What is the easiest way to move with pets? Take them out of the move on moving day. Board them, leave them with a friend, or settle them in one empty, closed room with a sign on the door, because every outside door will be open for hours. Moving companies do not transport animals, so plan how each pet travels to the new home yourself, and update ID tags and microchip details before the day, not after.
There is a legal point too. Moving day means errands, and errands mean a pet waiting in the car. In California, leaving an animal in an unattended vehicle in conditions that endanger it — heat, cold, poor ventilation, or no food or water — is an offense under Penal Code section 597.7, even on a mild day once the windows are up.
Can movers transport pets?
No. No moving company carries live animals in the truck; they are on every mover’s list of items that will not be moved, alongside hazardous materials and perishable food. Our guide to what movers will not move in California has the full list. Here is how pets usually travel instead:
| Pet | How it usually travels |
|---|---|
| Dogs | In your car, in a crate or with a car harness; never loose |
| Cats | In a carrier in your car, with the carrier door kept closed until you are inside the new home |
| Fish | The tank is drained before the movers load it; fish travel with you in bags or containers of their own tank water |
| Birds | In a covered travel cage in your car, out of direct sun |
| Reptiles and small mammals | In a secure, ventilated container with temperature control planned for the drive |
For long-distance or air moves, specialist pet relocation companies handle crates, flights and paperwork. Ask your vet before you book one.
What should you do with your pets on moving day?
- Book boarding or a sitter for the day if you can. It is the single biggest stress reducer for the animal and for you.
- Otherwise, use one closed room. Empty it first so the crew has no reason to go in, put water, a bed and a litter box inside, and tape a sign to the door: “Pet inside — please keep closed.” Tell the crew lead when they arrive.
- Keep the routine. Normal meal times and a walk before the truck arrives.
- Pack a pet bag that travels with you: food, bowls, medication, leash, litter, waste bags, a familiar blanket or toy, and vet records.
- Move the pets last and unpack them first. They leave the old home after the truck is loaded and go into a prepared room at the new home before the unloading starts.
What needs doing before the move?
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 3–4 weeks before | Get copies of vet records, refill any medication, and ask your vet about travel if the pet gets anxious or carsick |
| 2 weeks before | Update the microchip registry and order new ID tags with your new address and phone number |
| 1 week before | Book boarding or a sitter for moving day; start leaving carriers out so they are familiar |
| Moving day | Pet in boarding or a closed room; pet bag in your car; pets travel with you |
| First 30 days | License your dog where you now live, find a new vet, and check the yard fence and gates |
Do you need to license your dog after moving in San Diego County?
Yes, and who you license with depends on where you live:
| Where you live | Who licenses dogs | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Solana Beach, Vista, El Cajon, Santee | San Diego Humane Society | Dogs four months and older must be vaccinated against rabies and licensed; Escondido, Oceanside, Poway, San Marcos and Vista require it within 30 days of moving in |
| Unincorporated San Diego County | County Department of Animal Services | Dogs over five months must be licensed within 30 days of arriving, with proof of current rabies vaccination |
| Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, National City | Your city | Contact the city’s animal services directly |
Sources: the San Diego Humane Society licensing FAQ and the County’s dog license page. If you are unsure which applies, the County’s general line is (858) 694-3900.
Moving to California from another state with a pet?
For dogs and cats moving with their owner, there is little extra paperwork at state level. The California Department of Food and Agriculture says it does not have additional import requirements for cats or dogs that are not changing ownership. Rabies vaccination questions go to the California Department of Public Health, and if you are flying, the airline will set its own health certificate and crate rules. Pets entering from outside the U.S. follow separate federal rules.
Once you arrive, the local licensing rules above apply from day one of living here.
How do you help a pet settle into the new home?
- Start with one room. Set up the bed, bowls, litter and familiar toys before letting the pet explore the rest of the house.
- Keep cats indoors for the first days until they treat the new home as home.
- Walk the yard before the dog does. Check fences, gates, gaps under decks and pool access.
- Keep the old routine for meals and walks, even while the boxes are still everywhere.
- Know the nearest emergency vet before you need one.
- Check the rules. HOAs and rental agreements often have their own pet rules, so read them before the move rather than after.
Inland North County gets considerably hotter than the coast in summer. If you are moving from the beach to Escondido or San Marcos, plan walks for early morning and evening, and keep the car runs short on moving day.
What is the short version?
Movers do not transport pets, so plan each animal’s trip yourself, in your own car. On moving day, board your pets or put them in one closed, emptied room with a sign on the door. Update microchip details and ID tags before the move, carry a pet bag with food, medication and records, and never leave a pet in a parked car — it is an offense in California under Penal Code 597.7. In San Diego County, license your dog within 30 days of moving in, with proof of rabies vaccination.
What else do people ask about moving with pets?
Can movers move my fish tank?
The tank, yes, once it is fully drained. The fish travel with you in containers of their own tank water, and the tank should be set up and running again as soon as possible at the new home.
Should I sedate my pet for the move?
Only on your vet’s advice. Ask well before moving day if your pet is anxious or carsick; never give human medication to an animal.
Is it better to board my dog on moving day?
Usually, yes. Doors are open for hours and strangers are carrying furniture past them. Boarding or a friend’s house removes the escape risk and the stress.
How do I move a cat to a new house?
In a closed carrier, into a prepared room with litter, water and familiar bedding, door shut. Let the cat explore the rest of the house gradually, and keep it indoors for the first days.
Do I need a health certificate to bring my dog to California?
Not for a pet moving with its owner, according to CDFA. Airlines may require one if you fly.
When do I need to license my dog after moving?
Within 30 days in the cities that set that deadline and in unincorporated county areas, with proof of current rabies vaccination.
Can I leave my dog in the car while I unload?
Not if the conditions could endanger it. California Penal Code 597.7 makes that an offense, and a car interior heats up quickly even when the day feels mild.
Will the moving crew know there is a pet in the house?
Only if you tell them. Mention pets when you book, put a sign on the closed room, and tell the crew lead when they arrive. Our crews keep marked doors closed.
Who are Must Have Movers?
Must Have Movers is a full-service moving company based in Carlsbad, serving San Diego County with residential moving, local moves and packing and unpacking, which frees up your moving day for the animals. We hold California household mover permit CAL-T #192578, issued by the Bureau of Household Goods and Services. More about our team and credentials.
Planning a move with pets? Request a free quote or call (858) 888-6133, and let us know about your animals when you book. Our checklist for how far in advance to book helps with the timing.
Updated October 13, 2026 by the Operations Team / Customer Support. Licensing rules and fees change; confirm with the San Diego Humane Society or the County Department of Animal Services ((858) 694-3900). This article is general information, not veterinary advice.
