What a California to Texas move costs
The price of a move from California to Texas is set the way every interstate household goods price is set: by the weight of the shipment and the tariff distance, plus the services performed. The table below is our national full-service model by home size.
| Home size | Approximate weight | Full-service interstate |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | ≤500 sq ft, ~2,000 lb | $1,650–$4,200 |
| 1 Bedroom | 500–800 sq ft, ~3,500 lb | $2,250–$5,460 |
| 2 Bedroom | 800–1,200 sq ft, ~5,500 lb | $3,000–$7,000 |
| 3 Bedroom | 1,200–1,800 sq ft, ~8,500 lb | $4,350–$10,850 |
| 4 Bedroom | 1,800+ sq ft, ~12,000 lb | $5,850–$15,050 |
| 5+ Bedroom | 2,600+ sq ft, ~16,000 lb | $7,200–$18,900 |
Our pricing model is national. It has no lane scope, so it cannot tell you what this particular corridor costs as distinct from any other interstate move of the same weight, and we publish no lane-specific figure in its place. The table above is the national full-service range by home size. Treat it as the shape of the answer and get three written estimates on your own dates for the number.
Who licenses movers in California?
A mover operating inside California must hold an active Household Movers permit issued by the Bureau of Household Goods and Services.
California calls that authorisation the Household Movers (HHM) permit, commonly called a Cal-T number, and that is the exact term to use when asking a mover what it holds.
The California regime sits under Household Movers Act, California Business and Professions Code section 19225.5 et seq..
California publishes a public licence lookup, so a California mover can be confirmed by name before any deposit is paid.
This is the check to run at the origin of the move. A California authorisation covers moves that begin and end inside California; it is evidence the company is known to its own state regulator, not authority for the interstate leg.
Who licenses movers in Texas?
A mover operating inside Texas must hold a motor carrier certificate of registration issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Texas calls that authorisation the TxDMV motor carrier certificate of registration, and that is the exact term to use when asking a mover what it holds.
The Texas regime sits under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 643.
Texas publishes carrier records through the TxDMV Truck Stop motor carrier lookup; confirm a registration by name or USDOT number there, or by calling the consumer helpline.
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Division confirms a registration by phone on 888-368-4689 or by email to truckstop@txdmv.gov.
This is the check to run at the destination of the move. A Texas authorisation covers moves that begin and end inside Texas; it is evidence the company is known to its own state regulator, not authority for the interstate leg.
Which regulator covers a California to Texas move?
A move from California to Texas crosses a state line, so the move itself is an interstate household goods shipment regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, not by California or by Texas. Moves crossing a state line are authorised by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under a USDOT number and interstate household goods operating authority.
The two state regimes still matter to the person booking the move, for a different reason. A carrier that holds a current California authorisation and, where the destination end applies, a current Texas one, has been through a state process that publishes a record you can check. A company that can show neither, and shows no federal operating authority either, has no regulator anywhere that knows it exists.
What to verify before booking a California to Texas mover
- The carrier's federal operating authority for household goods, since the move crosses a state line
- A current California Household Movers permit if the company also moves households inside California
- A current Texas motor carrier certificate of registration if the company also moves households inside Texas
- The written estimate the carrier must provide under 49 CFR 375.401, naming the assumed weight and the services included
- The estimate type in writing, with binding not-to-exceed preferred
- The valuation selection, since released value is the default and is calculated on weight rather than value
What the carrier can charge above the estimate on this lane
On a non-binding estimate the carrier may require no more than 110 percent of the estimated charges at delivery; the balance is billed afterwards. (49 CFR 375.407.) That rule applies to a California to Texas move because the shipment crosses a state line, regardless of which of the two state regimes the carrier is also registered under.
Charges above the amount collectible at delivery must be billed and are payable within 30 days of delivery. (49 CFR 375.407.)
Why people move this lane
The cost-of-living differential is the reason most often given: Texas levies no state personal income tax, and median home prices in most Texas metros sit below those in coastal California. Employer relocation into the Austin, Dallas and Houston metros and family relocation account for much of the rest. BestMovers.info holds no migration dataset scoped to this corridor, so we rank none of these reasons against the others.