The Ranking
Our top 9 moving companies in Winnipeg
Moving in Winnipeg comes down to timing and weather more than anything else. Many leases end on the last day of the month, and the summer months are the busiest for movers, so the best crews book up weeks ahead for the last few days of June, July and August. If you can move midweek or mid month, you will usually have more choice of dates and crews.
Winter moves are common here too, and they need more planning. The City of Winnipeg starts a major plowing operation once snow reaches 5 cm, and it announces winter parking bans that can affect where a moving truck can stop. The City's Know Your Zone app and its parking ban notices show which streets are affected, so check them the day before a winter move. Ask your mover how they protect floors from snow and salt, and clear a path to the door the night before.
If you live in an apartment or condo, book the elevator early and ask the building manager whether they need a certificate of insurance from the moving company. Many buildings do, and a good mover will send it without fuss. If you are unsure whether you need a permit to park a moving truck on your street, call 311 before the move.
How pricing works. Most Winnipeg movers charge by the hour for local moves, with a minimum number of hours and a travel fee on top. Calculated Moving, for example, posts a two hour labour minimum, a flat 45 minute travel and preparation fee and a 10 percent valuation and consumables charge. Long distance moves are usually priced by weight or volume and distance. A binding estimate means the price on paper is the price you pay unless you add items or services. A non-binding estimate is a best guess, and the final bill follows the actual hours or weight, so ask how much it can change.
Coverage and claims. Basic carrier liability is often set by weight rather than by what an item is worth, so a heavy dresser and a light television can be covered for very different amounts. Ask what valuation coverage is included, what a full value option costs, and how long you have to file a claim.
Red flags. Be careful with a mover that wants a large cash deposit, gives a price over the phone without asking what you are moving, has no street address, or shows up in a rented truck with a different name on it. Check the company's Google reviews, especially the one star ones, and ask for proof of insurance and WCB coverage for the crew.
Licence and membership checks. We did not find a provincial licence that household movers in Manitoba must hold, so the checks that matter are different. Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and cargo coverage, confirm the company's WCB Manitoba coverage, look the company up on the Better Business Bureau site, and check whether it belongs to the Canadian Association of Movers. For a move into the United States, the carrier that hauls your goods across the border needs a USDOT number, which you can check on the FMCSA website.
