Get Quotes from Top Movers in Philadelphia, PA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Moving Company in Philadelphia?

Household goods movers wishing to operate in Philadelphia legally must be licensed by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), maintain proper insurance coverage, and charge costs allowed by this agency. Moving businesses must also be registered with the FMSCA to provide interstate moving services. A mover's application takes roughly three months, and the filing fee is $350.

A mover can apply using any size vehicle, which must, however, be owned by the applicant. The applicant must also charge hourly or weight rates and provide written estimates and an Information for Shippers Form to customers. The moving company must also provide proof of Motor Carrier Insurance within 60 days of approval. Within 180 days of certification, home goods carriers must also undergo a safety fitness review and a review of household goods customer service standards.

While the PUC does not have an automated system for validating the licenses of moving businesses in Philadelphia, consumers are invited to visit the Commission's website to see the complete list of carriers with the PUC operating authority. A fine of $1,000 is imposed for operating as a mover without a license.

Moving companies also have to register locally in Philadelphia and obtain a business tax account number (for taxation purposes). They must also apply for a Commercial Activity License from the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections. Contact the Public Utility Commission at (717) 787-3834 for the Philadelphia movers' regulatory requirements.

How Much Do You Charge Compared with Other Movers in Philadelphia?

When planning a move inside or outside of Philadelphia, it is prudent to know how much you will need to pay for the services you require. The size and number of objects being transported, the distance from the point of departure to that of destination, extra services such as property storage and furniture assembly or disassembly, and tipping fees are all factors that determine moving prices in the city. Moving businesses in Philadelphia are required by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to charge customers using the following methods:

• Written binding rates: in this case, the mover gives a written estimate that includes all transportation expenses, agreed-upon services, and an inventory of the things to be moved. This is usually the only pricing method that allows for a precise estimate of the move's cost before the operation is completed.
• Charges are based on the time it takes to accomplish the job, including the time it takes the mover to get to and from the houses in question.
• Weight/distance rates: charges are computed using this approach based on the weight of the goods being transported and the distance traveled during the transport.

Before choosing a moving company for your move within and outside the city, it is a fantastic idea to get and compare moving rates from various movers in the area. Also, always request a bill of lading from the moving company at the time of pickup, regardless of the technique used to compute moving charges, as the bill can act as a receipt for your belongings being moved.

Philadelphia's transportation and material moving workers earn an average annual wage of $40,670. The list below compares the hourly average wages earned by these workers in the city against those of transportation and material moving workers in other parts of Pennsylvania as well as several other major cities in the country:

Will You Get a Moving Permit as Required by Philadelphia Regulations?

Philadelphia requires moving companies to obtain a Temporary No Parking (TNP) permit from the Philadelphia Department of Streets. To apply, the moving company must provide the following:

• Their name and contact information.
• The address where the moving truck will be parked, and so forth.
• The number of moving containers or dumpsters, as well as the length of the moving vehicle.
• The start and end time for your permit.

Application for a permit must be made at least four business days ahead of time. Movers are to contact the Streets Department's Right-of-Way Unit at (215) 686-5500 if they have not been contacted three days before they need the permit. The cost and duration of the permit are determined by how they intend to use the parking space. The location or size of the truck they are parking may also have an impact. Two parking spaces are roughly equal to forty feet. The rate for a 40-foot spot in Center City or University City is $50 per day. In the rest of the city, the cost is $25 per 40 feet of space each day.

To apply for a temporary no-parking permit, the moving company must fill out an online form. Application per permit should be made for one address only. The application will be reviewed by a member of the Right-of-Way Unit, after which an invoice or a request for additional information will be sent to the moving company. Payment should be made via the payment center online or one of the other options on the invoice. The final permission will be issued after a reviewer has verified payment. After this, the moving company can print their permit and bring it to a police district headquarters in Philadelphia. They will be given temporary no-parking notices from the police district.

If you have any questions, contact the Right-of-Way Unit of the Department of Streets at (215) 686-5500 or visit the Department's office at:

What Kind of Moving Services Do You Offer?

It is necessary to seek a moving company that provides the services you require and has the necessary experience when moving inside or outside of Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, moves or relocations are often divided into five categories, namely:

• Local move
• Long-distance move
• Inter-state move
• International move
• Small move

A local move takes place within 50 to 100 miles of your current address and does not need you to leave the state. Long-distance moves occur within the state, although they cover a longer distance than a local move. You're relocating to a new state when you make an interstate move. The cost of your move is influenced by the weight of your belongings and the add-on services. If you're relocating from one country to another, you'll need to find a mover specializing in international moves. The relocation cost is determined by the package size, measured in cubic meters or cubic feet. Finally, a small move is any local move, including items worth less than 2,000 pounds is referred to as.

Additional services offered by movers can be divided into two categories. The first is a full-service move - here, you sit back while the movers handle every aspect of the move, including packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and repacking your goods once they arrive at their final location. On the other hand, movers only load, transport, and unload the belongings in self-service moves - packing and unpacking will be your responsibility.

When getting into any agreements with a moving business, it is always a good idea to check out the exact nature of the services they provide to verify that they will satisfy your specific demands. Remember that it is your obligation to notify the moving company about the type and number of items you will be relocating, as well as any additional services you may require. This allows them to provide you with an accurate estimate of the cost of the moving services and avoid any future misunderstandings or disagreements.

The costs of basic relocation services supplied by professional moving companies in Philadelphia are listed below:

Do You Provide Packing and Storage Services?

Before your belongings are relocated to your new home or company, you may need to store them at a storage facility, which can be mobile or stationary. Apart from this, there are several other reasons why you might need self-storage, which include:

• Renovations that could damage your belonging
• Future relocation plans
• Long-distance move that requires time to settle
• Relocation to a space that won't accommodate all of your possessions.

Knowing if your chosen moving company provides packing and unpacking services saves you time and energy while ensuring that your valuables are safely packed and sorted before and after your relocation. Moving firms in Philadelphia usually provide the following types of packing services: full packing services, partial packing services, professional box handling and organization, and used box pick-up services.

You should always check to see if your prospective moving company offers the packing and storage services you need and how much they will cost, regardless of the reason for needing these services. If your chosen moving company does not offer packing and storage, choosing one that does will make the process go more smoothly because you will be dealing with a single organization. Determine how your belongings will be housed and identified, as well as if you can view the storage facility ahead of time to ensure suitability. Some movers even let customers save money by bringing their packing supplies, so enquire if yours does.

What is an Appropriate Tip for Your Movers in Philadelphia?

Whenever a service provider does an excellent job, it is customary to thank them with a tip, and movers are no different. Always remember things like the difficulties of the move and the care with which the movers transport your stuff. If your movers go above and above, consider tipping them at the higher rates. Ask yourself the following questions while considering whether or not to tip your movers in Philadelphia:

• Did the movers have to stop at multiple locations, such as your home and a storage unit off-site?
• Did you encounter many stairs or numerous levels during your move?
• Was there a lot of bulky furniture in the room?
• Did they go out of their way to add extra padding to fragile objects or carefully follow special instructions?
• Did they take particularly great care of any antiques or emotional items you had?
• Were they pleasant, kind, and efficient to be around?

Tipping movers is generally calculated using an hourly average of $4 to $5 per mover per hour. This tipping method works better than tipping 5 to 10 percent, where, if your moving budget is $2,000, you might tip between $100 and $200 and divide it evenly among the movers. This is because total expenses often include distance costs and other fees, the bulk of which do not require the movers to do any actual work,

You are not compelled to tip your movers. As a result, moving companies do not include the expense of these tips in their overall moving charges. Before making any hiring arrangements with your chosen moving company, ask them what they consider an appropriate tip for their movers. It is reasonable to leave no tip if the movers are rude or unprofessional, damage your belongings, or try to defraud you. In such a case, you should also notify your moving company about their movers' lack of professionalism.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Movers in Philadelphia?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, transportation and material moving workers accounted for 20 percent of all on-the-job injuries that needed time off from work in 2018. Before being granted motor carrier licenses by the Public Utility Commission, moving companies in Philadelphia must meet certain state-mandated insurance standards. Confirming that your chosen moving company meets these insurance standards is critical since it protects you from unexpected expenses and potential legal obligations if any work-related damages or accidents occur during your move.

Federal law mandates that interstate movers provide a minimum of 60 cents per pound in damage insurance; however, this protection is based on the item's weight rather than its worth. In addition to this, the PUC requires insurance coverage of $5,000 for loss or damage to cargo carried on a motor vehicle is also required. If you want total coverage, you should purchase full damage coverage from the mover or a third-party insurance company. You can also see if your homeowner's or renter's insurance will cover any loss or damage during the move.

It is advisable to always ask for proof of insurance from the moving company you are considering, and be sure that it covers liability and property damage, as well as cargo, workers' compensation, and disability insurance, if applicable. Confirm that the insurance is current and adequate to cover the extent of your relocation project by contacting the insurance provider that offers it. It is crucial to keep in mind that whatever homeowners' or renters' insurance you may have will not cover the cost of property damage caused by your move. If you have any questions about the insurance requirements for a moving company in Philadelphia, you can call the PUC at (717) 787-1227.

Can You Provide References or Recommendations in Philadelphia?

Referrals are usually a sign that a moving company follows through on its promises and provides competent service, and some moving companies post these referrals on their official websites. As a result, if your desired movers in Philadelphia are hesitant to supply potential consumers with references or letters of recommendation from delighted existing clients, consider it a warning sign. Nonetheless, it would be best if you always double-check any references you are given by contacting them and receiving a first-hand account of their moving experience.

You can tell a moving company is open to referrals and recommendations by its attitude to providing extraordinary customer service. In the moving industry, customer service is what makes a mover stand out from the bunch. Also, a company that actively seeks reviews and encourages social sharing, engages influencers, and trains staff for referral purposes is dedicated to reassuring its potential clients of its trustworthiness.