Allied vs United Van Lines (2026): Cost, Reliability, and Complaint Records
Allied Van Lines and United Van Lines are two of the four largest interstate household-goods carriers in the United States and routinely the top-two-bid carriers on most cross-country moves. They have similar pricing, similar service models, similar safety records, and similar complaint profiles. The right choice between them usually comes down to which specific carrier-agent serves your origin city and the destination city you are moving to, not the parent-company brand. Below is the side-by-side data so you can verify and pick.
Side-by-Side Spec Comparison
| Spec | Allied Van Lines | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1928 | 1928 |
| Parent company | SIRVA | UniGroup |
| USDOT number | 076235 | 077949 |
| Service coverage | All 50 US states + international | All 50 US states + international |
| Network model | Agent network (450+ agents) | Agent network (400+ agents) |
| Binding not-to-exceed | Yes, standard offering | Yes, standard offering |
| Storage in transit | Yes, 30-90 days standard | Yes, 30-90 days standard |
| Full Value Protection | 1-2 percent of declared value | 1-2 percent of declared value |
| Auto transport bundled | Yes, in-house | Yes, in-house |
| Online quote tool | Yes, comprehensive | Yes, comprehensive |
| In-home survey availability | Standard for 2BR+ shipments | Standard for 2BR+ shipments |
| Video survey option | Yes | Yes |
| Specialty item handling | In-house piano, art, antique crews | In-house piano, art, antique crews |
| Sister company | North American Van Lines | Mayflower Transit |
Verify USDOT numbers via the FMCSA SAFER lookup. Pricing ranges reflect 2026 published cost-guide data from Allied and United.
Pricing on a Sample 2BR / 1,500-Mile Move
For a typical 2-bedroom shipment of 6,500 pounds moving 1,500 miles (Chicago to Phoenix, NYC to Atlanta, or LA to Denver as approximate templates), here is what each carrier typically quotes off-peak. Quote spread within each carrier is 15 to 25 percent depending on the specific local agent and time of year.
- Off-peak quote: $4,500-$7,500
- Summer peak quote: $5,800-$9,500
- Packing service add-on: $700-$1,400
- Full Value Protection on $50K declared: $500-$1,000
- Typical delivery window: 7-14 days
- Off-peak quote: $4,600-$7,800
- Summer peak quote: $6,000-$9,800
- Packing service add-on: $750-$1,400
- Full Value Protection on $50K declared: $500-$1,000
- Typical delivery window: 7-14 days
Who Should Pick Which
The most honest answer: get quotes from both, plus from at least one of the sister-companies (North American Van Lines for Allied, Mayflower Transit for United) and one independent (Atlas Van Lines, Bekins). Pick based on the specific agent assigned to your shipment and the binding-not-to-exceed price, not the parent brand. That said, some structural differences:
- Pick Allied if: Your move is from a major coastal metro (NYC, LA, Bay Area, Boston, Seattle). Allied's coast-metro agent network is dense and competitive. Their long-distance cost-guide trends slightly below United's on coast-to-coast lanes.
- Pick United if: Your move is intra-Midwest or Southeast-to-Northeast. United's historical strength is in those corridors and the agent network tends to be slightly more cost-competitive there. Also pick United if you value the brand-name customer-tracking portal slightly more (they had a multi-year head start, though Allied has closed the gap).
- Pick either if: You want one of the top-tier names with binding-not-to-exceed pricing, predictable claim handling, and Full Value Protection availability. Both are widely-used corporate-relocation approved carriers for the same reason.
- Consider their sister companies too: North American Van Lines (Allied's sister within SIRVA) often quotes 5-8 percent below Allied for the same job. Mayflower Transit (United's sister within UniGroup) often runs similar pricing to United. Worth getting all four quotes.
FAQ
Is Allied or United Van Lines cheaper?
Allied and United price within roughly 5 to 10 percent of each other on the same job. Allied trends slightly below United on coast-to-coast lanes, United trends slightly below Allied on mid-distance Northeast and Southeast lanes. Get quotes from both, the spread is normal and predictable.
Is Allied Van Lines part of the same company as United Van Lines?
No. They are separate companies with separate ownership. Allied is part of SIRVA (along with North American Van Lines). United is part of UniGroup (along with Mayflower Transit). They are independent competitors but both run the same general business model of carrier-agent networks with binding-not-to-exceed pricing.
Which has better complaint and claims records?
Both maintain similar FMCSA records: low formal complaint counts relative to shipment volume, similar safety scores, similar levels of binding-estimate compliance. Specific carrier-agent quality varies more than parent-company averages. Check the specific agent's USDOT and reviews, not just the parent brand.
Should I pick based on quote alone?
No. The agent quality (local-office reputation, crew experience) often matters more than the parent-company brand. Ask which specific agent's crew will load your shipment. Check that agent's individual reviews, not just the parent Allied/United brand reviews.
Do both companies offer the same insurance options?
Yes. Both offer FMCSA-mandated Released Value Protection (free, $0.60/lb cap) and Full Value Protection (1-2 percent of declared shipment value). Both offer third-party insurance brokerage. Pricing structures are essentially identical because both operate under the same FMCSA rules.
What about online tools and tracking?
United historically had a slight edge on online tracking and customer-portal usability. Allied has invested heavily and largely closed the gap. Both now offer comparable shipment-tracking, document-management, and online quote-to-booking flows.