Guide
The DMV Moving Checklist
A move in DC, Maryland, or Virginia adds a few jobs that other places skip, such as a building insurance certificate, a reserved freight elevator, and a curb permit for the truck. This checklist puts every job in order, from six weeks out to your first two months at the new address.
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4 to 6 weeks out
Set the date and book the move
The date decides the price and how much choice you have. A Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in the middle of the month costs less than a weekend or the last days of the month. Book two to four weeks ahead for most dates, and four to six weeks ahead for the last weekend of a month or any date from June through August.
- Pick the date and a backup, then check both against your lease end and your move-in date.
- Check the notice period in your lease and give notice in writing. Some leases ask for 60 days, which is earlier than this checklist starts.
- Text us photos of each room with both addresses and your date. We send back one flat price, usually within 15 minutes during business hours.
- Hold the date. $100 holds it and comes off your final bill.
- Start one folder, on paper or on your phone, for the lease, the building rules, the quote, and any permits.
3 to 4 weeks out
Get both buildings' rules in writing
Apartment and condo buildings across the DMV set their own move rules, and the office will not always volunteer them. Email both buildings and ask.
- Ask whether movers need a certificate of insurance, and forward the requirement sheet to your mover the same day. We provide the certificate at no charge.
- Reserve the freight elevator and the loading dock at both buildings, with the time block in writing.
- Ask which days and hours moves are allowed, and whether there is a move fee or deposit.
- Ask where the truck parks. If the answer is the street, plan on the permit step two weeks out.
- For a townhome, ask the HOA where a truck can sit and for how long.
3 weeks out
Clear out and start packing
Everything you sell, donate, or throw out now is something you do not pack, carry, or pay to move. A one-bedroom takes most people several evenings and a weekend to pack, so start with what you will not miss.
- Go room by room and sort into keep, sell, donate, and trash. Start with closets, the basement, and any storage space.
- Schedule a donation pickup or a junk removal for what is left.
- Buy boxes, tape, and packing paper.
- Pack books, decor, off-season clothes, and anything else you will not need this month.
- Label each box on the side with the room it is going to.
2 weeks out
Parking, address, and utilities
This is the week with the most deadlines. Permit lead times differ by jurisdiction, and each one below was last checked in October 2026. A building with a loading dock or a home with a driveway can skip the permit lines.
- DC. Apply for a DDOT permit in TOPS if the truck will park on the street. The signs have to be printed at a kiosk and posted 72 hours ahead on a residential block.
- Arlington. Apply for a Moving Van/Container Permit at least five business days ahead.
- Alexandria. Apply for temporary reserved parking by noon, three full business days ahead.
- Rockville. Request temporary no-parking signs from the city at least five business days ahead.
- Bethesda and Silver Spring. Use the building's dock or a driveway. For metered curb, call the county's Division of Parking Management at 240-777-8740.
- File a USPS change of address. It costs $1.25 online and is free at a post office.
- Schedule electricity, gas, water, and internet. Stop service at the old address the day after you move out, and start it at the new one the day before you move in.
- Update the address on your renters insurance. Many buildings ask for proof at move-in.
1 week out
Confirm everything and pack down
By now the reservations exist. This week is for getting each one confirmed in writing.
- Confirm the building accepted the insurance certificate.
- Print DC no-parking signs at a kiosk, or confirm that your Arlington, Alexandria, or Rockville request went through.
- Tell your employer, your bank, and your card companies the new address.
- Pack the kitchen down to a few plates, one pan, and what you need for the week.
- Use up or give away frozen food, and defrost the freezer the day before if the refrigerator is coming with you.
- Confirm the arrival window and how you will pay the balance. Paying online by card or PayPal adds a 4.2% digital transaction fee.
2 to 3 days out
Last checks
Two days of slack keeps a late box or a missing reservation from landing on move day.
- Post DC signs at least 72 hours ahead on a residential block, and take a dated photo of each one.
- Reconfirm the elevator and the dock at both buildings.
- Finish packing. Everything should be boxed, taped, and labeled before the crew arrives.
- Pack a bag that travels with you, with documents, medication, chargers, keys, and a change of clothes.
- Take apart what you can, and tell us about anything the crew needs to take apart.
- Save the building office numbers and your crew contact in your phone.
Move day
Run the day
The crew does the carrying. Your part is access and decisions.
- Check that the signed space or the dock is clear before the truck arrives.
- Walk the crew lead through the home and point out fragile pieces and anything that is staying.
- Keep valuables, documents, and your travel bag with you.
- Do a final walkthrough of closets, cabinets, the balcony, and the storage unit.
- Photograph the empty unit and the meter readings, then return the keys and ask for a written receipt.
- At the new place, stand where you can direct furniture into rooms.
First 30 to 60 days
License, plates, and local sign-ups
If you crossed a state line, these clocks start the day you move in. Deadlines were last checked in October 2026 against DC DMV, the Maryland MVA, and the Virginia DMV, so confirm on each agency's site before you go.
- Moving to DC. Convert your license and register your vehicle within 60 calendar days. DC requires the license first, and the car has to pass a DC inspection.
- Moving to Maryland. Get your license, and title and register your vehicle, within 60 days. The car needs a Maryland safety inspection.
- Moving to Virginia. Register your vehicle with the DMV within 30 days and get your license within 60. Then register the vehicle with your county or city.
- Update car insurance to the state where the car is registered, and E-ZPass once the new plates arrive.
- Register to vote at the new address.
- License your pets where the local government requires it. DC licenses dogs, and Montgomery County licenses dogs and cats older than four months.
- Set a reminder for 45 days after move-out, which is the deadline for a landlord to return a deposit in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
FAQ
DMV moving questions, answered
How far in advance should I book movers in the DMV?
Two to four weeks ahead for most dates, and four to six weeks ahead for the last weekend of a month or any date from June through August. A midweek, mid-month date is easier to get and costs less.
What is a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and do I need one?
It is a one-page form from your mover's insurer that shows the coverage and names your building. Many apartment and condo buildings in the DMV require one before move day. Ask both buildings, send us the requirement sheet, and we provide the certificate at no charge.
Do I need a parking permit for the moving truck?
Only if the truck will park on a public street. DC, Arlington, Alexandria, and Rockville each have a way to reserve curb space, and the deadlines run from three business days in Alexandria to seven working days for metered spaces in DC. As of October 2026 we have not found a Montgomery County moving-truck permit for residential streets.
How does the flat-rate quote work?
Text us photos of each room, or use the quote form, with both addresses and your date. We send back one flat price, usually within 15 minutes during business hours. You know the number before you book.
When should I start packing?
Three weeks out for a one-bedroom, starting with what you will not miss. Finish two days before the move.
What should go in the bag I keep with me?
Documents, medication, phone chargers, keys, toiletries, a change of clothes, and basic tools. It rides with you, so the first night works even if nothing else is unpacked.
How long do I have to change my license after moving?
60 days in DC, Maryland, and Virginia if you moved from another state. Vehicle registration is 60 days in DC and Maryland and 30 days in Virginia.
Related guides
Keep planning your DMV move
DC Moving Parking Permits
How to reserve curb space in DC, Arlington, Alexandria, and Montgomery County.
Read the full guide: DC Moving Parking PermitsChange-of-Address Checklist
USPS, utilities, and the license and plate deadlines for DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Read the full guide: Change-of-Address ChecklistThe DMV Packing Guide
Room-by-room packing, with a schedule that starts three weeks out.
Read the full guide: The DMV Packing GuideJunk Removal & Decluttering
Clear out before you pack, with haul-away for what you are not taking.
Read the full guide: Junk Removal & DeclutteringFull-Service Moving in the DMV
Flat-rate local moves across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and what is included.
Read the full guide: Full-Service Moving in the DMVGet a Photo Quote
Text us photos of your place and get one flat price back.
Read the full guide: Get a Photo QuoteGet your flat price.
About a minute here, about 15 minutes for our text back.