State desk
Moving in District of Columbia: Movers, Rules and Costs
A move that stays inside District of Columbia is regulated by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). Ask for the DLCP moving and storage licence. A move that crosses the state line is FMCSA, with a USDOT you can check.
Haulest data team · Desk opened official pages 17 September 2026. Editorial.
Who regulates a District of Columbia move. Checked September 2026.
| Move | Regulator | Ask the mover for | Complaint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside District of Columbia | Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) | DLCP moving and storage licence | DLCP consumer complaint; FMCSA for moves that leave the District |
| Crossing a state line | FMCSA (federal) | USDOT and MC numbers with household-goods authority | NCCDB and the FMCSA hotline |
Top-rated movers in District of Columbia
Each has 5+ reviews and 4.0+ stars. Movers reviewed in the last 3 years come first, then by rating weighted by how many reviews back it. No mover pays to be on this list.
Get free quotes from District of Columbia moversSee all 8 movers in District of Columbia
Who moved to and from District of Columbia from other states, 2024. In: 52,701. Out: 53,452. Net: −751 people.
| Came from | People | Left for | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 7,200 | Maryland | 16,780 |
| Maryland | 6,926 | Virginia | 9,953 |
| California | 4,559 | New York | 4,795 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,843 | Pennsylvania | 2,360 |
| New York | 3,117 | Texas | 2,287 |
| Illinois | 2,821 | California | 2,128 |
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration, read 2024.
What living in District of Columbia costs, against the US. Price parity: US = 100.
| Measure | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Price level, all items | 109.9 (3 of 51) |
| Housing (rents) price level | 154.0 |
| State income tax on wages | About $3,429 on a $75,000 salary (single filer, 2026 brackets) |
Sources: US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, read 2024; Tax Foundation, 2026 state income tax brackets (estimate, no local tax).
What reviewers paid for moves touching District of Columbia, reviews posted since 1 Jan 2024. A median needs 20 priced reviews; a lane needs 10.
| Move | Median paid | Priced reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving from District of Columbia | too few | 18 |
| Arriving from another state | too few | 19 |
Source: Haulest review file (reviewer-reported whole-move prices).
Moving to a District of Columbia city
Cities in Washington DC
All of United StatesSearch all 8 District of Columbia movers by name or USDOT
Housing pulse
District of Columbia housing, 2026
- Median sale price
- $740,000
- +5.5% on a year earlier
- Homes sold in the month
- 649
- +8.9% on a year earlier
- Median days on market
- 47
- Months of supply
- 4.8
Homes sold in the month is the closest public count of households changing address in the state. Mover demand follows the same calendar.
Source: Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, May 2026, read 1 Oct 2026.
What to know before the deposit
A mover working in the District needs a moving and storage licence from DLCP, and a truck parked on the street needs a DDOT permit. Almost every DC move crosses into Maryland or Virginia, which makes it interstate and federal: ask for the USDOT number too.
Registered is not the same as good. A state credential means the office can find the company and that it filed what the state requires. Read the dated reviews, then call.
Cities we hold rows for
No city cost pages in District of Columbia yet. The desk facts above still apply.
Sources
Links go to the publisher. Haulest does not add findings. Checked September 2026; if the live page moved, believe the agency.
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- Does District of Columbia license moving companies?
- Yes, for moves inside the state. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) issues the credential. Ask for the DLCP moving and storage licence and check it on the official site.
- Does the state rule apply to an interstate move?
- No. A move that crosses the state line is under FMCSA rules: written estimate, binding or non-binding, the 110% rule, and a USDOT you can check on SAFER.
- Where do I complain about a mover in District of Columbia?
- In-state: the DLCP consumer complaint; FMCSA for moves that leave the District. Interstate: the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database, and the hotline for a hostage load.
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