Bekins Van Lines review: A national, long-distance mover with 130 years of experience

Hiring the right mover can help alleviate a lot of the overbearing feelings of stress that come with such a major life transition. But it's not an easy choice. Yahoo Local ranked and scored the top national moving companies in the U.S. , with Bekins Van Lines ranking among the best long-distance movers in the nation.

Founded in 1891 with three horse-drawn vans and twelve employees, Bekins Van Lines is one of the oldest moving companies around, having been in business for more than 130 years. The company even goes so far as to claim that it's the first business to "specialize in moving household goods." Fast-forwarding to the 21st century, Bekins has grown substantially, with over 150 locations across the country.

The company's main area of expertise is in long-distance moving services. However, you can also hire them for a local move, senior moving services, storage and more. It has a vast service footprint, claiming it serves 95% of the U.S. , and utilizes a network of more than 350 local agents to get the job done. Bekins is also endorsed by big-name organizations like the American Trucking Association (ATA) and the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM) .

This review dives into both the good and bad of moving with Bekins Van Lines, how much its moving services cost and what customers say about their experiences. Here's what you need to know.

Why Bekins Van Lines might be right for you

Wide variety of services

When it comes to moving-related services, there's a lot to choose from with Bekins. The company handles both local and long-distance moves. Whether you're moving across the country or just down the street, they've got you covered. If you need to move on the fly, Bekins offers a priority moving service for last-minute moves.

Priority moving costs more than the standard moving services, but you'll get expedited scheduling and shipping, plus a guaranteed delivery date. If your belongings don't arrive on the date that was promised, you'll receive $100 for each day they're late. Keep in mind that priority moving is reserved for shipments weighing between 1,500 and 6,000 pounds.

You can also hire Bekins for additional services, including packing and unpacking, commercial moves, corporate relocations and storage. There are three types of storage offerings available: Short-term, long-term and storage-in-transit. The company says that many of its storage facilities "meet the high security standards set by the U.S. military and government," so you can know your belongings are safe.

Experienced senior movers

Looking for a mover that's experienced with handling the relocation of aging loved ones ? Bekins offers specialized senior moving services to help make the transition as easy as possible. Many of the company's agents and companies in its partner network have a Bekins Silver Certified Badge, which means the moving crew has undergone specialized training for moving senior citizens.

These movers are prepared to tackle the additional challenges that can sometimes arise when relocating older loved ones. They understand that older adults are more likely to have items with higher monetary and sentimental value, as well as physical limitations and disabilities. Belongings will be handled with the care and respect they are due.

The training program is also endorsed by the NASMM , a non-profit organization that's dedicated to helping seniors with difficult life transitions. This helps give the Bekins Silver Certified Badge more credibility.

Will move heavy and specialty items

Some movers tend to shy away from moving certain types of items, as they don't want to be held liable for any damage or breakage. Bekins operates a bit differently. The company says it'll move pretty much anything short of hazardous materials . You can hire them to move a wide range of heavy and specialty items, such as pianos, hot tubs, antiques, large appliances, pool tables and more.

Bekins will also move more sensitive, high-value items such as medical equipment, IT equipment and heavy machinery. You can have them ship and deliver an item individually, or include these specialty moving services as part of a more comprehensive moving job from a residence or business. With decades of experience in packaging and handling specialty items, you can rest assured that these valuable belongings will likely be handled with care.

Why you might want to consider another national moving company

Your move could be handled by a third-party agent

While Bekins does have its own crew of full-time employees and fleet of trucks, as well as over 150 locations across the nation, it's unrealistic to expect the company can be everywhere all at once. That's why it relies on third-party assistance from local moving companies to complete the job in areas where there isn't a Bekins location, or in areas where demand for moving services is lower.

These local movers are referred to as "agents," and are part of the Bekins partner network. They operate on behalf of Bekins Van Lines while also running their own independent moving businesses. While Bekins technically offers local moving services, the vast majority of these moves are handled by separate local movers operating within Bekins' network of agents.

On the other hand, long-distance moves are more likely to be handled by Bekins. However, if there's no company location in your area, then your long-distance move will be transferred to a local agent. Note that there's also a possibility that your belongings may be shipped in the same truck as those of another customer. This is standard practice with many national movers, but it's still something to be aware of, as mix-ups can and might occur.

No online estimates

Much like with most national moving companies, there's no quick and easy method to get an estimate. The quote process with Bekins is involved, and you have four options to start an estimate .

The first option is to call their main service number and enter your zip code. From there, you'll either be connected with the nearest Bekins location or a local agent if there aren't any locations near you. A representative will ask for some information about your home, the type of moving service you need and an inventory list of all the items that need to be moved. They might also ask for pictures or videos of specific items in order to get a better visual.

Your second option is to fill out the lead form on the company's website. You'll enter all the information mentioned above ahead of time and then be contacted via phone by a representative at a later time. As a third option, you can opt for a video quote. Using a phone or tablet, you'll hop on a video call with a representative, who will take your information and ask you to perform a virtual walkthrough of your home so that they can see what needs to be moved.

The last option is an artificial intelligence survey. This is the most hands-off approach you'll get. It's very similar to the video quote option, except you won't have a Bekins rep on the line with you. You'll perform a walkthrough of your home using an AI survey tool to analyze the belongings in your home. However, once the video is submitted, you'll still be contacted by a Bekins rep for the official quote

Financing options are through a third-party

Moving can get very expensive, especially if your items are traveling long distances. While it's nice that Bekins offers financing options , they're provided through a third-party service, meaning Bekins isn't involved in this part of the process. If you need help, the company assumes no liability or responsibility relative to your loan.

These financing services are offered through Enhancify , a platform that offers financing and lending services. Both moving and packing-related services can be financed. Enhancify lets you set up monthly payments toward your moving bill, and some customers may qualify for financing options with an APR as low as 0%.

How much does it cost to move with Bekins Van Lines?

To move a three-bedroom house over about a 500-mile distance, you can expect a ballpark cost of about $7,000. This is slightly more expensive than other national providers we've evaluated . However, unlike other national movers, one of the benefits of using Bekins is that you don't need to pay a deposit or make a down payment to secure your move date.

Canceling your move with Bekins is where things get tricky. If you need to cancel, be sure to do so within three days of signing your moving contract. Otherwise, you'll be billed for a cancellation fee as a penalty. You should generally aim to book your move one or two months in advance to get your preferred moving date.

Bekins Van Lines is one of the most experienced movers in the industry

Due to the sheer size of many national moving companies' operations, it's very common to see a mix of both good and bad reviews. Despite this, Bekins maintains a solid reputation on Google, with many reviewers claiming they had a positive experience. However, that's not the case over on Yelp, where many customers had mixed things to say.

The company has a 4.8-star rating on Google (1,151 reviews), which is one of the highest ratings we've seen for a national mover. Many reviews praise the company for its excellent customer service and communication , while other reviewers say the moving crew was efficient and all their belongings arrived in one piece .

Over on Yelp, you'll get a much different story. The company's Yelp rating sits at 2.1 stars (91 reviews), with some customer complaints related to shipment mix-ups due to multiple households' belongings being transported in a single truck. Some customers also had complaints about broken furniture and belongings .

Bekins Van Lines is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ rating . There are only 13 filed complaints on its profile, which is particularly noteworthy considering many other national moving companies can have close to or well over 100 filed complaints.

Bekins Van Lines is a very experienced long-distance mover, thanks to its 130 years of experience in the moving industry. The company is prepared to tackle just about any type of moving service, including some of the more sensitive services, such as senior moves and the transportation of specialty items or equipment. However, they can't do it all on their own. Bekins relies on third-party assistance for local moves and long-distance moves in areas where demand is lower. Financing is also an option, but that's run through a third-party partner service as well. There's no option to get a quick and easy estimate online.

You can find the Bekins Van Lines headquarters at 8010 Castleton Rd, Indianapolis, Ind., 46250. The business is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is closed on the weekends. There's no option for 24/7 support. To get a quote started, you can call 1-866-754-2460 and enter your ZIP code, or request a quote online .

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