Licensed movers in the Bay Area: what the license means and how to check

Older listings call the California permit a CPUC permit. Oversight moved from the CPUC to the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) in the Department of Consumer Affairs; the Cal-T number is the same.

Anyone can rent a truck and call themselves a mover. In California, a company that moves household goods for pay needs a state household goods carrier permit, and a company that moves you across a state line needs a US DOT number. The permit is what puts a mover under the state's rules on written contracts, maximum prices, drive time and claims. If something goes wrong, those rules are what protect you.

1. Ask for the Cal-T number and look it up in the Department of Consumer Affairs license search for household movers. The name on the permit should match the company you are talking to.
2. For a move out of state, ask for the US DOT number and look it up on the federal FMCSA site.
3. Ask whether the crew are the company's own employees, and whether the company carries workers' compensation for them.
4. Ask what valuation is included and how you would buy full-value protection.
5. Ask for the quote in writing, with the hourly rate, the minimum and how drive time is billed.

• A written agreement. Moves run on the state Agreement for Moving Services. Ours is electronic: you initial and sign it on the foreman's phone, and a PDF copy is emailed to you.
• The state notice. The Important Notice About Your Move is part of the agreement.
• A not-to-exceed price when the mover inspects your home in person.
• Double drive time, and no more. The drive between your homes counts twice when they are more than 10 minutes apart; the drive to your first address is not charged.
• Valuation choices listed in the contract, with the one you pick initialed.
• A claims process. Our terms give you 9 months to file a claim in writing.

These are general cautions, not accusations against anyone: a mover who cannot give you a permit number, a name on the permit that does not match the company, a large deposit demanded for a local move, a firm price given over the phone without seeing a large home, or a quote with no written terms. For comparison: we take no deposit on local moves, we give a ceiling price only after seeing the home, and every rate and rule is in the written quote.

Basic valuation at $0.60 per pound per article is included at no charge. It is the state standard and it is not replacement value: a 50 lb item is valued at up to $30. For replacement value, buy full-value protection from Baker International at bakerintl.com with our mover ID 17421; it is not a Spartan charge. Separately, Spartan carries general liability, auto, cargo and workers' compensation insurance and files its certificates with the Bureau as the permit requires. Buildings and HOAs that want proof get a certificate of insurance from us free; we have sent certificates to about 300 Bay Area buildings and HOAs where we have moved customers.

Local moves are done by Spartan's own crew, covered by our own workers' compensation. We do not use a staffing agency or subcontract local moves. The core of the team has been with us since 2007 and the newest member since 2014. Spartan Moving Systems, Inc. is based in San Jose, rated 4.8 from 77 Google reviews.