Whether you're making a cross-country long-distance move or hopping from one side of the border to the other, relocating from one state to another means some additional considerations to tie up loose ends. To make sure you avoid potential headaches, fines and other problems that can occur when your new home is in a different state, take the following advice to heart:
1. Car concerns
If you're using long distance movers to get your belongings from your old home to your new one, you'll avoid putting wear and tear on your car and potentially making more than one trip. As useful, efficient and time-saving as these movers can be, there's one task you'll still have to take on yourself: getting your driver's license, car registration and license plates in order.
This is a time-consuming and sometimes complicated task, which is why it's important for you to plan ahead. You need to personally visit your new state's department of motor vehicles - or the local equivalent, as many states have different names for this agency - and expect to potentially spend a few hours waiting in line. While license plates and registration are tied together, you may need to make a separate trip, or at least fill out some additional paperwork and make another trip through the line, to update your driver's license.
Because requirements and timelines can vary so much from place to place, the best thing to do is visit the DMV website for your new state or give its main office a call before you move. That way, you know exactly what you need to bring with you.
2. Get to know your new city
A new city - or township, borough, hamlet, village or other type of municipality - can mean lots of differences from your current home. Use these questions as starting points:
- Does the city handle garbage pickup, or do you need to get in touch with a private company or take it to the dump yourself?
- Do you have sewer service, or is there a septic tank which needs to be periodically emptied and monitored?
- Which companies provide electricity? Is there a less-expensive alternative to consider?
- What are your internet and cable TV options? Is there more than one provider, and do any offer a deal that aligns well with your needs?
3. Find qualified, dependable movers
The value of high-quality long distance movers can't be overstated, but not all moving companies are created equal. Make sure your long distance moving company is fully qualified to make this kind of move and has the proper certifications and other elements in place. Some questions to ask of potential movers include:
- Do you have the necessary insurance? Interstate moves require cargo insurance and bodily injury and property damage insurance.
- Do you have a U.S. Department of Transportation number? The U.S. DOT issues a unique number to qualified interstate movers.
- Are you certified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to transport household goods? This is another certification that dependable interstate movers have.
Moving from your current state to a new one can be a bit more complicated than going a few towns over, but this advice can help make the effort that much smoother.