Local Movers

How Can I Find the Most Reliable Local Movers in Central California?

Finding the best, most reliable local moving company in Central California depends on various factors. For example, a local move is defined as a move within state lines, so you want to ensure your moving company has the correct instate licenses to complete the move legally. To best assist you in finding the most reliable local professional movers, here are a few questions to consider:

• Are they part of a large chain or a locally-owned and independent moving company? Locally and independently owned moving companies can offer a level of customer service and care that big chain moving companies cannot provide.
• How experienced are the movers in the area? While experience isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, having decades of moving experience in California is a perk, as they know all the ins and outs of moving around the area
• Does the moving company have any awards, accreditations, and partnerships? Common examples of these include awards from a van line, such as the yearly Spire Quality Awards and a BBB accreditation with an A+ rating.
• Is the moving company an Interstate Agent of a Van Line? Is the Van Line prominently listed on their website? A few examples of common van lines to look out for are Wheaton World Wide Van Lines, Bekins Van Lines, and National Van Lines.

Now that you have an itemized list of things to look for, you can easily compare which moving companies are the most reliable in California. We recommend getting at least three free estimates for your local move to determine the best local mover in Central California for you.

After considering the questions above, it is clear that Central Coast Movers, one of over 400 interstate agents of Bekins Van Lines, is the most reliable mover in Central California. As a winner of the 2022 Spire Quality Award and a BBB A+ rated business, Central Coast Movers provides the best customer service in the greater Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and Monterey areas. With over 20 years of local moving experience dating back to 2001, our locally-owned and operated moving company strives to provide you with a positive and stress-free moving experience.

How Much Do Local Moving Services Cost?

When hiring movers, moving costs are crucial for deciding which local movers to hire. The cost of local moving services can significantly differ, depending largely on the specific needs of your relocation. Some companies might offer swift over-the-phone estimates, but these estimates often lack precision and can fluctuate as they don’t encompass all the vital details required for a precise quote, so you don’t know exactly what you’re paying.

For this reason, choosing a moving company that comprehensively evaluates all your possessions is crucial to provide a tailored estimate that aligns with your moving budget. At Central Coast Movers, we are committed to offering transparent pricing, and we ensure to provide you with an accurate quote, free from any hidden charges, generally within 24 hours of your request.

We offer two convenient options to get your customized estimate. You can schedule an in-person assessment at home or opt for a virtual survey via video chat on your phone or computer.

How Quickly Can Local Movers Pack and Transport My Belongings?

The speed of the move depends on how big your space is, how many things you need to have moved, where you are moving to, and the availability of the moving schedule. A reliable moving company can move quickly with an experienced moving team.

Central Coast Movers aims to provide you with an efficient, professional local moving process, and we can often deliver an estimate within 24 hours. In terms of the actual moving dates, we pride ourselves on being able to load and unload your belongings into our moving trucks on your selected moving date within a few weeks of your request.

Check out our last-minute moving page for information on our last-minute and emergency moves.

How Do I Know If A Moving Company is Licensed and Insured?

Federal law requires all moving companies to be licensed. To move within the state, companies must obtain a state license, which varies from state to state. Most movers also have a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number. However, if a moving company is an interstate van line agent, they can operate under their van line’s USDOT license. All reliable and trustworthy moving companies will display all their licenses, including their van line’s USDOT, in the header or footer of their website. Always look for it on their website to ensure you are considering a reputable mover.

As an Interstate Agent of Bekins Van Lines, we are a fully licensed and insured moving company. When moving locally, look for the State License number for your potential movers; Central Coast’s State License Number is MTR 0191083. We also operate under Bekins Van Lines’ USDOT #2256609 and our Motor Carrier (MC) license number 770031.

Central Coast Movers values your security and the safety of your belongings, which is why we have general liability insurance to ensure we are both covered if something goes wrong. We also have worker’s compensation insurance to cover our professional moving crew and to relieve you of that liability.

How Can I Find A Moving Company’s Customer Reviews and Ratings?

Knowing the difference between curated and non-curated reviews is essential when looking at a company’s reviews. If Google or Yelp reviews are not linked directly to the company’s website, the reviews on the site are curated. Curated reviews allow the moving company to pick and choose the reviews it posts on its website without any proof that said reviews came directly from the customer.

On the other hand, when a moving company links its reviews directly from the source, whether it’s Google or Yelp or something else, you can see what the customer says about the company is actually from the customer.

Most reliable moving companies have positive customer reviews. With an overall rating of above four stars, Central Coast Movers invites you to read the many testimonials of our satisfied customers by viewing our Google Reviews.

To be as transparent as possible, we directly link our Google Reviews to our site so you can decide the best moving company for you.

Do Local Moving Companies Offer Any Guarantees or Warranties?

The safe transport of your item is guaranteed by moving companies. If, for some reason, any of your items are lost or damaged, moving companies are required by law to compensate you at 60 cents per pound for damaged or lost items. Moving companies generally offer full coverage valuation that is available for an extra cost.

Moving companies usually only offer warranties on a case-to-case basis. If you are looking for warranties, make sure you discuss them with your moving company in order for them to be agreed upon and listed in your moving contract.

At Central Coast Movers, we guarantee a written contract with transparent pricing and no hidden fees, so you know exactly what you are paying for before your move begins.

How Am I Covered if Items Are Damaged or Lost?

In the moving industry, ‘insurance’ for moving is generally called ‘moving valuation.’ It is a federal law for all moving companies to offer Limited Liability Coverage free of charge. With Limited Liability, you will receive 60 cents per pound for lost or damaged items.

If you want more coverage than that, as many customers do, most moving companies offer Full Coverage Valuation at an extra cost. However, if something is lost or damaged during the move, the moving company must repair, replace, or fully reimburse you for the item’s value.

Despite our extraordinary efforts to keep your items safe and free of damage, sometimes things get damaged. To best be prepared if something goes wrong, we offer Limited Liability and Full Coverage options at Central Coast Movers; it’s your choice.

If you need to file a valuation claim with us after your move for any lost or damaged items, please contact your Dedicated Moving Specialist. For more information on our valuation programs, call us at (831) 235-6046.

Can Local Moving Companies Accommodate My Specific Moving Schedule?

Most local moving companies will do everything they can to accommodate your schedule. Moving schedules can fill up quickly, so schedule as soon as possible since you will be more likely to get your preferred moving date and time, generally within a week or two.

Central Coast Movers offers flexible scheduling based on your timing needs, including weekends. However, in peak summer months, our schedule fills up, so we suggest reaching out as soon as possible to schedule your local move on your preferred moving date. If you reach out sooner rather than later, we will most likely have availability during the date and time you want to move.