Moving is a complicated process, which requires a lot of tasks to be functional. If you forget to do one of those tasks, your whole relocation might be at a risk. One of those obnoxious tasks a lot of people forget to do is to acquire a moving permit. And it is understandable why that happens. When moving, you’ll need to call all your friends and colleagues, find new utility providers, pack everything and hire movers. We can help you with the latter part, though. Browse through Verified Movers reviews, and you will find a moving company most suitable for you. On the other hand, as for the permit, you’ll have to do it yourself. However, don’t fret. With this guide, you’ll see how easily you can get the permit and what are its advantages.
But first, what exactly is a moving permit?
When moving, some problems, like parking issues, are bound to happen. While there are many ways to avoid mistakes on a moving day, sometimes the only thing that will save the moving van from being towed is a moving permit. This document is the official parking permit for the moving vans. The city is responsible for issuing the permit, and you can only purchase it from them. This document will allow you to park vans and trucks in a designated spot for a certain amount of time. When you acquire the permit, the city will also give you signs with “no parking” on them. This will help you to reserve the parking place so nobody else takes it and causes any further problems.
While some cities will place these posts for you, more often than not, you’ll be responsible for putting them up. It’s best to put them up at least two days before the move. By doing this, you will avoid any unneeded parking tickets. Who knows, buying a permit just might help you save money when moving. A regular permit will let you reserve two parking spaces that are one next to the other and usually on the street. Also, you can have these parking spots for a certain amount of time, usually between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. And, of course, with or without a city-licensed permit, you mustn’t park the vans in illegal parking spaces.
Which cities require a moving permit?
Making a list of all the cities in the USA is impossible to do, but keep in mind that it is better to be safe than sorry. Also, your movers will probably know, so reach out to top Movers in Kansas City and ask them about it. Here are some of the most popular cities that require a parking permit:
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
- San Francisco, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Houston, TX
- Minneapolis, MN
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
And many, many more. Another good way of finding out whether you might need the parking permit or not when you move is to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles. That way you’ll know for sure what your obligations are, and you can guarantee yourself a safe and successful move.
Why should you get a permit?
Purchasing a moving permit will definitely save you time and money. The permits are most useful if you are moving in or out of a busy city. If you don’t get a permit in advance, a lot of problems might occur. You might be forced to implement some last-minute changes, which will cost you both time and money. It might even cause some problems for your top movers in Fresno. Without the permits, your relocation might also be delayed. And not to mention the parking tickets, or even towing that can happen.
The last thing you want to happen, when you’re moving to a busy city, is to come to your destination and realize that there are no free parking spaces anywhere close. Waiting for a space to become free will require time, which will be costly. Also, when the space finally becomes free, you’ll need to unload quickly, which can result in many damaged or misplaced items. Don’t forget that the usual unloading lasts three or four hours, so if you don’t do it in time, you might end up with a ticket. Another situation when you might need a moving permit is when you’re at a public storage facility. While this facility can grant you a lot of storage options, it might have restricted parking space. A private driveway that crosses a public sidewalk is also a place where having the permit will be of great help.
How to get a permit?
Now that you have realized just how moving permits are important, there are two ways of getting them. First, you can get it yourself. Find the DMV website of your city, register, and apply for a moving permit. This should be a fairly simple process, but you should do it preferably a week or two before the move. Once the application is done and you have paid the fee, you will get the instructions on how to pick up and set up the “no parking” signs.
The second way of getting the permit is to ask your movers to do it for you. Sometimes, they will gladly take care of it, but it might increase the overall cost of the move. If anything, it will save you from the stress of buying one yourself. However, some companies don’t have that service and you might be in charge of buying the permit. As for the price of the permit, it varies a lot, depending on the city to which you’re moving. A rough estimate of the permit’s cost is as low as $10 all the way to $80.
Final thoughts
If you’re moving in or out of a big city, the chances are big that you might encounter some parking issues. Getting a moving permit is a great way to save money and time and guarantee the success of your relocation.