1. International Van Lines

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Northfield, IL

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International Van Lines

1.5 (203 reviews)

Services - International Van Lines

In-state moving

International moving

Out-of-state moving

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An example of corner damage.

The ratings did not remotely match our experience. We chose International Van Lines after doing substantial research. One of the major reasons was that ConsumerAffairs ranked IVL as its "Best overall" moving company for 2026. We believed we were hiring a large, established national mover with the operational network and customer-service infrastructure to manage an interstate move professionally. That has not been our experience. More than a month after our move began, we still do not have all of our belongings. The process has included repeated price increases from our original quote, damaged furniture, constantly shifting delivery expectations, inadequate staffing, additional charges, poor communication, and almost no meaningful customer-service intervention when things go wrong. What has been most troubling is how fragmented the operation appears once IVL has your belongings. In our case, our shipment ended up moving through a third-party operation in Chicago. From the customer side, the process has felt like a chain of outsourced vendors, rotating drivers, and last-minute attempts to find local moving crews near the delivery location. Repeatedly, that system has failed. For one delivery, we were told to expect a larger crew. Only two movers arrived to assist the driver. This week, we were told for roughly four consecutive days that our shipment would arrive. We rearranged our work schedules each day. Each day, the delivery changed. Then the truck finally arrived during Labor Day weekend. Again, we had been told there would be a moving crew. Instead, one man arrived with a tractor-trailer and no crew. He was left unloading our household belongings essentially one box at a time because the local movers who were supposed to be there did not show up. I do not blame the driver. If anything, watching one person attempt to unload a major interstate household shipment by himself made the larger operational failure obvious. He was put in an impossible position. We have also had multiple belongings damaged after weeks in storage and transfers across multiple trucks. The photos attached show only a few of the damaged items. The financial side has also been extremely frustrating. The price has repeatedly increased from what we originally expected to pay. We were presented with an additional shuttle charge because the delivery truck allegedly could not access our storage facility, and at one point were asked to make additional payment by direct deposit/bank transfer. We had to stop and request written documentation supporting the charge and payment request. The worst part is the loss of control once the company has virtually everything you own. Before pickup, you can compare companies and walk away. After pickup, your furniture, household goods, personal possessions and irreplaceable belongings are somewhere in a transportation network you cannot control. When delivery dates keep changing, prices keep increasing, customer service provides little meaningful help, and you still do not know when the rest of your belongings will arrive, you feel trapped. That is exactly how this experience has felt. A complicated interstate move can have problems. One late truck, one damaged item or one scheduling mistake would be understandable. This has been different. It has been a repeated breakdown across pricing, communication, scheduling, staffing, delivery, damage, coordination and customer service. We hired IVL because we thought a professional interstate moving company would manage the logistics. Instead, we have spent weeks personally trying to coordinate their coordination. The most frustrating part is that we thought we had protected ourselves by researching carefully and choosing a highly rated company. In retrospect, I wish I had ignored the aggregate rating and spent much more time reading the detailed one-star reviews. If you are considering IVL, ask exactly who will physically handle your belongings at every stage, whether IVL employees or third parties will perform pickup and delivery, who is responsible for finding the local delivery crew, and what happens if that crew does not show up. Get every possible charge and payment method in writing. Then read the lowest-rated reviews very carefully. I would never hire International Van Lines again, and based on our experience, I cannot recommend them.

Sharon F.

Over the next month, I will review IVL everywhere I possibly can, and THANK GOD I chose them. In my situation, they saved me from daily tears and total infuriation. This should have been a cut and dry, clear, intelligent, one and done, professional move from Ohio to SC ... that is now going on for months to come - not due to IVL! In my absence due to the 2026 Winter Storm and a disabling spine injury as a senior - during my possesion time, the new buyer and his agent who are very nice - and I even sent gifts to be polite rather than saying PLEASE GET OUT AND STOP, the new owner and buyer were in the house going through everything. I don't know the buyer and his real estate agent, and they got in all month and started sorting through every drawer, closet, room, everything ... even asked for expensive sentimental items (WHO DOES THAT?) and the new owner and agent GOT sentimental and valuable items of my deceased parents I adored, told IVL to not take certain things, etc., and I should have had the police accompany them; yet, who thinks that way? I lost a lot; yet, IVL was fabulous in a very tough time for me. Everyone from the first ladies on the phone to the managers of each area, they were professional, patient, kind, understanding, and so helpful. They even spent a lot of money to return in a few weeks with that huge truck - and TRY to get the rest of my belongings they were illegally told by the real estate agent and buyer to not take - even antiques ... and my final birthday present from my parents before they died. IVL carefully transported what belongings they got to 4 large climate controlled storage rooms and a few pieces to my house as asked. Having not been involved in family moves coast to coast, I still knew buyers and agents were never in our homes like this situation. This was a disaster with which I'll have to deal for months to come; yet, IVL was so exceptional, they truly eased the pain and frustration. IVL did everything perfectly and went above and beyond having been put in an odd situation, and they even offered to help me get some of my things down from the storage rooms when I can get to them. I am so appreciative of not just the professionalism of IVL, but the fact that they all were genuinely good people put in a bizarre situation. They are number one in my book (and I am extremely picky), and they were a GODSEND to me.

Dresser damaged

International Van Lines is by far the worst company I have ever come in contact with. I spent hours researching moving companies and had several calls with different companies. The sales person who I initially dealt with couldn't have been more helpful and attentive. Little did I know that all of the "yes's", "no problem", and "we are flexible" were all just lip service to get the sale. Not one thing that was promised and explained to me came to fruition. Once I signed the contract and made the deposit it was as if I didn't exist. Multiple email follows ups with no response. I had simple questions regarding my move with no communication from IVL a week prior to moving. I got a voicemail the day of my move at 7am that "the truck broke down and they would have to come tomorrow." Well, you can imagine with a long haul move and needing to be out of our home for the new tenants thus casual message sent everything into a tailspin. I called the dispatcher to ask what happened and they told me "it's Monday and it's July, we are busy and don't have a team or truck." Well, why commit to that date? They also make you commit to a backup date and sell it as a date if there is bad weather. Not because they actually aren't staffed to move on the requested day. I was so frustrated I emailed Josh the CEO. I assumed that with their Forbes rating and being the "best" he could connect me with someone who could help. Wishful thinking. My email got passed to a women named Daisja who told me "Josh is traveling internationally and can't respond." I travel internationally regularly and am able to respond to business emails. Regardless, Daisja gave me a form response essentially removing any responsibility from IVL and not acknowledging the horrible follow up and service until I highlighted it for a second time. She then promised to make my experience better and to leave her on copy on all emails going forward. The movers finally showed up and packed and loaded the truck. I was told by the mover that I would be contacted on where my things were. That was on 7/28. I heard nothing from anyone even though I sent two emails to Daisja. I finally called on 8/3 to see where my things were and to confirm the delivery date of 8/6. The associate said that no one intended to call me with an update. I was told the driver "would call me when he was close". Again, it was sold to me that there was as no issue delivering on my scheduled day and in fact if they were early or we wanted to have it delivered later they would store my things . Not true. I got a text at 6pm on 8/11 from the driver that I am delivering your things tomorrow at 8am. No flexibility. After paying $10k total for a for this move I could have done a better job myself. I sent another email to Daisja with Josh on copy and got a dismissive response telling me she worked in compliance and my customer service person was my contact (that person is also on copy on all emails and doesn't respond) and by the way I now have a new customer service person I should contact. I am on my fifth one at this point two of which have never actually responded to an email. My goods were delivered with some items damaged and no labels on any of the boxes packed by IVL. IVL doesn't care about service or their customers. Once you're locked in that's the end of the story. Hopefully this review saves other people from wasting time and money with these scammers.

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Horrible! Don't use! Lost items, added charges. Demanded more money before releasing our goods. Avoid!

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Review Highlights - International Van Lines

“They moved a 3 bedroom house across town in 4 hours, and we were so pleased with their work!”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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International Van Lines - movers - Updated November 2026

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