The BEST Long-Distance Movers in Irvine, CA
Quick answer: After comparing prices, services, quality ratings, and customer satisfaction, we recommend Safeway Moving as the top long-distance moving company in Irvine, CA. Safeway Moving provides the best overall value, thanks to its balance of stellar service and reasonable rates.
- Best overall value: Safeway Moving
- Best Irvine-based company: Meathead Movers
- Best for small moves: MiniMoves
- Best moving container: PODS
- Best labor-only company: HireAHelper
- Best rental truck: U-Haul Truck Rental
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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 long-distance movers in Irvine for those moving out of state
If you’re moving out of California, here are our top picks for best interstate moving companies in Irvine:
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- BLVD Moving: 4.25 out of 5 stars
- PODS: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- 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
- Family owned & operated
- Affordable pricing
- Binding estimates
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
Best long-distance movers in Irvine for those staying in state
Even if you’re just relocating from Irvine to another California city, your move could still be a couple hundred miles or more. In that case, you’ll want to hire one of the top long-distance movers.
Here are the best long-distance moving companies that are located within Irvine:
- Meathead Movers: 4.86 out of 5 stars
- Maison Moving: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Terry Moving and Storage Inc.: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Laaks Moving Services: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- NorthStar Moving Company : 4.62 out of 5 stars
- Efficient service (24%)
- Professional and polite staff (21%)
- Careful handling (19%)
- Damage to items (25%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (18%)
- Unexpected charges (16%)
Company Info
State license #: 189849
Years in Business: 27
DOT #: 921143
Alternate Names: Meat Head Movers Inc, Meathead Movers Inc
Meathead Movers, a reputable moving company serving Santa Ana, CA, has been a trusted local residential mover since 1998. Renowned for their exceptional customer service, they boast an average Yelp rating of 4.1 from 378 reviews and a Google rating of 4.3 from 150 reviews, along with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unlike many nearby competitors, they offer comprehensive packing and unpacking services without requiring a deposit. Meathead Movers’ commitment to quality and reliability sets them apart in the local moving industry.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff (32%)
- Efficient service (30%)
- Careful handling (28%)
- Damage to items (36%)
- Unexpected charges (28%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (22%)
Company Info
State license #: 0190726
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 76628
Alternate Names: Orange County Movers Inc, College Boys Moving and Storage of Orange County, Affordable Moving and Storage of Orange County
Maison Moving, a trusted local residential moving company based in Tustin, CA, has been serving the community since 2008. Known for its reliability and professionalism, Maison Moving stands out among nearby competitors with an impressive average rating of 4.6 on Google and 4.4 on Yelp, alongside an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. The company not only offers local moving services but also specializes in office moves, packing and unpacking services, and can handle delicate items like pianos, art, and antiques. Clients appreciate that no deposit is required, and they accept credit cards, making the moving process as convenient as possible.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service (29%)
- Professional and polite staff (27%)
- Careful handling (24%)
- Unexpected charges (18%)
- Damage to items (16%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (15%)
Company Info
State license #: 189603
Years in Business: 28
DOT #: 649215
Alternate Names: Terry Moving and Storage Inc, Richards Moving Company, Orange County Storage Movers
Terry Moving and Storage Inc., located in Lake Forest, CA, has been a trusted name in local residential moving services since 1997. With outstanding consumer reviews—235 on Yelp with an average rating of 4.7 and 141 on Google My Business with an average rating of 4.9, plus an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau—they’re a standout choice among local movers. Unlike many competitors, they offer a comprehensive range of services, including packing, unpacking, and the specialized handling of fragile items, as well as piano and pool table moving. No deposit is required and they accept credit cards, simplifying the moving process for their clients.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service (37%)
- Professional and polite staff (31%)
- Careful handling (29%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (24%)
- Damage to items (20%)
- Unexpected charges (18%)
Company Info
State license #: 0191604
Years in Business: 11
DOT #: 2995987
Laaks Moving Services has been a reliable choice for local residential moving in and around Irvine, CA since 2015. Their dedication to customer satisfaction is reflected in impressive online reviews, boasting an average rating of 4.7 on Yelp and 4.8 on Google, as well as a stellar A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unlike many nearby moving companies, Laaks Moving Services also offers packing and unpacking services, as well as specialized moving for items like pianos, art, and antiques. With comprehensive services and exceptional customer feedback, Laaks Moving Services stands out as a reputable and capable option for your local moving needs.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Efficient service (36%)
- Professional and polite staff (33%)
- Careful handling (30%)
- Damage to items (25%)
- Unexpected charges (20%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (18%)
Company Info
State license #: 0182466
Years in Business: 30
DOT #: 1836576
Alternate Names: NorthStar Moving Corporation
NorthStar Moving Company has been a trusted name in local residential moving services around Irvine, CA, since 1996. This well-established company stands out with its exceptional consumer reviews, boasting an impressive 4.8-star rating on Yelp and 4.7-star rating on Google, alongside an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unlike many nearby movers, NorthStar also offers comprehensive packing and unpacking services, along with the capability to handle delicate items like pianos, art, and antiques. With flexible payment options, including cash and credit cards, and no deposit required, NorthStar makes moving stress-free and reliable for its clients.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Best long-distance movers in Irvine for small moves
Many full-service moving companies have a 3,000-pound minimum requirement and may not be able to help you if you are moving a college dorm or studio apartment — or have decided to just take a few items with you.
In that case, you might be better off going with a long-distance company in Irvine that specializes in small moves.
Here are our top suggestions:
- No minimum size
- Top-quality materials
- Full-service packing
- Specializes in small moves
- Guaranteed delivery date
- Online chatbot and resources for a seamless move
- Car shipping services
- Gives back with charitable donations
Moving containers for long-distance moves in Irvine
A moving container can be a great solution if you want to save a little money on your move from Irvine to another California city or out of state. While you will have to handle the heavy lifting, you can load and unload containers at your preferred pace over several days or more. And the container company will still handle the driving for you.
Container costs vary depending on the distance of your move and the size and number of your containers, so it’s good to get multiple moving quotes to compare pricing for your specific relocation.
You can start with these two companies:
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
Labor-only moving companies in Irvine
If you don’t mind driving from Irvine but want some helping hands in terms of loading and unloading, look into labor-only moving companies.
Here’s who we suggest:
- 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
Rental trucks in Irvine for a total DIY long-distance move
While you’ll save some money with the two alternatives above, the cheapest way to move out of state is by handling all aspects — the heavy lifting and the driving — yourself. On average, a full DIY move from Irvine costs $19–$39 a day for a truck rental, plus a per-mile fee of $0.79–$1.09.
Using moving rental trucks definitely requires the most work, but if budget is your biggest concern, check out these options:
- 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 chose the best long-distance movers in Irvine, CA
Over the past 10 years, we’ve developed a rigorous review process to identify the absolute best moving companies.
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 long-distance movers in Irvine
The average cost for professional movers in Irvine is $75 per hour, but even the best interstate moving companies need more information about the distance and size of your move to give you a moving quote.
Factors that affect the cost of moving from Irvine
- How far you’re moving: Distance is the most impactful cost factor. Naturally, the farther you are moving, the more it will cost. Relocating a couple hundred miles from Irvine to another California city will not be as expensive as a cross-country move.
- The moving option you choose: Your costs will vary significantly depending on whether you choose a full-service mover, a moving container, or a rental truck. Every move is different, so balance your needs and your budget when deciding on the best relocation method.
- The amount of belongings you have: Movers determine cost by the total estimated weight of your household items and furnishings, so be sure to itemize your belongings to get the most accurate quote. You may also want to consider downsizing before moving out of Irvine to reduce your moving expenses.
- Any add-on services you choose: Additional services like third-party labor assistance or packing and unpacking help are convenient, but they will also contribute to your total moving costs.
- When you move: The time of the year, month, and even week can all affect what you pay. Summer moves are typically more expensive because they are the busiest season for movers. Moving between October and April can be more cost-effective. Mid-month and mid-week moves are also cheaper, since most people tend to move on the weekends around the start or end of the month.
To give you an accurate estimate, we’ve created a moving cost calculator to help you get a good idea of your long-distance move cost. Plus, we’ve put together a detailed post all about moving costs in Irvine.
FAQs
What else should I know about moving out of California?
A moving company helping you move out of California must be properly licensed and have a U.S. Department of Transportation number. Of course, all of the Irvine movers we’ve included on this list have everything in order but you can check for yourself on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database.
If you’re moving from one state to another, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move document from the FMCSA.
Should I use a local company or a national company when moving out of Irvine?
If you’re moving across town, a local moving company in Irvine is going to be the most cost-effective approach. If you’re moving out of California, using a national moving company comes with more experience, which may cost a bit more.
When is the cheapest time of year to move away from Irvine?
Moving companies in Irvine are usually slower in November and December due to the average winter low of 46°F, the holidays and kids being in school, so you can negotiate with a mover more during those months and save some money.
What are the cheapest ways to move out of Irvine?
DIY moving will always be cheaper, especially when moving within 50 miles of Irvine. The cheapest options for moving out of Irvine are usually renting a moving truck like U-Haul or a moving container like PODS. We’ve also got a helpful guide if you’re looking for the cheapest ways to move out of state.
Long-distance movers in nearby cities
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