Hire a mover without getting burned.
Independent, plain-English guides to the rules licensed movers have to follow, from estimates and coverage to claims and San Diego permits. We're not a moving company or a broker, and every guide links to its official sources.
- 1A state license (CAL-T number)Look it up in the DCA household mover search
- 2An estimate after seeing your stuffPhone and web-only estimates aren't valid in California
- 3A not-to-exceed price in writingPay it and the mover must unload
- 4Coverage you chose on purposeBasic coverage is 60 cents per pound per item
Start here
- Hiring a Mover
How to Check a California Mover's License
A two-minute state lookup tells you whether a mover is legally allowed to move your things. Most moving horror stories start with skipping it.
- Pricing & Estimates
California Moving Estimates: The Not-to-Exceed Price Explained
California's moving rules cap what you can be charged, but only if the paperwork is right. Here's what to look for before the truck shows up.
- Hiring a Mover
Moving Scams: 12 Red Flags Before You Book
Most moving scams follow the same script. Regulators have published it, which means you can recognize it before you hand over a deposit.
Moving in San Diego County
All cities- City of San DiegoMoving in San Diego
Container permits, utility hookups and the license check that matters most, for moves in the City of San Diego.
- South BayMoving in Chula Vista
What South Bay movers and residents should check before moving day.
- North County CoastalMoving in Oceanside
From PCS moves near Camp Pendleton to local apartment moves, what to check in Oceanside.
Latest guides
- Military4 min
Military PCS Moves in San Diego: What Changed in 2025 and 2026
DoD ended the HomeSafe Alliance household goods contract in 2025 and launched the Personal Property Activity and ppa.mil in 2026. What San Diego service members should know before a PCS move.
- Pricing & Estimates5 min
How Much Do Movers Cost in San Diego?
Typical San Diego local moving costs by home size, from about $500 for a studio to $3,000+ for a three-bedroom, plus how California's rules on hourly billing affect your final bill.
- San Diego5 min
Do You Need a Permit for a Moving Container in San Diego?
Putting a PODS-style container on a City of San Diego street needs a Traffic Control Permit. Fees, timing, placement rules and the signs you have to post, plus moving-truck parking rules.
- San Diego5 min
San Diego Moving Checklist: Utilities, DMV, Voting and Taxes
The admin side of a San Diego move: SDG&E and city water start/stop, the 10-day DMV address rule, re-registering to vote, and California's moving expense deduction.
- Long Distance7 min
Moving Out of State From San Diego: Federal Rules, Brokers and Estimates
What changes when your move leaves California: FMCSA registration, binding vs. non-binding estimates and the 110% rule, Full Value Protection, and how to tell a moving broker from a mover.
- Hiring a Mover5 min
Moving Scams: 12 Red Flags Before You Book
The warning signs federal and California regulators see most: phone-only estimates, big cash deposits, blank documents, rental trucks and goods held for ransom. How to spot them early.
Rules first. Rankings earned.
Our guides are built from California's Bureau of Household Goods and Services, the Max 4 tariff and FMCSA rules, and each one lists its sources and the month we last checked them.
We're working toward independent rankings of San Diego movers based on public license and complaint records. Read the criteria we'll use on our about page.