Best Long-Distance Movers in California for 2024
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: Safeway Moving is our top choice for long-distance movers in California. Based on our in-depth research and analysis, Safeway Moving offers the best overall value by providing quality service at an affordable price.
Every move is different, so depending on your specific circumstances and budget, you may want to consider Safeway or one of our other recommendations for the best long-distance moving company.
- Best overall value: Safeway Moving
- Best CA-based company: Meathead Movers
- Best moving container: U-Pack
- Best labor-only company: HireAHelper
- Best DIY option: U-Haul Truck Rental
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Whether you're moving out of state — or just across the state — we'll walk you through the best national movers and California companies based on pricing, services, and customer satisfaction.
Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 2,500+ moving companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving & auto transport grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
Best interstate movers for those moving out of California
These are the best state-to-state long-distance moving companies available in California:
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- North American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- JK Moving Services: 4.6 out of 5 stars
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
- White-glove handling of fragile & high-end items
- Guaranteed pickup & delivery
- $250 deposit for interstate moves
- Mobile app with 24/7 customer service
- Financing available
Best long-distance movers if you’re staying in California
While it’s not as common, if you’re staying in California but still moving a couple hundred miles, these are the best interstate movers for you:
- Meathead Movers: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Luigy's Moving & Storage: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Air 1 Moving & Storage: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Magic Moving & Storage: 4.86 out of 5 stars
- All Star Movers & Storage: 4.86 out of 5 stars
Meathead Movers
rating
4.96 / 5
DOT #: 921143
Years in Business: 27
3600 S Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401Meathead Movers has been a trusted name in local residential moving services around San Luis Obispo, CA, since 1998. The company stands out with its glowing consumer reviews, boasting an average rating of 4.2 on Yelp and 4.3 on Google My Business, alongside an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unlike many other local moving companies, Meathead Movers also offers comprehensive packing and unpacking services, all without requiring a deposit. With their solid reputation and wide range of services, they remain a top choice for residents seeking reliable and efficient movers locally.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 921143
- State license #: 189849
Alternative Business Names
- Meathead Packers
Luigy's Moving & Storage
rating
4.9 / 5
DOT #: 02740355
Years in Business: 23
5550 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112Luigy's Moving & Storage has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in and around San Francisco, CA since 2001. Compared to other nearby companies, Luigy's stands out with their comprehensive service offerings, including packing, unpacking, and crating services, as well as specialized handling for pianos, hot tubs, art, and antiques. Boasting exceptional consumer reviews with an average rating of 4.7 on Yelp and 4.6 on Google, along with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, Luigy's reputation for reliability and quality is well-earned. While a deposit is required, they accept both cash and credit cards, ensuring flexible payment options for their clients.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 02740355
- State license #: 0192210
Air 1 Moving & Storage
rating
4.9 / 5
DOT #: 1095485
Years in Business: 20
9556 Cozycroft Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311Air 1 Moving & Storage has been a trusted provider of local residential moving services in and around Chatsworth, CA, since 2004. The company stands out among nearby competitors with its extensive array of services, including packing, unpacking, and crating, along with specialized care for moving pianos, art, and antiques. With an impressive 4.4 average rating on Google and a solid A- rating from the Better Business Bureau, Air 1 Moving & Storage is well-regarded for its reliability and professional service. Customers looking for a reputable local mover will find Air 1’s no-deposit policy and acceptance of credit cards convenient and customer-friendly.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 1095485
- State license #: 0189688
Alternative Business Names
- Air 1 Moving & Storage, Inc
Magic Moving & Storage
rating
4.86 / 5
DOT #: 875866
Years in Business: 28
4695 Chabot Dr, Suite 200, Pleasanton, CA 94588Magic Moving & Storage has been a trusted provider of local residential moving services in Pleasanton, CA, since 1996. Unlike some nearby competitors, they also offer packing, unpacking, crating, and office moving services. Magic Moving & Storage stands out with its specialized capabilities, such as moving pianos, pool tables, antiques, and art. Consumer reviews are generally positive, with a solid average rating on Google My Business and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, indicating high customer satisfaction.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 875866
- State license #: 190231
Alternative Business Names
- Magic Moving Company
- Magic Moving & Storage, Inc.
- Magic Movers
All Star Movers & Storage
rating
4.86 / 5
DOT #: 2971368
Years in Business: 8
101 Dublin Blvd Suite F #517, Dublin, CA 94568All Star Movers & Storage, serving Dublin, CA and surrounding areas since 2016, is a reputable choice for local residential moves. Praised for their exceptional service with an average Yelp rating of 4.8 from 152 reviews and a BBB rating of A+, they stand out among local competitors. They offer a comprehensive array of services including packing, unpacking, crating, and can even handle delicate items such as pianos and art. Unlike many movers, All Star Movers & Storage accepts credit cards and requires no deposit, making the process easier for their clients.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 2971368
- State license #: 0191302
Alternative long-distance moving options
While hiring full-service moving companies out of California is usually the easiest option, it’s not for everyone.
Moving containers
If you’re comfortable doing the packing and loading but don’t want to drive from California to your new state, a moving container can be a great cost-saving alternative.
Expect to pay somewhere around $944 to $6,796 for a moving container in California. The cost depends on several factors, so we recommend getting multiple moving quotes.
We suggest starting with:
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
Labor-only
If you’re comfortable doing the driving from California to your new state but want some help packing, loading, and unloading, look for labor-only moving companies.
You’ll typically pay $21 to $39 per hour per worker for California-based labor-only movers.
Here are our top recommendations:
- HireAHelper: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Bellhop: 4.3 out of 5 stars
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
Total DIY
The cheapest way to move out of state is with a full DIY approach — meaning you’ll handle driving, in addition to all the loading and unloading.
These moving rental trucks do require the most work on your part, but will save you the most money:
- U-Haul Truck Rental: 4.15 out of 5 stars
- Penske Truck Rental: 4 out of 5 stars
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
How we picked the best long-distance movers in California
Over the past 10 years, we’ve developed a rigorous review process to identify the absolute best long-distance moving companies in California.
We look at:
- Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
- Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
- Industry reputation (15%): The company is well regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
- Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
- Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, expedited delivery, and more.
Read more about our moving company rating methodology.
Average cost of a long-distance move out of California
Long-distance moving costs in California range from $880 up to $12,449 or more, depending on the specific details of your relocation.
Factors that affect the cost
- Size: The volume of items you're moving directly affects costs. Evaluate what you truly need in California — every extra item adds up.
- Distance: The distance you’re moving away from California is a major cost factor. Whether it's a couple hundred miles or a cross-country trek, distance plays a key role in your moving budget.
- Type of move: How you choose to move out of California is crucial. Your options include a full-service moving company, truck rental, moving container, or a freight trailer. Each option comes with a different price point and its own set of perks and downsides.
- Services: Consider whether to do it yourself or hire help for packing and unpacking. Professional services add convenience but also increase costs.
- Seasonal timing: When you move affects the price. Summer moves are typically more expensive. Planning your move during the off-season (October-April) can be more cost-effective.
To get an accurate cost estimate, check out our free moving cost calculator.
Thing to consider before hiring a long-distance mover in California
Whether you’re staying in California for the ample economic opportunity, pleasant weather, and abundant recreational options, or moving out due to the high cost of living, heavy tax burdens, and natural disasters, here’s what you need to consider before your big move.
Company licensing
When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC). Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice.
Insurance options
Opt for Released Value Protection – a cost-free choice provided by movers with minimal coverage. The liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement is only $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). To ensure comprehensive coverage for your items' full value, consult with your chosen moving company or consider third-party insurance options.
Moving date
Weather factors influence how busy movers are, so those things play into the availability of movers and the cost.
In California, you have to consider that the average winter temperature is 59°F, the average summer temperature is 87°F, you’ll see 22” of rain, and about 7” of snow each year.
Taking your car
If you’re moving across the country and don’t want to leave your car (or drive it cross-country), you may want to use an California car shipper.
You’ll also want to consider vehicle inspections in your new location, as regulations can differ state to state and even by city. Take California’s requirements, as an example. California requires an annual safety inspection to ensure that all vehicles used on public roads are in good condition and safe to operate. The inspection can be carried out at any California Department of Transportation approved service station.
Long-distance movers in nearby cities
