What is Double Drive Time?

Many consumers get confused about “double drive time”.  It is there to protect the consumer in California although the name they gave it implies that you are being charged twice for the same thing.

What is “double drive time”? Here in California, the California Public Utilities Commission requires all movers to charge “double drive time” on hourly rated moves.

Double drive time actually saves you money and also protects you from unscrupulous movers that might charge “portal to portal”.  In essence double drive time means you don’t get charged for the time it takes to get to your home from our warehouse, or in other words the drive to your origin.

We also don’t charge you for the time it takes after the move is complete to get back to our warehouse.

Instead, the time to get from your origin (starting point – where you are moving from) to your destination (ending point – where you are moving to) is logged, and then doubled.  This is supposed to represent all of the drive time involved in your move.

If you think about it it makes sense.  The reason the PUC does it that way is because you can actually “see” the amount of time it takes to get from your origin to your destination.  You would not be able to know how long it takes to get to your origin from the warehouse, or to get to the warehouse from your destination so movers aren’t allowed to use this.  So instead, the law says to pay twice for the time in the “middle” to represent the total drive time involved with your move.

Here is the actual page from the Max Rate Tariff 4 regarding double drive time.  The Max Rate Tariff 4 (I know, it’s a funny name…) are the laws that regulate household goods movers in California.  You can actually read or download the entire Tariff on our site by clicking here.

For further questions or clarification, please feel free to call our San Diego moving offices at 858-689-2525.  Priority Moving – San Diego movers is always happy to answer any questions you may have and to ensure that you are getting a move that is lawful and fair.

About Priority Moving – San Diego Movers:

• Priority moving is an Award Winning San Diego moving company that specializes in local San Diego moves and long distance moves. Priority Moving performs over 3,500 moves per year. This includes local San Diego moves, long distance moves, international moves and secure on-site storage.
• We are licensed and insured San Diego Movers (CAL P.U.C. T-191182). (MAKE sure your mover has a valid CAL T license at the California Public Utilities Commission).
• We are accredited members of the BBB (A+ rating), the CMSA (California Moving & Storage Association), AMSA (American Moving and Storage Association), IAM (International Association of Movers) and the only approved moving company in the SDCAA (San Diego County Apartment Association).
• Established in 2002, Priority moving was founded on the principles of providing a consistent and high level of quality in moving. We have been featured on Fox 6 news (video on website), San Diego magazine, in the San Diego Union and numerous other news sources.
• We were proud to be a certified ProMover – a designation granted only by the American Moving and Storage Association, and the only San Diego moving company honored with a supplier of the year award by the San Diego County Apartment Association.
• Priority Moving, Inc.
• 9755 Distribution Avenue #A
• San Diego, CA 92121
• 858-689-2525