Get Quotes from Top Movers in Austin, TX

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

Moving companies in Austin are licensed at the state level by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). These businesses are required to obtain a license, also known as a certificate of motor carrier registration, from the TXDMV before they can operate in the city. Hiring a moving company that the TxDMV has not licensed exposes you to various risks, including loss of properties being moved. As such, you should always check the TxDMV's truck stop database to confirm whether the moving company you intend to hire is licensed.

Movers in the city can obtain this license by creating a user profile on the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Motor Carrier Division's elink portal. However, the elink portal allows only applicants who have previously registered with the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and have obtained an intrastate USDOT number to create this profile.

Applicants who do not have a USDOT should obtain one online using the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's unified registration system before creating a profile with the TxDMV.

As soon as a profile is created, the applicant can apply for a certificate of motor carrier registration on the elink portal. Immediately after the application is approved, the applicant will be sent an email with their Unique Identifier Number (UIN), which they must send to their insurance company. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their insurance company purchases and submits the necessary insurance policies for their certificate.

When the insurance company submits the necessary insurance policies, the applicant will be sent an email instructing them to log in to MCCS and pay the appropriate fees for the application. Only applicants who have completed the application process and paid the fees will be issued a TxDMV Certificate number. Queries concerning the requirements for obtaining a certificate of motor registration can be directed to TxDMV at (800) 299-1700.

In addition to obtaining a state-issued license, movers in the city are also required to meet certain business requirements in the city. These requirements include mandatory business registration, usually determined by the business structure. For example, moving companies that are sole proprietorships in Austin must file paperwork for their Assumed name with the Travis County Clerk's Office, whereas partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations will register with the Texas Secretary of State. Other business requirements for moving companies include complying with federal, state, and local tax responsibilities and getting the right insurance policies. Call the city's Economic Development Department at (512) 974-7800 for more information concerning business registration in Austin.

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

The cost of transporting household items and property to a new residential address in Austin is determined by several factors. These factors include the weight and quantity of things to be moved, the distance between the point of take-off and the destination, and add-on services such as storage, packing and unpacking, and furniture disassembly or reassembly.

Although moving costs vary based on the above factors, it is still important to speak to multiple moving companies before choosing the best. You can ask each moving company to provide a written estimate for the job and carefully read each estimate. This will help you determine the average market price for the service while ensuring that you do not fall prey to scammers who charge more than is required.

In addition to getting estimates from different moving companies, it is also good to ask the moving company for a copy of their tariff (rates). Tariffs are the maximum rates a moving company can charge for moving your household items.

Movers in Austin calculate their rates using the following methods:

• Hourly Rates: here, rates are determined by the amount of time required to do the job, including the minimum amount of time it will take to get to the new residential address
• Weight/Distance rates: rates are determined by the weight of the item to be moved and the distance the mover will travel to get to the new residential address
• Written binding rates: these rates include the cost of all the transportation charges and agreed-upon services.

Austin's transportation and material moving workers earn an average annual wage of $38,580. 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 Texas State as well as several other major cities in the country:

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

Before signing any contract with a moving company, always inquire if a permit is required for the type of service you are looking for and if they will be willing to secure the necessary permits. In Austin, commercial vehicles may require permits depending on where the customer's residence is located and when loading or unloading the vehicle will occur.

For example, if the customer's residence is located in the downtown area project coordination zone, which is subject to limitations on specific streets, commercial vehicles, including household goods motor carriers, are required to get a commercial loading zone permit. Parking without a commercial loading zone permit in any of these areas will result in a fine of $250 to $500 for the offender.

To avoid paying fines, movers must apply for a commercial loading zone permit. To get the permit, applicants are required to download and go through the commercial loading zone application packet and fill out the necessary information concerning the type of commercial loading zone permit they need. Applicants can submit the completed commercial loading zone applications via email.

Upon receiving the application, an email will be sent to the applicant confirming the application and scheduling a meeting for the applicant to pay the appropriate permit fees and pick up the permit. Note that permits will only be issued to individuals who have paid the necessary permit fees. For more information concerning the process and use of commercial loading zone permits, call the Parking Enterprise Division at (512) 974-1563.

In addition to obtaining a commercial loading zone permit, household goods motor carriers must comply with the city's parking regulations. Austin regulates on-street parking to enhance safety and access to available parking spaces for all. Household goods motor carriers are advised to familiarize themselves with the Austin Code on Metered and Pay Station Parking, the Texas Transportation Code, and the State Capitol Complex Parking Information.

By familiarizing themselves with these codes, movers will get the correct information about what is allowed and what is not on the city roads and highways. For more information concerning the applicable parking regulations in the city, call the Parking Enterprise Division at (512) 974-1496.

What Kind of Moving Services Do You Offer?

Moving companies in Austin offer different types of moving services to residents who wish to transport properties or household items to their new residential address. These services are generally categorized into five, namely:

• Local moving
• Long-distance moving
• Small moving
• Interstate moving, and
• International moving

Local moves involve transporting household goods and property over less than 100 miles, whereas long-distance moves are over 100 miles. Likewise, small moves involve transporting items weighing less than 3,500 pounds, usually on short notice.

Transporting household items and property from Texas to another state in the country is known as an interstate move. Moving internationally, however, entails carrying personal belongings and property outside of the United States.

In addition to these services, many moving companies in the city offer add-on services to interested customers. These services include packing and unpacking, disassembly and reassembly, storage, debris pickup and cleaning, and handling special items.

Regardless of the type of service you need, It is in your best interests to make sure that the moving company you wish to use specializes in the services you require. Ascertaining that the moving company you want to use specializes in the service you need protects you from unnecessary mistakes that may lead to loss of items and property damage.

Furthermore, it is also in your best interest to provide the moving company with accurate information about the items you want to move, as this will help them submit an accurate estimate for the job.

Listed below are cost estimates for moving services commonly provided by professional moving companies in Austin:

Do You Provide Packing and Storage Services?

Before retaining the services of moving companies in the city, it is crucial to be sure of the service you need. While every moving company provides transportation, some of them include packing and unpacking your belongings and storage in their list of services. As a result, you should always double-check whether the moving company you are considering hiring provides these services.

Listed below are common packing and unpacking services that movers in Austin offer:

• Full packing services,
• Partial packing services,
• Professional box handling and organization
• Used box pick-up services.

Apart from the aforementioned packing and unpacking services, some movers in the city also offer storage for household items and property. Instances where a storage service may be required include, but not limited to:

• When your new apartment is not ready and you have to move out of your old one
• When your new apartment has less space to contain the household goods and property being moved

However, before hiring a moving company for storage services, it is always good to ensure they have the right resources and equipment to safeguard your items. Request a tour of their facilities and inquire how they will label, pack, and arrange your items. This is very important to ensure that your items are not only safe but easy to identify when it is time to deliver them.

Once you have ascertained that the moving company has the resources and equipment to do the job, you can sign a moving service contract with them. However, do not hire a moving company unless you are certain that they have the proper licenses to operate in the city.

What is an Appropriate Tip for Your Movers in Austin?

A tip is generally a small amount of money given voluntarily as a token of appreciation for a service rendered, and they are usually offered by customers who are happy with the services they received. In Austin, satisfied customers may decide to tip their movers after they have performed very well. Customers may tip their movers in the city for a variety of reasons, including:

• They show up on time and get the job done.
• They handle your items carefully, ensuring none of your belongings are damaged or missing.
• They assist you in moving bulky items from your apartment to the truck without charging for it.
• They offer to provide a helping hand without charging you for it, and they are pleasant to be around.

While tipping is not mandatory, movers in the city usually get 15% -20% of the total moving cost as a tip from satisfied customers. However, tipping movers based on a percentage of the total cost of the move is not a great idea because the total cost of a move usually includes additional expenses that do not involve actual work. As a result, customers should tip movers in the city based on the actual work they do. Using an hourly average is a smart approach to do this. A good hourly average tip for movers should be $4 to $5 per person.

However, customers must understand that some moving companies may perform below expectations, and they must notify the moving company if this occurs.

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

Per state requirements, all licensed movers have a standard liability of sixty cents per pound of cargo, and a mover can not change this basic liability. However, you must understand that this standard liability is not insurance. As such, you should always ensure that the mover you intend to hire has the right insurance coverage to protect you and your property. This is necessary because carrying goods from one location to another is filled with risks that could result in property damage and work-related injuries.

While it is impossible to predict whether or not your mover will get injured while transporting your belongings, it is critical to ensure they are covered before they start. Transportation and material moving workers accounted for 20% of all on-the-job injuries requiring time off in the United States in 2018, making them one of the most affected industries by fatal work injuries.

To avoid being held liable for these injuries, you should always request proof of insurance coverage from the moving company and contact the company that issued the document.

Furthermore, moving valuable items comes with a lot of risk; as a result, in addition to making sure that your moving company is insured, you can also obtain additional insurance coverage to protect your items. Some moving companies in the city may offer to sell you transit insurance, or you may contact an insurance carrier for additional coverage. Nonetheless, you should carefully read the policies provided to you to understand the scope and any deductibles before purchasing the insurance.

Can You Provide References or Recommendations in Austin?

One of the first things you should require from a moving company before signing any contract is references or letters of recommendation. Reputable moving companies in Austin will gladly provide references or letters of recommendation from satisfied past clients. Obtaining references and letters of recommendation will aid you in determining whether or not the moving business is a good fit for you. Once you receive any of the aforementioned documents from the moving company, you should contact the people listed on each document to get a first-hand review of the company. Any moving company that refuses to offer references or letters of recommendation from previous jobs should be avoided.