Jay's Small Moves review 2026 (Berkeley, CA)
Updated
Jay's Small Moves, a Berkeley, CA moving company, has a moveBuddha rating of 3.30/5. Ratings reflect moveBuddha’s independent analysis of customer reviews and FMCSA records.
How Jay's Small Moves measures up
What goes into our score
Each category is scored out of 5. The line shows the overall score of 3.30.
- Review quality
- 3.5
- Brand
- 3.0
- Website
- 3.0
- Customer service
- 3.0
- Industry experience
- 3.0
Is Jay's Small Moves moveBuddha Certified?
Jay's Small Moves is not moveBuddha Certified. Certified movers are licensed carriers vetted by moveBuddha and spot-checked every quarter. They meet higher standards for insurance, pricing transparency, and customer care.
With a Certified mover, moveBuddha does the vetting for you and provides added protection. Jay's Small Moves hasn't gone through that certification process, so it's important to check licensing, insurance, estimates, and claims policies yourself before booking.
What movebuddha certified movers offer
- Up to $1,000 in added move coverage*. Extra protection for eligible moves.
- Vetted for licensing and insurance**. We verify state-required insurance for local movers and liability and cargo coverage for interstate movers.
- Dedicated moveBuddha support. Help through the move process.
- Dispute mediation. moveBuddha steps in if issues arise.
Before you book, check:
- USDOT and MC numbers. Look up the license and complaint history on FMCSA's site.
- Insurance coverage. Ask for proof of liability and cargo insurance.
- A written estimate. Binding or not-to-exceed, with every fee listed.
- The claims process. Ask how damage claims are filed and how long they take.
* Added move coverage is not replacement-value insurance, or insurance, or an indemnity of any kind. About moveBuddha Certified
** Local movers must hold insurance that meets state requirements for local moves. Interstate movers must carry auto liability of at least $750,000, general liability of at least $1M, and motor truck cargo coverage at or above $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence.
What do customers say about Jay's Small Moves?
Review sentiment has not been broken down for Jay's Small Moves in Berkeley, CA yet.
Jay's Small Moves
3.30Berkeley, CA
Save more than 30% on average by comparing movers before you book.
Jay's Small Moves
3.30
Berkeley, CA
Save more than 30% on average
On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before they book. Get a quote from Jay's Small Moves, then see how it compares with other top-rated movers in Berkeley.
Compare prices side by side
See where Jay's Small Moves lands against similar movers.
Vetted movers only
Licensing and reviews checked, just like this page.
Free, no obligation
Nothing is booked until you choose a mover.
What services does Jay's Small Moves offer?
Jay's Small Moves takes on small moves and commercial moves, alongside packing and unpacking.
Services offered
Is Jay's Small Moves licensed and insured?
Registered with the FMCSA
US DOT 2259078. Operating status is not on this profile. Check on SAFER
Verified against the FMCSA, not by moveBuddha
Jay's Small Moves is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under US DOT number 2259078.
Insurance is a separate question, and one this profile cannot settle: moveBuddha does not receive carriers' insurance filings, so nothing here confirms what cover Jay's Small Moves holds. Ask for a certificate of insurance before you book.
- FMCSA safety rating
- Not ratedMost carriers are unrated. A rating is only assigned after a compliance review. It is not a failed one.
How much does Jay's Small Moves cost?
Jay's Small Moves lists an hourly rate of $140, above the California average of $129/hr. At that rate, a studio or 1-bedroom move (3–5 hours with 2 movers) would come to about $400–$700. Larger homes need more movers and hours: totals from similar movers typically run $850–$1,750 for a 2-3 bedroom, and $1,700–$3,400 for a 4+ bedroom home.
What similar movers typically bill for a local move
Full-service California moving companies similar to Jay's Small Moves typically bill the amounts below using a $129/hr rate for a 2-person crew and scaling up for larger homes that need more movers and hours.
| Home size | Typical total | Time and crew |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $400–$750 | 3–5 hours, 2 movers |
| 2-3 bedrooms | $850–$1,750 | 5–8 hours, 2–3 movers |
| 4+ bedrooms | $1,700–$3,400 | 8–12 hours, 3–4 movers |
What payment options and discounts does Jay's Small Moves offer?
- Accepts
- No credit cards
- Deposit
- Not listed, so ask
Jay's Small Moves does not list any accepted payment methods on moveBuddha. Confirm how they take payment before moving day. Deposit policies vary by mover, so ask whether one is required when you request a quote.
How Jay's Small Moves compares with the top 3 Berkeley movers
With a moveBuddha score of 3.30 out of 5, Jay's Small Moves trails the three highest-scoring Berkeley moving companies, 1.04 points behind Impel Moving Services. Where Jay's Small Moves falls behind is quote accuracy, with the lowest quote accuracy score in the group.
The three highest-scoring local movers near Berkeley, by moveBuddha score.
| # | Mover | Score | Reviews | Yelp | BBB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paradise Moving & StorageOakland | 4.38 | 459 | 4.8 | 4.8 | A+ |
| 2 | ShipShape MovingBerkeley | 4.36 | 812 | 4.9 | 4.9 | A+ |
| 3 | Impel Moving ServicesSan Francisco | 4.34 | 852 | 5.0 | 4.9 | A+ |
| 4 | Jay's Small MovesThis mover · ranks #4 | 3.30 | — | — | — | — |
Jay's Small Moves
3.30Berkeley, CA
Save more than 30% on average by comparing movers before you book.
Save more than 30% on average
On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before they book. Get a quote from Jay's Small Moves, then see how it compares with other top-rated movers in Berkeley.
Compare prices side by side
See where Jay's Small Moves lands against similar movers.
Vetted movers only
Licensing and reviews checked, just like this page.
Free, no obligation
Nothing is booked until you choose a mover.
Jay's Small Moves
3.30
Berkeley, CA
Final verdict: Jay's Small Moves
Jay's Small Moves earns a 3.30/5 moveBuddha Score and ranks #4 among Berkeley movers.
All ratings reflect moveBuddha's analysis updated October 2026, based on independent research and verified customer reviews.
Jay's Small Moves
3.30
Berkeley, CA
Why moveBuddha?
- 30%+Average savings
On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
Calculate your California moving cost - $1,000Added move coverage*
When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage*, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- 1-on-1Dispute mediation
If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
* Added move coverage is not replacement-value insurance, or insurance, or an indemnity of any kind.
Helpful California moving resources
How we score moving companies
Every mover on moveBuddha is scored on the same six factors, weighted by how much each one changes a move.
- Quotes & payment optionsWeighs most
The heaviest factor, because price certainty is where moves go wrong. We reward estimates you can hold a mover to, and terms disclosed before you pay.
- Online reputationMajor factor
An objective read from third parties rather than from the mover. The Google rating for the company's headquarters sets the band; Trustpilot, BBB, and independent review sites are read alongside it.
- ServicesMajor factor
The range a mover can actually cover, scored across seven categories, with extra credit for the uncommon ones most companies hand off to a subcontractor.
- Customer supportSupporting factor
How easily you can reach a human, and how clearly the mover sets expectations before, during, and after the move. Verified against company documentation and direct outreach.
- Review feedbackSupporting factor
A company's share of positive customer feedback, converted straight to points, with no curve and no editorial adjustment.
- State availabilityMinor factor
The lightest factor, and deliberately so: wide coverage helps more readers reach a mover, but it says nothing about how good the move will be.
What the scores are built on
- 4,500+Moving companies analyzed
- 1M+Authenticated reviews
- 25+Independent data sources
- 1,000+Live price points a month
- $0Paid for a ranking
- MonthlyRefreshed and re-verified
Written by
Ryan CarriganCo-founder, moveBuddha
Ryan Carrigan is the co-founder of moveBuddha and a leading voice in the moving industry, helping hundreds of thousands of Americans make smarter, safer relocation decisions each year. With more than a decade of experience analyzing moving companies, pricing trends, and industry regulations, Ryan brings hands-on industry knowledge and data-driven insight to every guide and review. His research has been featured in Forbes, Consumer Reports, The New York Times, and NBC News.