We’ve reviewed the best Virginia moving companies for local and interstate moves. Each one offers comprehensive service to make your next move more caring than chaotic.
JK Moving Services is our pick for any interstate or long-distance moving needs because of its depth of experience, which includes thousands of individual moves. Its headquarters in Sterling, Virginia, enables it to offer local and long-distance service anywhere in the state, and its trained movers provide excellent antique packing and handling options.
My Guys Moving and Cavalier Moving are two of the most-reviewed companies that operate within the state. Each is well-established and has more than 1,000 customer comments on Google Reviews, indicating exemplary service to in-state customers.
We recommend getting quotes from interstate movers with a national presence if you plan on moving across state lines. You should get personalized estimates from local movers if you’re staging a relocation within Virginia.
Get started on your research with these moving providers:
Our top choices for Virginia movers
To choose the top movers in Virginia, we considered reputation, service offerings, cost, business model, insurance coverage and other key factors. Keep the following in mind when selecting a Virginia mover for any size relocation.
Long-distance:
Best long-distance movers in Virginia
The providers below offer direct service within Virginia with brick-and-mortar locations in the state. Get quotes from each if to vet the best long-distance moving companies for yourself.
Note: Our state ranking for Virginia differs from our national ranking due to JK Moving’s headquarters in Virginia offering extra local services in the state.
JK Moving Services
Allied Van Lines
Mayflower
Best movers for a local Virginia move
The following providers offer local and intrastate moving services throughout Virginia. Such companies bill at hourly rates and are often owned by people who live in the communities where their home office is based.
My Guys Moving
Cavalier Moving
Able Moving & Storage
Making an informed choice: A guide to professional movers
Getting quotes from movers can be confusing if you’ve never hired a professional or full-service moving company. Begin the research process at least eight weeks before moving, and aim to get quotes between four and six weeks before moving day. Here are a few more things to keep in mind as you navigate this process.
Virginia movers providing service for moves within a 30-mile radius are largely unregulated aside from basic business licensing. Beyond this, all intrastate movers offering service for moves beyond 30 miles have to be registered with the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Check mover registration before booking with any provider.
Intrastate moving companies in Virginia must file forms with the state to establish actual moving service rates for any service they provide. This includes hourly rates for basic moves as well as flat fees for things such as long carries to the truck (more than 75 feet) or extra flights of stairs.
All local moves are billed at hourly rates. Local moves are typically defined by a moving company’s general service area, so there is usually no set mileage that differentiates local and long-distance moves. Your hourly rate is set by the number of movers and moving trucks assigned to your move, and your total cost will depend on how long your move takes.
Moving services
Before determining what moving services you need, inventory your home. Make a room-by-room list of everything you plan to take to your new home. You’ll also want to outline things you won’t be taking and figure out how to donate or dispose of them. Note that moving companies won’t move some items, including live plants and scuba tanks.
Once you know what you’re moving, make a list of the required services. All moving companies provide the following basic services with any move:
- Loading and unloading
- Released-liability coverage
- Transportation of goods
The following add-on services can increase overall costs but streamline your move:
- Assembly and disassembly for complex furniture pieces
- Crating for antiques or fine art
- Debris removal
- Packing
- Storage
- Unpacking
- Vehicle shipping
Present your list to the moving company to get the most accurate estimate.
Moving regulations
Local and interstate moving companies are regulated differently. While intrastate movers must comply with in-state governing bodies, movers that provide interstate or long-distance service maintain federal registration.
Regulations for interstate and long-distance movers
Long-distance moving companies must maintain federal registration with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This requires that they carry active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. You can look up a mover’s registration status before you book.
Regulations for intrastate and local movers
Virginia moving companies are regulated by the state DMV. This governing body issues fitness certificates with Household Goods (HHG) Numbers. Check the status of any intrastate moving company before you book to ensure that your mover is operating legally with a properly filed moving tariff.
Moving costs
Local and long-distance movers engage in different billing practices for moves. You should be aware of how each mover does business before going forward with the quote process.
Long-distance moving costs
Long-distance movers assign more concise rates to all quotes. These estimates are primarily based on move distance and approximate shipping weight. Most long-haul movers weigh their trucks before and after loading, which helps them to get precise weights for shipments.
Add-on services will lead to higher rates. You can get binding estimates for such moves, which will mean that your quoted rate will not shift unless your inventory is altered or your actual shipping weight is less than the estimated weight.
Local moving costs in Virginia
All local moves are billed at hourly rates. Your hourly rate will be set by your moving company based on how many movers and moving trucks are assigned to your relocation. This rate can shift depending on the season and how far in advance you book your move. Summer moves cost more due to increased demand, and some movers increase rates for customers who book within a week of their move date.
Moving insurance
Insurance options vary from mover to mover, but all moving companies provide a base level of reimbursement for lost or damaged goods via released liability coverage. This provides 60 cents per pound per item at no additional cost. Beyond this, many movers offer full-value, or valuation, coverage. You’ll have to opt in for this coverage during your moving quote. The total added cost is usually between 3% and 5% of the total dollar amount of coverage.
Final take: Start your Virginia moving process by getting quotes from JK Moving Services
We recommend Virginia-based JK Moving Services for any long-distance or interstate moving service. Its depth of experience in handling moves for residential, commercial and government clients makes it a solid choice for any relocation.
When planning a local Virginia move, My Guys Moving and Cavalier Moving are also good places to start. These providers feature transparent pricing and more than 1,000 customer reviews.
Thorough research is key when evaluating any moving company. Before you get a quote, review customer feedback for all providers you consider. Then, get quotes from at least three movers that are properly licensed and registered.
Our rating methodology for moving companies
Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.
Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points. We then divide the final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
BBB and Google Reviews are accurate as of April 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
Go Back to Top
Typically spanning multiple days of travel time, long-distance moves can be overwhelming and require careful planning. We chose International Van Lines (IVL) and Allied Van Lines as the best long-distance moving companies based on our in-depth review process and secret shopping. Meet the expert Sean Donnelly is a former professional mover. He served as a…
Effective packing is key to a successful move, and you can achieve this through proper planning and organization. Some of the best packing tips for moving include getting started early, using your items as packing materials and keeping itemized lists of your boxes to track what you packed and where it goes. This guide explores…
Moving is a stressful endeavor, and the challenges can multiply when you have furry friends in tow. When moving with pets, it’s up to you to prepare them for the move, secure their safe relocation and help them adjust to their new surroundings, all while keeping abreast of health and licensing requirements. We spoke to…
We recommend Liberty Home Guard (LHG) as the best home warranty company for Virginia homeowners because of its extensive HVAC coverage and long list of optional add-ons. If you are more concerned with home warranty plans focusing on appliances than on coverage for home systems, we recommend First American Home Warranty for affordability, reliability and…