atlas Van Lines Right For You?
- Methodology: How We Rated Moving Companies
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Moving a house frequently ranks as one of the most stressful life events. Hiring the right moving company is one way to make the process less anxiety-inducing. Whether you’re looking for a local or long-distance mover, Atlas Van Lines is one of the most well-known and widely available companies across the U.S. and Canada. We researched and reviewed Atlas Van Lines’ services and pricing structure to help you figure out if it is the company to handle your move.
Featured Partners
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International Van Lines
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American Van Lines
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Mayzlin Relocation
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About Atlas Van Lines
Back in 1948, an ambitious group of home-moving entrepreneurs decided to pool their expertise and resources to form an alliance. Their goal was to offer a more sophisticated service to customers. From these humble beginnings, Atlas Van Lines is now one of the country’s leading full-service home removal companies, catering to a wide range of needs at a local, interstate and international level. Over 430 independent Atlas moving companies operate across all states in the U.S. and Canada and work alongside 1,500 global partners. That means the company has you covered regardless of whether your move is within your city, to another state or on the other side of the world.
It’s no wonder Atlas Van Lines has made it onto Forbes Home’s list of best moving companies. The company is competitively priced and offers a bespoke service to take care of all aspects of your move, from storage to package to hassle-free transportation. The company also offers AAA discounts, special deals on travel through various partnerships and a wide range of additional services.
What Moving Services Does Atlas Van Lines Offer?
Atlas Van Lines offers a wide range of comprehensive services covering almost every type of move you can think of.
Local Moves
Atlas Van Lines has 430 agents covering all 50 U.S. states and Canada. The company can support you regardless of whether you are moving to a new home in your neighborhood, city or across the state. When we requested our quote, the company assigned us a local Atlas agent to provide support and pricing information.
Long-Distance Moves
We rank Atlas Van Lines as one of the best interstate moving companies. That’s because its agents are experts in long-distance interstate moves and offer a host of resources to help things run smoothly. The company has a customer portal app that lets you stay in touch with your customer service representative and van operator, access moving documents and track your shipment once it is on the way.
International Moves
It’s worth considering Atlas Van Lines if you’re moving abroad. The company has decades of experience in this field and is an FIDI Accredited International Mover, working with over 1,500 global partners in 17 countries. Because of the increased complexity of moving overseas, the company recommends you plan your move at least 90 days in advance.
Fast, Small Moves
We awarded Atlas Van Lines a spot in our list of the best apartment moving companies. This is partly because the company offers the SimpliCity™ service. This full-service moving package focuses on getting small moves done swiftly. If you have a small apartment, condo or one- to two-bedroom home and need to move quickly, this date-specific service could be the best option.
Other Moves
If you’re in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard and have to make a move as part of your job, Atlan Van Lines specialized military moves service can support you through the process. In particular, the company has solid knowledge of the Personally Procured Move (PPM) policy guidelines and can help you fill out the forms for reimbursement for your move.
The company can also support other job-related moves. If you are receiving a relocation allowance for a new corporate position, consider getting a quote from Atlas Van Lines.
Additional Services
Atlas doesn’t just get your belongings from A to B; it can also provide packing and storage support and other unique add-on services.
Packing
You can save by packing items yourself, but as a full-service moving company, Atlas Van Lines specializes in wrapping up and boxing everything in your home. Alternatively, you can opt for a partial packing service where the movers focus on one or two rooms or special or delicate items. The company can also provide an unpacking service, where the crew will unbox and unwrap all your items.
If you want to save money on your move and opt for transportation only, Atlas Van Lines can include costs for providing packing materials, like boxes and wrapping, in its quote.
Storage
If you are moving out of your old home before you get the keys to your new one, temporarily storing your items is a common moving expense. Atlas Van Lines owns a wide network of regularly inspected storage locations nationwide.
The company offers a storage-in-transit service that holds your items in secure containers. And if you want to store particular items for an extended period, it also offers long-term storage options.
Auto Transportation
When you’re packing for a long-distance move, arranging to transport your car saves you time and safeguards your vehicle from wear and tear. Atlas Van Lines can move your vehicle using the same safe techniques as automobile manufacturers. The company also offers vehicle storage services.
Travel Services
After making a big move, you might need a holiday. Atlas World-Class Travel™ is a full-service travel agency. It can help you with airline or rail reservations, car rental, accommodation and tour planning, passing on the discounts it receives from its travel partners.
Planning a Move: We Put Atlas to the Test
We explored Atlas Van Lines’ website and found it to be typical of most major moving company sites. While it provides some useful information, such as a handy moving checklist, most of the site’s functions lead customers back to submitting the price quote form found in at least one location on every page.
However, getting a quick price quote is an impossibility with Atlas, and submitting the form didn’t reveal any pricing numbers. Instead, we received three emails in quick succession with a reference number and brief information about the moving company Atlas chose to provide our services. We would have to contact the company provided or wait for a call to speak with a representative for any additional information about my price estimate.
Atlas Van Lines takes pride in providing accurate price quotes. However, getting the company to provide any pricing information at all requires an in-depth virtual tour of your home. While that system can work well for marketing and the company’s sales personnel, it simply didn’t allow easy comparative shopping without filling our inbox with emails.
With that off our chest, the rest of the site experience was as expected. We did find the moving checklist quite useful for planning. It was easy to find under the Resources and Moving Tips & Tools selections on the landing page.
Other pages included information that would be helpful for first-time users of a moving service, such as the multiple choices of guides and videos under the How to Move Guides tab.
On a final note, and with one last minor complaint, we were tricked by the tab selection labeled Estimate Moving Expenses. An image of a calculator led me to believe that we might find an actual moving calculator of sorts that would help us get closer to what Atlas might charge for the move we were inquiring about. No luck. Instead, we found an informational page listing the factors that influence the cost of moving. While the information provided could be helpful, no pricing numbers of consequence existed, and certainly not a calculator.
What We Think Sets Atlas Van Lines Apart
It’s not just the fact that Atlas Van Lines is the second-largest van line that makes it stand out: Our research shows that the following aspects make it a worthwhile choice when considering moving companies.
Accreditation
We scored Atlas Van Lines reviews highly in terms of its overall reputation. The company currently has accreditation from several nationally recognized certification programs and high ratings on many review sites. This offers assurance of the company’s legitimacy, trustworthiness and fair pricing structure. Some of these include:
- General Services Administration (GSA) Approved Vendor
- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (note that it is not accredited as of this writing)
- Promover certification
Holistic Services
Atlas Van Lines offers a wide range of moving services, and we were able to customize the quotes we received to suit our needs fully. Whether you want to make a local move with transportation only or an interstate one where the company takes care of packing and temporary storage, it has you covered.
AAA Members Benefits
Atlas Van Lines offers generous moving discounts for AAA members. You will receive Full Value Protection without any extra charge. If your goods are lost or damaged, you will receive $6.00 per pound of items rather than the standard 60 cents per pound of items.
What We Think Lets Atlas Van Lines Down
No company is perfect, and our detailed research process highlighted the areas where Atlas Van Lines has room for improvement.
Quote Process
Unlike some moving companies, our research uncovered that Atlas Van Lines doesn’t offer instant estimates. When we requested our quotes, we had to input some basic details about our starting location, moving location and preferred dates. We then had to wait for the company to confirm the details of a local agent who would contact us. You can then arrange an in-home or virtual consultation to receive an estimate. Some agents only provide virtual consultations using the company’s app.
These consultations ensure the quote is pretty accurate, so if you take the option of the cheaper non-binding quote, you are less likely to be in for any nasty surprises on moving day than you may be with some instant quote services. However, our mystery shopper process uncovered it is a rather lengthy and complex undertaking. Some agents take longer to reply than others, and if you are not savvy with technology, it can be frustrating. It also means you don’t have the option to quickly compare its pricing structure with companies that provide instant quotes, such as International Van Lines.
Service Levels Vary
Atlas Van Lines has formal, measurable standards for all 430 of its independent agents to adhere to, and it conducts regular inspections and evaluations of local movers. However, service levels can vary depending on the agent it connects you with. Once you have the details of the local agent, it’s worth further digging to find reviews for its service levels specifically. If you see any red flags before booking your move, like slow response times or unclear communications, it’s worth reaching out to central support to find out if other agents are available in the area.
Cancellation Policy
Don’t book your move with Atlas Van Lines unless you are sure it will proceed. The company applies cancellation fees from just three days after you sign the contract. If this concerns you, consider a competitor like Allied Van Lines, as it has a generous cancellation policy.
How Much Does Atlas Van Lines Cost?
Because Atlas Van Lines provides a reliable and thorough service, its pricing isn’t the best if you are on a shoestring budget, but its pricing is certainly competitive and lower than the average mover costs. Atlas Van Line costs vary considerably depending on the distance of the move, the weight of your belongings and the type of service package and add-ons you select. Our team got two virtual quotes: The first was $1,040 for a two-bedroom home local move from Brooklyn, NY (11202) to Hoboken, NJ (07030). The second was $6,121 for moving the same home on a long-distance journey from Brooklyn, NY (11202) to Charlotte, NC (28105). Neither move involved storage rental services.
NOTE: The estimates in this article are examples that cover two specific types of moves and do not represent a national average. To receive an accurate or binding quote, reach out to the company directly and be prepared with a full list of items that you’re moving, or schedule a virtual or in-person evaluation.
| DISTANCE | SIZE | SERVICE | QUOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local move (under 10 miles) | 2-bed home | Full-service packing | $1,040 |
| Long-distance move
(650 miles) | 2-bed home | Full-service packing | $6,121 |
Atlas Van Lines Cost Factors
Multiple factors will ultimately determine the cost of moving with Atlas Van Lines. Additional, smaller fees will also apply for tolls or other fees, but here are the primary pricing influencers.
Move Size
The number of possessions you’re moving from one place to another is one of the first questions Atlas Van Lines will ask you when requesting a pricing estimate. The difference between the cost of moving the contents of a two-bedroom home versus a four-bedroom home can be as much as $2,000 or more. Reducing the amount of stuff you must move can dramatically decrease your moving costs.
Distance
The next question Atlas will ask is about the distance your stuff needs to travel. It’s not surprising that moving a longer distance costs more than moving a shorter distance. Atlas pricing for our local move sample was just over $1,000, while a longer move of roughly 650 miles cost just over $6,100.
Service Level
Atlas Van Lines offers full-service packing and unpacking, furniture disassembly and reassembly, post-move cleanup, vehicle transport, temporary or long-term storage and many more choices. The more services you choose to have the company provide, the higher your move’s price tag will be. If you’re looking to save some cash, performing some of the tasks yourself can make a significant dent in your moving invoice.
Insurance
Moving companies, including Atlas Van Lines, must provide free basic protection that acts as a sort of insurance policy against damage to your possessions during your move. Called Released Value Protection or RVP, the coverage only covers $0.60 per pound of stuff should something happen to it. If you desire more coverage protection than that small amount, you can purchase additional insurance from the company or through a third-party. Typical costs for the additional protection range from 1% to 5% of the cost of your move.
Season
The time of year you choose to move can affect pricing. Summer is generally considered Atlas’ busy season. Not only is its calendar full, but it costs more as well at this time. Late fall, winter and early spring are good times to catch a lower price from any mover. However, weather delays may be more common during these times.
How Does Atlas Van Lines Work?
Atlas Van Lines doesn’t provide instant price estimates on its website, as some of its competition does. This fact can make comparative shopping challenging and can alter the expectations of how the quoting process works. Here’s what to expect when working with Atlas.
Pricing
Atlas Van Lines strives to provide accurate pricing. To that end, the company doesn’t provide any pricing details before customers perform a virtual tour using the company’s mobile app. Another option is to have a representative visit the home. After submitting a pricing request, you’ll receive a couple of emails with a reference number and a local mover’s information who’ll provide your moving services.
You can contact the chosen provider or wait until later in the day when the company will contact you about how to take the next steps. Alternatively, you can call Atlas directly and speak with a representative to speed up the process slightly. However, email turned out to be fast enough for our needs.
Contract Agreement
After receiving your price quote, the company will provide a contract agreement that includes the estimated cost, details about where and how much stuff you’re moving and the expected moving date. Sign and return the document only after reading the details carefully so you know what to expect regarding the services you chose. Remember that free cancellations are only available for three days after signing the agreement.
Packing and Loading
On your scheduled moving day, or a day or two earlier if you’ve chosen full-service packing as an option, Atlas Van Lines or one of its trusted agent moving companies will arrive to load your possessions onto the moving truck. If you’ve chosen one of Atlas’ storage solutions, your items will then be taken to the storage facility.
Transport
If your possessions aren’t going into storage of any kind, their journey to the new destination will begin. Expect local moves to be completed in a day or two while moving across the country can take up to three weeks. Atlas will provide an estimated delivery date and you can keep track of your shipment on Atlas Van Lines’ mobile app. As the shipment nears its destination, Atlas will provide a solid delivery date.
Delivery
Your Atlas mover will arrive and unload the truck into your new home. Labeling the new home’s rooms with a sticky note or piece of paper can help the movers quickly determine where each box should be placed.
Unpacking
If you’ve chosen unpacking or other services, Atlas’ movers will then begin the unpacking process, which should last several hours in most cases.
Where Is Atlas Van Lines Available?
Atlas Van Lines is available in all 50 states and across 17 international destinations, including Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
How Atlas Van Lines Stacks Up
Alternatives to Atlas Van Lines
Our research team continually evaluates over 50 major moving companies to provide updated lists of the best moving companies available by state, move type, price and other attributes. If Atlas Van Lines doesn’t appear to meet your moving needs or you’re looking for a specific feature that the company doesn’t provide, such as instant pricing or an extended cancellation period, favorite moving companies on our lists of best providers often include International Van Lines, United Van Lines, Allied Van Lines, Mayflower, JK Moving, American Van Lines, Colonial Van Lines, North American Van Lines and Bekins.
Atlas Van Lines vs. International Van Lines
Atlas Van Lines stacks up well against Forbes Home’s top-rated moving company, International Van Lines. Atlas pricing for local moves is more competitive. Our quote for a two-bedroom home local move through International Van Lines from Brooklyn, NY to Hoboken, NJ is $2,519 plus fees. However, long-distance moves appear to be more economical when you select IVL. For a move from Brooklyn, NY to Charlotte, NC, International Van Lines quoted $4,306 plus fees.
Atlas Van Lines offers some add-on services you don’t get from IVL, such as appliance hookup and junk removal, and you don’t need to provide a deposit as you do with IVL. However, award-winning International Van Lines has better overall customer service level reviews, and you can request an instant estimate rather than waiting for a detailed virtual or at-home quote.
Learn more: International Van Lines review
Atlas Van Lines vs. North American Van Lines
If price is the driving factor when selecting a moving company, Atlas Van Lines beats North American Van Lines. NAVL (which operates under the same corporation as Allied Van Lines) gave our team a quote of $3,951.50 for a local move from Brooklyn, NY to Hoboken, NJ, and $9,440.59 to move the contents of the same home from Brooklyn, NY, to Charlotte, NC. Like Atlas, there isn’t an option for an instant estimate, so expect a more lengthy in-house or virtual visit before you receive an accurate quote.
We think its 24/7 customer support, sophisticated tracking system and senior discounts set North American Van Lines apart from its competitors.
Learn more: North American Van Lines review
Atlas Van Lines Reviews and Experience
Although Atlas Van Lines is a well-established company with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, service levels vary depending on location. You will be assigned a local agent at the start of the quote process, so always research that agent’s specific reviews before booking its services.
When they get it right, the pros at Atlas Van Lines are professional communicators, offering seamless service, careful packaging, and flexibility on timescales and schedules. However, some customers report problems with overcharging, pushy or poor contact during the quote process, and damaged or missing goods.
If things do go wrong, you can contact central customer services for support rather than dealing with your local agent.
Moving Companies By State
Bottom Line: Is Atlas Van Lines Right For You?
Based on our research, it’s worth reaching out to Atlas Van Lines when shopping around for moving quotes. While you have to go through a lengthy in-house or virtual process to get an accurate quote, its pricing is competitive, and the company offers a wide range of customizable services. However, it always pays to research the local agent you are assigned, as service levels vary by location.
Methodology: How We Rated Moving Companies
To determine our ranking of moving companies, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 52 companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating nearly 80 metrics and subcategories, including years in business, nationwide availability, pricing and insurance options, move types and customer reviews and support.
You can find out more about how Forbes Home rates moving companies on our detailed methodology page.
All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I get an Atlas Van Lines moving quote?
To receive a moving quote from Atlas Van Lines you can fill out an online form or call its customer support team. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t provide instant estimates. It will refer you to a local agent to book a virtual or in-home walkthrough to provide an accurate quote. The final quote depends on your home size, content levels and moving requirements. The estimate can be binding or non-binding. Binding means it won’t charge you more than initially quoted, but there is an additional charge for this.
Who owns Atlas Van Lines?
Atlas Van Lines is the largest subsidiary of Atlas World Group. Atlas World Group owns a series of companies offering global relocation, transportation, storage and logistics services. Atlas World Group also owns Avail Move Management, Cornerstone Relocation Group, Champion International Moving, Progressive Transportation Inc. and Atlas World Class Travel, amongst others.
How do I hire Atlas Van Lines?
If you’re happy with the quote you’ve received from Atlas Van Lines, the next step will be to sign a contract. This will be based on a binding estimate (one with a fixed price) or non-binding (one that can vary depending on the weight of your belongings on the day of the move). You can make payment when movers are loading the truck up or when it reaches its destination.
Does Atlas Van Lines offer insurance?
Atlas Van Lines doesn’t technically offer insurance. However, it provides Released Value Protection at no extra charge. This means any claims for loss or damage are based on 60 cents per pound of item. There is also the option to purchase Full Value Protection (FVP), which offers $6.00 per pound of item. AAA members get FVP at no extra cost automatically.
Does Atlas Van Lines offer long-distance moving?
Atlas Van Lines are experts in long-distance moving. It has agents in all 50 U.S. states and Canada ready to coordinate your relocation. When you request a quote, it will put you in touch with an agent covering your location, and it can support you through the process. For these longer journeys, you might be looking for car transportation or temporary storage, and the Atlas team can also help with these.
Is Atlas Van Lines a broker or carrier?
Atlas Van Lines is a carrier rather than a broker that acts as an intermediary between the mover and moving companies. Over 430 independent agents across the country are working under the Atlas umbrella. To become an Atlas agent, the movers must meet strict quality and customer care requirements.
