The best moving companies in Virginia

We found the best Virginia movers by researching more than 30 moving companies.
Best long-distance moving company
Best local moving company
Best moving container company
Best moving truck company
Best hourly moving labor company

Virginia’s homeownership rates are higher than the national average, and more than 1.2 million people moved in the state last year. Our pick for the best Virginia moving company is International Van Lanes. This professional mover is known for its interstate moving expertise, transparent pricing, and packing service. There are also high-quality alternatives, such as the nation’s leading moving container company, and a moving service specializing in local moves. We’ll walk you through the options whether you’re in Virginia Beach, Northern Virginia, or Hampton Roads.

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Are you moving to Richmond or Alexandria?

We researched Virginia movers to find the best Richmond moving companies and highest-rated Alexandria movers. Our top picks include a company with a 4.9-star rating and another with cheap moving containers.


Compare Virginia moving companies

Moving company
Move type
Move.org rating
Cost
Learn more
Full-service (long distance)
4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9
$$$$
Full-service (local)
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4
$$$
Moving container
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
$$$
Truck rental
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
$$
Hourly labor
4 out of 5 stars
4
$$

Best Movers in Virginia

International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company

Best long-distance moving company

International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.

pro
Pros
pro Transparent pricing
pro Local and long-distance moving
pro 15% car shipping discount
pro 15% senior discount
pro 30 days of free storage
con
Cons
con Below-average customer reviews
con Annoying pop-up ads

First National Van Lines—Best local moving company

Best local moving company

First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.

pro
Pros
pro Services most U.S. cities
pro Excellent customer reviews
pro In-home and virtual quotes
pro 30 days of free storage
pro Remote video storage
con
Cons
con Out-of-date website

PODS—Best moving container company

Best moving container company

PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.

pro
Pros
pro Low prices
pro Multiple container sizes
pro Lots of storage options
pro Positive customer reviews
pro 46-state availability
con
Cons
con Confusing prices

Penske—Best moving truck company

Best moving truck company

Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.

pro
Pros
pro Lowest moving prices
pro Local and long-distance rentals
pro Excellent customer reviews
pro Moving discounts
pro Reliable reservations
con
Cons
con No service in Alaska

HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company

Best hourly moving labor company

HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.

pro
Pros
pro Professional contractors
pro Packing and loading services
pro 4,750+ locations
pro 50-state availability
pro Positive customer reviews
con
Cons
con High prices
con Two-hour minimum

Move.org's top pick

internationalvanlines

International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?


What type of moving company is right for you?

Professional movers
They handle it all.

Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.

Containers
You load, they ship.

You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.

Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.

Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.


What to know about moving in Virginia

Population

Virginia has a population of approximately 8.6 million people—or about 220 residents per square mile.1 The largest ethnic groups are White, African American, and Asian.2 Over 90% of the population finished high school, and roughly 40% graduated from college. The average Virginia household has 2.6 people, and approximately 85% of people live in the same house as one year ago.1 Nearly 1.2 million people moved in Virginia last year, of which more than 75% made an interstate move.3

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Did you know?

Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819. The Founding Father’s epitaph references his university and the Declaration of Independence—but not his service as President of the United States.4

Employment

Virginia has a median income of approximately $76,400. Less than two-thirds of the population participates in the labor force,1 and the state added roughly 118,000 new payroll jobs last year.5 Old Dominion’s most popular industries are education, construction, and food services. Its highest-paying non-medical occupations include software publishing, commodities, and legal services. Virginia’s wealthiest regions are Loudoun County, Falls Church City, and Fairfax County. Conversely, the state’s poorest areas include Buchanan County, Dickenson County, and Lee County.2

Cost of living

Virginia is the 32nd most affordable state—meaning it’s more expensive to live in 31 states, and 18 states cost less. The state’s housing and health costs are abnormally high compared to the rest of the United States.6 Median property values in Virginia are approximately $283,000,1 and despite high housing costs, the homeownership rate is substantially higher than in most other states.2

Virginia utility bills aren’t cheap, however. The average resident pays about $410 monthly for water, sewage, and electricity. Our research also suggests that Virginians spend roughly $50 each month for TV streaming services, $60 for broadband internet, and about $110 for phone services.

Politics

Virginia politics don’t easily indicate a dominant political party. For example, a Pew Research Center poll found that 43% of the state favors the GOP, while 39% lean Democratic.7 But those numbers reversed during the 2020 presidential election. In that case, over 54% of voters cast their ballots for Joe Biden, while only 44% voted for Donald Trump.2

The most Republican areas of Virginia include Roanoke County, Wise County, and Lee County. In contrast, the areas with the highest concentration of Democrats are Petersburg County, Charlottesville County, and Richmond County.2

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Do moving services try to scam you?

The moving services on this list are legit—but not all moving companies are. You can avoid moving scams by double-checking license information, reading customer service reviews, and more.


Best movers Virginia FAQ

What is the best moving company in Virginia?

International Van Lines is the best mover in Virginia. It offers interstate moving services from anywhere in the country to Virginia cities like Virginia Beach, Richmond, and Alexandria.

What are the pros and cons of living in Virginia?

Virginia’s most attractive features include generous income, high homeownership rates, and lower-than-average property taxes. On the other hand, Virginians pay higher healthcare costs than most other states and have a longer commute than the average American.2

How do I find the right temporary storage solution in Virginia?

Virginia’s best temporary storage solutions have low prices, lots of locations, and plenty of security features. We also recommend checking customer reviews to ensure you don’t find red flags like hidden fees or rude customer service reps.

What are the benefits of hiring a mover in Virginia?

You may be able to find local moving discounts by hiring a mover in Virginia. Similarly, local moving costs are typically much cheaper than long-distance moves.

What factors affect the cost of a Virginia move?

Home size and moving distance impact the cost of a Virginia move. For example, moving a large home across the country is more expensive than moving a small apartment within the same city. Pricing also depends on whether you hire one of the best moving container companies, professional movers, or rental truck franchises.

How much do movers cost in Virginia?

The cost of movers in Virginia depends on which type of mover you hire. For example, professional movers can cost upwards of $10,000, while the cheapest moving truck companies can sometimes get the job done for around $1,000.


Methodology

We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor:

  • Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.

  • Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.

  • Mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.

  • Site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.

  • Regular review. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.

Sources

  1. United States Census Bureau. “Quick Facts: Virginia,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
  2. Deloitte. “Data USA: Virginia,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
  3. United States Census Bureau, December 15, 2020. “Census Bureau Releases 2020 CPS ASEC Geographic Mobility Data,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
  4. Library of Congress. “Thomas Jefferson’s Design of His Headstone,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
  5. United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, September 16, 2022. “Virginia Employment Report,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
  6. Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. “Cost of Living Data Series,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
  7. Pew Research Center. “Religious Landscape Study: Party Affiliation among Adults in Virginia,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
Kurt Manwaring
Written by
Kurt Manwaring
Kurt Manwaring brings nearly a decade’s worth of research experience as a business consultant to the Move.org team. He specializes in taking complicated issues (like moving) and presenting them in a way that everyone can understand. His writing has been featured in hundreds of publications, including USA Today, Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Heavy, Slate, and Yahoo! Lifestyle. He brings a BS in sociology and an MPA (masters of public administration) to the Move team. He would love to hear about your moving experiences and questions at kurt@move.org.