So you’re moving to LA. Exciting, right? Also kind of terrifying if you’ve heard anything about traffic here.
Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it—moving in Los Angeles is different from anywhere else. The city sprawls forever, from Santa Monica beaches all the way to the San Gabriel Mountains. And every single neighborhood? It’s like its own little world with its own rules.
But here’s the thing. Thousands of people move here every month and survive. You can too. You just need to know what you’re getting into.
Traffic. Yeah, We Need to Talk About It.
Everyone warned you about LA traffic, and guess what? They weren’t exaggerating. The 405 freeway basically turns into a parking lot twice a day. Same with the 101, the 10, the 110… you get the idea.
Rush hour hits hard from 7-10 in the morning and again from 3-7 in the evening. If your moving truck gets stuck in that mess, you’re burning money while going nowhere. Not fun.
When Should You Actually Move?
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Mid-morning, like around 10 AM. That’s your sweet spot.
I know weekends feel more convenient. But Saturday morning in LA? Everyone’s out doing stuff. The grocery stores are packed. The gym parking lots are full. The streets are busier than you’d think.
And here’s something most people don’t know—movers who actually know LA won’t just follow the GPS. They know which side streets to take. They know the shortcuts. That knowledge saves you hours and money. It’s honestly one of the biggest reasons to hire local pros instead of just going with the cheapest option on Google.
The Parking Situation (AKA Your First Headache)
Nobody thinks about parking permits until moving day. Then suddenly you’re googling “LA parking permit emergency” at 6 AM while movers are texting you.
Don’t be that person.
In most LA neighborhoods—especially West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, anywhere in Downtown—you can’t just park a giant truck on the street. You need permits from the city. They take 2-3 days to get. They cost around $50-$150.
Worth it? Absolutely. Because without them, either you’re getting a ticket, or your movers are parking three blocks away and charging you extra for the long walk.
Mario Moving Company and other good local movers usually help with permit stuff. It’s one less thing to stress about.
If You’re Moving Into an Apartment Building
High-rise in Koreatown? Loft downtown? Those buildings have RULES. Like, a lot of them.
Most only let you move on weekdays. Between 9 and 5. You have to reserve the elevator. Sometimes there’s a deposit. Some fancy buildings even make movers get pre-approved, which feels excessive but whatever.
Here’s what to do before moving day:
- Call your building management (seriously, do this)
- Book the elevator and service entrance
- Ask if there’s a deposit
- Find out what insurance papers your movers need
- Check if they require wall padding and floor protection
When you’re choosing the right moving services, ask if they’ve worked in LA apartment buildings before. Last thing you need is movers showing up without the right paperwork and getting turned away.
Every Neighborhood is Its Own Universe
The Valley isn’t like the Westside. The Westside isn’t like the Eastside. Downtown isn’t like the Hills. You really can’t generalize.
Moving to the Hollywood Hills?
Good luck. No seriously—those narrow, winding roads going up into the hills? Standard moving trucks sometimes can’t make it. You might need a smaller truck. Maybe multiple trips. Some places you can only access by climbing a bunch of stairs.
All of that adds time. Time equals money when you’re paying movers.
Beach Areas
Venice, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach—they’ve got vehicle height restrictions. Summer weekends are a nightmare with beach traffic. If you’re moving anywhere near the coast, schedule it for a weekday morning. Like, early.
Dense Neighborhoods
Silver Lake. Echo Park. West Hollywood. These places are packed. Streets are narrow. Parking is basically nonexistent on a good day.
Moving Services in West Hollywood know how to handle tight spaces and sketchy parking situations. Otherwise you’ll be there all day.
What You’ll Actually Pay
Two-bedroom apartment in LA? Probably $400-$2,000 for a local move. Bigger house? Could easily hit $2,500-$5,000. Maybe more.
But wait, there’s extra fees you probably didn’t think about.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
Long carry charge—if movers have to walk more than 75 feet from the truck to your door, that costs extra. Stairs without an elevator? Extra. Moving during traffic and wasting time? You’re paying for that.
Oh, and summer. May through September is peak moving season in LA. Prices go up. Good movers book out. If you can swing a fall or winter move, do it. You’ll save money and have way more options.
Get estimates from a few different companies. Make them put everything in writing. Ask specifically what might cost extra so there’s no surprises.
Short on cash? Some people use moving loans to cover the upfront costs. Not for everyone, but beats trying to move a whole house by yourself with two friends and a U-Haul.
The Weather Thing
“But it’s always sunny in LA!”
Yeah, it is. Which sounds great until you’re moving furniture in 95-degree heat in August.
The Valley gets brutal in summer. Like, regularly over 90 degrees. People underestimate how exhausting that is. Heat exhaustion is real. If you’re moving in summer, start super early. Keep water around. If there’s a heat wave, honestly consider rescheduling.
Winter’s mild, but we do get rain December through March. If rain’s in the forecast, make sure your movers have tarps and covered trucks. Most do, but confirm it.
Getting the Right Movers
With everything I just told you, you probably get why hiring movers who actually know LA matters.
Check they’re licensed through the California Public Utilities Commission. Make sure they have insurance. Read reviews, but not just the overall rating—read what people actually say about punctuality, communication, and how they handled the move.
Good movers should come look at what you’re moving, either in person or over video. They should ask questions about your specific situation. Can the truck park close? Is there elevator access? Are there stairs? Anything that needs special handling?
The ones offering full service—packing, unpacking, taking apart furniture—might cost more upfront. But in LA’s chaos, that can be worth every penny.
Real Talk
Moving in LA sucks in some ways. The traffic is real. Parking is annoying. Every neighborhood throws you a curveball.
But people do it every single day.
Get your permits early. Book movers who know what they’re doing. Don’t try to move on a Saturday afternoon in July. Give yourself more time than you think you need, because something will take longer than expected.
It always does. That’s just LA.
But once you’re settled in? You’ll forget all about moving day stress. You’ll be too busy enjoying the sunshine and the tacos and the fact that you never have to shovel snow again.
Welcome to Los Angeles. It’s going to be great.
