Novato Movers for Tract Streets and Country Driveways
Novato movers for San Marin tract homes, Hamilton, Bel Marin Keys and ranch lots with long drives. No charge for travel to you. Call 1-877-417-6060.
The far north of our map, and what that costs you
Novato is the northernmost city in Marin, about 65 miles northwest of downtown San Jose in a straight line, the farthest of our Marin pages. People reasonably ask whether that distance shows up on the bill. It does not. Our crews still come from San Jose, and there is no charge for that trip to your door.
What you do pay for is the drive between your two addresses, billed at double time if they are more than 10 minutes apart, which is required by California rules. A move across Novato usually stays inside that. A move from Novato to San Rafael or Petaluma may not.
Novato numbers
No Novato quote requests came in between mid-July and late October 2026, so the most recent picture we have is regional: 4 Marin quote requests in that window, not counting account work, all local moves, and all 4 booked or completed.
Novato, east and west
US-101 splits Novato down the middle. The west side climbs toward Mount Burdell, Big Rock Ridge and Stafford Lake; the east side flattens into marsh, old diked farmland and the Petaluma River edge.
San Marin, Indian Valley and Ignacio
Large neighborhoods of post-war and later tract homes on curving residential streets, mostly one and two story with garages and driveways. These are usually among the simpler moves in Marin to stage.
Downtown and Grant Avenue
Older homes, cottages and apartments near the old town center, with more street parking and fewer driveways.
Hamilton
The former Hamilton airfield is now a mix of newer homes, townhomes and converted buildings. If your community has an HOA, ask it about move times and where a truck may park.
Bel Marin Keys and Black Point
Lagoon homes with docks out east, and rural lots near Black Point and Atherton Avenue where the drive in can be long, gravel or steep.
Rural and ranch-lot checklist
- Tell us the length of your driveway and whether it is paved, gravel or dirt.
- Note any gate, cattle guard, low branches or narrow bridge on the way in.
- Check whether a full-size truck can turn around near the house, or will need to back down.
- List outbuildings: barns, sheds, workshops and garages all add items and time.
- Gather garden equipment, tools and outdoor furniture in one spot.
- If you are in an HOA in Hamilton or a planned community, send us its name, mailing address and email for a free certificate of insurance.
Pricing for a Novato move
A 2- or 3-bedroom tract home under 1,800 square feet usually gets our standard crew of 3 movers at $175 an hour. Larger family homes in San Marin or on rural lots, 4 bedrooms and up or 3 bedrooms over 1,800 square feet, get 4 movers at $235 an hour. Two movers at $145 is for a very small move only. There is a 3-hour minimum, then billing is in 15-minute increments, and weekends are the same price as weekdays. Blankets, tape, wardrobe boxes, floor protection and disassembly are included; materials for packing are billed as used. Storage between homes is a flat monthly rate, never discounted.
What a Novato move has cost, by home size
We took the hours actually billed on Bay Area moves we finished this summer and fall and turned them into the cost ranges below. No two Novato homes pack the same way. The cost is hourly, and if you want a firm ceiling, ask for a free on-site inspection and a not-to-exceed price.
| Home size | Crew | Typical hours | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 3 movers, $175/hr | 3 to 4 hours | $525 to $700 |
| 1 bedroom | 3 movers, $175/hr | 3 to 5 hours | $525 to $875 |
| 2 bedrooms | 3 movers, $175/hr | 4.5 to 7.75 hours | $788 to $1,356 |
| 3 bedrooms, under about 1,800 sq ft | 3 movers, $175/hr | 7 to 12.5 hours | $1,225 to $2,188 |
| 3 bedrooms over about 1,800 sq ft, or 4+ bedrooms | 4 movers, $235/hr | 7 to 12.5 hours | $1,645 to $2,938 |
Middle 50% of billed hours on recent local moves for direct customers (July to October 2026), with the drive between homes counted as billed. Account and partner-billed jobs and moves that included our full packing are not in these numbers. Packing supplies extra; 3-hour minimum.
Tract homes in San Marin, Indian Valley and Ignacio with garages and driveways tend to move efficiently, while older homes near Grant Avenue rely more on street parking.
Timing around 101 and Highway 37
US-101 through Novato carries Sonoma County commuters south in the morning and north in the afternoon, and Highway 37 brings traffic in from Vallejo. The drive between your two homes is billed time, so heavy traffic on that leg shows up on the bill. If your building or HOA limits move hours, tell us when you book. On the day, the crew calls about 30 minutes before arriving so you are ready at the door.
Nearest Marin pages, a few exits south
- Fairfax: over the hills to the southwest, canyon roads and cottages.
- San Anselmo: Ross Valley town with older homes and a busy downtown.
- San Rafael: the next city south on 101, with a formal process for parking signs.
- Ross: large wooded estates on narrow lanes.
- Kentfield: valley flats plus the steep Kent Woodlands hillside.
Moving out of state from Novato? See long distance moving, or local moving for Bay Area moves.
Questions and answers
Do you charge extra because Novato is far from San Jose?
No. Travel to your location is free. Only the drive between your pickup and drop-off is billed, and it doubles only when they are more than 10 minutes apart.
Can your truck handle a long gravel driveway?
Usually, yes. Tell us about the surface, any gate and whether there is a turnaround, and David checks the access before move day and tells you if a shuttle is needed.
We are in a Hamilton HOA. What do you need?
The association's move rules and its name, mailing address and email so we can issue a certificate of insurance at no charge.
Can you move a piano from our ranch house?
Yes. Grand pianos always get 4 movers, and uprights get 4 when there are stairs. Tell us which you have.
Do you move from Novato to other states?
Yes. We do long distance moves as well. Call for a quote based on your inventory.
Where do tips go?
Straight to the movers who did the work. Tips are always optional.