How much does a long-distance move from Virginia cost?
It depends mostly on the weight of your shipment, the distance, and extras such as packing, stairs, long carries, storage and liability coverage. Interstate movers price from a published tariff, so the reliable number is a written estimate after a survey of your home. Under a non-binding estimate the mover cannot demand more than 110 percent of it at delivery.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Cut the weight first
Sell, donate or haul away what you will not use before any survey, since weight drives most of the line-haul charge.
Step 2: Write one inventory
List rooms, large items, an approximate box count and anything fragile or very valuable, and give every mover the same list.
Step 3: Ask for a survey
Have each mover see your belongings on site or by video, and decline any price given from a room count over the phone.
Step 4: Describe both buildings
Tell each mover about stairs, elevators, long walks, narrow streets and parking at both ends, so those charges are priced up front.
Step 5: Choose the estimate type
Ask for a binding estimate if you want a fixed price for the listed items, or a non-binding one capped at 110 percent at delivery.[2]
Step 6: Price the coverage
Ask what Full Value Protection costs at your shipment's weight and deductible, and compare it with the free 60 cents per pound option.
Step 7: Compare line by line
Put the estimates side by side by line-haul, packing, accessorial charges, valuation and storage, not just by the total.
Step 8: Confirm payment terms
Check the form of payment the mover will accept at delivery, and get it written on the estimate and the bill of lading.
There is no single price for a long-distance move from Virginia, and any figure given without seeing your home is a guess. What you will pay comes from four things: how much your shipment weighs, how far it goes, the extra services it needs, and the liability coverage you choose. Interstate movers price all of it from a published tariff, so the way to a real number is a written estimate after a survey. Here is what goes into that estimate and how to keep it honest.
Weight and distance: the line-haul charge
The biggest line on most bills is the line-haul charges, the charges for the transportation portion of your move.[1] It usually depends on the weight and the distance. On a non-binding estimate, final charges on a non-binding estimate are based on the actual weight of your shipment, the services provided and the mover's published tariff,[1] so every box you leave behind lowers the bill.
To find the weight, the mover must weigh it on a certified scale.[1] You have the right to watch each weighing, and you may ask for a reweigh before unloading at no charge.[1] If a mover estimates by volume and converts to weight later, it must explain the conversion formula in writing.[2] Small shipments carry a floor: Most movers have a minimum weight charge, and if your shipment may fall under it, the minimum cost must be stated on the bill of lading.[1]
Extra services
On top of line-haul come accessorial services such as packing, unpacking, appliance servicing or piano carrying.[1] A flight charge for carrying items up or down stairs[1] is common in townhouses and walk-up apartments. Advanced charges cover work done by a third party at your request, which the mover pays and adds to your bill.[1]
Tell every mover about both buildings during the survey. If the mover fails to ask about and price charges such as elevators or long carries before the bill of lading, it must deliver your goods and bill those charges after 30 days.[2] Charges for impracticable operations, where the mover needs special equipment or extra labour to reach your home, can be collected at delivery only up to 15 percent of all other charges due.[1] A narrow street where a tractor-trailer cannot fit is a common example.
Storage adds cost too. If your new home is not ready, ask what storage in transit costs per period and when it would turn into permanent storage.
Binding or non-binding
The kind of estimate decides how far the final bill can move. A binding estimate fixes what you can be required to pay at delivery for the items and services listed, and the mover may charge a fee to prepare one.[1] A non-binding estimate must be free.[2] With a non-binding estimate, the mover cannot require more than 110 percent of it at delivery,[1] and any remaining charges are billed after 30 days.[1]
A very low non-binding estimate is not a bargain if the real weight comes in far higher. Compare the estimated weight on each one; if one mover's weight is far below the others, ask why.
Liability coverage
Coverage is a real cost line. The minimum valuation for pricing Full Value Protection is $6.00 per pound times the weight of your shipment,[1] and movers may use a higher figure or offer deductibles that change the price. The waiver option, released value at 60 cents per pound per article, costs nothing extra,[1] but pays very little on a light, expensive item. Ask each mover for the Full Value Protection price at your estimated weight and deductible.
Paying at delivery
Plan for the payment before the truck arrives. If you cannot pay what is due at delivery, the mover may put your shipment in storage at your expense.[1] Do not assume a mover accepts a credit card unless the bill of lading says so.[1]
Moves that stay inside Virginia
A move from Alexandria to Abingdon is long, but it is intrastate, so Virginia DMV rules apply instead of the federal ones. Among them, a Virginia-certificated household goods carrier must charge the rates in the tariff it filed with DMV for deliveries over 30 miles.[3] Ask to see the rates that apply. Whether movers need a licence in Virginia and what local movers cost cover the in-state side.
Ways to bring the price down
- Move less. Weight is the main driver.
- Pack the easy rooms yourself and pay for packing only for the kitchen, art and fragile pieces.
- Ask each mover which services are optional. Packing, storage in transit and extra stops are priced separately in its tariff.
- Consider hiring labour only and driving a rental truck yourself; movers or just loading help weighs that choice.
- Check that each mover is registered. Only interstate movers are included in FMCSA's mover search,[4] and a price from an unregistered company is no bargain. See how to check an interstate mover.
Stop and call a pro if
- An estimate is far below the others with no clear reason, or arrives without a survey. Get another estimate.
- A mover asks for a large cash deposit before the move or will not put the price in writing.
- You have a piano, safe, hot tub or very heavy item. Get it priced by a crew with the right equipment.
- Appliances need gas, water or electrical disconnection. A licensed tradesperson should do that work, and it may appear as an advanced charge.
Get quotes on Loclis
For the full timeline, see how to plan a long-distance move. Browse more junk removal and moving answers, or describe your move and get quotes from businesses that serve your area.
Common questions
- Why won't movers give me a price over the phone?
- Federal rules require an interstate mover's estimate to be based on a physical survey of your goods, on site or by video, unless you waive it in writing. A quick phone figure is not an official estimate, and the final bill on a non-binding move follows the actual weight.
- Can the final bill be higher than the estimate?
- On a non-binding estimate, yes, because the bill follows the actual weight and services. But the mover cannot require more than 110 percent of the estimate at delivery; any remainder is billed after 30 days. A binding estimate fixes the price for the items and services listed.
- Is Full Value Protection worth paying for?
- It depends on what you are moving. The free option pays no more than 60 cents per pound per article, so a light, expensive item recovers very little. Full Value Protection costs more but means repair, replacement or payment for a lost or damaged item, subject to the mover's tariff and any deductible.
- What extra charges should I watch for?
- Packing and unpacking, stairs, elevators, long carries, shuttle trucks where a large truck cannot reach the house, appliance servicing by a third party, and storage in transit. Ask each mover to price these before you sign.
- Does a move from Northern Virginia to Southwest Virginia follow the federal rules?
- No. A move that stays inside Virginia is intrastate, under Virginia DMV's household goods carrier rules, and a certificated carrier must charge the rates in its DMV tariff for deliveries over 30 miles.
- Is it cheaper to rent a truck and drive it myself?
- It can be, if you count only the bill, but add fuel, lodging, loading help, insurance and your own days of driving. Many people hire loading and unloading help at each end and drive the truck themselves.
Sources
- [1] Appendix A to Part 375, Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, via the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] 49 CFR Part 375, Transportation of Household Goods in Interstate Commerce; Consumer Protection Regulations, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [3] Household Goods Carrier, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [4] Search Movers and Complaint History: Search by Company, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Checked October 27, 2026.
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