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Moving is never easy, but professional movers aim to make the experience as stress-free as possible. Our guide to the best moving companies in Virginia can help you cut down on research time and start planning your relocation to Fairfax, Richmond, Virginia Beach, or any other city in the Old Dominion state. We narrowed down our list of the top moving companies to those that will best assist you with your upcoming Virginia relocation.
Top Moving Companies in Virginia
Based on our in-depth research, we recommend the following moving companies for your Virginia move:
- International Van Lines: Best Overall Mover
- American Van Lines: Best for High-Value Goods
- Moving APT: Best for Coordinated Moves
- JK Moving Services: Best Mobile App
- North American Van Lines: Best Appliance Movers
- Allied Van Lines: Best Customer Experience
- 1-800-PACK-RAT: Best for Self-Service Moves
International Van Lines : Best Overall Mover
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit International Van Lines’ site
What We Like: International Van Lines (IVL) is a full-service moving company that specializes in international relocations but is also experienced in local and long-distance moves throughout the United States. If you are moving to another country from Virginia—or heading to the States from another point on the globe—IVL can ship your household items internationally by both air and sea.
IVL holds a Federal Maritime Commission license to transport shipments via ocean freighter, which is the most common mode of moving overseas. IVL can also ship by air freight at an added cost if you want to receive your items more quickly.
Cost: Using IVL’s online calculator, we received a free moving quote of $6,000–$8,700 to relocate the contents of a four-bedroom home from Chicago to Richmond, Virginia, in mid-September. Note that IVL’s moving calculator typically gives the same price range of $6,000 to $8,700 regardless of moving size or distance. You will need to call IVL and go over your relocation details to get a more accurate estimate.
IVL will then give you a ballpark estimate but not a guaranteed, or binding, estimate. This means they may charge you additional fees on moving day.
IVL charges a 25% up-front deposit and accepts credit cards and cash.
Services: IVL provides standard loading and unloading plus full-service and fragile-only packing services. The company offers a variety of add-on services to address your specific moving needs, including car and boat shipping, storage options, and special handling of large high-value items such as treadmills, pianos, and jacuzzis.
Read More: International Van Lines Review
American Van Lines : Best for High-Value Goods
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit American Van Lines’ site
What We Like: American Van Lines (AVL) is a great option for homeowners who are concerned about their fine art, family heirlooms, or fragile, high-end decor. The company employs its moving crew members full-time and requires them to complete ongoing training in the proper handling of common household items. AVL also has separate, specially trained crews for moving antiques and pianos.
Cost: American Van Lines will not give out instant free quotes online or by phone. You will need to complete a virtual home review with a customer service representative to receive a binding estimate. However, the company’s website provides some general pricing information for certain major-city moves. For example, AVL advertises a starting cost of $8,178 to move a four-bedroom home from Dallas to Denver, which is also roughly the distance from Chicago to Richmond, Virginia.
AVL charges an up-front deposit of between 10% and 50% of your total moving costs. You can pay with credit card, cash, or check.
Services: AVL’s full-service moves include loading, unloading, packing, and unpacking services. The company also provides fragile-only packing and storage services. AVL has private, climate-controlled storage facilities, which means your ephemera and upholstered furniture will stay safe from the elements and moisture. For added security, the company offers private storage units located in fire- and storm-proof buildings that surveillance cameras monitor around-the-clock. AVL’s private units are a great option for safely storing your fine jewelry, antiques, paintings, and other valuables.
Read More: American Van Lines Review
JK Moving Services : Best Mobile App
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit JK Moving’s site
What We Like: JK Moving stands out for its quality customer service. The company assigns each customer a personal moving coordinator to oversee each step of the moving process. Your coordinator can help you determine the specialty services you may need, such as storage solutions or vehicle shipping.
JK Moving also streamlines the moving experience with its user-friendly mobile app. You can schedule a virtual home review, log your moving inventory, make payments, add services to your moving package, and track your shipment all on the app.
Cost: Following a home survey, JK Moving will give you a binding estimate. The company does not provide general pricing information over the phone or online.
For those who prefer to spread their moving costs out over time, JK Moving partners with home services lender Enhancify to offer in-house financing. Qualifying customers can receive interest-free moving loans.
You will need to pay a $250 deposit to book services with JK Moving. You can pay with cash, credit card, or check.
Services: JK Moving specializes in commercial moving and military moves, but it is also an experienced long-distance mover. Although JK Moving can provide interstate moves and cross-country relocations nationwide, it is important to note that it has limited local moving capabilities. It can, however, handle local moves of 50 miles or less in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
JK Moving has a variety of optional services to help you create a personalized moving package, including custom crates for electronics, car and boat shipping, and long- and short-term storage.
Read More: JK Moving Services Review
Moving APT : Best for Coordinated Moves
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full-service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Moving APT’s site
What We Like: Moving APT is unique because it’s a broker, not a full-service moving company. Traditional moving companies and van lines provide relocation services directly, whereas brokers function as liaisons between customers and independent moving agents.
One benefit of using a brokerage, such as Moving APT, is that it saves time and limits the hassle of searching for the right moving company. Instead, Moving APT will find a company that provides the particular moving services you need using its network of more than 2,500 providers across the nation.
Cost: According to Moving APT’s online calculator, moving a four-bedroom home from Chicago to Richmond, Virginia, would cost between $9,048 and $12,898. You’ll need to call a customer service representative for a more accurate quote. The company can also give you a binding estimate—the exact amount you’ll pay on moving day—after reviewing your household goods and your home’s layout during a virtual walkthrough.
Moving APT charges a deposit to schedule your moving date. The amount depends on when and where you are relocating and the size of your move, measured in total shipment weight. The company accepts payments via check, credit card, and cash.
Services: Moving APT can provide full-service moves and a wide variety of add-on options in all 50 states through its network of third-party agents. Add-ons include appliance disconnection and reconnection, vehicle transport, storage options, and furniture disassembly and reassembly.
Read More: Moving APT Review
North American Van Lines : Best Appliance Movers
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit North American Van Lines’ site
What We Like: North American Van Lines (NAVL) stands out for its expert handling of high-end appliances. NAVL crews can properly disconnect dishwashers, smart refrigerators, dual fuel ranges, and more and install them at your new home. This will save you the time and added cost of hiring an electrician.
Cost: NAVL gives a binding estimate after conducting a virtual review of your home and moving inventory. You can get general pricing information using the company’s online tool. We used NAVL’s moving cost calculator and received a price range of $9,203 to $10,302 to move the contents of a four-bedroom home from Richmond, Virginia, to Chicago in early fall.
NAVL does not charge an up-front deposit. Your full payment is due once the moving truck delivers your items to your new home. Payments may be made via check, credit card, or cash.
Services: In addition to full-service packing and loading services, NAVL offers fragile-only packing. This service allows you to handle most of the packing on your own while resting assured that trained movers will expertly wrap, box, and place your breakable items in the moving truck. NAVL also offers storage options, vehicle shipping, and furniture disassembly and reassembly.
Read More: North American Van Lines Review
Allied Van Lines : Best Customer Experience
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Allied Van Lines’ site
What We Like: Allied Van Lines is a professional moving company with nearly 100 years of experience. We like Allied’s focus on customer service. The company offers helpful online tools including a moving calculator, to-do checklists, and blog articles. You can use Allied’s mobile app to schedule and conduct virtual surveys and create a list of your household items. Like JK Moving, Allied gives each customer a personal moving coordinator to assist with the moving process from start to finish.
Cost: Allied Van Lines doesn’t give moving estimates for homes larger than three bedrooms. If you have a four-bedroom home or larger, you must call Allied to discuss the specifics of your Virginia relocation. The company will give you a binding estimate after conducting a virtual walkthrough of your home.
Allied won’t charge you a deposit to schedule your move. Instead, you will make a full payment after your moving shipment arrives at your new location. Allied accepts cash, certified checks, and credit cards.
Services: Allied Van Lines’ standout service is its line of mobile moving and storage containers. Allied’s containers are similar to those offered by self-service companies such as 1-800-PACK-RAT, but they come with a two- to four-person moving crew to help with loading and unloading. Most self-service companies only offer moving labor at an additional cost.
Allied also offers a variety of add-on options, including customized crates for oddly shaped fragile items, short- and long-term storage, and vehicle shipping.
Read More: Allied Van Lines Review
1-800-PACK-RAT : Best for Self-Service Moves
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Self-service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit 1-800-PACK-RAT’s site
What We Like: 1-800-PACK-RAT is our top pick for self-service moves. The company provides moving and storage containers for rent on a monthly basis, allowing you to move at your own pace. 1-800-PACK-RAT will drop off your empty containers in your driveway for easy loading. Once you are finished, the company will pick up your loaded containers and deliver them to your new home or a conveniently located storage facility.
Cost: Renting two 16-foot containers to move the contents of a four-bedroom home from Richmond, Virginia, to Chicago would cost about $4,050, according to 1-800-PACK-RAT’s online quote tool. One 16-foot container can hold several rooms’ worth of furniture and household items, or about 7,000 pounds. The contents of most four-bedroom homes weigh at least 14,000 pounds.
1-800-PACK-RAT doesn’t require an up-front deposit and accepts all major credit cards.
Services: 1-800-PACK-RAT has 8-, 12-, and 16-foot containers. Optional add-on services include hourly moving labor, short- and long-term storage, and vehicle shipping.
1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers are not available nationwide. The company cannot provide services in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Read More: 1-800-PACK-RAT Review
Compare the Top Moving Companies in Virginia
| Star Rating | BBB Rating | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Van Lines |  | B | VISIT SITE | |
| American Van Lines |  | A | VISIT SITE | |
| IMRG |  | B | VISIT SITE | |
| Safeway |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| Moving APT |  | B | VISIT SITE | |
| JK Moving |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| Allied |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| North American |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| United Van Lines |  | A+ | VISIT SITE | |
| Mayflower |  | A+ | VISIT SITE |
| International Van Lines | |
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| BBB Rating | B |
| American Van Lines | |
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| BBB Rating | B |
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| BBB Rating | A+ |
Our Recommendation
We recommend International Van Lines for those seeking a full-service moving experience. IVL is an experienced long-distance, international, and local mover with a variety of add-on services to help you create a moving plan that best suits your needs. Moving APT is also a great place to start if you aren’t sure which moving company you should hire. As a broker, Moving APT can access its large national network of professional movers to find one in your area that offers the specific services you require.
Our choice for self-service moves is 1-800-PACK-RAT because of its streamlined and convenient approach to moving. The company is also worth considering if your Virginia move requires temporary or long-term storage.
Regardless of your move’s size, we suggest reaching out to at least three moving companies before making a decision. Request quotes from each company you contact, and carefully review policies and guidelines to ensure you are hiring the professional mover that’s best-suited for your relocation.
Virginia Moving Companies FAQ
What factors affect the cost of a Virginia move?
The biggest factors that affect the cost of a Virginia move are the distance, size, and date of your move, including the season and day of the week. Local moves are typically less expensive than out-of-state relocations. Many companies base cost on the total weight of your household items, but some companies charge hourly for moves less than 50 miles. Additionally, moving costs are usually higher during peak season—April through September—and on the weekends.
How are moving companies regulated in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regulates moving companies in Virginia. The Virginia DMV’s website includes helpful information, such as consumer awareness tips and rights related to moving companies. The site also has a search tool to help customers find local movers in Virginia.
What are the benefits of hiring a mover in Virginia?
There are many benefits to hiring a mover in Virginia: Professional movers are well-trained in proper packing methods and can ensure your items remain safe during transit. Allowing a moving company to handle your packing needs also frees up your schedule to handle other key aspects of your relocation, such as canceling and setting up utility services. Additionally, moving companies must offer some form of contents coverage, which provides full or partial reimbursement for any items that are broken or damaged during the move.
How We Chose the Top Moving Companies in Virginia
We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and formulated a moving review methodology based on a number of factors, including package options, pricing, and reputation. We also identified customer pain points based on customer-review analysis, proprietary consumer surveys, and interviews with former and current moving professionals.
Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined the number of package options available, the coverage provided, the types of moves available (long-distance, local, and international), and any extra perks offered, such as mobile apps, moving checklists, and 24/7 customer service.
We also gathered pricing data from each of the companies and determined whether they provide ballpark estimates or binding quotes. To determine reputation, we evaluated companies based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as their overall score on Yelp.