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Beware of Rogue Movers in California

Not every moving truck on Highway 29 belongs to a legal moving company. Some crews work without a state permit, insurance, or anyone to answer to if your things go missing.

These rogue movers use the same tricks behind moving scams nationwide, and California regulators are working hard to stop them. This page shows you how to spot a rogue mover, what California law requires, and how Turner Moving & Storage keeps your move safe, legal, and fully covered.

Why Choose Turner Moving & Storage for a Safe, Legal Move

  • Family-owned and operated in Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties since 1949, with over 75 years in business
  • BBB A+ rated and a member of the California Moving & Storage Association
  • 2022 Wheaton World Wide Moving Agent of the Year
  • Member of the Preferred Movers Network

Turner Moving & Storage is a licensed household mover with state and federal authority: CAL-T: 190536, Intrastate USDOT: 1919262, Interstate USDOT: 70719 (through Wheaton World Wide Moving), and MC: 87113. We carry liability and cargo insurance plus workers’ compensation for every crew member. Every move starts with a written estimate and a “Not to Exceed” price, so the number you see is the most you will pay unless you add services.

Our moves start at $1,178 for 2 movers and a truck, $1,474 for 3 movers and a truck, $1,807 for 4 movers and a truck, or $2,231 for 4 movers and 2 trucks. Each minimum includes 1 hour of travel and 3 hours of loading and unloading.

Skip the risk of an unlicensed crew. Call Turner Moving & Storage today at (707) 255-8600 or fill out our online estimate form to book a mover that California actually recognizes.

4.7
Based on 162 reviews
Colleen C.08/26/26

Turner provided a not to exceed estimate and came in significantly under the estimate! When is the last time that happened?
Professionals in the office and on site. the crew was very friendly and accommodating. I will use them again in a heartbeat!

Samuel M.08/20/26

Shalya and Amanda at Turner Moving and Storage have been such an integral part of our extended team! Being based in Arroyo Grande and managing a project nearly five hours away in Napa, having a receiving and delivery partner we can truly rely on has been invaluable.

They've helped us coordinate numerous furniture and product deliveries, kept us informed throughout the receiving process, promptly communicated any damages or issues, and worked closely with us to coordinate final deliveries to our client. Their communication has been fantastic, their rates are very competitive, and they've consistently made the entire process easier for our team.

Managing a project from this distance can be challenging, but knowing Shalya and Amanda are there gives us tremendous peace of mind. We're incredibly thankful for their support, responsiveness, and the care they put into helping us take care of our clients.

We highly recommend Turner Moving and Storage, especially to other designers or businesses looking for a dependable receiving and delivery partner in the Napa area. Thank you, Shalya and Amanda, for everything you do!

- Sam (Honeycomb Home Design)

Jim J.08/19/26

The Turner staff (Team Turner) are helpful considerate, caring and hard working people. We were never told “no” when we requested extra assistance - always, “we got this”
Every day of our move went according to our wishes, not their schedule.

Turner Moving & Storage's Fully Licensed Moving Services

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Local Movers

Many older homes near downtown Napa have narrow stairs, tight doorways and low ceilings. A crew without training or insurance is more likely to damage your home and furniture. Turner provides a free written estimate from a move coordinator and plans our local moves around busy harvest-season traffic from August through October.

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Long-Distance Movers

Long-distance moves are where rogue movers do the most harm. They can hold your belongings "hostage" far from home until you pay more than you agreed. As an interstate agent for Wheaton World Wide Moving, with over 350 agents nationwide, Turner surveys your items first, gives you a written estimate, and handles your Order of Service and Bill of Lading from Napa to your new front door.

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Wine Cellar Movers

Big wine collections are common in Napa Valley, and a cellar can be worth more than everything else in the house combined. Turner packs every bottle with the right materials and moves your collection with climate-stable transport. We also suggest photographing and inventorying each bottle before moving day.

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Office Movers

A rogue crew can leave your business without files, computers or a working office for days. Turner works evenings, weekends, and holidays when needed, so wineries, tasting rooms and offices from downtown Napa to the Airport Boulevard business corridor can stay open.

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Warehouse Storage

Some rogue "movers" have no real storage building, and your furniture can end up in an unmarked truck or a stranger's garage. Turner stores your belongings in assigned wooden vaults inside our 26,000-square-foot warehouse in Napa, monitored 24/7.

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Senior Movers

Scammers often target older adults, since a rushed or stressful move makes it easy to skip checking a mover's permit. Turner is Silver Certified by Wheaton World Wide Moving for senior moves, and our trained crews help Napa Valley seniors move into smaller homes or assisted living with patience and care.

Rogue Mover Red Flags to Watch for in Napa Valley

Turner Moving & Storage started as Turner Trucking in 1949, and the Turner family has run it ever since. In over 27,000 moves, we have seen just about every trick an unlicensed operator can try. Here is what to watch for before you sign anything.

  1. Check for a CAL-T permit. In California, any company that moves household goods for pay must hold a household mover permit from the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) and keep liability and cargo insurance on file. You can look up a mover’s CAL-T number on the BHGS website before you book. Turner holds CAL-T 190536.
  2. Get a ‘Not to Exceed’ price in writing. California law says movers must give you a Not to Exceed price, and that is the most they can charge unless you ask for more services. Avoid any mover who won’t look at your things, won’t put a moving quote in writing, or says they will “figure it out after loading.”
  3. Know the difference between a mover and a broker. A broker books your move and sells it to another company, often one you have never heard of. Brokers don’t own trucks or do the lifting. Ask who will actually show up, and check that company’s permit.
  4. Look for a real address and a real fleet. Rogue movers often have no local office, few or fake-looking reviews, and show up in a rental truck. You can drive by Turner Moving & Storage at 1570 Airport Blvd in Napa and see our trucks and warehouse for yourself.

Turner Moving & Storage vs. Unlicensed Moving Options

Feature Turner Moving & Storage Moving Brokers Moving Containers Truck Rental U-Haul™
Professional Loading & Unloading ✅ ⚠️ ❌ ❌ ❌
Specialized Equipment Handling ✅ ⚠️ ❌ ❌ ⚠️ Depends on location
Written “Not to Exceed” Price ✅ ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ ❌
Evening/Weekend Moving ✅ ⚠️ DIY DIY DIY
Building Access Coordination ✅ ⚠️ ❌ Your responsibility ❌ Your responsibility ❌ Your responsibility
CAL-T Permit & Insurance ✅ ⚠️ N/A N/A ❌ Varies by provider
Local Knowledge ✅ Napa-based since 1949 ⚠️ Unknown crew N/A N/A N/A
Single Point of Contact ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅
Accountability ✅ Local ownership ❌ Broker not responsible ❌ You’re liable ❌ You’re liable ❌ You’re liable
Nationwide Reach ✅ Wheaton World Wide Moving ⚠️ ❌ ❌ ✅

 

California's Crackdown on Rogue Movers

Rogue movers are a real risk in Napa Valley, and the state is fighting back. In late 2025, BHGS ran a two-day statewide sweep aimed at unlicensed and uninsured household movers. Staff inspected 40 moving businesses in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, looking for movers without a valid BHGS license or workers’ compensation insurance. The Bureau says unlicensed movers may give low estimates, raise the price once your goods are on the road, hold your things until you pay, or ignore damage claims.

Napa has seen this up close. In a 2021 case, state investigators found a California family’s belongings hidden in a Northern California storage unit three months after an unpermitted mover was supposed to deliver them out of state. The Napa County District Attorney’s office helped with that operation, along with Sacramento County, federal FMCSA investigators, and the New York Police Department.

The takeaway for Napa Valley families is simple. A CAL-T permit is not just paperwork. It is the difference between a mover who answers to the State of California and one who does not.

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Areas We Serve

Turner Moving & Storage has served Napa Valley since 1949, from the Carneros region to the top of the valley in Calistoga. We know these towns, back roads, and wine country estates well enough to move you safely and legally, no matter where you call home.

Napa: Downtown Napa (94559), North Napa and Browns Valley (94558)
Up Valley: Yountville (94599), Oakville (94562), Rutherford (94573), St. Helena (94574), Angwin (94508), Calistoga (94515)
South County: American Canyon (94503)
Solano County: Vallejo (94590), Fairfield (94533), Vacaville (95687)
Sonoma County: Sonoma (95476), Santa Rosa (95401)

FAQ

Look up the company’s CAL-T number with the Bureau of Household Goods and Services. That is the most reliable check, since anyone can build a nice-looking website. Every company that moves household goods within California must hold a household mover permit from BHGS. Movers that cross state lines must also be registered with the FMCSA. Turner Moving & Storage’s numbers are posted on every page of our site: CAL-T 190536, Intrastate USDOT 1919262, Interstate USDOT 70719, and MC 87113.

You take on the risk of damaged items, surprise charges, or even theft, with little way to hold the company responsible. According to BHGS, unlicensed or uninsured movers may raise the price after your goods are en route, hold your belongings until you pay, or ignore claims for damage. A licensed, insured mover like Turner Moving & Storage is accountable for your move from start to finish.

No. A broker books your move and sells it to a moving company, but does not own trucks or employ the crew that shows up at your door. The FMCSA describes brokers as sales teams that pass your move to an actual mover, which means you may not know who is handling your things until moving day. Turner Moving & Storage owns its trucks, employs its own crews, and holds its own permits.

Turner Moving & Storage’s hourly rate moving cost minimums start at $1,178 for 2 movers and a truck, $1,474 for 3 movers, $1,807 for 4 movers, or $2,231 for 4 movers and 2 trucks. Each minimum covers 1 hour of travel and 3 hours of loading and unloading. There are no hidden fees. California requires movers to give you a “Not to Exceed” price, and a mover cannot use a Change Order just because it underestimated the job. A low phone quote that jumps on moving day is one of the clearest signs of a rogue mover.

Gather your paperwork, photos, receipts, and any texts or emails right away, then file a complaint. For moves within California, contact the Bureau of Household Goods and Services at (916) 999-2041 or file online through the BHGS website. For moves across state lines, you can also report the company through the FMCSA’s Protect Your Move program.

Yes. Turner Moving & Storage holds CAL-T 190536, Intrastate USDOT 1919262, Interstate USDOT 70719, and MC 87113, and we carry liability, cargo, and workers’ compensation insurance. We are BBB A+ rated, a member of the California Moving & Storage Association, and an interstate agent for Wheaton World Wide Moving. You never have to take our word for it.

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Get a Free Moving Estimate Today!

Get a Estimate

We're Open!

(707) 255-8600
Call