The Complete San Diego
Moving Checklist
Everything you need to do before, during, and after your San Diego move. Week by week tasks so nothing falls through the cracks. Moving experience since 1997 condensed into one checklist.
By Discount Movers · Updated August 2026 · 6 min read
Utility Timing Inside City Limits
Electric and gas service moves through SDG&E, which lets you start service at a new address or transfer service from your current address online through My Energy Center or in the SDG&E mobile app. Once a request is in, the Service Request Tracker in My Energy Center shows where it stands. Put this request in during the 4 Weeks Out block of this checklist so the new home has power on the day the truck arrives.
Water is separate. If your address is billed by the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, a request to stop water and wastewater service can take up to seven business days to process, and a request to start service can take up to ten business days. A stop request can include starting service at your new address, so one call covers both. The Customer Support Division answers at 619-515-3500.
Because the start request can take two full working weeks, submit it before you begin the 2 Weeks Out block of this checklist. The city states that water remains on if you have requested a new account, so a gap between the previous occupant's stop date and your start date should not leave the taps dry as long as your request is already on file. Keep the confirmation with your moving paperwork so you can quote it if the account is not active on move day.
DMV and Voter Deadlines After Moving
The California DMV requires you to report a change of address within 10 days of moving, for your driver's license or ID card and for every vehicle or vessel registered in your name. The online form at dmv.ca.gov/addresschange covers all of those records in one submission, or you can mail a completed Change of Address form, DMV 14, to the address printed on the form. Allow up to three days for an online change to process.
Voter registration in San Diego County updates on its own if you have already given the DMV or the U.S. Postal Service notice of your new address. If you skipped both, re-register at sdvote.com or on a paper form from the Registrar of Voters office, the DMV, most libraries or a city clerk office. The Registrar asks that you be registered at least 15 days before an election.
Verify the Mover Before You Sign
Every business that moves household goods within California, or into or out of the state, must hold a license from the Bureau of Household Goods and Services. The bureau's online license search at bhgs.dca.ca.gov shows whether a mover is licensed, active and in good standing. The bureau warns that a license showing as current can still be on probation, so open the Citations and Disciplinary Actions section as well. Discount Movers is licensed as CAL-T #201759 and carries US DOT #4372335.
The bureau also sets what your paperwork must contain. A California mover must give you a Not to Exceed price for the move, which is the most you can be charged unless you ask for additional services that are written up in a Change Order. Read the estimate for that figure before move day, and if you add a stop, a piano or extra packing, expect a Change Order rather than a verbal price. The bureau's consumer tips also suggest visiting the company's place of business when possible; our yard is at 8775 Miramar Pl, San Diego 92121.
Street Space for the Truck and Containers
Curb space is the part of a San Diego move most people forget until the truck is circling the block. The San Diego Municipal Code authorizes the Chief of Police to place temporary No Parking signs on a street being used to move equipment, articles or structures of unusual size. On a narrow street, the useful step is to move your own cars out of the way the night before and ask neighbors to leave the curb in front of your building open.
A rented storage container or dumpster placed in the street is a different matter. The City of San Diego Development Services Department requires a Traffic Control Permit for a storage container or dumpster in the public right-of-way, under Information Bulletin 718, and the permit holder must post Tow-Away No Parking signs 72 hours before the container is placed and any parking meters are deactivated. Discount Movers does not transport containers, but our crews do load and unload a container you have rented, billed as labor at our hourly rate.
8 Weeks Out
8 Weeks Before
Move Day
Book Your Movers
Call (858) 490-0155 or request a quote online. Confirm your move date, home size, and any specialty items like pianos, safes, or large appliances. Get a written estimate.
Start Decluttering
Go room by room and sort everything into keep, donate, sell, and trash. The less you move, the less it costs. This is the single biggest thing you can do to reduce your final bill.
Order Packing Supplies
Boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers, and labels. Discount Movers includes 25 free moving boxes with every booking when arranged prior to move day. Ask about this when you call.
6 Weeks Out
6 Weeks Before
Move Day
Notify Your Landlord or Buyer
If renting, provide written notice per your lease. If selling, coordinate move-out timing with closing. Get all dates in writing.
File Mail Forwarding
Go to USPS.com and submit a change of address request. Takes 5 minutes and ensures all mail is forwarded to your new address starting on your move date.
Update Financial Accounts
Notify your bank, credit cards, investment accounts, and any automatic payment services. Do this early as some institutions require mailed verification.
4 Weeks Out
4 Weeks Before
Move Day
Transfer Utilities
Schedule disconnection at your current address and connection at the new one. San Diego utilities to notify: SDG&E, Water Authority, internet provider, and trash service.
Update Your Address
California DMV (dmv.ca.gov), voter registration, employer HR, health insurance, doctors, dentist, schools, and subscriptions. The DMV requires update within 10 days of moving.
Start Packing Non-Essentials
Begin with items you rarely use: seasonal decorations, books, extra linens, art, and items in storage. Label every box with room and contents.
2 Weeks Out
2 Weeks Before
Move Day
Deep Clean as You Pack
Clean rooms as you empty them. This is much easier before furniture is moved. Take photos of walls and floors for your security deposit records.
Disassemble Large Furniture
Beds, large shelving units, and desks are easier to move disassembled. Keep all hardware in labeled zip-lock bags taped to the furniture. Discount Movers handles this on move day at no extra charge.
Use Up Perishables
Plan meals around what is in your fridge and pantry. Movers cannot transport open food containers or perishables. Donate unopened non-perishables to a San Diego food bank.
Move Day
Move Day
Checklist
Start Early
Have everything packed and ready when the crew arrives. An 8am start means the bulk of loading is done before San Diego heat peaks. Every minute of crew time counts.
Be Available
Stay on site or easily reachable. The crew will have questions about placement, priority items, and handling instructions. Being present speeds up the move significantly.
Final Walk-Through
Before the truck leaves, check every room, closet, cabinet, attic, garage, and outdoor space. Check that all utilities are off. Take final photos for your records.
After the Move
First Week in
Your New Home
Set Up Essentials First
Beds, bathroom essentials, and the kitchen are the priority. Get sleeping and eating sorted before unpacking everything else. The rest can wait a few days.
Change Locks
Rekey or replace all exterior locks at your new home. You don't know who has copies of the previous keys. A locksmith visit costs $50-100 and gives complete peace of mind.
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