We recommend International Van Lines (IVL) and Allied Van Lines for long-distance and interstate California moves. Both movers provide long-distance service in all 50 states and international relocations in more than 100 countries. IVL has a wide range of specialty services, including white-glove service, while Allied employs its own moving crews and offers vehicle shipping in-house.
Pure Moving is our top choice for in-state service in California. This mover is certified to move goods throughout California and also has locations in Florida, Washington state and New York. It advertises transparent hourly rates and house-trained crews.
Balancing an upcoming move with day-to-day life is stressful — but not impossible. Hiring one of the best moving companies in California can expedite the process. Professional movers provide security and efficiency every step of the way, from packing to delivery. Learn more about our top movers and how to book with a qualified provider here.
Considerations when moving in California
- Traffic will affect moving costs: Los Angeles County is known for its poor traffic conditions, and many of California’s other urban areas have congested roadways. Local moving companies charge by the hour, so transit time between your old and new home — and to and from the mover’s office — counts toward billable time.
- Homeowners insurance might be hard to get: Increased wildfire risks across California have led to some major insurers refusing to offer policies in California. State Farm, for example, halted new policies in the state in 2023.
Our top choices for California movers
Based on our research, the following moving companies offer the best service for California moving clients:
Long-distance:
How to choose your California mover
Note the following key factors when getting a ballpark or binding estimate for your California move.
Know the cost
Moving costs for local and long-distance moves are calculated differently. Regardless of your upcoming move’s length, you should get more than one quote before deciding on a moving company.
Long-distance moving costs
Long-distance moving costs are determined by your total shipping weight and move distance; these are the main factors your move coordinator will focus on when conducting an in-home estimate. Add-on services will increase your cost.
We got several quotes for three-bedroom, 1,800-mile relocations. The total cost ranged from $6,000 (with no add-ons included) to $12,900 (with full-service packing). Add-ons such as crating, storage, vehicle shipping and piano moving can add to your final cost. Full-service packing for three-bedroom moves averaged a total cost of $2,604.
We also got a quote for a 2,900-mile — or cross-country — move. See in the table below how costs compare with a few of our top movers based on move distance and the inclusion of packing services.
| Move Size and Distance | Cost Without Add-Ons | Cost With Full-Service Packing |
|---|---|---|
| 3 bedrooms, 1,800 miles* | $6,638 | $8,579 |
| 3 bedrooms, 2,900 miles** | $13,450 | $16,757 |
**Based on a quote from North American Van Lines
Local moving costs in California
Local moving costs are determined by the number of movers and trucks required for your relocation. These factors determine your hourly rate for service.
Other factors that could affect your rates include how far in advance you book your move and the time of year that you’re moving. Most relocation companies raise their rates in the warmer months to cope with increased demand.
Total costs can greatly vary, however. We surveyed more than 900 moving clients in November 2023. Of them, 143 respondents reported moving 50 miles or less. Their reported prices ranged from $500 to $5,000, with an average overall cost of $1,437.
The following table shows average costs for a range of move distances based on our survey responses.
| Move Distance Range | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1–10 miles | $1,413 |
| 11–20 miles | $1,475 |
| 21–30 miles | $1,319 |
| 31–40 miles | $1,323 |
| 41–50 miles | $1,689 |
The price variations we saw when reviewing our results highlight the need for getting multiple quotes in person or via video call. Online cost calculators and other tools can only tell you so much about your overall price before getting quotes.
Get the services you need
The best way to determine what moving services you’ll need is to conduct a thorough walk-through of your home. Compile a full inventory list of all the goods you plan to keep and make plans to get rid of the rest.
Break this list down by room and bring it — along with any add-ons you’ll need, such as custom crating or disassembly — to every full-service moving company you get a quote from.
Your add-on service needs can include the following:
- Packing and unpacking
- Fragile-only packing
- Crating for antiques or fine arts
- Vehicle shipping
- Packing supplies
- Short- or long-term storage
- Debris or junk removal
- Home staging
- Furniture delivery
- Labor-only service
When getting a quote, ask your moving representative whether the company offers your required services. This will help you narrow down your options.
Find a mover you trust
Moving is a highly personalized service, no matter the details of your relocation. You’ll hire workers to come into your home and handle your belongings, heightening the importance of hiring a trustworthy company. Here are some key points to consider to ensure you’re hiring the best mover for you.
Checking a moving company’s registration status and customer reviews can help you avoid common moving scams, including hidden fees and lowball estimates.
Check regulatory status
Different governing bodies regulate local and interstate moving companies. Make sure your chosen mover is properly registered before you book.
Long-distance moving companies are federally regulated. All movers that offer interstate or long-distance service must have active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. Using these, you can check a mover’s registration status in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) database.
The Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) regulates California moving companies at the state level. All moving companies offering intrastate service only must have a Cal-T number. Use this six-digit number to look up a mover’s registration status on the BHGS website.
Navigating customer reviews
Once you’re sure that your movers are fully registered, customer reviews are your most valuable resource when evaluating movers. Look for both positive and negative trends.
Unfortunately, fake reviews are a reality when shopping for any services or goods online. Fake moving reviews are often overstuffed with industry buzzwords, such as the following:
- Stress-free
- Professional
- Punctual
Similarly, you should avoid blank 1- and 5-star reviews. It’s easy for ghost accounts to leave such reviews without content to influence an overall star rating on Google Reviews.
This is especially true for negative feedback. Considering how upsetting a bad moving experience can be, customers negatively affected by bad movers are typically all too willing to share every detail about their movers.
Get everything in writing
A commonly overlooked step in the booking process is getting written copies of all estimates and contracts. Moving contracts will include a full breakdown of your fees, whether they be hourly rates for local service or flat-rate pricing for long-distance moves. Contracts should also include your insurance terms and any options you may have for purchasing additional coverage.
Most movers today will send contracts via email for an e-signature from customers after getting a quote. Remember to request a written contract that firmly defines your move date and terms of service before agreeing to do business with any moving company.
Ask about insurance
All movers provide a federally mandated minimum amount of moving insurance. This released-liability coverage provides 60 cents per pound per item if your goods are lost or damaged during a move.
Apart from this, some moving companies offer additional coverage. This is referred to as valuation coverage or full-value protection. Such coverage typically offers $6 per pound per item in reimbursement if your goods are damaged in transit. You’ll have to pay an added fee of between 3% and 5% of the total dollar amount of coverage for this protection.
How to plan your California move
All relocations will require plenty of advance planning. If you know you’ll be moving far enough in advance, the active planning phase should begin at least eight weeks before your move date.
At this stage, begin researching moving companies in your area and scheduling in-person or video call quotes. These should be scheduled between the four- and six-week mark before your move. Try to have your move booked and your moving contract in hand by the four-week mark.
Packing
Packing for a home of any size can be daunting, but proper timing can make it far easier. Be sure to take extra time to pack your kitchen and dining items and other fragile goods. Downsizing before your move can also be a great way to save time and money on moving day.
- Eight weeks before your move: Go through your home and write up your inventory list. List all the things you’re taking and those you plan to discard or sell. Make plans to get rid of these items and estimate how many packing materials you’ll need. Begin packing nonessential goods, such as out-of-season clothing and decorations, at a pace of one to three boxes per day, depending on your home size.
- Six weeks before your move: Continue packing your goods at the pace of one to three boxes daily. Around this time, begin fielding quotes from movers. Continue organizing and cleaning your home as you pack.
- Four weeks before your move: If you’ve planned well, you should have a mover in mind or fully booked. Continue packing; by this stage, you should pack more essential items, so you may have to pack fewer boxes daily.
- Two weeks before your move: Begin packing essential day-to-day items such as toiletries and in-season clothing. At this stage, you’ll likely need to begin planning your outfits and meals during moving week, as you’ll have more limited access to your wardrobe and kitchenware.
- Moving week: Finish packing essential items and plan to keep your sensitive documents and similar goods in a personal bag on moving day. This can include your laptop, banking and financial statements, identifying documents, high-value items such as jewelry and heirlooms, and your lease or deed to your new place of residence.
Other pre-move tasks
Moving to another state or even across town will often require many of the same preparatory steps. These can include the following:
- Informing your landlord that you’re moving out (if you rent your current residence)
- Setting switch-off and switch-on dates for all utilities and services
- Changing your address with any banks or relevant financial institutions
- Filing a change of address with the United States Postal Service
- Changing your address with your current employer
- Arranging for the care of pets or children on moving day
Best national movers to and from California
The following movers offer services directly as carriers in the state of California with extensive reaches to the rest of the country.
International Van Lines
Allied Van Lines
North American Van Lines
Best movers for a local California move
The following California movers offer excellent service for intrastate moves with some cross-country options. Local moves are billed at hourly rates, so you typically won’t be able to get a binding estimate from a local moving company.
Pure Moving
North Star Moving Company
Cali Moving and Storage
Other California movers
Common moves for California moving clients
U.S. Census bureau data lists the following states as the most popular destinations for California moving clients. Texas tops the list with more than 100,000 residents gained from California in 2022.
If you’re planning an interstate move from California to one of these common destinations, here are the best movers for each state:
- Texas moving companies
- Arizona moving companies
- Florida moving companies
- Nevada moving companies
- Oregon moving companies
Final take: Consider IVL for a long-distance California move and Pure Moving for local needs
If you’re planning an interstate relocation, we recommend starting your moving process with a quote from International Van Lines. Its range of services makes even the longest relocations accessible, and its customer ratings show that it consistently provides attentive customer service throughout most moves.
Your local California moving process should begin with a quote from Pure Moving. Its customer service representatives and moving crews demonstrate a track record of attentiveness, which can make most moves easier.
We recommend getting at least three quotes for your move, regardless of how far your upcoming relocation takes you. Getting multiple quotes from professional moving coordinators will help you establish an accurate budget before booking with your preferred relocation option.
Remember to also consider a moving company’s service offerings and overall customer review profile on Google Reviews and other platforms before you book.
Our methodology
Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.
Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points. We then divide the final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
Google Reviews and BBB ratings are accurate as of June 2024.
Top local moving companies in California
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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