Texas to California Movers
A truck leaving Texas for California crosses two deserts, one agricultural checkpoint and, if it's bound for the Bay Area, the length of the Central Valley. Condor Moving Systems has handled Texas households since 2003 from our Fort Worth and Houston locations. We run our own trucks with our own crews, we put your price in writing as a binding estimate, and we tell you up front which California delivery window applies to your new address.
Southern & Northern California household moves · Packing add-on · Crating · Storage in transit · Corporate relocation
USDOT 1126171 · MC 458180 · TxDMV 006041428C
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Trusted by Texas Families Since 2003
Punctual, good and professional. Condor Moving System is my go-to moving guys now. Fairly priced for the level of professional moving service they provide to their customers. They were very good in communication to me and among themselves. I have had many bad experiences with multiple movers before it. Condor is the first ever company that I found nobody to complain about, which is maybe a pretty rare thing to say about relocators.Thomas C Davison
Movers did a great moving job even though it was a not smooth and it's a very long job. Best value for the money we spend. They stayed professional and were kind throughout the move process. They recognized my items and if I needed to change the things, they did it for me rapidly. Very friendly teamwork. Will surly use them again!Denis Tanney
These movers did a best job even though it was a tough and time taking job. Best value for the money it cost. Stayed professional and were helpful throughout the day of move. Honored my goods and if I required things changed they did it for me in little time. Very coordinated teamwork. Will definitely use them again for coming movers!Marks Josephine
Southern California or Northern California?
California is big enough that we quote two different delivery windows. Business days are counted from the first day you're able to receive your shipment.
- Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, San Diego): 1–10 business days
- Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield and the Central Coast: 1–10 business days
- Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, the East Bay, the Peninsula, San Jose): 1–21 business days
Next-day delivery is only available on a dedicated truck when the destination is within about an 8-hour drive. Even from El Paso, Los Angeles is 13 to 14 hours away, so next-day doesn't apply to California.
Your pickup date is guaranteed. If you need a guaranteed delivery date, for example a lease that starts on a set day, we offer it for an additional charge.
The Drive West
I-10 and I-20 to Southern California
From Fort Worth and Dallas, trucks usually take I-20 west to meet I-10 near Kent, then continue through El Paso, Tucson and Phoenix into the Coachella Valley and the Los Angeles basin. San Antonio and Houston moves join I-10 directly. For San Diego, I-8 splits off near Casa Grande, Arizona.
I-40 and the Central Valley for the Bay Area
Bay Area moves often run I-40 through Amarillo, Albuquerque and Flagstaff to Barstow, then cross the Tehachapi Mountains on SR-58 to Bakersfield and head north on I-5 or SR-99.
Distance table (for planning, not pricing)
| From | To | Approx. driving miles | Approx. drive time by car |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | San Diego | 1,275 | 21½ hrs |
| Fort Worth | San Diego | 1,330 | 22½ hrs |
| Fort Worth | Riverside | 1,355 | 23½ hrs |
| Fort Worth | Irvine | 1,390 | 24 hrs |
| Fort Worth | Los Angeles | 1,405 | 24 hrs |
| Austin | Los Angeles | 1,380 | 24 hrs |
| Houston | Los Angeles | 1,550 | 26½ hrs |
| Fort Worth | Fresno | 1,535 | 27 hrs |
| Fort Worth | San Jose | 1,665 | 29½ hrs |
| Fort Worth | San Francisco | 1,705 | 30 hrs |
| Fort Worth | Sacramento | 1,710 | 30 hrs |
| Houston | San Francisco | 1,930 | 33½ hrs |
Rounded figures from OpenStreetMap routing between city centers, with no stops. Truck drivers follow federal hours-of-service rules, so the real trip takes longer.
The California Border Inspection
Every vehicle entering California, moving trucks included, passes a California Department of Food and Agriculture border protection station. Inspectors look for plants, fruit, firewood and soil that could carry pests.
- House plants are allowed only if they were grown indoors, are potted in sterile commercial potting mix and are free of pests. Tell us about them; they're listed at the top of your inventory and loaded near the truck doors so the inspector can reach them.
- Citrus trees and anything in the citrus family are prohibited. Pine, oak, and fruit or nut trees are strongly discouraged.
- Firewood and outdoor potted plants should stay in Texas.
Fresh produce shouldn't be on a moving truck anyway. Empty the refrigerator before load day.
Neighborhood Conditions We Plan For
Hills and narrow streets in Los Angeles
Hillside streets in neighborhoods like Silver Lake, Echo Park, the Hollywood Hills and parts of the San Fernando Valley can be too steep or narrow for a full-size truck. Send us the address early so we can check access. If a full-size semi can't get access, we use a shuttle truck. Shuttle service is charged in addition to your estimate and starts at $450.
San Francisco signage and stairs
To hold curb space in San Francisco, you request temporary no-parking signage from the SFMTA at least five business days ahead. Signs go up 72 hours before an unmetered space is enforced, or 24 hours for a metered space. Many Victorian and Edwardian flats have a long front stair and no elevator. Tell us the floor and the number of steps.
Master-planned communities and HOAs
Irvine, much of south Orange County, and newer neighborhoods in the Inland Empire are governed by homeowners' associations. Some set moving hours or require a gate list. Ask your HOA early and forward the rules to your consultant.
High-rise towers
Downtown Los Angeles, San Diego's waterfront and San Francisco's SoMa and Mission Bay towers usually require a certificate of insurance and a reserved freight elevator. We issue the COI before your truck leaves Texas.
Seasons and Timing in California
- Summer heat on I-10. Desert stretches near Blythe and Palm Springs regularly pass 110°F in July and August. Electronics, candles and vinyl records should be packed and loaded carefully, away from the doors.
- Fire season. Late summer and fall bring wildfire risk and red-flag wind events, including Santa Ana winds in Southern California. Utilities sometimes cut power to reduce fire risk, which can stop elevators and garage doors at the delivery address.
- Winter on the Grapevine. Snow and ice occasionally close I-5 over Tejon Pass between Los Angeles and the Central Valley. Bay Area deliveries in winter may need an extra day.
- College weeks. UC campuses on the quarter calendar, such as UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Irvine and UC Davis, start in late September; UC Berkeley and USC start in August. Rental turnover near campus peaks just before.
Military installations
California has a long list of bases, including Camp Pendleton, Naval Base San Diego, MCAS Miramar, Fort Irwin, Edwards AFB, Vandenberg Space Force Base and Travis AFB. Moves onto a base require gate access arranged ahead of time. Weight tickets are required only for military moves; when your military move needs them, we can provide them. Condor handles PPM moves, where the service member arranges the move and the government reimburses it, along with retiree moves and government-arranged shipments.
Inside Every Condor Move
These come standard, not as extras:
- Basic furniture disassembly before loading and reassembly after delivery
- Padding blankets on every furniture piece
- A numbered tag on each item and an inventory you sign at both ends
- Unloading and placement in the rooms you choose
- A single consultant who follows your move from survey to delivery
- A binding written estimate
- Released value protection, the federal baseline coverage, at no extra cost. It pays 60 cents per pound per article, the carrier's basic liability under federal rules; it's moving coverage, not insurance. Compare it with the other options on our coverage page. Full value replacement is available through Baker International; Condor doesn't sell it in-house.
Packing is extra. Our crew can do a full pack or a partial pack, covering dishes, clothes, decorations, garage shelves and attic boxes. It is quoted separately and is never included in the base move.
What a Texas to California Move Costs
We price long-distance moves by the cubic foot. That rate includes the drive to California, so there's no separate line for distance on your estimate. Long-distance moves begin at $1,200, and a cross-country household move to California will cost more; your survey sets the actual figure.
Every estimate is binding. If your inventory grows or shrinks before load day, the foreman prepares a written revision and you sign off before loading starts. If you need a not-to-exceed estimate, for an employer reimbursement for example, ask and we'll provide one.
What moves the price
- The cubic feet on the truck
- Packing add-on, cartons and any custom crates for art or glass
- Stairs, long carries, elevators and tight access at either end
- Pianos, safes and gym equipment
- Storage in transit while you wait for keys
- A guaranteed delivery date
Trimming the cost
- California homes are often smaller than the Texas house you're leaving. Decide what won't fit before your survey, so it doesn't count.
- Pack your own boxes, or pack everything except the kitchen.
- Avoid late August and the end of September in a college area if your dates allow.
Three Ways to Get a Quote
- Zoom video survey is our most popular option. You walk through your home with your phone while a consultant builds your inventory.
- Phone quote works if you can give an accurate item list and box count. For a binding phone quote with no video or in-person survey, you sign a written waiver of the survey.
- In-person survey is available only in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Start your list on our moving inventory tool.
Federal Rules and Claims
Texas to California is an interstate move regulated by the FMCSA. Condor holds USDOT 1126171 and MC-458180, and you'll receive the federal booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. You have 9 months after delivery to file a written claim for loss or damage, and we support you through the claim after your move. Use our file a claim page.
New-Resident Deadlines in California
- Driver license: within 10 days of becoming a California resident.
- Vehicle registration: within 20 days. An out-of-state car needs a VIN verification and, in most cases, a California smog check, and registration requires an in-person DMV visit.
Where We Pick Up and Deliver
Texas pickups: Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Amarillo, Midland–Odessa and anywhere else in the state.
California deliveries: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Irvine, Anaheim, Riverside, San Bernardino, Temecula, San Diego, Carlsbad, Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, San Jose, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek and more.
We also pick up anywhere in California for moves back to Texas. For the rest of the West, see our West Coast movers page.
Getting Your Shipment Ready for the West
Decide what crosses the border
Before your survey, walk through the yard and patio. Potted citrus, outdoor planters and anything sitting in backyard soil should stay in Texas or be given away. Indoor plants that qualify can ride on the truck, but they spend days in a closed trailer, so many people carry their favorites in the car instead. Firewood, bags of soil and garden mulch don't belong on the truck at all.
Clear out the garage
Gas cans, propane tanks, pool chemicals, paint, aerosol cans and ammunition are not allowed on a moving truck. Our non-allowables list covers the rest. Mowers and power equipment need to be drained of fuel and oil before load day.
Pack for heat
A truck crossing the desert in summer gets hot inside. Pack candles, vinyl records, photographs and cosmetics in the middle of a box, not against the wall, and move irreplaceable photos and documents in your car.
Plan for a smaller footprint
Square footage in Los Angeles, San Diego and the Bay Area costs far more than in Texas, and many households trade a four-bedroom house for a three-bedroom townhome or a two-bedroom apartment. Every piece you sell before the survey is one you don't pay to move. Measure the new place, or ask the agent for a floor plan, and decide on the big pieces first: sectionals, dining sets, king beds and home-gym equipment.
Expect the paperwork on arrival
You'll need a California license within 10 days and a registration within 20 days, and the car needs a smog check in most cases. Book DMV appointments as soon as you have an address.
Moving within the delivery window
Because Southern California deliveries run 1–10 business days and Bay Area deliveries 1–21, plan to live lightly for the first days in your new home: an air mattress, a few dishes and towels, and work equipment in the car. If your lease starts on a fixed date with no flexibility, a guaranteed delivery date is available for an additional charge.
Condor Crews at Work
Texas to California Moving FAQ
Is Sacramento quoted as Northern California?
No. Only the San Francisco Bay Area is quoted at 1–21 business days. Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield and the Central Coast have the same 1–10 business day window as Southern California.
Will the border inspection hold up my truck?
Usually not for long. List any house plants on the inventory and keep them near the doors, and don't pack produce or firewood. Citrus plants will be refused.
Do you charge more for the extra distance to San Francisco than to Los Angeles?
There's no distance line on the estimate. The price is based on cubic feet, and the per-cubic-foot rate already covers the trip.
Can my estimate change after the truck is loaded?
No. Estimates are binding. Any change happens before loading, in writing, with your approval.
Can you move us into a building with a freight elevator in San Diego or San Francisco?
Yes. Send the building's COI requirements and elevator rules. We handle the certificate before the truck leaves Texas.
Is there a truck-scale stop on my move?
Only military moves require weight tickets, and we can provide them for those moves.
Can you guarantee when my furniture arrives in California?
Pickup dates are guaranteed. A guaranteed delivery date is available for an additional charge.
How soon do I need a California license?
Within 10 days of becoming a resident, and the car must be registered within 20 days.
Plan Your California Move
Send your Texas pickup city, your California address and a sense of what's going. We'll set up a Zoom survey and email your binding estimate.