Performance

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regulates the moving industry in Virginia. They regulate and control all household goods carriers doing business in the Commonwealth in all matters relating to their performance of their duties as such carriers and their rates and charges.

The DMV requires that all rates and charges shall be filed with them and subject to their approval.

The Mover’s tariff (catalog of rates and charges) may be filed individually or as a group. The DMV is responsible to correct any abuses in the moving industry in Virginia.

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Standards of Insurance

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) mandates that all certificated Movers performing moving services in the Commonwealth have a minimum amount of insurance for Public Safety and Cargo protection in force. All household goods carriers shall be covered by an insurance policy or bond.

No certificated household goods carrier or a permitted household goods carrier can operate without coverage on file at the DMV. You may check this link for more information.

DMV Motor Carrier Services

The minimum amount of insurance for Bodily Injury and Property coverage is $750,000.00.

The minimum amount of insurance for Cargo coverage is $50,000.00. A Mover may issue an Advice of Coverage for higher levels of Cargo insurance based on various fees and deductibles. The rates in the Mover's tariff includes the Standard amount of liability for cargo which is $.60 per pound per article.

Strict standards are required for maximum protection of the Consumer of moving services in Virginia and for Public Safety.

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Certificate of Public Convenience

Mover’s operating authority is called a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. They must have this operating authority in order to offer moving services on shipments that move 31 miles or more within the state of Virginia.

Use this link to ascertain that a Mover has a current Certificate with DMV
Certified Movers per DMV

A permit is issued for Movers who offer moving services on shipments that are 30 miles or less.

Mover's Tariff

All of Virginia’s certificated Movers (restricted Common carriers) are required to have available for Public inspection their tariff which contains the approved rates and charges.

Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) stipulates that there shall be no changes to the tariff without a 30 day written notice to them.

Moving services for shipment that are transported 31 miles or more are required by law to be rated with the Mover’s tariff which includes their published rates and charges. Tariff rules govern the operation and the normal day-to-day moving services plus it includes the particular rates and charges associated with the services.

The main reason for the existence of the Virginia Movers and Warehousemen Association (VMWA) is to facilitate this relationship between the Regulators and the Movers. Tariff publication is the essence of the Movers relationship with VMWA.

Individual Movers grant VMWA a Power of Attorney, which gives them the ability to publish rates and charges for their account in the VMWA published tariff.

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Claim Settlement Guidelines

Consumers have thirty days (30) to file a claim with their Mover from the actual delivery date of their shipment. Failure to file the claim within the 30-day limit means that the Mover will not accept the claim.

Settlement of the claim is dependent on the type of coverage selected. The Bill of Lading is the document that contains the actual type of coverage that was applicable for the shipment.