What is double drive time on a California move?
Double drive time is a California rule (CA PUC Tariff 4): when pickup and drop-off are over 10 minutes apart, the drive between them counts twice.
By Spartan Moving Systems · Updated October 2026 · Cal-T #0190543The rule in brief
Double drive time is a California regulation, set out in CA PUC Tariff 4, for hourly local moves. When your pickup and drop-off are more than 10 minutes apart, the actual drive between them is counted twice on your bill, at the same hourly rate.
Where it comes from
This is not a Spartan surcharge. The California Public Utilities Commission sets the tariff that household movers in the state follow, and double drive time is written into the standard contract for hourly moves. We are licensed under Cal-T #0190543, and we mention it on every quote so it never comes as a surprise.
A simple example
| Drive from pickup to drop-off | Billed for that leg |
|---|---|
| 8 minutes | 8 minutes (rule does not apply) |
| 30 minutes | 60 minutes |
| 45 minutes | 90 minutes |
With our standard 3-mover crew at $175 an hour, a 30-minute drive adds $87.50 beyond the time itself. More scenarios are on our moving cost guide.
Why the rule exists
Hourly moving bills time, and the trip between two homes is real working time for the crew and truck. The state sets a standard way to account for it so customers can compare movers on equal terms. The 10-minute threshold keeps short neighborhood moves simple: below it, the drive is just ordinary job time. When you request a quote, we look at the zip codes for both addresses and can tell you whether the rule is likely to apply, and roughly how many minutes it might add.
What it does not cover
- The drive from our starting point to your pickup is never billed.
- The drive back after your drop-off is never billed.
- No separate fuel or mileage charge is ever added on top.
Only the leg between your two addresses counts, and it counts at your regular rate, not a special one. Read how a typical day runs on our local moving page.
Questions and answers
- Is double drive time a Spartan policy?
No, it is a California regulation that applies to hourly local moves across the state.
- Is the doubled time billed at a higher rate?
No, it uses the same hourly rate as the rest of your move.
- Does it apply to long-distance moves?
Long-distance moves are priced by weight rather than by the hour, so this hourly rule is not how they are billed.