Moving from Virginia to Alabama
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Virginia Beach and Birmingham it is about 761 miles and 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving); the 20 city pairs we price between the two states run from 637 to 979 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~761 miVirginia Beach → Birmingham
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,425+2-bedroom, movers
- 20City routes priced
In short
About 5,056 people moved from Virginia to Alabama in 2024 (Census estimate, ±2,688), and about 3,719 went the other way. Between Virginia Beach and Birmingham it is about 761 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,425 – $4,566 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 263 movers based in Virginia hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Virginia to Alabama
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 5,056 people a year (±2,688), against about 3,719 (±1,903) from Alabama to Virginia, so Alabama gains about 1,337 people a year on this exchange. Virginia is the 8th-largest of the 48 states sending people to Alabama; Alabama took in about 119,767 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | Shelby County | 296 ±375* |
| Fairfax County | Tuscaloosa County | 206 ±146 |
| Virginia Beach City | Winston County | 125 ±165* |
| Scott County | Calhoun County | 111 ±145* |
| Manassas Park City | Madison County | 105 ±154* |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Virginia Beach to Birmingham, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Virginia and Alabama.
Cost of moving from Virginia to Alabama
At about 761 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,425 – $4,566 for a two-bedroom home and $3,938 – $5,251 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,466 – $3,288; a freight trailer is $1,644 – $2,192.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,568 – $3,425 | $1,849 – $2,466 | $1,233 – $1,644 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,082 – $4,109 | $2,219 – $2,959 | $1,479 – $1,973 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,425 – $4,566 | $2,466 – $3,288 | $1,644 – $2,192 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,938 – $5,251 | $2,835 – $3,781 | $1,890 – $2,520 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,452 – $5,936 | $3,205 – $4,274 | $2,137 – $2,849 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,137 – $6,849 | $3,698 – $4,931 | $2,466 – $3,288 |
Transport only, for an estimated 761 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
City-to-city routes from Virginia to Alabama
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 4 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond to Huntsville | ~637 mi | 3–7 days | $2,867 – $3,822 | $3,296 – $4,395 |
| Chesapeake to Huntsville | ~691 mi | 3–7 days | $3,110 – $4,146 | $3,576 – $4,768 |
| Norfolk to Huntsville | ~694 mi | 3–7 days | $3,123 – $4,164 | $3,591 – $4,789 |
| Richmond to Birmingham | ~694 mi | 3–7 days | $3,123 – $4,164 | $3,591 – $4,789 |
| Arlington to Huntsville | ~697 mi | 3–7 days | $3,137 – $4,182 | $3,607 – $4,809 |
| Virginia Beach to Huntsville | ~714 mi | 3–7 days | $3,213 – $4,284 | $3,695 – $4,927 |
| Richmond to Montgomery | ~718 mi | 3–7 days | $3,231 – $4,308 | $3,716 – $4,954 |
| Chesapeake to Birmingham | ~737 mi | 3–7 days | $3,317 – $4,422 | $3,814 – $5,085 |
| Norfolk to Birmingham | ~742 mi | 3–7 days | $3,339 – $4,452 | $3,840 – $5,120 |
| Chesapeake to Montgomery | ~749 mi | 3–7 days | $3,371 – $4,494 | $3,876 – $5,168 |
| Norfolk to Montgomery | ~755 mi | 3–7 days | $3,398 – $4,530 | $3,907 – $5,209 |
| Virginia Beach to Birmingham | ~761 mi | 3–7 days | $3,425 – $4,566 | $3,938 – $5,251 |
| Arlington to Birmingham | ~764 mi | 3–7 days | $3,438 – $4,584 | $3,954 – $5,272 |
| Virginia Beach to Montgomery | ~773 mi | 3–7 days | $3,479 – $4,638 | $4,000 – $5,334 |
| Arlington to Montgomery | ~798 mi | 3–7 days | $3,591 – $4,788 | $4,130 – $5,506 |
| Richmond to Mobile | ~896 mi | 3–7 days | $4,032 – $5,376 | $4,637 – $6,182 |
| Chesapeake to Mobile | ~922 mi | 3–7 days | $4,149 – $5,532 | $4,771 – $6,362 |
| Norfolk to Mobile | ~929 mi | 3–7 days | $4,181 – $5,574 | $4,808 – $6,410 |
| Virginia Beach to Mobile | ~947 mi | 3–7 days | $4,262 – $5,682 | $4,901 – $6,534 |
| Arlington to Mobile | ~979 mi | 3–7 days | $4,406 – $5,874 | $5,066 – $6,755 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Virginia
107 of the 263 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 1,338 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 164 of 765 vehicle inspections (21.4%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 163 of 1,338 driver inspections (12.2%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Transfer IncChesapeake, VA · USDOT 139659 | 426 | 50 of 247 | 3 of 426 |
| JK Moving ServicesSterling, VA · USDOT 1065394 | 107 | 7 of 57 | 8 of 107 |
| Stewart Moving and StorageMidlothian, VA · USDOT 1194537 | 102 | 13 of 50 | 9 of 102 |
| Quality Services MovingLorton, VA · USDOT 819924 | 54 | 16 of 32 | 11 of 54 |
| Hampton Roads Moving & StorageSuffolk, VA · USDOT 1581633 | 46 | 10 of 25 | 2 of 46 |
| Apple MovingChesapeake, VA · USDOT 163678 | 40 | 4 of 22 | 4 of 40 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
411 listed household-goods carriers are based in Virginia, 263 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Virginia directory ranks them. At the Alabama end, 168 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Alabama, moving costs in Alabama, or the reverse trip, Alabama to Virginia. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Virginia
Virginia to Alabama moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Virginia to Alabama?
Between the two states' main cities, Virginia Beach and Birmingham, the distance is about 761 miles. From our model that is $3,425 – $4,566 for a two-bedroom home and $3,938 – $5,251 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,466 – $3,288 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,644 – $2,192. Across the 20 city pairs we price between Virginia and Alabama, distances run from 637 to 979 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Virginia to Alabama take?
Virginia Beach to Birmingham is 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Virginia to Alabama?
Yes. A move from Virginia into Alabama is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 411 listed movers based in Virginia, 263 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Virginia.
What is the cheapest way to move from Virginia to Alabama?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,644 – $2,192 for a two-bedroom home over 761 miles against $3,425 – $4,566 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,466 – $3,288, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Virginia to Alabama each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 5,056 people (±2,688) moved from Virginia to Alabama that year, against about 3,719 (±1,903) from Alabama to Virginia. That makes Virginia the 8th-largest source of new residents for Alabama among the states.