Colonial Van Lines: Carrier-Led Cross-Country Moves

Company Overview

Colonial Van Lines is an interstate moving company founded in 2003 and headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida, serving customers across the contiguous United States. They operate primarily as long distance movers, focusing on cross country relocations supported by centralized coordination, standardized processes, and trained personnel. With years of experience handling interstate relocations of household goods, their services are geared toward residential, corporate, and military-related clients who need structured planning rather than local moving support. Within the industry, they are registered with the Department of Transportation and maintain a Better Business Bureau profile with an A+ rating, though they are not BBB accredited, reinforcing their position as an established national mover rather than a regional or broker-based provider.

Features & Solutions

Residential moving services

• Interstate and cross country moving: They manage long distance household moves across the contiguous United States using centralized coordination
• Professional packing services: They offer full and partial packing performed by trained crews using standardized packing materials
• Customizable moving plans: They allow customers to adjust services based on timeline, budget, and level of assistance needed
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly: They handle large furniture items to support safer transport and easier move-in
• Short-term and long-term storage: They provide storage options for customers who need flexible delivery timelines

Corporate and specialty relocation

• Corporate relocation services: They support employee and business relocations with structured planning and coordination
• Military and government-related moves: They assist with moves tied to military or federal requirements, including documentation and scheduling standards
• Specialty item handling: They accommodate oversized or delicate items such as antiques, artwork, and large appliances

Planning and move management

• Virtual surveys: They offer remote estimates to help customers receive quotes without an in home walkthrough
• Dedicated move coordinator: Each move is assigned a single point of contact to manage scheduling, documentation, and logistics
• Online planning resources: They provide guides and tools through their website to help customers prepare for long distance moves

Costs, Fees, & Pricing Models

Colonial Van Lines prices move individually, with booking typically starting through a virtual or phone-based survey. Costs are based on factors such as shipment size and weight, distance, origin and destination, move date, and selected services like packing, storage, or specialty handling. Depending on the inventory review, they may offer binding or non-binding estimates for interstate moves.

What influences pricing

• Shipment size and distance
• Timing and seasonal demand
• Packing, storage, and specialty services

They rely on optional add-ons rather than bundled pricing, allowing customers to customize their move. Common upsells include full or partial packing, storage in transit, specialty item handling, and additional valuation coverage. Basic furniture disassembly and reassembly are often included in long distance moves.

Financing options are not clearly advertised. Based on research done, it can be inferred that customers are generally expected to pay using standard payment methods.

Payment and fee considerations

• Major credit cards are commonly accepted
• Final payment may require cash or certified funds
• Additional charges may apply for long carries, stairs, shuttle services, storage, or inventory changes

Accepted payment options are not fully disclosed, so customers should review estimates and contracts carefully to avoid unexpected fees.

Advantages

• Dedicated focus on long distance and interstate relocations: They concentrate almost entirely on cross country and interstate moves, which matters for customers who want a provider experienced in multi-day transit, delivery windows, and federal moving regulations
• Nationwide coverage across the contiguous United States: They are equipped to handle coast to coast and multi-state moves without relying heavily on regional partners
• Centralized coordination rather than a fragmented agent network: Moves are managed through a structured internal system, which can reduce handoffs and improve accountability compared to decentralized agent-based models
• Carrier-based operation instead of pure brokerage: They operate as an interstate carrier rather than acting solely as a booking broker, which helps limit third party involvement during transport
• Experience with military and government-related relocations: Their familiarity with formal relocation requirements can benefit customers moving under employer, military, or government guidelines
• Customizable service levels: Customers can add or remove packing, storage, and handling services based on budget and timeline, rather than selecting rigid packages
• Predictable process for complex, multi-state moves: Their standardized procedures are designed specifically for long distance logistics, which can reduce uncertainty compared to companies that primarily handle local moves
• Virtual survey model optimized for interstate planning: Remote estimates are built into their process, making early planning more efficient for customers relocating across states
• Flexible storage integration for long distance timing gaps: Storage options are designed to accommodate delivery delays or staggered move in schedules common in interstate relocations

Disadvantages

• Limited availability for local and intrastate moves: They focus almost exclusively on long distance and interstate relocations, which means customers needing local or same state moves will likely need to look elsewhere
• No container or portable storage options: Unlike some competitors, they do not offer container-based moving solutions, limiting flexibility for customers who prefer self-loading or staged moves
• No DIY or labor only moving options: They do not provide truck rentals or labor only services, which may be a drawback for cost conscious customers who want more hands on control
• Financing or payment plans are not clearly advertised: They do not prominently promote installment options or third party financing, which can be limiting for customers managing high upfront moving costs

Customer Experience

Colonial Van Lines shows a wide range of experiences across major review platforms. On Trustpilot, the company holds a mixed rating that trends positive overall, driven by a high volume of 5 star reviews alongside a notable share of critical feedback, resulting in an approximate score of 4.1 out of 5. On Yelp, ratings are considerably lower, reflecting a smaller but more critical sample of customers, with an average score of 2.2 out of 5.

Positive feedback

Positive reviews frequently highlight strong communication during the planning and execution stages of a move, with customers noting consistent updates from coordinators, drivers, and support staff. Many reviewers praise the care taken with furniture and fragile items, reporting deliveries that arrived intact and within the stated delivery window. Customers also often point to transparent pricing when inventories were accurately reviewed, describing experiences with no surprise charges and a smoother process than expected for long distance relocations.

Critical feedback

Negative reviews tend to focus on issues related to subcontracted crews, including inconsistent packing quality, delayed pickups or deliveries, and damage or loss of items. Billing disputes are another recurring concern, particularly when final weights exceeded estimates or when customers felt additional fees were not clearly explained upfront. Some reviewers also report difficulty reaching customer support after payment was made, especially when attempting to resolve claims or request detailed delivery updates.

How the company responds to feedback

Colonial Van Lines regularly responds to both positive and negative reviews, particularly on Trustpilot and BBB-affiliated platforms. In response to complaints, they typically acknowledge the issue and direct customers to a dedicated resolution team, often providing a phone number or extension for follow-up. While some customers report satisfactory engagement during the resolution process, others indicate that outcomes such as compensation or claims settlements did not always meet expectations, suggesting variability in how issues are ultimately resolved.

Customer Support

Colonial Van Lines provides customer support primarily through phone and email, with representatives available to assist customers before, during, and after the moving process. Phone support is the main channel for time-sensitive needs such as scheduling, estimate clarification, and delivery updates, while email support is used for documentation, follow-ups, and general inquiries. Customers can reach the company by phone at (800) 356-1855 or by email at customerservice@colonialvanlines.com, both of which are listed on their official contact page.

In addition to direct support, they offer online self-service resources to help customers understand and navigate the moving process. These include a dedicated FAQs section that covers estimates, packing guidelines, valuation coverage, and delivery expectations, as well as planning guides to help customers prepare for long distance moves.

Conclusion

Colonial Van Lines is best suited for customers planning long distance and interstate moves who value structured coordination, nationwide coverage, and flexible service options. Their centralized planning model, virtual surveys, and dedicated move coordinators support residential, corporate, and military-related relocations that require advance preparation rather than local or last-minute service.

Their strengths include a clear focus on multi-state moves, customizable packing and storage options, and a carrier-based operating model that limits third party handoffs. Positive customer experiences often reflect strong communication and careful handling when inventories are reviewed accurately, while common drawbacks include limited suitability for local moves, the lack of container or DIY options, and mixed feedback around billing clarity and post-move issue resolution.

To continue your research, explore our full moving company reviews, compare providers using our comparison tool, and read our moving companies blog for additional insight into pricing, planning, and choosing the right mover.