The BEST Movers in Lake Forest, CA (2024 Guide)
Quick answer: Our top pick for local moves in Lake Forest, CA, is Maison Moving based on pricing, services, and customer reviews. For long-distance and out-of-state moves from California, we recommend Safeway Moving because they provide a good balance of quality service and affordability.
- Best Lake Forest-based mover: Maison Moving
- Best interstate mover: Safeway Moving
- Best moving container: PODS
- Best labor-only mover: HireAHelper
- Best rental truck: U-Haul Truck Rental
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4.25 / 5
Licensed
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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 movers for those moving locally in Lake Forest, CA
If you are moving within Lake Forest or to a nearby California city like Laguna Woods or Mission Viejo within 50 miles of Lake Forest, check out these top-rated moving companies:
- 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
- Safe-Way Moving Inc: 4.58 out of 5 stars
Maison Moving
rating
4.8 / 5
DOT #: 76628
Years in Business: 17
1371 Santa Fe Dr., Tustin, CA 92780Maison 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.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 76628
- State license #: 0190726
Alternative Business Names
- Orange County Movers Inc
- College Boys Moving and Storage of Orange County
- Affordable Moving and Storage of Orange County
Local Associations
Terry Moving and Storage Inc.
rating
4.76 / 5
DOT #: 649215
Years in Business: 28
25958 Commercentre Dr, Lake Forest, CA 92630Terry 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.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 649215
- State license #: 189603
Alternative Business Names
- Terry Moving and Storage Inc
- Richards Moving Company
- Orange County Storage Movers
Laaks Moving Services
rating
4.66 / 5
DOT #: 2995987
Years in Business: 11
71 Mission, Irvine, CA 92620Laaks 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.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Storage
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 2995987
- State license #: 0191604
NorthStar Moving Company
rating
4.62 / 5
DOT #: 1836576
Years in Business: 30
300 Spectrum Center Dr Ste 400, Irvine, CA 92618NorthStar 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.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 1836576
- State license #: 0182466
Alternative Business Names
- NorthStar Moving Corporation
Safe-Way Moving Inc
rating
4.58 / 5
DOT #: 70719
Years in Business: 16
15041 Bake Pkwy Ste I, Irvine, CA 92618Safe-Way Moving Inc has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in and around Irvine, CA since 2008. With an impressive 4.8-star average rating from 379 Yelp reviews and a 4.5-star average from 49 Google reviews, Safe-Way Moving Inc stands out from other local movers. They also boast an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Known for their comprehensive services, they provide packing, unpacking, and crating services, and can handle specialty items such as pianos and antiques. Accepting both cash and credit cards, Safe-Way Moving Inc ensures a flexible payment process. The company's strong reputation and extensive service offerings make them a dependable choice for your local moving needs.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 70719
- State license #: 0190459
Alternative Business Names
- Safe-Way Moving & Storage
- Safe Way Moving and Storage
Local Associations
Best movers for those moving out of California
Relocating from California to a new state? You’ll need an experienced interstate moving company to get you there. Here are our recommendations:
- 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 moving containers in Lake Forest, CA
While a full-service mover is the most convenient option for your California relocation, it will also likely be the most expensive route. To save some money, you may want to consider using one of the top moving container companies in Lake Forest instead.
Moving containers allow you to move at your own pace… although you’ll have to do all the heavy lifting yourself. Once you’re loaded up and ready to move, the container company will pick up your container and transport it to your new home, so you won’t have to worry about driving.
If moving containers sound like the best fit for you, we suggest starting with these highly rated 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
Best rental trucks for your Lake Forest, CA move
Renting a moving truck is the cheapest way to move out of state or locally within Lake Forest, California. Keep in mind, though, that this is also the most bare-bones moving option — you’ll have to handle the packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, and driving.
It’ll be more work to use a moving truck rental company, but if you want to keep your relocation expenses low, check out our top recommendations:
- 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
Labor-only movers in Lake Forest, CA
Labor-only moving companies can be a great addition to a more DIY move done with a rental moving truck or moving container. Hiring third-party assistance with loading and unloading can help cut down on the workload and make your move quicker and more efficient.
Here are our choices for best moving labor companies in Lake Forest, California:
- 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
Top-rated movers in other nearby California cities
How we chose the best movers in Lake Forest, CA
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 280 California movers and listed the top five best movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.
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, and expedited delivery.
Here is our full moving company rating methodology.
Average cost of movers in Lake Forest, CA
Take a look at the pricing table below to get a general idea of the costs associated with local moves in and around the Lake Forest area. For more details, you can also check out our guide on the moving costs in California.
Please note that the moving quotes provided in the table are rough estimates, and your actual costs may differ depending on the unique needs of your move. For a more precise estimate, consider using our moving cost calculator.
| Home Size | Avg. Total Cost | Cost/hour | # of Movers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $280 | $100 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 Bedroom | $385 | $103 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 Bedroom | $603 | $144 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,395 | $200 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,564 | $198 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ Bedroom | $2,392 | $274 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
FAQs
How do I know if my mover is properly licensed?
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.
All of the movers on our list are properly licensed. Take a look at our best movers in California list for more recommendations.
How do I find a reputable Lake Forest mover?
Looking for a reliable Lake Forest moving company can be difficult, but there are certain things to consider to ensure you choose a trustworthy mover. These include:
- Reputation: A mover's reputation is crucial, whether they're a new mom-and-pop business or a seasoned van lines company.
- Dispute resolution: It's best to avoid movers with lots of unresolved customer complaints. Every Lake Forest moving company will face customer issues. The best companies resolve customer disputes in a timely manner.
- Experience for your move: Even if a mover has great reviews for local moves, they may not have the experience needed to handle a cross-country move. Check if they have experience with the type of move you require.
Do Lake Forest moving companies handle long-distance moves?
Some of the moving companies that service Lake Forest can handle long distance moves, while others only offer local moving services. If you're moving out of state, see our list of the best long distance movers in Lake Forest.
What is the cheapest day to hire a mover in Lake Forest, CA?
The cheapest day to hire a mover in Lake Forest, California, will typically be a weekday, since weekends are typically busier times for moving. In general, the cheapest time to move is between October and April. The peak season for movers is May–September, so you’ll pay more during this time due to increased demand.
The earlier you book your move from Lake Forest, the better. Avoid weekends, holidays, and peak moving seasons (summer) to save money. Beware of choosing a mover solely based on the lowest quote, as some companies may low-ball their initial quote and raise the price significantly on moving day.
Do Lake Forest movers offer storage?
Most Lake Forest moving companies offer short- and long-term storage solutions. However, keep in mind that some Lake Forest movers use third-party warehouses to store your items. It's best to ask about storage options and pricing when screening potential movers.
Learn more: Should you use your mover's storage solutions?
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