Moving guides for do-it-yourself truck moves.
How to load a truck, pack a POD, choose a crew size and get ready for move day. For moves where you rent the truck and hire help.
Moving rules in 1,900+ US cities: what we found
We read the official code and city pages for more than 1,900 US cities. We recorded every rule about containers in the street, trucks and trailers, snow bans, permit parking and quiet hours.
Do you need a permit for a moving container?
Where a POD or moving truck can go in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and nearby cities, who applies for the permit, and what to ask before delivery day.
How to reserve street parking for a moving truck or POD
Most big cities will reserve curb space for a moving truck if you apply in time. Here's how to apply, how far ahead, what it costs and how to avoid a tow.
How much do movers cost per hour?
What labor-only moving help and full-service movers charge per hour, typical minimums, how long jobs take, and the fees that change the total. Every figure is sourced.
Moving-day checklist
What to finish before the crew arrives, what to have ready and what to check before you drive away.
Coordinating help at two addresses
Loading and unloading are two separate jobs. Here's how to plan each one.
Snow emergencies and winter parking bans: a city-by-city guide for moving day
During a snow emergency, many cities tow cars and trucks off snow routes or ban street parking. Here are the official winter rules for every city we've researched.
College move-in and move-out dates for 2026–27
Official residence-hall closing, move-out and move-in dates for colleges in the cities we cover. We remove each date after it passes.
How to describe your inventory
The details that change how long a move takes, and how to describe them quickly.
How to load a moving truck
The loading order, weight placement and tie-downs that make a rental truck safe to drive and quick to unload.
Moving into a permit-parking zone: visitor and temporary permits, by city
In residential permit-parking districts, a rental truck or a helper's car can be ticketed without the right permit. Here are the official rules for every city we've researched.
How to pack a portable moving container
Portable containers get lifted, tilted and driven. Here's how to pack one so nothing shifts.
Quiet hours: when you can load a moving truck, by city
Many cities limit noisy work such as loading, unloading and handling boxes at night and early in the morning. Here are the official quiet-hour rules for every city we've researched.
How many movers do I need? (And how much help to book)
Crew size depends on stairs, carry distance and how ready you are, not just the number of bedrooms.
Moving permit rules by state
Where you can park a POD, dumpster or moving truck in each city. Every rule links to its official source.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming