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Georgia
Your Georgia Moving Company Since 2016
Few states sit at a busier intersection of goods, people, and traffic than Georgia. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International moved 108.1 million passengers in 2024, which makes it the world's busiest airport, and down on the coast the Port of Savannah handled close to 5.6 million container units the same year as the 4th busiest US container port. The same interstate corridors that feed that freight also carry your household goods, because I-75, I-85, and I-20 all converge in downtown Atlanta on the stretch locals call the Connector. Star Van Lines is a USDOT-licensed interstate carrier (USDOT #4176875, MC #1607491) that runs local and long-distance moves across all of Georgia, from Buckhead high-rises to the Savannah squares, and we've worked these roads since 2016.
Our Georgia moving services cover packing, loading, transport, delivery, and short-term storage at warehouse locations nationwide. A move from Atlanta to Savannah covers about 249 miles down I-16. A move from Atlanta to San Diego runs about 2,143 miles across the country. We handle both with one coordinator and one written estimate, and here the harder variable is rarely the mileage. It's the traffic on the perimeter and the summer heat, because a 90-degree afternoon on the I-285 loop changes how a crew paces the day.
Need a straight answer on what your Georgia move costs? Call (855) 822-2722 or use our online quote calculator. You'll get an estimate that breaks down every line item, so there aren't any surprises on moving day. We're rated 4.0 on Trustpilot, 4.5 on Google, and 4.75 on Facebook across 240+ reviews.
Moving services in Georgia
Star Van Lines provides local, long-distance, and interstate moving services across Georgia. We handle packing, loading, transport, and delivery for residential and commercial moves. Georgia puts two very different jobs in front of a crew, because a Midtown condo move with a reserved freight elevator and a move out to a wide suburban lot off I-285 share almost nothing in how the day actually runs. Every move includes a single coordinator, a trained crew, and a written estimate.
Local moving in Georgia
Local moves in Georgia cluster on metro Atlanta and along the major interstate corridors. A two-person crew runs $95-$150 per hour; three movers run $145-$265. We serve Atlanta and its ring of suburbs in Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Fulton counties, plus Savannah on the coast, Augusta on the South Carolina line, and Columbus near Alabama. But the metro and the coast work differently, because Midtown and Buckhead high-rise moves need a building certificate of insurance, a reserved freight elevator, and a narrow loading window, while Savannah's historic district has narrow squares and one-way lanes that often call for a smaller shuttle vehicle. And the heat changes the plan all summer, since crews load early and hydrate hard when the afternoon high sits near 90.
Long-distance moving from Georgia
Long-distance demand out of Georgia is heavily Atlanta-driven. The busiest lanes run north to Raleigh (about 404 miles) and the Carolinas, south to Miami (about 661 miles), and out to Chicago (about 683 miles) and New York (about 862 miles), with the longest hauls reaching cross-country to San Diego (about 2,143 miles). We run these corridors on I-75, I-85, I-20, and I-16 as full interstate relocations. Because metro Atlanta's perimeter and the downtown Connector rank among the most congested stretches in the South, your coordinator schedules the loading window around rush hour so the truck isn't sitting in it.
Packing and storage
We offer full-service packing, partial packing, and self-pack options. Full-service means our crew brings every box and material and packs each room; partial lets you choose which rooms we handle; self-pack is the lowest-cost option. We have 43 warehouse locations nationwide for short-term and long-term storage. But Georgia's humid subtropical climate matters here, because summer dew points run high enough to fuel mold and warp wood. That makes climate-controlled storage the safer choice for upholstery, leather, electronics, artwork, and musical instruments held between a move and a later move-in date, especially across the May-to-September stretch.
Auto transport and specialty items
We ship vehicles by open or enclosed carrier, and households relocating several cars on a long Atlanta lane often ship them rather than drive each one. We also move pianos, antiques, gun safes, and fine art with specialty crating. One Georgia wrinkle is worth flagging: vehicles registered in the 13 metro-Atlanta emissions counties must pass an emissions test before a 2026 registration, so if you're shipping a car into Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, or Gwinnett, plan that inspection alongside your 30-day registration deadline.
How much does moving in Georgia cost?
Moving costs in Georgia depend on whether you're moving across metro Atlanta or across the country. Local moves typically run $95-$150 per hour for a two-person crew with a truck. Long-distance moves start at $900 for a studio and reach $7,150 for a large four-plus-bedroom home, depending on distance, weight, and access at both ends.
Local moving rates
| Crew size | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| 2 movers + truck | $95-$150 / hour |
| 3 movers + truck | $145-$265 / hour |
| 4 movers + truck | $195-$390 / hour |
Long-distance rates from Georgia
| Move size | Estimated price range |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $900 - $1,800 |
| 2-3 Bedrooms | $1,650 - $3,950 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $2,700 - $7,150 |
Popular routes and pricing from Georgia
| Route | Distance | Avg cost (2-3 BR) |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta to Raleigh | 404 mi | $1,650 - $2,000 |
| Atlanta to Miami | 661 mi | $1,950 - $2,400 |
| Atlanta to Chicago | 683 mi | $2,000 - $2,450 |
| Atlanta to New York | 862 mi | $2,300 - $2,800 |
| Atlanta to San Diego | 2,143 mi | $3,200 - $3,950 |
Pricing reflects market averages for moves in and from Georgia as of June 2026. Your final price depends on inventory weight, packing level, access at pickup and delivery, and scheduling flexibility. Call (855) 822-2722 or use our free quote calculator for an exact estimate.
What affects your moving price
- Shipment weight and volume are the biggest factors on any long-distance move from Georgia.
- Distance drives the base price. Atlanta to Raleigh is 404 miles; Atlanta to San Diego is 2,143.
- Access at both ends matters. Freight-elevator windows in Midtown and Buckhead, narrow squares in Savannah's historic district, or a long suburban approach can all add time or call for a shuttle.
- How much packing you want us to do. Full-service runs more than partial, and self-pack is the lowest option.
- When you move. Summer is peak demand, while the heat and humidity tax a crew on a June-through-August load.
- Add-on services like auto transport, climate-controlled storage, and specialty handling for pianos, gun safes, or artwork carry their own pricing.
Moving routes from Georgia
Moving to Georgia: what you should know
A move to Georgia involves more than logistics. The state runs on a split between the dense, fast-growing metro Atlanta job market and a wide stretch of mid-size cities and coast beyond it, and the interstates that converge downtown gate almost every cross-state route. Below is a quick guide covering cost of living, access and logistics, climate and timing, and the residency rules that affect your move.
What it costs to move to Georgia
Georgia's cost of living index is 96.3 (US average = 100, BEA RPP 2024), which sits slightly below the national figure. Local moving labor runs $95-$150 per hour for a two-person crew, with Atlanta at the higher end and the smaller cities lower. Median home value is $303,300 (Census ACS 2020-2024) and median monthly rent is $1,393, while median household income is $77,353. But the line that draws newcomers is the tax mix, because Georgia charges a flat 4.99 percent individual income tax for 2026, down from 5.19 percent the year before under HB 463, and the combined state and local sales tax averages about 7.4 percent.
Access and logistics
Georgia has a clear interstate spine centered on Atlanta. I-75 runs north and south from Tennessee through Atlanta and Macon to Florida, while I-85 cuts southwest-to-northeast from Alabama through Atlanta to the Carolinas. I-20 crosses east-west from Alabama through Atlanta and Augusta to South Carolina, I-16 links Macon to Savannah, and the I-285 perimeter loops the whole metro. In downtown Atlanta the hard part is the building and the clock, since tower and high-rise moves in Midtown and Buckhead need a certificate of insurance, a reserved freight elevator, and a tight street-loading window, and the Connector traffic makes timing everything. On the coast, the challenge flips to Savannah's historic squares, because the narrow one-way lanes there often require a smaller shuttle truck.
Climate and timing
Georgia has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and mild winters. Atlanta's July average high is near 90 and its January average low is around 35, and the city sees roughly 47 days a year at or above 90 degrees. Atlanta gets about 50 inches of rain a year but only about 2 inches of snow, since hard freezes are rare. The headline risks are seasonal: Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms reach the Savannah coast roughly June through November, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms hit statewide, and rare ice storms can briefly close roads in North Georgia. The best window for a move is March through April or September through November, when temperatures and humidity ease and demand is off-peak. Avoid June through August, when 90-degree heat and peak demand both arrive, and plan coastal moves around hurricane season.
Residency and regulations
Georgia handles licensing and registration through two different agencies, which trips up a lot of new arrivals. The Department of Driver Services (DDS) issues driver's licenses and ID cards, while vehicle titling and registration go through the Department of Revenue (DOR) at your County Tag Office. New residents have 30 days to get a Georgia driver's license and 30 days to title and register a vehicle, and you must get the license first. Apply through the DDS (dds.georgia.gov) once you are settled. There is no statewide periodic safety inspection, but vehicles registered in the 13 metro-Atlanta counties need an annual emissions test through Georgia's Clean Air Force, so where you land in the metro can change that requirement. Online voter registration runs through the Secretary of State, and a DDS license transaction can register you automatically.
What to know before moving to Georgia
Benefits of moving to Georgia
0,302,748
Population
$0,353
Median household income
0.3 (US = 100, BEA RPP 2024)
Cost of living index
0/year (approximate)
Days of sunshine
0.99% flat (2026)
State income tax
+0.5%
Population change 2020-2025
Georgia is home to about 11.3 million people, and it grew 5.5 percent between 2020 and 2025, faster than the country as a whole. The economy is anchored by logistics and transportation, with Hartsfield-Jackson, Delta Air Lines, and UPS in Atlanta and the Port of Savannah on the coast, alongside corporate headquarters like Home Depot and Coca-Cola and a large healthcare and film sector. Median household income is $77,353. The migration story runs strongly inbound: about 266,500 people moved into Georgia from other states in 2024, with Florida, Texas, and South Carolina the top sources, and the state added roughly 98,500 residents from 2024 to 2025, the 4th most of any state. And the move to a flat 4.99 percent income tax for 2026 is a real draw for families arriving from higher-tax states.
Is Georgia a good place to live?
Georgia offers a deep logistics and corporate job market, a below-average cost of living, and a mix of big-city, coastal, and mountain options within a day's drive. But the trade-offs are real: metro Atlanta traffic is heavy and getting heavier, the summers are hot and humid for months, and the coast carries hurricane risk. Whether it's a good fit depends on how much you value the job market, the lower housing costs, and the milder winters against the heat, the traffic, and the storm season. There's no single answer here.
Tax environment
Georgia uses a flat individual income tax that is phasing down, set at 4.99 percent for 2026 after HB 463 cut it from 5.19 percent, with further reductions planned in coming years. There is no estate tax and no inheritance tax, which simplifies things for retirees and families moving assets across state lines. The combined state and local sales tax averages about 7.4 percent, built on a 4.00 percent state rate plus local rates that range from 0 to 5 percent. The effective property tax runs about 0.79 percent of home value and is assessed at the county level, and the gas tax is 34.05 cents per gallon. One item to budget for is a one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) due when you title a vehicle in Georgia.
Housing market
Median home value in Georgia is $303,300 (Census ACS 2020-2024), below the national figure, and median monthly rent is $1,393. Prices vary sharply by region, from the premium intown Atlanta and north-suburban markets to far more affordable mid-size cities like Columbus, Augusta, and Macon, where the same budget buys much more house. An owner-occupancy rate of 65.7 percent reflects a market where most households own. Because the price gap between metro Atlanta and the rest of the state is wide, where you land matters as much as what you buy.
Job market and economy
Georgia's economy is led by logistics, transportation, and supply chain, a sector few states can rival. The state pairs the world's busiest airport with Delta and UPS in Atlanta and the fastest-growing container port on the East and Gulf coasts in Savannah, and it adds depth through healthcare systems like Northside, Piedmont, and Wellstar, retail and consumer headquarters like Home Depot and Coca-Cola, and a booming film and television industry that spent $2.6 billion in the state in fiscal 2024. About 34.9 percent of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which feeds the corporate and technical roles clustered around Atlanta. And because the metro keeps drawing headquarters and distribution work, job growth has stayed strong.
Safety and natural risks
Georgia faces a storm-heavy hazard mix. Severe thunderstorms are the most frequent threat, accounting for more than half of the state's billion-dollar disasters since 1980, while tornadoes and inland flooding affect nearly every county. The Atlantic coast around Savannah carries tropical-cyclone and storm-surge risk through hurricane season, and that risk is the single costliest in total dollars. Drought and occasional severe winter storms round out the list. If you are buying near the coast or a river floodplain, it is worth lining up flood coverage early, since standard homeowner policies exclude it.
Who thrives in Georgia?
Corporate transferees relocating to Atlanta headquarters
Atlanta ranks fourth among US cities for the number of Fortune 500 headquarters, anchored by Home Depot, UPS, Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola, and Southern Company. Employees moving in for executive and management roles often need tight, business-scheduled relocations into Buckhead, Midtown, or the suburban office parks along I-285, and because the timing is driven by a start date, the loading window has to be exact.
Film and TV production professionals
Film and television productions spent $2.6 billion in Georgia during fiscal year 2024, which keeps drawing crews, gaffers, and post-production talent to studios around Atlanta, Fayetteville, and Savannah. These moves often involve specialty equipment and project-based timing tied to a shooting schedule, so the dates rarely line up with the calendar everyone else uses.
Sun-Belt families moving in from higher-tax states
About 266,500 people moved into Georgia from other states in 2024, with the most newcomers arriving from Florida, Texas, and South Carolina. Families are drawn by a flat 4.99 percent income tax for 2026, a median home value near $303,300, and lower living costs than the coastal Northeast. Many land in the top-rated north-metro school districts where the housing and the schools both check out.
Port and logistics workers heading to Savannah
The Port of Savannah handled close to 5.6 million container units in 2024 and was the fastest-growing port on the US East and Gulf coasts, which fuels warehouse, trucking, and distribution jobs across the Savannah-Pooler corridor. Workers relocating here often move into the newer logistics-driven suburbs near I-16 and I-95, where the housing has followed the freight.
University and college transfers
Faculty, researchers, and graduate students relocate for the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia Tech and Georgia State in downtown Atlanta, and Emory in DeKalb County. Because these moves cluster around late-summer semester starts, when Atlanta's heat and humidity peak, climate-aware scheduling and a stretch of climate-controlled storage often make the difference.
First week after moving to Georgia: what to do
After your move to Georgia, several tasks need attention in the first weeks. Georgia gives new residents 30 days to get a driver's license and 30 days to register a vehicle, and the license has to come first, so handle it early. Here is a prioritized checklist.
- Update your driver license.
You have 30 days to get a Georgia license through the Department of Driver Services (dds.georgia.gov). Bring proof of identity and Georgia residency, and do this before you register your vehicle, because the license is required first.
- Register your vehicle.
You have 30 days to title and register a vehicle, but this happens at the County Tag Office through the Department of Revenue, not the DDS. A one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax is due at titling, and if you land in one of the 13 metro-Atlanta emissions counties, you'll need an emissions test first.
- Check the emissions requirement.
Vehicles registered in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties need an annual emissions test for most 2002-2023 model-year cars. Out-of-state emissions tests are not accepted, so plan the Georgia test into your 30-day window.
- Transfer your auto insurance.
Georgia requires liability coverage, so contact your insurer to re-rate your policy before you register. Premiums run higher in metro Atlanta than in the smaller cities.
- Register to vote.
Georgia offers online registration through the Secretary of State, and a DDS license transaction can register you automatically. Mail and in-person options are available too.
- Forward your mail.
USPS Change of Address is free online at usps.com. Mail forwarding starts within 7-10 business days.
- Transfer medical records.
Contact your current providers before the move and find a new primary care physician near your new home.
- Update school records.
If you have children, request transcripts from the previous district and contact your new one about enrollment. Several Georgia districts, including Buford City, Oconee County, and Forsyth County, rank among the state's best, and the school year usually starts in early August.
Georgia at a glance: schools, jobs, and things to do
Schools and universities
Buford City Schools ranked the top district in Georgia in Niche's 2026 rankings, with Oconee County Schools in Watkinsville second and Forsyth County Schools in Cumming third among the best in the state. The University of Georgia in Athens is the public research flagship and the nation's first state-chartered university, with total enrollment near 43,900 in fall 2024. Georgia Tech in Atlanta is a top public research university in engineering and computing, and Emory University in DeKalb County adds a major private research institution and one of metro Atlanta's largest employers. Because school quality and home prices both vary sharply by district, many families research specific north-metro suburbs closely before choosing where to land.
Major employers
Delta Air Lines is the largest employer in Georgia, with about 42,090 jobs in metro Atlanta and the world's largest airline hub at Hartsfield-Jackson. Healthcare runs deep behind it, with Northside Hospital at about 32,000 employees, Piedmont Healthcare near 29,646, and Wellstar Health System around 21,020. The Home Depot, headquartered in Atlanta, employs about 19,576 in the metro, and UPS, also headquartered there, runs about 17,037. Coca-Cola, invented in Atlanta in 1886, has run its global headquarters from the city ever since. Because logistics, healthcare, and corporate headquarters dominate the metro while the port drives the coast, job seekers find deep opportunities in supply chain, medicine, retail, and film.
Attractions and recreation
Stone Mountain Park, 15 miles east of Atlanta, is the most-visited tourist site in the state. The Savannah Historic District pairs 23 park squares with restored 18th and 19th-century homes, museums, and monuments, and it draws both visitors and people who end up relocating to the coast. In Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium ranks among the largest in the world and the World of Coca-Cola tells the story of the city's signature brand. And for the outdoors, Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains in the north and the Golden Isles along the Atlantic coast give residents both peaks and beaches within a few hours' drive.
FAQ
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(855) 822-2722 or email
Local moving in Georgia typically costs $95-$150 per hour for a two-person crew with a truck, or $145-$265 for the three-person crew a three-bedroom home usually needs. At 4-6 hours, that puts a typical three-bedroom local move around $580 to $1,590. Metro Atlanta freight-elevator windows and Savannah's narrow historic squares can add time. Call (855) 822-2722 for an itemized estimate.
Long-distance moves from Georgia start at $900 for a studio and reach about $7,150 for a large four-plus-bedroom home. The final price depends on shipment weight, distance, and access at both ends. A two-to-three-bedroom move from Atlanta to Raleigh runs about $1,650 to $2,000, while the cross-country lane to San Diego runs higher. Star Van Lines provides written estimates so your price won't change after booking.
Search our USDOT number 4176875 on the FMCSA SAFER website (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov). This federal database confirms our operating authority, MC number 1607491, insurance status, and safety record. Any legitimate interstate mover should be able to provide a verifiable USDOT number.
In Georgia the charges to ask about are long-carry and elevator fees for Midtown and Buckhead high-rises, shuttle fees when a full-size truck can't reach a Savannah historic-district address or a tight suburban lot, and stair fees for walk-up units. We disclose every potential charge in your written estimate before you book, so nothing is a surprise on moving day.
Federal law requires interstate movers to offer two levels: Released Value Protection (free, covering $0.60 per pound per item) and Full Value Protection (paid, covering repair, replacement, or cash settlement at current value). Star Van Lines is fully insured under USDOT #4176875 and can explain both options when you request a quote.
New Georgia residents have 30 days to get a Georgia driver's license and 30 days to title and register a vehicle, and the license has to come first. Licenses are issued by the Department of Driver Services, while titling and registration are handled separately by the Department of Revenue at your County Tag Office. Because the two run on different agencies and the same 30-day clock, it helps to line both up early.
Yes, if your vehicle is registered in one of 13 metro-Atlanta counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale. For a 2026 registration the test covers most 2002-2023 model-year gasoline cars and light trucks, while the three newest model years and vehicles 25 years and older are exempt. There is no statewide emissions program outside those counties, and Georgia does not accept an out-of-state test.
Georgia charges a flat 4.99 percent individual income tax for 2026, down from 5.19 percent the year before under HB 463, and the combined sales tax averages about 7.4 percent. The state cost-of-living index is 96.3 against a national 100, so it sits slightly below average. Median home value is $303,300 and median monthly rent is $1,393, but the spread is wide, because intown Atlanta and the north suburbs run well above the mid-size cities like Columbus and Augusta.
March through April and September through November are the best windows, with milder temperatures, lower humidity, and off-peak demand. Avoid June through August, when Atlanta highs sit near 90 on roughly 47 days a year and moving demand peaks. If you move on the coast near Savannah, plan around the Atlantic hurricane season that runs June through November, and if you must move in high summer, schedule loading for the early morning.
We move cars by open or enclosed carrier, and your coordinator gives you one written estimate covering the household goods and any vehicle on the same order. The Georgia wrinkle is emissions: if you ship a car to one of the 13 metro-Atlanta counties, most 2002-2023 model-year vehicles must pass a Georgia emissions test before you can register, and an out-of-state test won't count. Because that test ties into your 30-day registration deadline, it's worth planning early.
It works in your favor, because the same logistics network that makes Georgia a national distribution hub keeps the moving corridors well-traveled and predictable. Hartsfield-Jackson, the world's busiest airport, and the Port of Savannah, the 4th busiest US container port, sit on the interstates we use most, so I-75, I-85, I-20, and I-16 are familiar ground. The one trade-off is metro Atlanta congestion, which is why we schedule loading windows around rush hour.
Yes. While storm surge and the strongest winds hit the Savannah coast hardest, tropical systems regularly push heavy rain and wind well inland, and that rainfall can reach metro Atlanta in September when tropical-cyclone activity peaks. Because of that, your coordinator watches the forecast during hurricane season for both coastal and inland Georgia moves, and we build flexibility into late-summer and early-fall schedules so a storm doesn't catch a load in transit.
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USDOT #4176875 | MC #1607491 | Licensed & Insured