Moving in Los Angeles: truck, container or movers?

Most LA moves come down to three options. Rent a truck if you can load and drive it yourself and want the lowest cost. Book a portable container if you want to pack on your own schedule without driving. Hire movers if time or stairs matter more than price. Distance, home size and parking decide which wins.

Updated September 27, 2026

Where to rent

  • Budget Truck Rental

    Moving trucks for local and one-way moves.

    Check prices

  • Penske Truck Rental

    Moving trucks for local and one-way moves.

    Check prices

  • U-Pack

    Portable containers and trailers for moves between cities.

    Check prices

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The three questions that decide it

How far are you going? Local moves inside LA County and one-way moves to another city are priced differently by every rental company, so start by knowing which one you are making.

How much stuff is there? Home size sets the truck or container size, and size drives price more than anything else.

Where will the truck park? In much of LA the hard part is not driving the truck but finding a legal place to stop it outside both buildings.

Renting a truck

You do the loading, driving and returning. Budget, Penske and U-Haul all rent moving trucks in the LA area. Look past the headline daily rate: mileage, insurance, fuel and equipment like dollies are usually charged separately.

Portable containers

A company drops a container at your home, you pack it over several days, and they drive it to the new place. It trades some cost for not having to drive, which matters for long one-way moves. Your building or the city may need to approve where the container sits.

Hiring movers

The most expensive route and the least work. Movers doing moves that start and end in California must hold a California Public Utilities Commission permit, shown as a Cal T-number in their ads. Ask for it and confirm it with the CPUC before you book. Moves across state lines are licensed federally instead.

What this site does not do

RentThis does not rent trucks or store anything. We explain the choice and link to companies that do. Some of those links earn us a commission, which never changes what a page says. See how we make money.

Questions people ask

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or hire movers in LA?

Renting a truck and doing the work yourself is almost always cheaper than hiring movers, because you are not paying for labor. The gap narrows if you add paid loading help, long mileage, or several days of rental.

Do I need a special license to drive a moving truck?

Consumer moving trucks from the big rental companies are sized to be driven on a regular California driver license. Check the rental company's own requirements for age and license when you book.

Does U-Haul have an affiliate link here?

No. U-Haul does not run a web affiliate program, so we cover it in comparisons without a paid link.

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