Hiring a mover feels like a small decision next to buying a house, until the truck shows up late, the price has doubled, or a sofa arrives with a gouge in it. What protects you depends on one question: how far are you going? In Virginia a short local move, a longer in-state move and a move across state lines fall under different rules, and a few of the most useful protections are in the Code of Virginia and on federal websites that most people never open. This guide walks through what the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles requires, what an estimate does and does not promise, what coverage you are actually buying, and the red flags the federal government lists for moving fraud. We read each source named here directly and quote only what it says.
Which rules apply depends on the distance
There are three cases, and it pays to know which one is yours before you collect quotes.
- In-state, 31 road miles or more. The Virginia DMV’s household goods carrier page lists the certificate, bond and insurance a mover needs to operate in Virginia.
- In-state, under 31 road miles. Under Article 4 of Chapter 21 of Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia, section 46.2-2149, household goods carriers moving for a lesser distance than thirty-one road miles are exempt from the article except the claims rules in section 46.2-2168. A move within the Richmond area, whether in the City of Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield or Hanover, can easily fall into this group, so do not assume a DMV certificate exists for a short move.
- Across state lines. Interstate movers fall under federal rules. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) runs a consumer program called Protect Your Move, and its steps for selecting a mover say a U.S. DOT number is required for interstate moves.
The FMCSA page adds that for moves within a state, requirements vary, and it points readers to their state, county or local consumer affairs agency or state attorney general.
What Virginia requires of a household goods mover
Virginia’s DMV regulates this industry. Section 46.2-2150 of the Code says no household goods carrier, unless exempt, may operate intrastate without first obtaining a certificate of fitness from the DMV, and section 46.2-2155 gives the DMV power to regulate carriers and their rates and charges. The DMV page describes what a certified carrier must have:
- A surety bond or letter of credit of $50,000 on file with the DMV’s Motor Carrier Services.
- Liability insurance of $750,000 for bodily injury and property damage, plus $50,000 in cargo insurance. The DMV notes the cargo requirement does not apply to carriers using only passenger cars, motorcycles or vehicles of 10,000 pounds gross weight or less.
- A tariff, which is the published list of its rates and rules, filed with the DMV. For deliveries over 30 miles the carrier must charge the rates in that tariff, and section 46.2-2170 makes it unlawful to charge more than the tariff in effect.
- A copy of the bill of lading carried on the truck and kept at the business for at least three years.
What this means in practice: ask a mover for its certificate or exemption basis in writing, and ask for its published tariff. A legitimate carrier can show you both.
How to check a mover before you sign anything
For an interstate move, use the FMCSA’s registered-mover tool. FMCSA’s selection steps describe it as giving up-to-date access to registered interstate movers and their complaint history, and the same page recommends checking with local consumer protection agencies too. FMCSA also separates movers from brokers: a mover owns trucks and employs the crew, while a broker is a middleman who is not authorized to transport goods. Ask whether you are talking to a mover or a broker, and get the name of the company whose truck will arrive.
For an in-state move of 31 road miles or more, ask for the DMV certificate and confirm it with the DMV’s Motor Carrier Services. For a shorter local move, the checks are practical rather than regulatory: the company’s real name and address, proof of insurance in writing, and references you can contact. Our local Richmond vendors page is a starting point for finding service providers, but run every company, including the ones we list, through these checks yourself.
What an estimate really means
Virginia law has specific wording for written estimates. Under section 46.2-2157, a written estimate must carry the words “ESTIMATED COST OF SERVICES” across the top and include a notice that the estimate covers only the articles and services listed and is not a guarantee the charges will not exceed it. The same section says a carrier may bind the estimate so the charges cannot exceed it, except for accessorial tariff charges at destination that were not known until delivery. Ask which kind you are getting, and get it in writing.
Two other points in the statute are worth knowing. An estimate may be based on a visual inspection or on information you supply, so the mover is allowed to quote from a description, but FMCSA’s guidance is that the estimate should be based on an actual in-person inspection of your goods. And if a mover gives you a written estimate, section 46.2-2157(B) requires the carrier to give you a DMV-approved information booklet and to get your receipt for it.
For interstate moves, FMCSA states the federal 110 percent rule: movers are required by law to deliver your goods for no more than 10 percent above the price of a non-binding estimate. FMCSA also says the mover must give you the booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.
If you are charged by weight, Virginia’s rules give you real protections. Weighing must be on a certified scale, you may accompany the carrier to the scale and watch, and you can ask for a reweigh before delivery, with the lower of the two net weights used to set charges (sections 46.2-2163 and 46.2-2167). Bound estimates are exempt from the weighing section.
Valuation and insurance: what you are really buying
FMCSA’s liability and protection page explains the two options an interstate mover must offer. Full Value Protection makes the mover responsible for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods and applies automatically unless you choose otherwise. It costs more, and the price varies by mover and deductible. Released Value Protection costs nothing extra, but the mover is responsible for no more than 60 cents per pound per article. FMCSA’s own example is a 25-pound TV, which would bring you $15.
In Virginia, section 46.2-2162 bars a carrier from advertising that “all loads are insured” unless it has filed tariffs assuming complete liability and evidence of insurance covering shipments to their full value. FMCSA lists the same claim as a red flag. Before buying third-party insurance, FMCSA suggests checking your homeowner’s policy to see if you are already covered. On damage claims, section 46.2-2168 requires a carrier to acknowledge a written claim within 30 days, then pay, decline or make a firm written settlement offer within 120 days, and it bars contracts that shorten the claim-filing period below 30 days or the suit period below two years.
Deposits, payment and delivery day
Virginia’s statute lets a carrier require prepayment for a specific service (section 46.2-2161), and it also lets a carrier refuse to deliver until tariff charges are paid in cash, money order, cashier’s check, wire or an approved credit card, unless other satisfactory arrangements were made. So plan the delivery-day payment method before the truck leaves, and put any other arrangement in writing. FMCSA lists a demand for cash or a large deposit before the move as a red flag, so a request for a big upfront payment from a company you have not verified is a reason to stop.
Planning a move around a closing date?
Ask us for the Richmond closing-timeline checklist. It lays out the order of the steps from contract to keys, so you can see when it is safe to lock in a truck and a mover. If you are still searching, our property search shows what is available now.
Red flags FMCSA tells consumers to watch for
FMCSA’s red flags list is short and worth printing. Among the items it names are:
- An estimate given over the phone or online without any on-site look at your belongings.
- No written estimate, or a promise to set the cost after loading.
- A demand for cash or a large deposit before the move.
- A request to sign blank documents.
- No copy of the rights booklet and the Ready to Move brochure.
- A website with no local address and no registration or insurance information.
- A claim that all goods are covered by the mover’s insurance.
- A phone answered “Movers” instead of the company name.
- On moving day, a rental truck rather than a company-owned or marked truck.
- A claim, on moving day, that you have more belongings than estimated.
Fitting the mover into your closing and possession dates
A mover is the last link in a chain of dates. Your contract sets when you take possession, and closings can slip; our posts on how long a closing takes and what can delay one explain why. Before you book, confirm the possession date in your contract and ask any mover what it charges to reschedule. Do not pay a large deposit for a date that is not yet firm.
If your lease ends before closing, or the other way around, read how to time a move from renting to owning. Once you have the keys, the first 30 days after closing covers what to do next.
Access matters for what a crew can do and what it may add to a quote. A walk-up row house in the Fan, an elevator condo in Scott’s Addition and a driveway home in Midlothian raise different questions about stairs, elevators and parking, so describe your actual addresses to every mover who quotes. If you are buying, our buyer guidance covers the other end of the process.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Contracts, claims and disputes with a mover can turn on the specific documents you signed, so for questions about your own situation talk to a Virginia real estate attorney or a consumer attorney.
Get the closing-timeline checklist before you book the truck
Ask us for the Richmond closing-timeline checklist. It covers the sequence from contract to possession, the points where dates tend to move, and where a mover booking fits, so your move date is built on the real calendar.
Questions about hiring a mover
What does a Virginia mover have to pay to be certified?
The DMV page lists a $50 filing fee and $10 per vehicle each year (not for passenger cars, motorcycles or vehicles of 10,000 pounds GVWR or less), plus a $50,000 bond or letter of credit kept on file for five years. These are costs the mover bears, which is useful when judging whether a very cheap quote leaves room for proper insurance.
Can a mover hold my belongings until I pay?
Under the Code of Virginia section 46.2-2161, a carrier does not have to deliver until all tariff rates and charges are paid by cash, postal money order, traveler’s check, cashier’s check, bank wire or approved credit card, unless other satisfactory arrangements were made. Settle the payment method in writing before moving day.
What is the difference between a mover and a moving broker?
FMCSA says a mover owns trucks and employs the crew, while a broker is a middleman not authorized to transport goods. Brokers must be registered with FMCSA, must provide the rights booklet, and must use only registered movers.
Is a mover’s Released Value coverage enough for a television?
FMCSA’s example: under Released Value, a 25-pound TV is covered at 60 cents per pound, so a payout of $15, however much the TV cost. Full Value Protection instead covers replacement value. Read the valuation section of the bill of lading before you sign.
Should I buy third-party moving insurance?
FMCSA says you may buy insurance from a third-party company, and suggests checking your homeowner’s insurance policy first to see whether you are already covered. Ask your insurer in writing what a policy covers while goods are in transit.
Does FMCSA settle disputes with a moving company?
No. FMCSA says it does not have the authority to resolve claims against a moving company, though it takes fraud complaints. For in-state household goods carriers, the Code of Virginia places them under the DMV’s control, supervision and regulation.
Does packing my own boxes affect my coverage?
It can. FMCSA notes that packing your own boxes may save money, but if items you packed are damaged, it may be harder to establish a claim against the mover for them.
What should I do if my closing date moves after I booked a mover?
Contact the mover right away and ask what its written terms say about rescheduling. The Virginia article we read does not set a standard answer, which is why you should get the cancellation and rescheduling terms in writing before paying any deposit.
