Moving services in Virginia Beach: Plan Your Move

Check authority against the route

Give the mover both addresses, including any storage stop, before accepting a quote. Virginia DMV defines household goods to include personal effects moving between residences or between a residence and storage with the intent to move them to a residence later. Its Property Carrier permit authorizes operations within Virginia and household-goods delivery less than 31 road-miles from pickup. [3]

For a route of 31 road-miles or more, or a trip crossing a state line, ask the company to identify its applicable authority and explain how you can verify it. The Property Carrier permit described here does not cover those household-goods trips. Request route-specific confirmation before accepting a description such as local move. [3]

Start with the approved-carrier search that DMV links from its Licensed Transportation Services page. DMV also displays applicants requesting operating authority on that page. Check approval separately from an application, and have the mover match its legal business name to the name on your agreement. [4]

Compare quotes for the same work

Send each mover the same room-by-room inventory and photos of large or fragile items. Describe stairs, elevator access, doorway measurements, and the intended truck stopping point at both addresses. Have the mover confirm which items the crew will pack, dismantle, carry, reassemble, and remove from boxes at delivery.

Request a written explanation of the charging method, minimum charge, travel time, packing materials, storage, and cancellation terms. Ask what happens if you change the inventory or the crew cannot use the agreed loading point. Separate furniture for disposal from items that will travel to your new home.

Ask for insurance documentation and an explanation of the mover’s responsibility for damaged belongings. Virginia DMV lists insurance requirements that vary with vehicle weight and operation, including exceptions affecting cargo-insurance requirements. Ask what payment you could receive for a damaged item and which exclusions apply. [3]

Plan an Eastern Shore crossing

If your move uses the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, have the mover identify the vehicle class before you compare toll allowances. The district’s published schedule charges $23 for an initial Class 9 crossing and $28 for an initial Class 10 crossing. Class 9 covers specified two-axle, six-tire vehicles over eight feet high; Class 10 includes specified three-axle vehicles and certain truck-and-trailer combinations. [5]

Ask whether the quote includes the loaded trip and any return crossing. The chart shows two published crossing fees, rather than total household-moving costs. Confirm the truck’s axle count, height, and applicable weight limits with the mover before assigning a toll class. [5]

Prepare for delivery and document damage

Photograph furniture and fragile items before packing. Keep keys, medicines, essential documents, and a first-night bag with you. Label boxes by destination room, and agree who will meet the crew at each address. Confirm elevator reservations or loading arrangements with your building manager before move day.

Inspect belongings during delivery and keep a written record of damage. For household goods transported under Virginia’s Property Carrier rules, the carrier must acknowledge a written loss or damage claim within 30 days of receiving it. Within 120 days, it must pay, decline payment in writing, or make a firm written settlement offer. If it has not resolved the claim within 120 days, it must send status reports every 30 days explaining the delay. [3]

Selected Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel truck crossing fees

Match the move to your next step

Your hiring checklist

1. Give each mover both addresses and identify storage stops.
2. Request the company’s legal name and the authority covering your route.
3. Share one inventory and the same access photos with each bidder.
4. Confirm packing, dismantling, reassembly, and specialty-item handling in writing.
5. Ask who pays route tolls and whether the quote includes return crossings.
6. Separate furniture disposal from the shipment and confirm pickup arrangements.
7. Request water-service handover and check the request status.
8. Photograph belongings and retain the agreement, inventory, and damage correspondence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a local-move quote prove the mover has the right authority?

Check the actual route and the company’s authority. Virginia’s Property Carrier permit permits household-goods delivery within Virginia only when the destination is less than 31 road-miles from pickup. Ask the mover to explain the authority covering your addresses. [3]

Can I arrange city pickup for furniture I am leaving behind?

Residents receiving Virginia Beach curbside services can request bulky-item pickup for qualifying items. The city recommends submitting the request at least three days before your regular weekly trash day. Confirm eligibility and arrangements before excluding the furniture from your moving inventory. [1]

Can I request a water-service transfer over the weekend?

Registered users can submit transfer requests through Public Utilities Online Services, but staff will not see weekend submissions until the following business day. Track the request status and confirm your handover arrangements. Call 311 for urgent weekend issues. [2]

Do the chart’s toll amounts show what my move will cost?

They show initial Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel crossing fees for two specified vehicle classes. They exclude moving labor, packing, storage, and other charges. Ask your mover which class applies and how it handles crossing charges in the quote. [5]