I Spent $4,540 Moving from California to Virginia with PODS
Oakland, CA → Arlington, VA
$4,540
3–4 rooms, about 2,200 lbs
$4,540
$0 in add-on fees
2,800 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared three quotes before I hired PODS for my California to Virginia move, my first move on my own and one I paid for myself.
- My final bill was $4,540, matching my quote exactly: $4,209 for the 8-foot container plus $331 for movers I booked separately in Virginia.
- I shared all of it, my quotes, my bills, and my ratings, as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
See what your move really costs before a mover tells you.
Free · no phone calls · real prices from vetted movers
This account is based on a conversation with Bethany L., who moved from Oakland, California, to Arlington, Virginia, in May 2022 using PODS. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from California to Virginia
I moved from Oakland, California, to Arlington, Virginia, in May 2022 for work and to be closer to my family. It was my first time moving on my own, and I was covering all the costs myself, so finding something affordable without sacrificing quality was the challenge.
I had about 2,200 pounds of stuff, three to four rooms’ worth of boxes and furniture. Full-service movers were out of my price range, and driving a rental truck 2,800 miles across the country wasn’t an option.
I found PODS through moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, which let me compare quotes and services from multiple companies side by side. That made narrowing things down a lot faster, and according to moveBuddha, users who compare movers this way save more than 30% versus taking the first quote they get.
My PODS experience at a glance
Here’s the short version of how my move went from start to finish.
- Communication: PODS kept me informed at every stage of the move, and I always knew what to expect next.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: My final cost came to $4,540, identical to my original quote, with no surprises.
- Container parking issues: None. PODS handled container placement without any complications on either end.
- Timeliness: My container arrived in Virginia on schedule, 19 days after leaving California.
- Overall value: I felt like I got my money’s worth, especially given the distance involved.
- Would I use PODS again? Yes. I couldn’t be happier with how the move turned out, and you can compare PODS against other container companies with moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator.
over my original PODS quote
Find out what a move from California → Virginia actually costs before a mover tells you.
Why I chose PODS
I found out about my relocation about a month before moving day, and once I started researching it only took two days to land on PODS. I compared three quotes in total, and PODS came in lowest at $4,209 for the container. PODS had a strong reputation, a straightforward quote process, and the best price I found.
I booked movers in Virginia for $331 through HireAHelper, which brought my total to $4,540. Movers in California were more than twice as expensive, so I asked friends to help with loading instead. One thing that surprised me during the screening process: container companies only offer labor through third-party providers, so you book movers separately. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s worth knowing going in.
After filling out the quote form on PODS’ website, I spoke with a customer service rep who walked me through the details. Booking was fast, and the HireAHelper process was just as easy.
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
My move at a glance
Here are the basics of my relocation, including what I was quoted and what I ended up paying for my California to Virginia move.
| Move date | May 2022 |
|---|---|
| Moving from | Oakland, CA |
| Moving to | Arlington, VA |
| Distance | About 2,800 miles |
| Move size | Three to four rooms (about 2,200 pounds) |
| Moving company | PODS |
| Moving quote (8-foot container) | $4,209 for the container plus $331 for movers in Virginia, or $4,540 total |
| Actual cost | $4,540 |
We found that when you use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, you can save 30% on moving costs compared to customers who go with the first quote they receive.
Quotes I compared
I gathered three quotes before booking, and PODS came back lowest at $4,209 for an 8-foot container. Because labor is separate with container companies, I priced that out on its own and found Virginia movers for $331 through HireAHelper while California crews wanted more than twice that.
- PODS: $4,209 for the 8-foot container, the lowest of the three quotes I got, plus $331 for destination labor booked separately.
- Two other container companies: Both came back higher than PODS for the same three-to-four-room shipment.
- Full-service movers: Priced out of my budget entirely, which is what pushed me toward containers in the first place.
How I got ready for move day
After I booked, PODS was accommodating when I needed to change my pickup date. They did ask for specific details about where the container would sit in Virginia, which I couldn’t give them that far out.
PODS also sent a helpful email laying out what to expect on move day and while my things were in transit. In the weeks before the move, I made a packing list, started gathering boxes, and coordinated logistics with both my current and future landlords. I skipped additional insurance since I wasn’t moving any specialty items.
rating
4.8 / 5
Pickup day
The week before the move, I got multiple emails confirming when my 8-foot container would be delivered. On move day, the driver called when he was en route and arrived at 8:15 a.m. My helpers and I spent about seven hours wrapping everything in plastic wrap and moving blankets and loading the container.
PODS charged my card automatically on move day, the day after, and the day the container was delivered in Arlington.
Delivery day
After my container left California, I got multiple emails with updates on when to expect it in Virginia. The evening before delivery I got a final confirmation, and the driver arrived at 10:30 a.m. the next morning. Total transit time from Oakland to Arlington was 19 days, or 14 business days.
Everything arrived safely and on time. The Virginia movers I’d booked through HireAHelper worked quickly and efficiently. After PODS collected the empty container, I got a post-move survey by email.
Final thoughts
My move with PODS exceeded my expectations. The service was functional and responsive, the communication was solid, and I’d use PODS again and recommend them to friends and family without hesitation.
The one thing I wasn’t thrilled about was the delivery window. On long-distance moves, PODS gives you a range of days rather than a specific date, and not knowing exactly when my things would arrive made it hard to coordinate with the Virginia movers. I also noticed container prices had gone up noticeably since I first started researching that winter.
@movebuddha A real moving experience with PODS! Bethany moved almost 3,000 miles with PODS. See how much she paid and exactly how her move went #pods #movingpods #moving #movers ♬ original sound – moveBuddha
Planning a similar move? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes from top container companies and find the best price for your route.
More moving resources
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Bethany L.’s experience:
- Book early if you’re moving in summer: If your move falls during the peak summer season between May and September, lock in your container and movers as early as possible. Prices rise and availability disappears fast, and Bethany L. watched container prices climb between her winter research and her May move.
- Price labor separately from the container: Container companies only offer labor through third-party providers, so budget for it as its own line item. Bethany L. paid $331 for Virginia movers through HireAHelper and used friends in California, where crews cost more than twice as much.
- Expect a delivery window, not a date: Long-distance container moves come with a range of days rather than a firm arrival. Ask how much notice you’ll get before delivery so you can schedule unloading help without paying for a crew that waits around.
- Size up if you’re unsure about space: Bethany L. worried her 8-foot container might be too small. Everything fit, but if you have any doubt, book the next size up rather than risk running out of room on load day.
- Do a cost-value check before you commit: Bethany L. had second thoughts after booking, wondering whether the move would cost more than her belongings were worth. Compare the total moving cost against what it would take to replace what you’re moving, since replacing furnishings after you arrive sometimes makes more financial sense.
Better Moves Project · now accepting this year’s moves
Moving soon? We’ll pay you $500 to tell it like Bethany L. did.
Share your quotes, your final bill, and what actually happened on move day. No script, and we never edit your rating.
Not what you were looking for?
Check out other categories that can help you find the information you need!
