The BEST Long-Distance Movers in Santa Barbara, CA
Quick answer: After comparing prices, services, quality ratings, and customer satisfaction, we recommend Safeway Moving as the top long-distance moving company in Santa Barbara, CA. Safeway Moving provides the best overall value, thanks to its balance of stellar service and reasonable rates.
- Best overall value: Safeway Moving
- Best Santa Barbara-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 Santa Barbara for those moving out of state
If you’re moving out of California, here are our top picks for best interstate moving companies in Santa Barbara:
- 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 Santa Barbara for those staying in state
Even if you’re just relocating from Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara:
- Meathead Movers: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Worldwide Moving & Storage, Inc.: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- Aloha Moving: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- Hazelwood Allied Moving and Storage, Inc: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Mammoth Moving & Storage, Inc.: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- Professional and polite staff (37%)
- Efficient service (35%)
- Careful handling (30%)
- Higher-than-expected costs (28%)
- Damage to items (26%)
- Lack of communication (25%)
Company Info
State license #: 189849
Years in Business: 27
DOT #: 921143
Alternate Names: Meathead Packers
Meathead Movers has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in and around Oxnard and LA since 1998. Known for its reliability, the company also offers packing and unpacking services, making it a one-stop solution for your moving needs. With 328 Yelp reviews averaging 4.2 stars and 180 Google reviews with a similar rating, plus an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, Meathead Movers stands out compared to other nearby movers. No deposit is required, and they accept both cash and credit cards, providing convenience and peace of mind to their customers.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service (30%)
- Professional and polite staff (25%)
- Good communication (20%)
- Damage to items (15%)
- Lack of communication (12%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (10%)
Company Info
State license #: 0130677
Years in Business: 66
DOT #: 125563
Alternate Names: Mayflower, WWMS, Inc., Worldwide Moving and Storage, Inc., Worldwide Moving and Storage, Worldwide Moving & Storage
Worldwide Moving & Storage, Inc. has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in and around Oxnard, CA since 1958. With a Better Business Bureau rating of A+ and stellar consumer reviews on Google averaging 4.8, it's clear they have a longstanding reputation for quality service. Unlike many nearby movers, they offer extensive services including packing, crating, and storage, along with specialized moving for fragile items, pianos, and antiques. Though they require a deposit, the company accepts both cash and credit cards. Overall, Worldwide Moving & Storage stands out for its comprehensive services and decades of reliability.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOD certified
- Efficient service (60%)
- Professional and polite staff (57%)
- Careful handling (53%)
- Higher-than-expected costs (15%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (10%)
- Lack of communication (8%)
Company Info
State license #: 0191816
Years in Business: 24
DOT #: 2660138
Aloha Moving is a reputable local moving company providing residential moving services in and around Santa Barbara, CA, since 2000. With stellar reviews, an average rating of 4.5 on Yelp, and a perfect 5.0 on Google, coupled with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, they stand out among nearby moving companies. In addition to local moves, Aloha Moving offers comprehensive services such as packing, unpacking, and specialized moving for pianos, pool tables, art, and antiques. Notably, they require no deposit, making them an accessible and trusted choice for your moving needs.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Efficient service (40%)
- Professional and polite staff (36%)
- Careful handling (32%)
- Damage to items (28%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (24%)
- Lack of communication (16%)
Company Info
State license #: 0102801
Years in Business: 35
DOT #: 2645119
Alternate Names: Hazelwood Moving and Storage
Hazelwood Allied Moving and Storage, Inc has been a trusted local moving company in Santa Barbara, CA since 1989, providing top-notch residential moving services. Unlike other nearby movers, Hazelwood Allied excels with an impressive average rating of 4.5 on Yelp and a perfect 5.0 on Google, reflecting their exceptional customer satisfaction. With a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, this company offers comprehensive moving solutions, including packing and unpacking services, as well as specialized care for items like pianos and antiques. Full valuation insurance coverage and the availability of storage options further set them apart from the competition.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff (40%)
- Efficient service (38%)
- Careful handling (36%)
- Unexpected charges (20%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (15%)
- Lack of communication (12%)
Company Info
State license #: 0173549
Years in Business: 36
DOT #: 2645059
Mammoth Moving & Storage, Inc., based in Santa Barbara, CA, has been a trusted local residential moving service since 1990. With a stellar reputation backed by over 100 combined reviews on Yelp and Google averaging above 4.4 stars and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, they stand out among nearby moving companies. They offer comprehensive moving solutions, including packing and unpacking services, and are capable of handling complex items like pianos, hot tubs, and antiques. Unlike some competitors, Mammoth Moving & Storage, Inc. doesn't require a deposit and accepts credit cards, making them a convenient and reliable choice for local moves.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Best long-distance movers in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara
A moving container can be a great solution if you want to save a little money on your move from Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara
If you don’t mind driving from Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara
The average cost for professional movers in Santa Barbara is $100 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 Santa Barbara
- 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara.
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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
If you’re moving across town, a local moving company in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
Moving companies in Santa Barbara are usually slower in November and December due to the average winter low of °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 Santa Barbara?
DIY moving will always be cheaper, especially when moving within 50 miles of Santa Barbara. The cheapest options for moving out of the American Riviera 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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