Double drive time, explained
What double drive time means on a California moving bill, when it applies, worked examples, and what is not charged. Plain-English guide from Spartan.
What it means
Double drive time is a California rule for hourly local moves (California PUC Tariff 4). When your pickup and drop-off are more than 10 minutes apart, the actual drive time between them is counted twice on your bill, at the same hourly rate as the rest of the move. If the drive takes 30 minutes, 60 minutes are billed for that part of the move.
It is not an extra fee a mover invents. Licensed California movers that charge by the hour apply it, and it appears in the standard contract as double drive time. What is not charged: the drive from the mover's yard to your pickup, and the drive back after your drop-off.
Worked examples
| Actual drive between your homes | Billed drive time | Added cost with 3 movers at $175/hr | Added cost with 4 movers at $235/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 minutes | none (under 10 minutes) | $0 | $0 |
| 15 minutes | 30 minutes | $87.50 | $117.50 |
| 30 minutes | 1 hour | $175 | $235 |
| 45 minutes | 1.5 hours | $262.50 | $352.50 |
| 60 minutes | 2 hours | $350 | $470 |
| 90 minutes | 3 hours | $525 | $705 |
Figures are the billed drive time multiplied by Spartan's current hourly rates. Time is billed in 15-minute increments.
Why the rule exists
On an hourly move, the crew and truck spend time at both addresses and on the road between them. Under the tariff, the drive between your two addresses is counted twice, and the trip to your first address and back from your last is not billed at all. You can check both parts on your quote: no charge to reach you, and the in-between drive counted double when it is over 10 minutes.
Typical Bay Area examples
| Move | Does it usually apply? |
|---|---|
| Within the same building or same address | No. A single-location job has no drive time. |
| Within the same ZIP code | Usually no, if the drive is 10 minutes or less. |
| Mission District to Noe Valley | Only if the drive takes more than 10 minutes. |
| San Francisco to Oakland | Yes. The Bay Bridge crossing is almost always over 10 minutes. |
| San Francisco to San Jose | Yes, about 45 miles. |
| San Jose to Santa Cruz | Yes, over Highway 17. |
| Bay Area to Sacramento, hourly | Yes, and it can be the largest line on the bill. |
Things that change the drive portion
- Extra stops. A storage unit or second address on the way adds driving between stops. Spartan has no extra-stop fee on local moves; you pay only the time.
- A second trip. If everything does not fit in one load, the crew drives back for the rest, and that drive is counted too. Our 26 ft truck holds about 1,750 cubic feet, enough for most homes in one trip.
- Crew size. Drive time is billed at the full crew rate. On long drives, a 4th mover makes the drive more expensive without shortening it.
- Traffic. The billed time is the actual drive on the day, so a commute-hour crossing costs more than a midday one.
What about long-distance moves?
Double drive time applies to hourly moves. Long-distance moves are priced differently: by weight with a minimum space reservation, or as a binding flat fee for a reserved truck, and the price includes all mileage, tax and tolls. See our long-distance pricing guide.
How to check it on your quote
Every Spartan local quote states the drive time rule in writing: no charge for travel to and from your locations, and double drive time if pickup and drop-off are more than 10 minutes apart. If you are unsure, ask us how many minutes we expect between your addresses and we will show the math.
Jobs with no drive time at all
Some jobs happen at a single address, so there is no drive between locations to double. Packing-only days, loading a portable container or a truck you will drive yourself, and moving furniture within the same building all fall in this group. The quote for a single-location job says there is no charge for drive time. Keep in mind that loading-only jobs also work differently on supplies: moving blankets and wardrobe boxes are not included, because the crew cannot take them back at the end, and we take no liability for damage in transit when we are not driving the truck.
Common misunderstandings
- It is not a mileage charge. It is based on minutes, not miles. A short bridge crossing in traffic can count more than a longer freeway drive at midday.
- It is not charged on top of travel to your home. The drive to your pickup and the drive back from your drop-off are free. The doubled drive between your homes is the only driving on the bill.
- It is not a separate rate. Drive time is billed at the same hourly rate as the rest of the move.
- It does not mean the move takes twice as long. The crew drives once; the bill counts that drive twice.
- It is not hidden. It is written in every hourly quote and in the contract.
Questions and answers
What is double drive time?
A California rule for hourly moves: when the pickup and drop-off are more than 10 minutes apart, the actual drive time between them is billed twice, at the same hourly rate.
Is double drive time legal in California?
Yes. It comes from the California PUC tariff that governs hourly household moves and is written into the standard moving contract.
Do movers charge for driving to my house?
Spartan does not charge for the drive to your pickup or the drive back from your drop-off. Only the drive between your addresses is counted, twice.
Does double drive time apply in the same ZIP code?
Only if the drive between the two addresses is more than 10 minutes. For most moves within one ZIP code it does not apply.
Is double drive time charged on long-distance moves?
No. Long-distance moves are priced by weight or as a flat fee, with mileage, tax and tolls included.