How to compare moving company quotes in San Diego. Updated October 2026
Compare quotes line by line.
The short version: To compare San Diego moving quotes fairly, line up the same five numbers on each: crew size, hourly rate, minimum hours, how drive time and fuel are billed, and the written Not-to-Exceed price. In California a mover may give a written estimate only after a visual inspection, and every household move gets a Not-to-Exceed price. One Stop quotes $139 an hour for two movers and a truck, 4-hour minimum.
- California rule: written estimate only after a visual inspection (in-home or video at One Stop)
- Every household move gets a written Not-to-Exceed price
- Free quotes, usually within hours; phone line open 24 hours
- Licensed CAL-190616, USDOT 1956864, since 2008
Since 2008
Moving San Diego
CAL-190616
California mover license
USDOT 1956864
Interstate, MC 694565
BBB A+
Better Business Bureau
98%
Of our customers come back (company records)
7 days
7 AM–7 PM, phone open 24 hours
The method
How do I compare moving quotes fairly in San Diego?
Put each quote on the same grid: crew size, hourly rate, minimum hours, how drive time and fuel are billed, packing and materials, and the written Not-to-Exceed price. A low hourly rate with a small crew can cost more than a higher rate with a bigger crew that finishes sooner.
Ask every company the same questions about the same inventory, ideally after the same walkthrough. If one quote leaves a line blank, ask what it will be in writing.
Choosing between two similar movers? Check the license and insurance, read recent reviews on Google, Yelp and the BBB, and ask who the crew are: employees or day labor.
Your comparison grid
| Line on the quote | What to ask | One Stop |
|---|---|---|
| Crew and truck | How many movers, how many trucks? | 2 movers + truck $139/hr; each extra mover $50/hr |
| Minimum | How many hours, then what increment? | 15-minute increments, listed in your written Not-to-Exceed price |
| Drive time | Is the drive between addresses billed, and how? | Listed in your written Not-to-Exceed price |
| Fuel | Per mile, flat, or included? | Listed in your written Not-to-Exceed price |
| Stairs and elevators | Any per-flight fee? | $0 |
| Packing | Included or extra? Materials priced? | Crew rate; materials by the piece; 50 boxes free |
| Extra truck | When is one needed, and what does it cost? | Listed in your written Not-to-Exceed price |
| Deposit | How much, and is it applied to the bill? | In your quote; applied |
| Price cap | Is there a written Not-to-Exceed price? | Yes, on every household move |
California rules
What must a California written moving estimate include?
In California a mover may give a written estimate only after a visual inspection of your things; verbal and internet estimates are not allowed and may not be enforceable. Every household move gets a Not-to-Exceed price, the most you can be charged unless you add services on a signed Change Order.
Those rules come from the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS), which has licensed California movers since July 1, 2018. Read them on the BHGS consumer page for movers.
One Stop does the visual inspection in your home or by live video walkthrough, then sends the crew size, the hours and your Not-to-Exceed price in writing, free.
What the state requires
Source: BHGS, Movers (consumer information), read 14 October 2026.
Estimate types
What’s the difference between binding and Not-to-Exceed?
Inside California, every household move gets a Not-to-Exceed price: you pay the actual cost up to that cap. Across state lines, federal rules allow a binding estimate (a fixed price) or a non-binding one, where you pay no more than 110% of the estimate at delivery. The type decides whether the price can go up.
| Estimate type | Where it applies | Can the price go up? | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not-to-Exceed | Every household move inside California | No, unless you add services on a Change Order. You pay less if the job takes less. | BHGS |
| Binding | Interstate moves | No, unless you add services | 49 CFR Part 375 |
| Non-binding | Interstate moves | Yes. At delivery you pay no more than 110% of the estimate; the rest is billed later | 49 CFR Part 375 |
| Phone or online number | Anywhere | It isn’t a written estimate in California until there’s a visual inspection | BHGS |
One Stop gives every local move a written Not-to-Exceed price. Long-distance moves have one price per city, set in writing before we load.
Hidden fees
What fees should I look for on a moving quote?
Look for stair and long-carry fees, fuel surcharges, drive-time billing, packing materials, an extra truck, shuttle and elevator charges on long-distance moves, and the deposit. At One Stop, stairs are $0. Your written Not-to-Exceed price lists every charge before move day.
| Fee | What it is | One Stop |
|---|---|---|
| Stairs and elevators (local) | Per-flight or elevator surcharge | $0; adds crew time only |
| Long carry | A long walk from the door to the truck | No fee; adds crew time only |
| Fuel | Per-mile or flat fuel charge | Listed in your written Not-to-Exceed price |
| Drive time | Time between your two addresses | Listed in your written Not-to-Exceed price |
| Extra truck | A second truck for a bigger home | $250 SD County, $350 Orange or Riverside, $425 LA County |
| Packing materials | Boxes, paper, dish packs | By the piece: $5–$20 a box; 50 boxes free |
| Shuttle (long distance) | A smaller truck when the big one can’t reach your door | $750, only when it applies |
| Elevator (long distance) | Elevator building at either end | $350, only when it applies |
| Specialty items | Pianos, safes, artwork | Quoted per item in writing |
| Deposit | Money to hold the date | In your quote; applied to the bill |
Prices from One Stop’s tariff, October 2026. Ask any company you compare for the same lines in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
What information do movers need for an accurate quote?
Both addresses, the home size and square footage, access at each end (stairs, elevator, the walk to the truck, parking), the big and fragile items, your date, and whether you want packing or storage. The walkthrough, in person or by video, is what turns that into a written price.
Have this ready
- Pickup and delivery addresses, with unit numbers
- Bedrooms and rough square footage
- Stairs, elevators, gates, the walk to the truck
- Piano, safe, gym equipment, artwork
- Building rules: move windows, certificates of insurance
- Your date and how flexible it is
- Packing: all, kitchen only, or none
- Storage between homes, if dates don’t line up
Why each one matters
Long distance
How are long-distance moving quotes calculated?
One Stop gives a long-distance move one price per city on a dedicated truck: Phoenix is $4,200 and Dallas $10,600. Other movers may price by weight or volume, so ask how each quote is built.
Federal rules require an interstate estimate based on a survey of your goods, in person or by video (49 CFR 375.401). A shared truck is priced by volume: $11 per cubic foot, 400 cu ft minimum. Los Angeles is billed by the hour, from $139 an hour, and the Bay Area is $4,800–$5,200.
Moving nationwide? Ask for a written quote the same way: send both addresses and your inventory, and we give you today’s price for your city.
Sample long-distance prices
| San Diego to | Dedicated truck | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | $4,000 | 1–2 days |
| Phoenix, AZ | $4,200 | 1–2 days |
| Tucson, AZ | $4,500 | In your quote |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $6,500 | 2–3 days |
| Dallas, TX | $10,600 | 3–4 days |
Dedicated truck, one price per city. Any other city: call (858) 633-8600 for today’s price.
Before you sign
How do I check that a San Diego mover is licensed and insured?
Look up the mover’s CAL number on California’s license search, and for out-of-state moves its USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER. Then ask for proof of insurance and read recent reviews. One Stop is CAL-190616, USDOT 1956864 and MC 694565, with $1M general liability and $1M workers’ comp.
Three checks, five minutes
Questions
Moving quote questions
Short answers. Prices, booking, packing, storage and your rights are covered in full in our FAQ.
All moving questionsHow many moving quotes should I compare?
Get at least three written quotes for the same inventory and dates, then compare them line by line: crew, rate, minimum, drive time, fuel, packing and the Not-to-Exceed price.
Why do moving company prices vary so much?
Quotes differ in crew size, hourly rate, minimum hours, how drive time and fuel are billed, and what packing and materials are included. Put them on the same grid before you compare totals.
What should a written moving estimate include in California?
It must follow a visual inspection of your goods, and every household move gets a Not-to-Exceed price, the most you can be charged unless you add services on a signed Change Order (BHGS).
Are online or phone moving quotes accurate?
They’re a ballpark. In California a written estimate can be given only after a visual inspection, and verbal or internet estimates may not be enforceable. One Stop does the inspection in your home or by video.
Is packing included in a moving quote?
It depends on the company, so ask. At One Stop packing is listed separately, billed at the crew rate from $139 an hour for two people, with materials by the piece and 50 boxes free.
What is a Not-to-Exceed price?
The maximum a California mover can charge for your household move as described. If the job takes less time, you pay less. It can go up only if you add services on a signed Change Order.
What is the difference between a binding and a non-binding estimate?
They apply to interstate moves. A binding estimate is a fixed price unless you add services. On a non-binding estimate you pay no more than 110% of it at delivery, under federal rules (49 CFR Part 375).
When should I request moving quotes?
Ask a few weeks before you want to book. One Stop recommends booking at least 10 days ahead, and about 3 weeks ahead from May to September.
Do you charge for an estimate?
No. One Stop’s estimates are free, in your home or by video, and you get the crew size, the hours and the price in writing, usually within hours.
How can I get a quote for a nationwide move from San Diego?
Send both addresses and your inventory online or call (858) 633-8600. Long-distance moves have one price per city on a dedicated truck, quoted in writing after a survey in person or by video.
How much is the deposit to book?
For a local move, a deposit holds your date and is applied to your bill. On long-distance moves the deposit amount is set in your written quote.
Talk to a person
Get a quote you can compare
Tell us what’s moving and where. You get the crew size, the hours and a Not-to-Exceed price in writing, free, usually within hours. The phone line is open 24 hours.