The BEST Long-Distance Movers in Lake Forest, CA
Quick answer: Our top pick for the best long-distance moving company in Lake Forest, CA, is Safeway Moving. We like Safeway Moving for its overall value. The company provides high-quality service without the high price tag.
- Best overall value: Safeway Moving
- Best Lake Forest-based company: Maison Moving
- 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 Lake Forest for those moving out of state
If you’re leaving Lake Forest and crossing state lines for a new home outside of California, these are our recommendations for top interstate movers:
- 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 Lake Forest for those staying in state
Are you moving from Lake Forest but staying in California? Depending on how far you’re relocating, some in-state moves are still considered long-distance.
If your move within California is a couple hundred miles or more, you should hire one of the best long-distance moving companies.
Consider these top Lake Forest, CA, movers:
- 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
- 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
- Professional and polite staff (30%)
- Efficient service (28%)
- Careful handling (25%)
- Damage to items (15%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (10%)
- Lack of communication (9%)
Company Info
State license #: 0190459
Years in Business: 16
DOT #: 70719
Alternate Names: Safe-Way Moving & Storage, Safe Way Moving and Storage
Safe-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.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Best long-distance movers in Lake Forest, CA, for small moves
Did you know that most professional moving companies have a minimum requirement for the total weight of your belongings? This means that if you are moving a small amount of items, those companies will likely not be an option for your relocation.
Some companies, however, specialize in small moves. So, if you are moving a studio apartment or just have a few pieces of furniture to relocate from Lake Forest, check out these 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 Lake Forest, CA
Moving containers, also known as pods, offer short- and long-term storage so you can move from Lake Forest at your own pace. With this option, you pack and load the container yourself and the professionals drive the container to your new home for you.
Our top picks for moving containers for long-distance moves from Lake Forest include:
- 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
Rental trucks in Lake Forest, CA for a total DIY long-distance move
Rental trucks are often the cheapest way to move long-distance from Lake Forest, but also require the most work. You do everything yourself — from boxing up your belongings to loading, driving the whole way, and unloading on your own. Costs can increase dramatically when you add on mileage fees, tolls, and gas though so make sure this option really is cheaper for your move before making a final decision.
Here are our favorite rental truck companies for long-distance moves:
- 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 moving companies in Lake Forest, CA
Labor-only companies handle the heavy-lifting for you, offering services related to packing, loading, and assembly. You’ll provide the truck, packing supplies, and other materials. Think of it as hiring professional movers without the truck.
Hire these top-notch labor-only movers for your long-distance move from Lake Forest, CA:
- 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
Comparing the best long-distance movers in Lake Forest, CA
How we chose the best long-distance movers in Lake Forest, 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%): Companies that consistently deliver services in a timely manner — with good communication and within the estimated cost — score the highest within this category.
- Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry, so we look for companies that take a customer-focused approach to handling their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
- Industry reputation (15%): We look at whether a company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
- Online reputation (15%): It’s important to us that a company maintains a professional website with accurate information and promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
- Service options (10%): We look for companies with a wide breadth of services, including packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.
Read more about our moving company rating methodology.
Average cost of a long-distance move out of Lake Forest, CA
The average cost for professional movers in California is $122 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.
Here’s the average long-distance move cost from Lake Forest, CA to popular cities:
| Destination | Distance | Home size | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 2,006 miles | 3 bedroom | $4,785 - $7,159 |
| Boise, ID | 893 miles | 2 bedroom | $2,257 - $5,282 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 1,639 miles | 1 bedroom | $2,452 - $4,923 |
To get an accurate estimate of the cost for your long-distance move out of Lake Forest, use our moving cost calculator. And, be sure to check out our detailed post about moving costs in California.
FAQs
What else should you know about moving out of state?
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 the Lake Forest 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 the Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move document from the FMCSA.
Should I use a local company or a national company when moving from Lake Forest?
If you’re moving across town, a local moving company in Lake Forest is going to be the most cost-effective approach. If you’re moving out of California, using a national moving company like Safeway Moving comes with more experience, which may cost a bit more.
When is the cheapest time of year to move away from Lake Forest?
Moving companies in Lake Forest are usually slower in November and December due to 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 Lake Forest?
DIY moving will always be cheaper, especially when moving within 50 miles of Lake Forest. The cheapest options for moving out of Lake Forest 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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