Lower Manhattan has the oldest street grid in the city and some of its newest towers. Many Financial District streets are narrow, some are shared with pedestrians, and many residential buildings were once offices. Moves here go smoothly when the building and the street are planned before the truck arrives.
Towers with a front desk
Converted office towers and new rentals usually have a security desk and a move coordinator. Expect to book a freight elevator and a time slot, provide a certificate of insurance (COI) and sometimes the crew’s names. Ask for the building’s move rules as soon as you sign the lease; we send the COI your building asks for.
Narrow streets and where the truck stands
On narrow streets the truck may not be able to stand right at the entrance. Tell us the exact entrance the building uses for moves, which can be on a side street or a loading dock. The better we know the entrance, the shorter the carry.
Tolls and bridges
Lower Manhattan is inside the Congestion Relief Zone, which covers Manhattan at and below 60th Street (MTA: Congestion Relief Zone). Vehicles entering the zone pay a toll, and your written estimate should say how tolls are handled. If you are moving to Brooklyn, note that the Brooklyn Bridge has restrictions for commercial vehicles (NYC DOT: parkway restrictions for commercial vehicles), so the truck crosses another way.
Weekend and evening moves
Some buildings prefer weekend moves to avoid busy weekday lobbies; others allow weekday moves only. Do not assume. Ask both buildings, then pick a date that works for both elevators.
Moving in from out of state
Many people move to the Financial District from other states. An interstate move falls under our federal license, U.S. DOT No. 967970 (MC-432549). After the move, New York gives new residents 30 days to exchange an out-of-state driver license (NY DMV: exchange an out-of-state license).
Battery Park City and the South Street Seaport
Battery Park City buildings sit on quieter streets but have their own management rules and loading areas; ask for them early. Around the Seaport, some streets are shared with pedestrians and old blocks are tight, so the entrance the building uses for moves matters even more.
What to send with your estimate request
Both addresses, the building entrance used for moves, the floors, the elevator booking you have, and photos of large pieces. The estimate is free and in writing; call (646) 588-1374 or use the quote form on our home page.
Checklist for a Lower Manhattan move
- Get the move rules, the elevator booking and the COI sample from both buildings.
- Confirm the entrance or loading dock the truck must use.
- Change your address with USPS; online requests need an identity check (USPS: change your address).
- Keep building key fobs and access cards separate so you can return them on move-out day.
Questions we hear
Do Financial District buildings require a COI?
Most residential towers do. Ask the building for its sample certificate and send it to your mover a few days before the move.
Is the Financial District in the congestion toll zone?
Yes. The MTA Congestion Relief Zone covers Manhattan at and below 60th Street.
Can a moving truck cross the Brooklyn Bridge?
NYC DOT lists the Brooklyn Bridge among roads with commercial-vehicle restrictions, so moving trucks use another crossing.
How do I get a written estimate?
Call (646) 588-1374 or use the quote form on our home page.
Free written estimate: call (646) 588-1374 or use the quote form on our home page. Family business since 1999 · U.S. DOT No. 967970 (MC-432549) · NYSDOT 34875 · NJPM 000930 · Company facts
More moving guides
- Moving on the Upper East Side: Co-op Rules, Freight Elevators and Getting the Truck to the Door
- Upper West Side Moves: Brownstones, Prewar Elevators and Walk-Ups
- Midtown and Hell’s Kitchen High-Rise Moves: Loading Docks, Time Slots and the Congestion Zone
- Harlem and Washington Heights Walk-Up Moves: Stairs, Hills and Planning the Day