3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Trusted Reputation | Best for Long Distance Moving | Cost of Movers | Avoiding Scams
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Looking for a mover in San Clemente? You have plenty of options to choose from — there are 627 full-service moving companies rated 4 stars or higher in the city.
Local full-service moving companies can help you by packing up all of your things, loading them onto the truck, and taking them to your new home. Your movers will even unpack and reassemble furniture for you. While they're more expensive than handling a move on your own, full-service movers can save you a lot of time and effort.
To help you find the right moving company, we assessed 1,000 movers in San Clemente and ranked the top three.
| 🚚 Ready to get moving? Compare top moving companies near you, get custom quotes, and see all available discounts. 100% free with no obligation. Get started now! |
3 Best Moving Companies in San Clemente (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable Moving - SoCal | Best Overall | 4.7 (1476 reviews) |
| Mission Movers | Best for Trusted Reputation | 5.0 (1085 reviews) |
| Pro Movers | Best for Long Distance Moving | 4.4 (1270 reviews) |
How We Chose the Companies on This List
Our team spent over 100 hours researching moving companies across the United States. We started with a list of more than 25,000 moving companies, then narrowed it down by eliminating companies that:
- Were not registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA)
- Had fewer than 10 customer reviews
- Didn’t have a website
- Had a relatively high number of safety and service violations according to the FMCSA
The remaining companies were ranked based on the following metrics:
- 5x: Average customer rating across all platforms (Yelp, Google, Angi, etc.)
- 4x: Total number of customer reviews (more reviews indicates a more reliable average rating)
- 3x: Total count of out-of-service violations (as indicated by the FMCSA)
- 2x: How many drivers a company has on staff per vehicles it has registered
- 1x: Whether a company is full-service or only offers labor services
Each metric was normalized and then graded on a 100-point scale. The combined weighted average of the scores determined the final ranking score.
We also mystery-shopped to gather quotes from more than 150 moving companies and surveyed our team members — who have moved more than 300 times collectively — on what was most important to them when choosing a moving company.
Who Should Use a Full-Service Mover?
We recommend full-service movers for people who can budget at least $300 for a one-bedroom apartment and at least $1,600 for a three-bedroom home.
Full-service is helpful if you have large, complicated things to move, can’t carry heavy stuff, or have a busy schedule (which may include closing on your new home). Likewise, if you don’t have friends and family available to help, hiring experts can make your move much quicker.
Full-service moving typically includes:
- Packing your items
- Disassembling furniture
- Loading the truck with your items
- Delivery to your new home
- Reassembling furniture
If you feel comfortable doing some of the heavy lifting and driving yourself, consider DIY moving or using labor-only movers who help you load your rented truck. DIY will certainly save you money (but maybe not your back).
3 Best Moving Companies in San Clemente
1. Affordable Moving - SoCal: Best Overall
We named Affordable Moving the best overall moving company in San Clemente based on its solid reviews, competitive prices, and wide selection of services. In reviews, satisfied customers singled out the company’s expert crew and great customer service and communication. The rare negative reviews usually mentioned damaged items.
Affordable Moving offers standard moving services like local residential and commercial moves, as well as more specialized services like car shipping, labor-only moves, and storage and packing services. These professional movers can also handle long-distance, out-of-state moves, so the company is a viable option if you’re leaving (or coming to) California.
Affordable Moving’s prices are just about average. Its estimate of $1,432 for a three-bedroom move within San Clemente is just a hair above the area average of $1,415.
Since Affordable Moving employs a single registered driver for its company vehicle, you won't have as much flexibility in scheduling your move as you might with a bigger company.
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⚡ Quick Tip: We recommend getting custom quotes from independent moving brokers. These services are free to use with no obligation and make it easy to compare multiple options to find the best fit and value. Get instant quotes here. |
2. Mission Movers: Best for Trusted Reputation
Mission Movers has an unusually strong reputation, holding a perfect five out of five rating based on over a thousand company reviews. A closer look at the reviews reveals many customers praising the company’s skilled, punctual professional movers and their responsive communication.
Mission Movers offers a wide selection of moving services, including local residential and commercial moving, furniture disassembly and reassembly, moving box rental, and interstate long-distance moving.
We awarded Mission Movers a medium reliability rating because it maintains three registered drivers for its three company vehicles. Having this many drivers allows it to schedule more moves during peak times.
3. Pro Movers: Best for Long Distance Moving
If you’re moving out of state, Pro Movers is a solid choice. This company will move you from California to 46 other U.S. states, and it doesn’t use contractors or day laborers to handle your stuff. Of course, the company also offers local moves, as well as storage, packing and loading services, commercial moves, and celebrity moves.
In online reviews, satisfied customers mentioned the company’s efficient movers and job and scheduling flexibility, while the rare negative reviews touched on hidden fees.
Finally, Pro Movers earned a medium reliability rating from us, as it employs a full-time registered driver to operate its company vehicle. This means you might have some trouble scheduling your move during the busy season.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in San Clemente
How Much Do Movers Cost in San Clemente?
On average, full-service movers in San Clemente cost about $284 for a studio apartment and $1,415 for a 3-bedroom home. Larger homes cost even more, with a 5-bedroom home costing an average of $2,483.
Full-service moving rates can vary widely depending on the specifics of your move, so reach out to a moving company for an accurate quote.
Typical Cost Breakdown
The cost of your full-service move depends primarily on four key factors:
- Size of your home
- Number of movers and hours you’ll need them
- Driving distance from door to door
- Charge for use of truck (if not included in hourly rate)
At base, most companies charge an hourly rate per mover, then tack on additional fees for other factors.
| Don’t forget to tip 💸
It’s common courtesy to tip your movers 10–20% of the total cost. For a three-bedroom home, that could be upwards of $300. |
Other Things That Could Increase Your Cost
Circumstances and challenges specific to your move could cost you more money.
| 🕰️ Timing |
Companies often charge higher rates for weekends, holidays, and jobs that require movers to work overtime. |
| 🎹 Specialty items |
Moving pianos or other heavy and awkward pieces might require additional time and movers. |
| 🧳 Packing supplies |
Extra bubble wrap for fragile items, large wardrobe boxes for clothes, and other packing supplies can add up. Save by providing your own. |
| 📦 Unpacking service |
Some companies offer unpacking as part of full-service moving. You can save money by doing this yourself. |
| 🏢 Difficult circumstances |
Stairs, narrow hallways, elevators, and distant parking can incur additional time and fees. |
| 🗝️ Storage |
If your new home isn’t ready, you’ll need to store your items until you can move in. |
| 🛡️ Insurance |
If your renters or homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover transport of your possessions, you can buy insurance from your moving company or a third party. |
How to Get a Quote
You can get a quote from most movers by calling or filling out an online form to provide details about your home.
For the most accurate estimate, ask the mover to stop by your home in person or virtually to take a look at your belongings. This will allow the mover to take note of more complicated items, such as antique furniture or extra heavy items.
Alternatively, a moving broker can do the work for you, providing a quote from a carrier in your area.
How to Avoid Moving Company Scams
Check your mover’s Federal registration. You can check the company’s registration, violations, and complaint history by searching on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website.
Look for complaints on the Better Business Bureau website. Searching the company’s BBB profile can give you an idea of what kinds of complaints have been filed against the company and how the business resolved them.
Understand your rights and responsibilities. By law, every interstate mover must provide documentation about your rights as a consumer and the mover’s responsibilities. Make sure you read it carefully!
Know about your insurance options. If you’re moving within the same state, your mover may offer you coverage, or you can purchase a moving insurance policy independently. According to Federal law, interstate movers must offer two different types of valuation coverage: full value protection and released value.
If you notice one or more of these red flags when researching a moving company, it's probably best to avoid it.
How Far in Advance Should I Reach Out to a Mover in San Clemente?
If you're moving locally within San Clemente, look for a moving company about one month before your move — or two months ahead of time if you plan to move during the peak season of May through August. For interstate moves, start looking two to three months out, depending on the season.Sources
We drew from the following sources to write this article:
- “What is the Cost to Move in Los Angeles,” moveBuddha
- “Here’s How to Determine How Many Movers You Need for Your Next Move,” Angi
- “How Many Movers Do I Need?” moveBuddha
- “Liability and Protection,” Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- “Spot the Red Flags,” Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
