How to Choose the Best Moving Company in Vancouver (2025 Guide from Local Pros)

Looking for the best moving company in Vancouver ?

Learn how to Find the Best Moving Company in Vancouver, compare movers, avoid common scams, and get a fair moving quote from trusted local movers like In N Out Moves.

Introduction: Why Choosing the Right Movers Matters

Choosing the best moving company in Vancouver means looking beyond the lowest price and focusing on professionalism, experience, and transparency. Reliable local movers should be licensed, insured, and upfront about their rates, timelines, and services so there are no surprises on moving day.

But when it’s your furniture, your memories, and your new home on the line, you don’t just want any moving company. You want professional movers you can actually trust.

Choosing the best moving company in Vancouver means looking beyond price and focusing on professionalism, transparency, and experience.

At In N Out Moves, we’ve helped hundreds of families, students, and businesses move around Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver and beyond. This guide pulls back the curtain and shows you exactly how we recommend choosing a moving company—whether you book with us or not.

By the end, you’ll know how to:

• Compare local moving companies like a pro
• Spot red flags before it’s too late
• Understand how moving estimates really work
• Decide whether you need a full-service moving company, apartment movers, packing help, or simple moving help near you

Let’s get you in, get you out, and keep it stress-free.

1. Start with Your Move Type

Before you choose a mover, get crystal clear on what you need. Different moving companies specialise in different things:

• Local movers – Moves within the same city or region (for example: Vancouver to Burnaby, Kitsilano to Downtown, UBC to Richmond).
• Long-distance movers – City-to-city or province-to-province moves.
• Apartment movers – Specialists in high-rise buildings, elevators, loading bays, tight underground parkades, and strata rules.
• Residential movers – Houses, townhomes, condos, and storage moves.
• Commercial movers – Offices, retail spaces, showrooms, warehouses.
• Moving and storage companies – Can move you in and out of storage units or offer their own storage solutions.
• Packing and moving companies – Provide full packing/unpacking services in addition to transport.

Write down:

• Where you’re moving from and to
• Approximate date and time
• Type of home (1-bedroom apartment, 3-bedroom house, office, etc.)
• Any special items (piano, large couch, glass table, appliances, art, safe, treadmill, etc.)

The clearer your picture, the more accurate your moving quote will be and the easier it is to choose the right mover.

Finding the best moving company in Vancouver starts with checking credentials, reading real customer reviews, and confirming exactly what’s included in your quote.

2. Use Local Keywords When You Search

When you search online, use location-based keywords. Instead of just “moving company,” try:

• “Vancouver movers”
• “local movers in Vancouver BC”
• “apartment movers in Downtown Vancouver”
• “UBC student movers”
• “moving company near Kitsilano”
• “Burnaby movers with truck”

These phrases usually bring up companies that actually operate where you live, not random national call centres.

You can also check a company’s reputation through organizations like the Better Business Bureau.

Look for movers who:

• Show their service area clearly (Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Van, etc.)
• Have real photos of their trucks and team
• Display a local phone number (not just a toll-free number)

Local movers know the loading zones, strata rules, tight laneways, and parking situations that can make or break moving day.

3. Read Reviews – but Read Them the Smart Way

Online reviews are gold—but only if you read them properly.

Look at:

• Overall rating on Google, Yelp and other platforms
• Number of reviews (a 4.9★ rating with 300+ reviews is very different from 2 reviews from 2019)
• Recent reviews from the last 3–6 months
• Reviews that mention:
  • Careful handling of furniture
  • Friendly, professional movers
  • Clean, well-equipped trucks
  • Transparent pricing (no surprise charges)
  • How issues were handled if something went wrong

Red flags:

• Lots of reviews mentioning hidden fees or extra charges on moving day
• Complaints about no-shows or last-minute cancellations
• Vague responses from the company that never take responsibility

When comparing options, the best moving company in Vancouver will consistently stand out through verified reviews, clear communication, and a strong local reputation.

Bonus tip: search reviews using keywords like “apartment,” “stairs,” “piano,” “storage,” or your neighbourhood to find situations similar to yours.

4. Check Insurance, Licensing & Professionalism

Any professional moving company should be able to answer these basic questions:

1. Are you licensed and insured in BC?
2. What type of liability coverage do you provide for my belongings?
3. Do you offer cargo insurance or valuation options?
4. Are your movers employees or subcontractors?

It’s okay if you don’t understand every insurance term—what matters is that the company is transparent and willing to explain.

Look for signs of professionalism:

• Branded trucks and uniforms
• Clean, well-maintained equipment
• Clear service agreement / confirmation email
• Detailed invoices with company legal name and GST number

If you feel like you’re pulling teeth to get basic information, listen to that feeling.

5. Understand How Moving Quotes Really Work

Most local movers charge an hourly rate, often with a minimum number of hours.

Common pricing pieces you’ll see:

• Hourly rate for 2 or 3 movers and a truck
• Minimum hours (for example: 3-hour minimum)
• Possible travel time or truck fee
• Extra fees (stairs, heavy items, long carry, ferry, parking, etc.)

When you request a moving estimate, ask for:

• A written breakdown of what’s included
• The number of movers and size of truck
• When the billing clock starts and stops
• How payment works (deposit, e-transfer, card, etc.)

At In N Out Moves, for example, we send a written confirmation that clearly shows:

• Date & start time
• Pickup and drop-off addresses
• Number of movers and truck size
• Hourly rate and minimum hours
• What is and isn’t included

You should expect this level of clarity from any reputable moving company.

6. Ask These 9 Questions Before You Book

When you’re choosing between several moving companies near you, these questions make the decision much easier:

1. How long have you been operating in Vancouver / Lower Mainland?
2. How many movers and what size truck will you send?
3. Do you bring all equipment—dollies, moving blankets, shrink wrap, tools?
4. How do you protect doors, elevators, and common areas in apartment buildings?
5. What happens if the move takes less or more time than expected?
6. How do you handle damage if something is scratched or broken?
7. Do you offer packing services or just moving?
8. Can you move me into or out of storage?
9. Will I get a written confirmation with all details?

Good local moving companies will answer these happily and in detail. If someone sounds annoyed, rushed, or vague, that’s your sign.

7. Watch Out for These 5 Red Flags

Unfortunately, not every moving company plays fair. Be careful if you see:

1. Suspiciously low “cheap movers near me” quote with very little detail.
2. Only a first name and mobile number, no proper company info.
3. No physical address, website, or online presence.
4. Requests for a large cash deposit before any written agreement.
5. Reviews complaining about bait-and-switch pricing or movers demanding more money to unload.

A trustworthy moving and storage company wants you to feel confident—not pressured.

8. Decide How Much Help You Really Want

Not every move needs full service. You might be looking for:

• Full-service moving company
  • Movers bring truck, pads, tools, and handle everything.
  • Optional packing and unpacking.
• Moving help only
  • You provide the truck; movers just load/unload.
• Packing services
  • Pros pack your kitchen, closets, and fragile items.
• Specialty item movers
  • Pianos, safes, appliances, art, or high-value furniture.

If you’re on a budget, you can save money by:

• Doing your own packing
• Disassembling simple furniture before movers arrive
• Booking weekdays or non-peak dates when possible
• Moving smaller items and boxes yourself, and hiring movers mainly for big furniture

Tell your movers your budget and priorities—they can often suggest a plan that balances cost and convenience.

9. How In N Out Moves Makes Moving Day Easier

There are many moving companies in Vancouver, so here’s what we focus on at In N Out Moves to make your life easier:

• Local expertise
  • We’re based in Vancouver and know the Lower Mainland really well—UBC, Downtown, Kits, Burnaby, New West, North Van, Surrey and more.
• Professional movers & clean trucks
  • Our team arrives with the right size truck, dollies, heavy-duty moving blankets, shrink wrap, and tools for assembly/disassembly.
• Clear, honest pricing
  • Transparent hourly rate for our movers and truck with a clear minimum—no surprise add-ons at the end.
• Care and protection
  • We treat your furniture like it’s ours: wrapped, padded, strapped, and positioned properly in the truck.
• Friendly, respectful service
  • From first quote to the last box, our goal is simple: Let’s get you In N Out, stress-free.

Whether you’re searching for apartment movers downtown, local movers in Vancouver, or reliable movers with great reviews, we’d love to be part of your move.

10. Next Steps: Turn “Movers Near Me” into “Move Booked”

Here’s a simple checklist to follow right now:

1. Make a short list of 3 moving companies in Vancouver you feel good about.
2. Request a detailed moving estimate from each (preferably in writing).
3. Compare:
   • Hourly rate & minimum hours
   • Number of movers & truck size
   • Included equipment & protection
   • Reviews and recent customer experiences
4. Ask the 9 questions from this guide.
5. Choose the professional movers who give you the clearest answers and the most confidence—not just the lowest price.

If you’d like a quote from In N Out Moves, you can:

• Call or text us at 604-537-2266
• Visit InNOutMoves.ca and fill out our quick quote form

Tell us where you’re moving from and to, your ideal date, and a quick list of your main items. We’ll help you figure out the best plan for your move—so you can stop worrying about logistics and start getting excited about your new place.

Let’s get you In N Out.