Licensed & Insured DMV Movers
Movers in Kensington, Antiques Row Local
Independent municipality adjacent to Bethesda, Howard Avenue Antiques Row, MARC Brunswick Line, and the iconic Washington D.C. LDS Temple. We pull permits, work narrow staircases, and price every Kensington job upfront.
At a glance
- Licensed and insured: USDOT 4539918, MC 1801440
- Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Kensington is a 20-minute drive for our crews
- Town of Kensington parking permits handled
- Antique and Victorian estate packing handled with care
- Upfront, binding pricing
USDOT 4539918 · MC 1801440
Our Kensington Moving Rates
Starting from. Off-peak weekdays.
from
$100/hr
2 Movers + Truck
from
$140/hr
3 Movers + Truck
from
$180/hr
4 Movers + Truck
1st Month Free*
*ask if you qualify
from
$49/mo
Storage
Weekends, end-of-month, summer, and holidays run higher. Real quote always wins.
Why people move to Kensington
- Independent municipality with strong small-town character
- Howard Avenue Antiques Row (one of the largest antique-shopping concentrations in the DMV)
- MARC Brunswick Line Kensington station for weekday D.C. commute
- Adjacent to Bethesda with all of its retail, dining, and Metro access
- Established Victorian and Craftsman residential architecture
- Walt Whitman HS pyramid (consistently among Maryland's top)
- Kensington Park and the Town Center community amenities
- Multi-generational community with long-tenured families
What movers in Kensington need to know
Rowhouses, historic districts, narrow streets, and city permits. Here are the four things our crews handle on every Kensington job.
Howard Avenue narrow streets and parking permits
Howard Avenue Antiques Row has narrow streets and tight on-street parking. We file the Town of Kensington parking permit 48 hours ahead and dispatch 20- to 22-foot trucks for moves in the historic core.
Victorian and Craftsman estate packing
Older Kensington homes often have inherited Victorian-era and Craftsman furniture, art collections, and architectural details from the 1890s-1920s. We bring archival packing materials and a four-person crew.
MARC station area traffic
MARC Brunswick Line Kensington station has weekday rush-hour traffic. We schedule loads outside the morning commute window.
How does a Kensington move with us actually go?
Five steps from the first call to the follow-up. No mystery, no scope-creep.
- Step 1
Free Quote Walkthrough
By phone, video, or in-person. We measure stairs, hallways, and access. You get a binding price, not an estimate that creeps.
- Step 2
Confirmation & Permits
We lock the date, pull the street permit, book the loading dock if needed, and send your building's certificate of insurance.
- Step 3
Pre-Move Prep
Packing tips, supplies dropped off if you ordered them, and a day-before check-in so you know exactly what to expect on move day.
- Step 4
Move Day
Same crew start to finish. Clean blankets, straps, dollies. Updates as we go. We don't disappear for two-hour lunches.
- Step 5
Wrap-Up
Furniture placed where you want it, walk-through with the lead, and a follow-up call within 48 hours to make sure everything held up.
Which moving services do we offer in Kensington?
All of them. Every service is available for moves into, out of, and within Kensington, MD.
Moving
Local and Out of the State Moving
Loading Help
Help with Loading
Unloading Help
Help with Unloading
In-Home & Same-Building Moves
Move Items Within Premises
Junk Disposal
Junk Disposal and Cleanouts
Packing Help
Help with Packing
Storage
Moving and Storage Companies
Specialty services in Kensington
Long-distance, labor-only, senior moves, same-day, commercial, furniture delivery, and piano moves, all available for Kensington jobs.
Moving in Kensington? Get a binding quote.
Tell us about your move. We'll send a price you can hold us to.
A Kensingtonmove we're proud of
Kensington Heights: Five-bedroom 1905 Queen Anne Victorian with original heart-pine flooring, wraparound porch, and inherited family antiques
The Challenge
Multi-generational family moving from a 1905 Queen Anne Victorian in Kensington Heights to a single-family home in Bethesda (Wood Acres). Town of Kensington parking permit required. Family had an extensive antique collection (1880s-1920s American furniture, English china, Persian rugs), a baby grand piano from the 1910s, and three generations of inherited inventory.
How we handled it
Filed the Town of Kensington parking permit 48 hours ahead. Dispatched a 22-foot truck and a five-person crew. Inventoried and crated each antique piece with archival materials. Disassembled the 1910s baby grand piano at the action. Inventoried the Persian rug collection with archival paper. Ten-hour move, no damage to the original 1905 heart-pine flooring or the new Bethesda home's hardwood.
Looking to book a similar Kensington move?
Get a binding quote in under two minutes.
Meet the team
The two people behind every Kensington job. Real owners, named and accountable.
Co-owner, Customer Experience
Co-owner of Blue Crab Moving. 12+ years in the DMV moving industry, with deep experience scoping out-of-the-state moves, building binding written quotes that hold on move day, and walking customers through the difference between licensed carriers and brokers. Author of the Crab Shack blog. The person you'll hear back from after you fill out a quote request.
What permits do you need to move in Kensington?
Most rowhouse moves need a city right-of-way permit, plus loading-window and historic-district rules to plan around. We handle all of it. Here's what's involved.
- Town of Kensington issues temporary parking permits when curb space is needed.
- Howard Avenue Antiques Row has on-street parking permit zones.
- Montgomery County requires moving companies to be licensed and insured. Verify at FMCSA's Protect Your Move.
When's the best time of year to move in Kensington?
Spring and fall, with summer the busiest and winter the quietest. Here's what we adjust through the year so weather, traffic, and local quirks don't bite you on move day.
Winter
Mild winters with two or three snowfalls. Howard Avenue Antiques Row holiday-season traffic peaks in November-December.
Spring
Best moving weather. Kensington spring events pick up.
Summer
Peak season. Book 30-45 days ahead.
Fall
Second-best season.
Which Kensington neighborhoods do we serve?
All of them. What changes from block to block is truck size, parking, and access. Here's the crew-relevant detail for each.
Howard Avenue Antiques Row
Narrow historic streets. Parking permits required. 20- to 22-foot trucks.
Kensington Heights
Victorian and Craftsman residential. Tree-lined streets.
Newport Drive area
1950s-1960s single-family. Easy access.
Kensington Park
Single-family. Easy driveway access.
Kensington Town Center area
Mixed residential. Standard access.
Why hire Blue Crab Moving in Kensington?
Twelve-plus years of Kensington moves, licensed and insured by USDOT, and the same crew on your job from the first lift to the last walk-through.
- Owner-led with 12+ years moving families across Maryland, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia
- Licensed and insured: USDOT 4539918, MC 1801440
- Same crew start to finish, no swap-outs mid-day
- Upfront, binding pricing locked before move day
- 5-star service across the DMV
Kensington moving FAQ
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from Kensington customers.
Town of Kensington issues temporary parking permits when curb space is needed in historic Howard Avenue and other historic streets. We file 48 hours ahead at booking.
Howard Avenue Antiques Row has narrow streets and tight parking. We file the Town of Kensington parking permit, dispatch a 20- to 22-foot truck, and use careful staging. Mixed-use apartments above the antique shops sometimes require coordination with the shop owners.
Howard Avenue and the Victorian-era side streets need a 20- to 22-foot truck. Newport Drive area, Kensington Park, and other established residential neighborhoods accommodate 26-foot trucks fine.
Yes, including Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Rockville. Our HQ is in Gaithersburg, 20 minutes north.
Howard Avenue historic apartment $1,800-$3,800 (parking permit, narrow streets), Victorian residential $2,500-$5,500 (antiques, oversized inventory), suburban single-family $1,600-$3,500. Every quote is binding.
Yes. Full and partial packing with archival materials for the antique furniture, art collections, and Persian rugs common in Kensington Heights and the broader Kensington estate community.
Where do you serve around Kensington?
All of Kensington, MD and the surrounding metro. The map below shows our service footprint.
Insurance, valuation coverage, and claims
Every Blue Crab move is covered by our active USDOT 4539918 cargo and general liability policies. Federal law (49 CFR 375) requires interstate movers to offer two valuation tiers. Here is how each works and which one we recommend for your inventory.
Released value protection (default)
Included at no extra cost. Covers 60 cents per pound per article. Adequate for routine apartment and small-home moves with no high-value items. Not enough for antiques, pianos, fine art, or anything you would file a real insurance claim over.
Full value protection (recommended for high-value inventories)
Premium coverage that pays repair, replacement, or current market value of any damaged or lost item. We recommend it for moves with antique furniture, original artwork, china cabinets, grand pianos, or anything irreplaceable. Cost depends on declared value of your shipment and is itemized on the binding quote, never tacked on later.
If something does get damaged
Notify us within 24 hours of delivery. Our office reviews the claim within one business day, sends a written acknowledgment, and resolves repair, replacement, or settlement within 30 days. No back-and-forth, no runaround. We document every load and every unload with photos so the claims record is complete from day one.
Moving to Kensington? See the neighborhood data
Free neighborhood reports for Kensington ZIP codes. Demographics, public and private schools, FBI / state crime stats, air quality, climate, and top-rated restaurants. Live data, no signup.
Related reading from the Crab Shack
Tactical how-tos from an owner with 12+ years of moving DMV families. The same playbooks our crews run.
Crab Shack
The Binding Estimate Myth (And What Actually Matters)
Everyone says binding estimates protect you. Here's why they mostly don't, and what actually does.
Read playbookCrab Shack
Pack Like You've Done This Before
A field guide to packing your home like a professional. Photo tricks, supply list, and strategic packing order.
Read playbookCrab Shack
Choose a Rental Truck Size (Without Guessing)
How to pick the right U-Haul, Penske, Budget, or Enterprise truck with a real reference table.
Read playbookCrab Shack
Talk to Your Kids About the Move
Emotional prep matters more than any box. How to talk about the move and the books that help kids process change.
Read playbookCrab Shack
Prep Your Dog for the Move
A week or two of lead time makes move day less traumatic. Crate training, walking the new neighborhood, and the paperwork.
Read playbookREADY TO MOVE IN KENSINGTON?
Tell us about your move. We know Kensington and we'll plan around what matters here.
Or reach out directly
Long distance? We move anywhere in the US.
Truck, Pod, or furniture handling. We do it all and then some.
What our customers say
Real words from customers we've moved across the DMV, including Kensington and the surrounding area.
“I had an excellent experience with Blue Crab Moving. The team was punctual very professional, and handled all of my belongings with great care. They worked efficiently, communicated clearly throughout the process, and made my move stress-free. The pricing was fair with no surprises, and everything arrived safely and in perfect condition. I highly recommend Blue Crab Moving to anyone looking for reliable and trustworthy movers.”
“Great company , highly professional , helpful and friendly . I definitely recommend them and I would use them again.”
“I cannot recommend the Blue Crab team more highly. They are meticulous, creative and very focused on customer service. I had a partial-house, 3,000 pound move that included unloading half of the furniture to a condominium and half to storage unit, boht of which were 800 miles from pick-up. The Blue Crab team worked with me on the delivery date, and listened to and addressed my worries about certain fragile pieces of furniture. They also had continuity of the three-person team, making sure one person was at both ends of the move. Furniture was well labeled and wrapped, and the team was skilled at dis- and re-assembly. It was such a pleasant experience that I almost forgot I was in the middle of move! I cannot recommend them more highly (I have moved cross country 2x with national moving companies and had countless other smaller moves over 40 years and Blue Crab is the best team I have ever had).”