Local Moving vs. Long Distance Moving? Interstate vs. Intrastate?

During the process of searching for and choosing the Orange County moving company you want to work with, you’ll often be asked whether you’re moving interstate or intrastate. Sometimes you’ll be asked if your move is local or long-distance. Though it may be obvious what these labels mean, their definitions aren’t always that simple.

The first thing you should know is that typically, a local move is the same thing as an intrastate move and a long-distance move is also known as an interstate move. So, what makes these two types of moves different? And what does that mean for your moving company? Our Orange County movers answer these questions below.

What is a Local and Intrastate Move?

If your move happens within the border of one state, it is referred to as an intrastate move or a local move. Orange County movers that do not cross state lines when transporting your household or office items are local movers. When it comes to licensing local movers, it gets a bit more complicated. Movers that only perform intrastate moves are only required to obtain a license from their state’s moving authority. This state agency is also responsible for outlining and enforcing the rules and regulations on moves that happen within their state. Some states have stricter guidelines than others, while some states don’t even require local moves to have a license.

Gentle John’s Moving & Storage, our Orange County moving company, is licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission to perform intrastate moves in Southern California and throughout the entire state. Our Orange County movers also execute long-distance moves and we are licensed to do so accordingly.

What is a Long-Distance and Interstate Move?

If your move does cross state lines, it is considered interstate or long-distance move. So, if your belongings are transported from one state to another, your Orange County movers are long-distance movers. One thing to take note of – not all long-distance moves are interstate moves. Moves that are over 400 miles are considered long-distance moves even if it stays within one state. You may be charged interstate moving fees even if your belongings never cross a state’s borders.

All long-distance movers that execute interstate moves must obtain a license from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) which is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). You can find out if the Orange County moving company you are considering is licensed by checking their USDOT number on the FMCSA website. Licensed movers will also display this number on each of their moving trucks.

At Gentle John’s Moving & Storage, our full-service Orange County movers are experienced at executing both local moves and long-distance moves. Find out more about the packing, moving, and storage services we offer by giving us a call today!