U-Haul Coupons Boston, MA

Boston has one of the most concentrated moving days in the country: September 1, when a huge number of leases turn over at once. Narrow streets and old buildings add to the challenge.

Moving tips for Boston

• If you can, avoid moving on or around September 1 — trucks and help are hard to find and streets are crowded.
• Many streets require a moving-truck parking permit; check with the city well in advance.
• Watch for low clearances on some roads and bridges, especially Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive, which are closed to trucks.

Parking a moving truck in Boston

Boston’s Office of the Parking Clerk sells a one-day moving truck permit that reserves two legal parking spaces from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is optional, but it is the only way to guarantee a legal spot on moving day. The city lists $69 for two non-metered spaces including two signs, plus $40 if the spaces are metered. Online applications must be made at least 15 days and no more than eight weeks ahead, and the permit arrives by mail. In person at City Hall, the minimum is three days ahead, and one permit can cover up to five consecutive days. Signs must be up at least 48 hours before the 7 a.m. start (the city recommends three days), with fliers on nearby cars. If a car still blocks the space, Boston police can be called at 617-343-4911. Moving containers need a separate in-person application.

Best time of year to move in Boston

Boston’s moving calendar is dominated by September 1. Boston.com has reported estimates that 60 to 80 percent of the city’s leases turn over that day, and college students arrive at the same time. Book trucks and permits as early as the eight-week window allows if your lease starts then, or move a week or two earlier if the landlord allows it. Weather is the other factor. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals put Boston’s average annual snowfall at 49.2 inches, up from 43.9 inches in the previous set, as CBS Boston reported, so January and February moves can lose days to storms and snow-banked curbs.

Moving trends in and out of Boston

Massachusetts ranked 46th of 50 states on the U-Haul Growth Index for 2025, up from 49th in 2024, and U-Haul named it among the bottom states where more one-way trucks leave than arrive. Boston did not appear in U-Haul’s 2025 top 25 growth metros. For a long outbound trip, the long-distance packing guide covers loading for highway miles.

Boston-specific tips

• Never take a truck on Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road or Memorial Drive. The Massachusetts DCR says these parkways are cars only, with bridge clearances as low as nine feet, and State Police free stuck moving trucks every year.
• Check the city’s Street Occupancy Permit database before applying, since another permit may already hold your block.
• The permit is not issued in outdoor dining locations during the city’s outdoor dining season, so ask about restaurant-lined streets.

Sources: City of Boston Office of the Parking Clerk, Massachusetts DCR, CBS Boston, Boston.com, U-Haul.