Top Moving Companies in Santa Cruz, CA (August 2026)
Best California Movers stands out as the best mover in Santa Cruz, CA, with 80 reviews and 95.0% of customers rating their experience positively. Our rankings are based on an analysis of 374 companies operating locally.
For long-distance moves from Santa Cruz, we recommend Colonial Van Lines. As a trusted national company, they stand out with clear flat-rate pricing, reliable service, and consistently strong customer reviews.
Best California Movers |
Fairprice Movers |
Silicon Valley Moving and Storage |
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Best California Movers | 4.7
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Colonial Van Lines | 5.0
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PODS | 4.5
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Budget Truck Rental | 4.3
Why Trust FreightWaves Checkpoint?
At FreightWaves Checkpoint, we routinely evaluate more than 4,000 moving companies across the country using a data-driven scoring system built around performance, accountability, and overall customer experience. Our editorial team assigns weighted scores to the factors that matter most to consumers planning a move.
Here's how we rank movers:
Customer feedback (40%): Verified consumer reviews carry the most weight in our methodology. We evaluate overall ratings, review volume, consistency across platforms, and patterns in customer experiences to measure satisfaction and service reliability.
Complaint track record (20%): While issues can arise in any move, resolution matters. We review complaint history through public consumer databases, focusing on frequency, severity, and how proactively a company works to address and resolve disputes.
Pricing transparency (15%): Clear estimates, well-defined deposits, and straightforward contracts score higher in our system. We prioritize movers that make it easy to understand what you'll pay — without hidden fees or vague pricing language.
Service offerings (12%): Companies that provide a wide range of services — including full packing, specialty item handling, storage solutions, and interstate moving — earn stronger marks for flexibility and convenience.
Online experience (8%): We look at how easy a company makes it to get information, request a quote, and understand its services online. Up-to-date websites, clear contact details, and responsive review engagement all factor into the score.
Company track record (5%): Longevity, proper licensing, and overall business stability also play a role. Movers with a consistent operating history and verified credentials receive higher marks.
Our rankings are updated regularly to reflect new data, evolving consumer feedback, and shifts in company performance — helping you compare movers with confidence.
Top-Rated Local Movers in Santa Cruz, CA
Moving to a new location in Santa Cruz can be stress-free with experienced local movers. With the right team, your short-distance move can be seamless and straightforward.
Here's our shortlist of the best local movers to ensure your move goes off without a hitch:
Top-rated movers in Santa Cruz:
- Best California Movers: 80 reviews (95.0% positive)
- Fairprice Movers: 748 reviews (90.1% positive)
- Silicon Valley Moving and Storage: 165 reviews (70.9% positive)
- Scarr Moving & Storage, Inc.: 43 reviews (88.4% positive)
- Cardinale Moving & Storage, Inc.: 86 reviews (81.4% positive)
Best California Movers
2931 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA, 95051
Best California Movers (DOT: 3489907) is an active moving company offering full-service, interstate, and intrastate moves at a rate of $109 per hour. They provide packing, unpacking, crating, storage, labor-only help, small-move services, office moving, and packing materials. A potential downside for some customers is that they do not offer international moving, junk removal, or specialty services for items like pianos, pool tables, or hot tubs.
Service was awesome! Mike and his team were professional on time! Highly recommend!
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Professional and polite staff
- Good communication
- Affordable rates
Cons
- Damage to items
- Higher-than-expected costs
- Misleading marketing
Services
- Full-service
- Out-of-state
- Full unpacking
- Labor-only
- Offsite storage
- In-state
- Accepts credit cards
- Full packing
Fairprice Movers
245 McEvoy St, San Jose, CA, 95126
Fairprice Movers (DOT: 2192738) is an active moving company offering full-service moves, including local, interstate, and international relocation options. They provide packing, unpacking, storage with climate-controlled options, crating, and specialty moving services for pianos, antiques, and art. Customers can also request an instant email quote and pay by credit card. A potential downside is that Fairprice Movers does not offer junk removal, labor-only moves, or advertised discounts for seniors, students, military members, or teachers.
"They arrived right on time, worked quickly, and made sure everything was in my new place undamaged. The price was very reasonable. Highly recommend!"
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Professional and polite staff
- Affordable rates
- Good communication
Cons
- Damage to items
- Unexpected charges
- Delayed arrival or delivery
Services
- Full-service
- Out-of-state
- Full unpacking
- Piano
- Offsite storage
- In-state
- Accepts credit cards
- Full packing
Silicon Valley Moving and Storage
186 Barnard Ave, San Jose, CA, 95125
Silicon Valley Moving and Storage (DOT: 070719) is an active full-service mover offering local, interstate, and international moving services. The company provides packing, unpacking, crating, storage, office moves, junk removal, and packing materials for added convenience. It may not be the best fit for customers needing specialty services like piano moving, hot tub moving, or climate-controlled storage.
"Amazing service - from our initial phone call to the moment the moving team left. They were kind, courteous, professional and helpful. It was a seamless transition from home to home. Thank you Joey and team!!"
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Good communication
- Quick moving process
Cons
- Higher-than-expected costs
- Damage to items
- Unprofessional behavior
Services
- Full-service
- Out-of-state
- Junk hauling
- Senior moving
- Full unpacking
- Offsite storage
- In-state
- Accepts credit cards
- Full packing
Scarr Moving & Storage, Inc.
1353 Dayton St, Salinas, CA, 93901
Scarr Moving & Storage, Inc. (DOT: 44159) is an active moving company offering full-service moving for local, interstate, and international relocations. They provide packing, unpacking, storage, shipment tracking, and packing materials, along with specialty services for pianos, antiques, art, grandfather clocks, pool tables, and hot tubs. Customers can also pay by credit card, adding convenience to the booking process. One potential downside is that they do not offer junk removal, labor-only moves, or climate-controlled storage, which may matter to some customers.
"The ENTIRE team at Scarr Moving is phenomenal...they made the move seamless and stress-free, fit me in the same week I called! They worked so quickly I ended up almost at half the price quoted."
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Quick moving process
- Helpful movers
Cons
- Unprofessional behavior
- Misplaced or lost items
- Crew arrived unprepared
Services
- Full-service
- Out-of-state
- Full unpacking
- Piano
- Offsite storage
- In-state
- Accepts credit cards
- Full packing
Cardinale Moving & Storage, Inc.
11360 Commercial Pkwy, Castroville , CA, 95012
Cardinale Moving & Storage, Inc. (DOT: 45193) is an active full-service mover offering local, intrastate, interstate, and international moving services. The company provides packing, unpacking, storage, crating, shipment tracking, and specialty handling for pianos, antiques, art, and pool tables. It also serves office moves, supports senior moving needs, accepts credit cards, and even accepts cryptocurrency. A potential downside is that it does not offer junk removal, debris removal, labor-only moves, or climate-controlled storage.
Cardinale did an amazing job packing up our entire home... The crew was awesome, careful, thoughtful, great communicators, efficient, and most importantly, great packers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Good communication
- Quick moving process
Cons
- Damage to items
- Misplaced or lost items
- Lack of communication
Services
- Full-service
- Out-of-state
- Senior moving
- Full unpacking
- Piano
- Offsite storage
- In-state
- Accepts credit cards
- Full packing
More California Moving Options
Curious about all moving solutions near you? Check out this list of the best moving companies in California.
The Best Long-Distance Movers in Santa Cruz, CA
Saying goodbye to Santa Cruz is the start of a new chapter. With the right interstate moving company, your move — whether near or far — begins without unnecessary stress. Take a look at our top picks to help you plan your relocation:
Colonial Van Lines
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Safeway Moving
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American Van Lines
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Colonial Van Lines
Colonial Van Lines (USDOT: 1434373) is a full-service moving company based in Pompano Beach, Florida, that handles long-distance moves across 48 states. With more than 50 years in the business and over 12,000 moves completed each year, they know their way around an interstate move. Colonial offers packing, storage, and long-distance transport throughout the continental US, all handled by highly trained crews. Their easy-to-use mobile app makes getting a quote quick, and customers often highlight the company’s friendly, professional, and reliable customer service.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Expert in-house crews
- Home electronics setup
- Trash & debris removal
Cons
- No local or international moves
- Not available in AK or HI
Services
- Long-distance moving (nationwide service across contiguous 48 states; excludes Alaska & Hawaii)
- Cross-country & interstate moving (full-service coordination from packing to delivery)
- Professional packing & unpacking (trained packers, specialty blankets, shrink-wrap, custom crating)
- Moving storage services (in-transit, short- & long-term climate-controlled storage options)
- Corporate & commercial relocation (efficient packing, storage, furniture assembly/disassembly)
- Full-service moving (end-to-end handling by CVLU-trained professionals)
- Customizable quotes via moving app or specialist (accurate, transparent estimates with virtual inventory)
- Colonial Moving App (virtual estimates, inventory updates, checklists, and box ordering)
- Colonial Van Lines University training (movers with 2–4 week curriculum and ~10-year average experience)
- Family-owned national service (50+ years, 250k+ moves, 4.6 Trustpilot rating)
Safeway Moving
Safeway Moving (USDOT: 3756000) is a veteran-owned moving company built around the idea of military-level precision. Thanks to its nationwide network of truck capacity, Safeway is able to offer very competitive pricing without cutting corners. The company also uses a multi-stage quality assurance process to keep moves on track from pickup through delivery. That combination of accurate pricing and consistent quality is a big reason Safeway earned a spot on our list.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 30 days of free storage on all interstate moves
- Long distance and cross country moves only
- A portion of every move is donated to charity
- Verification process to guarantee pricing and quality of service
- High level of customer service and support
- Veteran owned company
Cons
- Require a deposit at booking
- No local moving services offered
Services
- Long-distance moving (all 50 states, GPS tracking, barcode-scanned inventory)
- Flat-rate pricing (virtual walk-throughs, no hidden fees)
- Price matching (meets or beats quotes from qualified competitors)
- Comprehensive insurance ($6/lb full-value protection option)
- Packing and unpacking services (includes last-minute packing for an extra charge)
- Custom crating (for fragile, heavy, or high-value items like art and electronics)
- Storage options (30 days free, climate-controlled, long-term available, prorated billing)
- International moving (limited info online, contact customer service)
- 24/7 customer service (available by phone at all times)
American Van Lines
American Van Lines (USDOT: 614506) is a long-distance moving company known for its hands-on approach and experienced crews. Based in Florida, the company handles interstate moves nationwide and stands out for using full-time, background-checked movers rather than temporary labor. American Van Lines offers packing, storage, and specialty services for items like antiques and pianos, with a strong focus on careful handling. Customers often point to the company’s professionalism and attention to detail as key reasons it earns high marks.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent customer service
- Last-minute moves
- Private storage options
- Handles antiques, pianos & fine art
- Flat-rate pricing
Cons
- May require a deposit at booking
- Automated calls may be overwhelming
Services
- Local moving (affordable hourly rates, packing, custom crating)
- Long-distance moving (nationwide service, excludes Alaska and Hawaii)
- Packing services (upgrade to include professional wrapping, packing, inventorying)
- Antique and piano moving (specialized handling of fragile/oversized items, custom crating available)
- Military moves (in-home estimates, discounts, packing, storage, furniture assembly/disassembly)
- Corporate relocation (commercial moving, furniture disassembly/reassembly, storage)
- Storage options (secure, private units with surveillance, climate control, fire/storm protection)
- Moving boxes and supplies (available for purchase from AVL)
Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines (USDOT: 076235) is one of the most recognizable names in the moving industry, with a nationwide and global network backed by more than 80 years of experience. Alongside full-service local, long-distance, and international moves, Allied offers Allied Express, a portable container option that includes professional loading and unloading. With packing, storage, and specialty services also available, Allied provides flexible solutions for a wide range of moving needs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Specialty packing services
- Short- and long-term storage
- Appliance disconnection & reconnection
- International shipping
Cons
- Pricing is generally higher than other van lines
- Pricing estimates can take 3-5 days
Services
- Household moving (local, long-distance, cross-country — packing, loading, transport, unloading, unpacking)
- Long-distance & interstate moving (contiguous U.S.; full-service options)
- International moving (130+ countries; online tracking, customs clearance, destination services)
- Military moves (PCS, deployment; temporary/in-transit storage; compliance with DoD regulations)
- Corporate & office relocation (employee moves, office packing, furniture disassembly/reassembly)
- Packing & unpacking services (professional crews, specialty materials, custom crating for fragile/odd items)
- Moving supplies & kits (boxes, shrink-wrap, moving kits available)
- Storage solutions (in-transit, short- & long-term climate-controlled units with security)
- Portable storage containers (rentable containers for packing/storing during move)
- Full-service moving coordinators & 24/7 support (dedicated move coordinator, transparent pricing, no hidden fees)
BLVD Moving
BLVD Moving (USDOT: 3342827) is a long-distance moving company that puts a strong emphasis on clear pricing and customer communication. The company coordinates interstate moves nationwide and is known for assigning a dedicated move coordinator to guide customers through each step of the process. With professional packing, storage options, and a focus on consistency from pickup to delivery, BLVD Moving is a solid choice for customers who want a more organized, transparent moving experience.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Full-time professional crews
- Flexible rescheduling
- Last-minute services
Cons
- Limited insurance options
- Limited pricing on website
Services
- Long-distance moving (nationwide interstate relocations coordinated across the contiguous US), Cross-country & interstate moving (full-service coordination from packing through delivery), Professional packing & unpacking (trained crews, high-quality materials, specialty packing for fragile items), Moving storage services (short- and long-term storage options through partner facilities), Dedicated move coordinator (single point of contact from quote to delivery), Transparent pricing model (detailed estimates based on virtual or phone inventory reviews), Carrier-vetted moving network (licensed and insured interstate carriers meeting BLVD’s service standards), Specialty item moving (oversized furniture, antiques, and delicate household goods), Customer support throughout the move (proactive communication and scheduling updates from pickup to drop-off)
Moving Services Offered in Santa Cruz
Not every moving company offers the same range of services, and availability can vary widely from one location to another. Some movers may specialize in fragile-item packing, pianos, or storage solutions, while others may not offer these services at all in Santa Cruz.
To make comparison simple, the table below lists how many movers in Santa Cruz provide each service, with state and national figures included for context. This way, you can see what's common locally and which services might take more effort to track down.
| Service | Santa Cruz | CA | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packing | 45 | 371 | 3,095 |
| Unpacking | 44 | 362 | 2,994 |
| Packing materials | 34 | 259 | 1,860 |
| Piano | 39 | 298 | 2,282 |
| Antiques | 27 | 228 | 1,453 |
| Art | 32 | 229 | 1,440 |
| Standard storage | 36 | 322 | 2,709 |
| Climate-controlled storage | 8 | 82 | 1,051 |
| Fragile-only packing | 7 | 105 | 747 |
| Custom crating | 38 | 291 | 1,914 |
Full-Service Moving Alternatives
If convenience is the priority, full-service movers pack, load, and unload everything for you. For those who prefer to save money or stay more involved, alternatives such as moving containers, rental truck, or hired labor by the hour can be a smart fit.
PODS |
Budget Truck Rental |
Best California Movers |
Did you know? You don't have to choose between full-service movers and doing it all alone. In Santa Cruz, there are 17 labor-only providers ready to give you hourly help with the heavy lifting.
FAQs
Do all Santa Cruz movers handle out-of-state relocations?
Is it cheaper to move during certain times of the year?
Are Santa Cruz movers insured and licensed?
Do Santa Cruz movers offer discounts?
Yes. We found 1 offer military pricing.
No AAA discounts are currently offered.
No senior discounts are currently offered.
Can I pay movers in cash in Santa Cruz?
How many Santa Cruz movers provide packing services?
Do any Santa Cruz movers specialize in fragile or high-value items?
How many movers in Santa Cruz provide storage options?
Santa Cruz, California Relocation Resources
