U.S. Census data shows more than 50,000 residents moved from California to Florida between 2021 and 2022, making it one of the most popular routes among American moving customers. Florida’s cost of living — which is 23.6% lower than California’s across all factors — and lack of state income tax have made relocating there a smart economic decision for many.
And while Californians enjoy easy access to numerous climate zones and idyllic weather on the West Coast, Florida’s beaches, the Everglades and other national parks offer plenty in the way of natural attractions.
We recommend International Van Lines and Allied Van Lines for your interstate move from California to Florida. International Van Lines’ booking offices in Valencia and Hayward and its nationwide network of partner companies enable it to provide customized moving packages. Allied’s carrier-only status means it provides all services in-house, so you won’t have to deal with any third parties when you move.
Below, we offer everything you need to know about moving from California to Florida, plus more information on the best moving companies for the job. The long-distance movers we reviewed scored highly on our grading scale across numerous factors, including service profile, coverage area and customer review scores.
How much does it cost to move from California to Florida?
Move distances between California and Florida vary. Relocating from San Diego to Tallahassee or another panhandle locale would be a roughly 2,100-mile move. If you relocated from Sacramento or San Francisco to Tampa, Naples or Miami, your move would cover almost 3,000 miles.
Based on our November 2023 survey of 900 recent moving clients, we calculated the following average costs for moves of all sizes spanning the same distance as California to Florida:
- 2,100–2,499 miles: $9,646
- 2,500–3,000 miles: $13,840
Aside from our survey data, we got quotes from 10 national moving companies for 2,900-mile relocations. After spending time on the phone with each company and getting ballpark estimates, we calculated two average price points for three-bedroom moves of this distance:
- Without packing: $11,680
- With packing: $13,820
The primary factors influencing interstate moving costs are move distance and overall shipment weight. Beyond this, add-on services such as packing, vehicle shipping, and crating for fine art, antiques and other specialty items can substantially increase your costs.
How do you choose the best moving company?
Before hiring a mover, you’ll need to get quotes from a handful of providers. Asking the right questions during your quote can help you save money and book with the best moving company for your needs. Consider the following factors before calling for an estimate.
Determine the services you need
The first thing on your list should be determining your needed services.
All moving companies provide labor for loading and unloading, released-value protection and transportation of goods in their basic service plans. Beyond this, add-ons will increase your overall rates. For example, you might need to transport your car from California to Florida or book storage near your new home.
According to our long-distance moving quotes, full-service packing for a three-bedroom home averages $2,140. Vehicle shipping, which is a common expense for cross-country moves, can cost upwards of $1 per mile, depending on the transport type and vehicle size.
Other add-ons can include the following:
- Packing and unpacking
- Packing supplies
- Short- and long-term storage
- Junk removal
- Home staging
- Furniture disassembly and assembly
Confirm the movers are properly licensed
Moving companies that offer interstate services are required to comply with federal guidelines.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates interstate movers. This organization requires that movers carry active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. Use these numbers to confirm a mover’s registration status on the FMCSA’s website.
California-based moving companies are regulated by the state Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS). Before booking with any mover primarily operating in California, look up its registration status using its name or CAL-T license number on the state Department of Consumer Affairs website.
Consider the cost and get multiple quotes
Get at least three quotes from professional movers before you book with any provider; this will help you get an accurate picture of the average costs for your move. Pricing will vary depending on the provider, the services they offer and the time of year you book your move.
The quotes we received and outlined above are averages based on a typical amount of furniture for a three-bedroom home. However, the costs we pulled from our survey were based on moves for homes of all sizes. Your exact pricing will depend on your service needs and move distance.
Read customer reviews
Customer reviews are your best resource when evaluating moving companies. These will provide you with insight into a moving company’s practices and customer treatment. Reviews on platforms such as Google Reviews, Yelp, Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and social media will offer valuable insight to guide your shopping and booking process.
Note both positive and negative themes in reviews, and disregard 1-star or 5-star reviews with no explanation attached. Also, note reviews that sound too good to be true — unfortunately, fake reviews are common in any industry focused on customer satisfaction. Asking friends and family for recommendations is another best practice when choosing a mover.
Decide whether you need additional insurance
All moving companies offer a baseline level of coverage for lost or damaged goods, called released-value protection, which is provided at no additional cost to you. It offers 60 cents per pound per item in reimbursement for all damages during a move.
Beyond this, many movers offer full-value protection for an added cost. You’ll determine a maximum dollar amount of possible reimbursement for damages with your move coordinator, and your added cost will be a low percentage — between 3% and 6%, in most cases — of this fixed maximum amount.
If you’re moving high-value items, we recommend purchasing added coverage. Fully loaded moving trucks can typically travel a maximum of 400 miles per day, making the minimum travel time for shorter California to Florida trips around five to six days. During this time, goods may shift in the trucks and sustain damage. Prepare for the possibility of damage by paying a bit more up-front for content protection.
Best moving companies to move from New York to California
The following nationwide moving companies operate directly within both California and Florida. Each one offers highly rated services as a carrier, meaning you won’t have to deal with third-party providers for at least your basic moving needs.
International Van Lines
Allied Van Lines
North American Van Lines
Why should you move from California to Florida?
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 50,000 residents moved from California to Florida in 2022. Florida has lower real estate and home prices, slightly lower sales taxes — 6% versus 7.25% — and lower general living costs.
Homeowners see lower entry pricing when breaking into the home market, with Los Angeles homes having a median cost of $912,500 compared to Miami’s median of $524,600. These locales are among the most expensive in their respective states, but these real estate pricing trends hold true across each state.
Economics aside, Florida has plenty to offer incoming residents, including the multicultural hub of Miami, the year-round tourist hubs and theme parks in and around Orlando, and more than 800 miles of beaches.
It also consistently ranks among the best places to retire due to the above economic factors, the number of retirement communities and the warmer climate. This makes qualified senior moving companies a frequent need in Florida.
You should move from California to Florida if you want comparable access to recreation and entertainment but with a more affordable cost of living, including lower tax rates and average housing costs.
Final take: Get quotes from International Van Lines and Allied Van Lines for your move from California to Florida
We recommend starting your cross-country moving plan with estimates from IVL and Allied Van Lines. IVL’s multiple booking offices in California provide easy access to its nationwide network of broker partners and carriers. Allied’s in-house vehicle shipping and expedited moving options for small moves make nearly any move type accessible to clients in both states.
Get at least three quotes before booking with any provider, and be sure to get written copies of all estimates and move contracts before starting your relocation.
Our rating methodology for moving companies
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.
BBB and Google Reviews ratings are accurate as of June 2024.
Top local moving companies near you
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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