U-Haul Coupons Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia is a city of rowhomes and narrow streets, with frequent moves to New York, Washington and the suburbs. Getting furniture through tight doorways and stairs is often the hardest part.

Moving tips for Philadelphia

• Measure sofas and bed frames against rowhome stairs and doorways before moving day.
• Some neighborhoods require temporary no-parking signs for a moving truck — check city rules.
• Moves along the I-95 corridor are popular; book one-way trucks early in summer.

Parking a moving truck in Philadelphia

Philadelphia lets movers reserve curb space with a Temporary No Parking (TNP) permit from the Department of Streets Right-of-Way Unit. For a moving truck, the fee is $50 per 40 feet per day in Center City or University City and $25 per 40 feet per day elsewhere, with 40 feet equal to about two spaces. A moving container or pod is $50 for up to five days. Apply online at least four business days ahead, one address per permit. After paying the invoice, print the permit and take it to a Philadelphia police district headquarters, which hands out the signs. Post them as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours before the move. If a car is in the zone during the permit, the local police district can ticket and tow it. Fees are not refundable. Row house blocks are narrow, so measure the truck length you need before applying.

Best time of year to move in Philadelphia

NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals, as reported by the Inquirer, put Philadelphia’s average July high at 87.8°F and the average January low at 25.6°F. Normal seasonal snowfall is 23.1 inches and annual precipitation is 44.11 inches. Humid July and August days make walk-up row house moves tiring, so start early in the day. Spring and October give mild weather with less competition for trucks, as the best time to rent guide explains.

Moving trends in and out of Philadelphia

Philadelphia ranked 25th on U-Haul’s top 25 growth metros for 2025, after more U-Haul trucks left than arrived in 2024. Pennsylvania as a whole ranked 44th of 50 states. Census estimates reported by Axios show Philadelphia County gained 1,546 residents from July 2024 to July 2025, with about 7,220 arrivals from abroad and a net domestic loss of more than 9,700.

Philadelphia-specific tips

• Kelly Drive bans vehicles over 10,000 pounds and has overpasses with about 9 feet of clearance, according to the Streets Department, as reported by Billy Penn. The fine is $500, so take a box truck on I-76 instead.
• PennDOT gives new residents 20 days to title and register a vehicle and 60 days to get a Pennsylvania license.
• Call the Streets Department at (215) 686-5500 if your TNP permit has not arrived three days before the start date.

Sources: City of Philadelphia Department of Streets, Philadelphia Inquirer, U-Haul, Axios Philadelphia, Billy Penn, PennDOT.