Moving From California to Texas: Movers, Costs, and Benefits

Oh, California, you’re too much for me. Between the high cost of living, the aggressive bums, and the perpetual traffic, the Golden State has lost some of its luster. On the other hand, Texas is seeing a wave of new arrivals - from California, and everywhere else.

You’ve made up your mind, and you’re getting out of the Golden State. But how can you get out of California without losing your mind (or your money)? Fortunately, iMoving is here to help.

iMoving is the only place that lets you shop for moving companies, compare prices, and book your movers from the comfort of your web browser. No phone calls, no house calls, no bs.

But enough about us. You’re here to learn about moving from California to Texas. Let’s dive in, and get right to the important stuff…

Your California to Texas movers will cost you anywhere from $1,517 to $8,500, but we’ve seen the odd move that was a little cheaper or more expensive. It all comes down to two major factors: distance, and size.

Texas and California are both huge states. Depending on your point of origin, you could be shelling out big money for the Redding to Corpus Christi haul, or you could score a sweet deal going from Needles to El Paso. Of course, then you’d be stuck in El Paso.

Barring theoretical physics, you can’t do much about how far you have to travel. But you can do plenty about the size of your move. More stuff means more money, so try to downsize before you shop for a quote. If you don’t want it, don’t move it - and definitely don’t pay for it.

A CA to TX move will take between 3 and 21 days. It’s a pretty big window, but much like your price, it all depends on how far you’re going and how much you’re hauling.

Under federal law, drivers can’t clock more than 400 miles of interstate travel per day. Right off the bat, that means you’re looking at a 3-day minimum, and it could be a lot longer if you’re going further east.

“But I’m only moving studio apartment. This’ll be quick, right?”

Unfortunately, moving small doesn’t mean moving fast. For efficiency’s sake, movers try to avoid empty space on their trucks. Instead, they’ll bundle multiple small moves in the same trailer.

Sharing a trailer is common practice. Your movers will keep everything safe and separated, but you’ll also have to wait while they make pickups and dropoffs along the way.

California to Texas moving will cost between $1,517 to $8,500, but why such a big window? Take a look at some of the factors behind your final price:

1. Distance

When you’re dealing with a long distance move, the distance makes the most difference. Moving from eastern California to Western Texas is going to be a lot cheaper than moving from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast.

2. Size

Next to distance, the physical size of your move is probably the most important factor. Movers will either assign a weight value (in pounds) or a volume value (in cubic feet) when they’re sizing up all your stuff. Since moving more means means paying more, it’s a good idea to downsize ahead of time.

3. Packing

Packing up all your belongings it time-consuming and frustrating. On the other hand, you can pay your movers to handle the packing for you. It may cost a little extra, but you can’t put a price on your stress and sanity. Plus, it’s a prerequisite for…

4. Insurance

It’s rare, but accidents happen. Your movers are legally required to offer a minimum level of insurance coverage, but this is only good for $0.60 per pound.

This means if your 4-pound laptop gets broken in transit, you’re getting a whopping $2.40 in return. If you want to be reimbursed the full value, you’ll have to pay for full-value coverage.

5. Access fees

Every move is different, including the stretch from the front door to the street. If you have gates, staircases, elevators, and long driveways or hallways, your movers will charge you extra for the obstacle course. Let them know ahead of time so there aren’t any unpleasant surprises on their end - or yours.

6. Shuttles

Your California to Texas movers will use a big ol’ semi truck to handle the long haul. Unfortunately, most cities don’t take kindly to big ol’ semi-trucks blocking traffic. Your movers will have to park on the outskirts and use a smaller truck to ferry your belongings back and forth.

7. Storage

You’ve sold, donated, or just plain junked all of your old and unwanted stuff - but if you’re still dealing with some excess, you can use storage to buy yourself some time and square footage. Be on the lookout for some sweet deals! Some movers offer 30 days free.

8. Furniture disassembly

Some pieces will be a lot easier to move if they’re taken down and packed flat. Movers can bring the tools and know-how to disassemble and reassemble your furniture, but this comes at an extra cost.

9. Specialty moving

From pianos and antiques to vintage motorcycles and anime figurines, everyone’s got something that needs a little extra TLC. Movers can pack and prep all these high-value items, and in some cases, they can even build custom crates and use cranes or winches to get it all out the window. Not cheap, but great peace of mind.

Californians get pretty defensive when someone suggests leaving the state. Everyone’s got their own reasons for getting out, but here are some solid excuses that everyone can agree on:

• It’s cheaper: You’ve seen how expensive the rent is in California. In fact, you’ve probably seen how expensive everything else is in California. Texas is way more affordable, from housing to gas.

• It’s less crowded: Texas does have a pretty sizable population, but it’s still not as bad as California. There’s plenty of open space, which means plenty of room between you and the other California transplants.

• All the cool kids are doing it: A lot of Californian industries are feeling the heat, and it’s all thanks to the talent pool moving to states like Texas. If you went to California to find work, you can find it in Texas.

• The tax situation: How much of your paychecks are getting eaten up by taxes? 30%? 40%? What’s the point of making California money if you have to give it back to California anyway?

• The politics: For all the talk about Texas turning blue (or at least purple) in the next election, there’s still a lot to be said for the political divide. Assuming all the new Californians don’t change it, that is.

California is hard to beat. But if you’re looking for fun activities, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by what Texas has to offer:

• City life: To the uninitiated, Texas is a state of wide open plains and suburbs like in King of the Hill. While this is largely true, there are still big cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston to keep you hustling.

• Austin’s 6th Street: Speaking of cities, Austin’s got an awesome bar scene. Not only is the whole town famous for live music, but 6th Street is a great time if you’re looking to get tanked and enjoy some good food.

• The Sixth Floor Museum: If you find yourself in Dallas, swing by the Sixth Floor Museum. It’s built right on the spot where Lee Harvey Oswald (supposedly) fired his famous shots. And if you’re a conspiracy buff, you can check out the grassy knoll nearby.

• Surfing? Yeah, we were a little surprised, too. If you’re getting out of California, you don’t have to get rid of your board. Corpus Christi is known to have some great waves, so if you need to get out on the water, this is your spot.

• Texas stuff: The locals will give you a lot of crap for your “Kommiefornia” plates, so get rid of those soon, and strap a big iron on your hip. You’re in freedomland, now, pardner. Shoot guns, drive a big truck, go to rodeos, the works. Don’t try to change it; embrace it.

You made it to the end! Thanks for sticking with us. It’s been a wild ride, but hopefully, by now you know a little more about what you can expect from your big move. From the price tag to the things to do in your new home state, we hope this guide gave you a good bird’s eye look at the whole process.

Ready to get packing? Or just looking for a more detailed quote? Either way, iMoving is ready to help. Tell us a little more about your move, and let’s connect you with some of our best California-to-Texas movers today!