2025 Colonial Van Lines Review

Colonial Van Lines is one of our top picks for long-distance moving services, offering everything from packing and storage to specialized care for antiques and art. What sets Colonial apart is its commitment to educating both customers and employees. Customers benefit from knowledgeable support throughout the entire moving process, while movers undergo intensive hands-on training at the company’s two-bedroom training facility, Colonial Van Lines University.

As a member of the American Trucking Association, Colonial Van Lines is a reliable option for interstate moves. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t handle local moves and requires a deposit of around 40%.

Colonial Van Lines was founded in 2003, and is considered one of the fastest-growing van lines in the U.S. Colonial is authorized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to transport household goods as a carrier. According to Colonial's website, the company has a fleet of more than 90 trucks and 45 agents it works with throughout the country. Colonial helps more than 12,000 residential, commercial, and corporate clients move every year. 

No, Colonial Van Lines is not a broker—it is a long-distance moving company that provides its own trucks and movers. Colonial trains all its employees, from the movers handling your belongings to the customer service representatives answering your questions. We've had a tour of Colonial's offices, call center, and training facilities to see this in action.

However, we’ve found online reviews mentioning third-party movers performing some moves, which may cause confusion about Colonial’s role. This could occur in situations where subcontractors are used to meet customer needs in certain locations.

Cross-country full-service moves aren't cheap, no matter which service you choose. However, we were able to get some ballpark estimates from CVL to get a pulse of its pricing for different kinds of moves.

Moving from Utah to New York for a three-bedroom home cost around $9,000. Regional moves for the same size home cost around $5,500 (think Minneapolis to Des Moines, Atlanta to Nashville, or Philadelphia to DC).  These quotes are in line with what we've seen from other full-service moving companies, and cheaper than some. 

After chatting with a Colonial Van Lines representative, we learned that they consider factors like weight, mileage, origin and destination locations, and any extra services to produce a final binding quote. This means the initial quote should be the amount you pay at the end—provided there are no changes to your inventory or move details. However, it’s important to note that the binding quote applies even if your actual move costs less than the original estimate.

Colonial Van Lines offers long-distance moving across the country and within regions. It serves most states in the continental U.S.; however, there are 10 states where Colonial can't pick up your belongings and four where they can't deliver. Along with transport services, you can opt for extras like storage and packing during the booking process.

Here's a snapshot of Colonial Van Line's moving services:

• Short-term and long-term storage
• Packing and unpacking
• Full coverage insurance
• Auto shipping
• Motorcycle shipping
• Trash and debris removal
• Specialty item moving and packing
• Crating
• Electronics installation
• Furniture assembly/disassembly

The only service that Colonial doesn't offer is shipment tracking; however, when you book with CVL, you get a personal moving agent to help you through from packing to unpacking. This agent can provide updates about your belongings as they make their way to your new home.

Another drawback for some could be that Colonial doesn't offer in-state moves (like from Houston to El Paso, for example) and doesn't serve movers heading to or from Alaska or Hawaii.

We love Colonial's commitment to employee training. Moving families and businesses across the country isn't a simple task. The logistics and lifting alone take steady hands and strategy. That's why Colonial sends all its employees back to school at Colonial Van Lines University.

Movers and drivers spend two to four weeks in intensive training at Colonial Van Line's training facility, which includes a two-bedroom mock home. There, they learn the best techniques for packing, lifting, and caring for everyday and specialty items.

If you have specialty items like pianos, antiques, or large pieces of art that need special care, it's covered in CVL's coursework during this training. Even experienced movers new to Colonial go through the CVLU course.

Customers can also benefit from these training courses! We found quick courses for preparing valuables like dressers, chairs, appliances, books, fine china, and clothes.

We like that Colonial Van Lines has embraced technology to better serve its customers. Colonial made one of the first mobile apps for virtual moving estimates (although I couldn't get the app to work), which makes it easier to give accurate estimates right from the start. 

Colonial is also striving to make the moving process as sustainable as possible. It plans to add Tesla electric tractors to its fleet by 2026, and aims to have a fully electric fleet by 2028. We're encouraged to see a moving company that's working to minimize its environmental impact. 

Before you start your long-distance move, it helps to understand how the process works with Colonial Van Lines.

It all starts with a quick call to Colonial Van Lines or filling out the online contact form. 

This initial contact allows Colonial to get some details about your move. Information like your prospective move dates and the zip codes for your origin and destination are needed so the moving specialists can create a quote.

From there, they can help you take inventory of your home, or you can use Colonial's estimator app to get a count for yourself. Once all the necessary information is collected, you'll receive a binding estimate for your move. CVL has a team of quality assurance pros who check every customer's move for the finer details, ensuring that the load they're transporting matches the services they're offering.

Don't despair if you really wanted to go with Colonial, but got a better quote from another company. If you happen to find a lower quote from another qualified mover, Colonial is ready to match that price—demonstrating its commitment to fair and competitive pricing.

When you're ready to proceed with service through Colonial, you'll need to pay a deposit. This usually amounts to around 40%, but the company offers discounts for repeat, corporate, and military customers (and don't forget about the $500 Move.org discount!). If something changes, you can cancel service for a full refund up to five business days before your move day.

Finally, it's time to get ready for the big day! You can pack up your home or add packing services for all your stuff or just specialty items.

Like what you heard so far?

From free quotes and discounts for repeat, corporate, and military customers to the mountains of helpful information on its website, Colonial Van Lines knows the importance of customer service—and it shows.

If you have quick questions or just want to compare Colonial Van Lines to other long-distance movers, you can ping the instant messenger on the Colonial website. Phone lines and email assistance are also available if you can't find what you need in Colonial's extensive FAQ, blog, or other resources for move preparation.

But our favorite feature about Colonial's customer service is the dedicated Account Manager service. This is your moving guru, your guiding light through the whole process. If you have questions, comments, or something you want to change, adjust, or drop, they're your single source for customer service. No confusion, no waiting on hold.

While we like what we see when we look at the robust customer service policies and tools available from Colonial, we like to find out what actual customers think.  We examined both customer reviews and complaints to get a comprehensive view of how those policies translate during an actual move.

The most significant thing we found is that Colonial's complaints have drastically decreased over the past few years, according to records from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).²

In 2022, Colonial had 253 complaints. That number decreased by 26% to 187 in 2023. As of November 15, 2024, there have been only 68 complaints this year. That's a 64% decrease year over year and an impressive drop of 73% from 2022 to 2024. When speaking to representatives from Colonial, they emphasized their commitment to delivering the best moving experience, and this positive movement validates the company's efforts.

In addition to fewer complaints, we've found oodles of positive customer reviews online. The top things customers like about moving with Colonial include excellent communication throughout the moving process, the professionalism of everyone from the person they booked to the drivers and loaders, timely delivery, and the care the movers took with customers' belongings.

See where Colonial Van Lines ranks in our Best Long-Distance Moving Companies roundup.

Choosing the right moving company can be challenging, especially when comparing your options. We like Colonial's specialized services and customer-focused approach, but we recommend that you compare features and pricing against other movers to make sure you get the right mover for your needs and budget. The table below highlights how Colonial's costs compare to other long-distance movers.

Colonial Van Lines shines with its comprehensive services, extensive employee training, and customer discounts—and it's pricing falls in line with most competitors. But higher deposit requirements and some concerns about pricing accuracy may be factors to consider.

Key pricing positives for Colonial Van Lines:

• Generous $500 Move.org discount for our readers.
• Multiple discounts available, including military and corporate options.

Areas to consider:

• Higher deposit requirement compared to some competitors (up to 40%).
• BBB complaints about final costs exceeding initial quotes, although most were resolved with restitution offers.

To review Colonial Van Lines, we met with the company several times to learn about its history, policies, and practices. We also peppered them with questions to ensure we're providing the most accurate information to our readers. To see how the company operates, we took a virtual tour of Colonial's offices and CVLU training facility.

In addition, we went through the instant online quote process and downloaded Colonial's mobile app. Finally, we dove into all the online reviews, complaints, and Reddit threads we could find to get a sense of how real customers rate Colonial Van Lines. We plan to go through the entire moving process with Colonial Van Lines with a winner of our 2025 Moving Grant program, and will share our real experience and insights.

We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor. During our searches, we:

• Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.
• Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.
• Go mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
• Perform site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
• Set up regular reviews. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.

Colonial Van Lines is one of our favorite moving companies. If you’re looking for a customized moving experience, highly-trained movers, and a personal account manager to guide you through the whole process, Colonial fits the bill. 

Here’s why we recommend Colonial Van Lines:

• Extensive moving services: From packing and storage to specialized care for everything from antiques to grand pianos, Colonial can help with all aspects of your long-distance move.
• Well-trained movers: Colonial invests heavily in training its employees through Colonial Van Lines University, where movers get hands-on practice with customer service and handling delicate items.
• Commitment to innovation: The company offers the industry’s first mobile app for virtual moving estimates (although I can’t get it to work) and plans to integrate Tesla electric tractors into its fleet, aiming to become fully electric by 2028.
• Customer discounts: Colonial provides discounts for military members, repeat customers, and Move.org readers.

While Colonial requires a deposit of up to 40% and has faced some complaints about final costs exceeding initial quotes and third-party movers, most issues were resolved with financial restitution. Overall, its strong customer focus, extensive training programs, and innovative practices make Colonial a top choice for long-distance moves.

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