Local Motion review 2026 (Minneapolis, MN)

Updated

Local Motion, a Minneapolis, MN moving company, ranks #112 of 152 movers in Minnesota, with a moveBuddha rating of 3.30/5.

84% of Local Motion's 1,563 verified customer reviews are positive. Customers most often praise its helpful movers, while the most common complaint involves damage to items. Ratings reflect moveBuddha’s independent analysis of customer reviews and FMCSA records.

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How Local Motion measures up

Local Motion ranks #112 out of 152 movers in Minnesota with a moveBuddha Score of 3.30 out of 5.

  • moveBuddha Score

    moveBuddha Score

    The moveBuddha Score is a single 0–5 rating that combines everything we know about a mover, so you can compare companies without cross-referencing a dozen review sites.

    It weighs customer service, quote accuracy, review quality, industry experience, website quality, brand strength, and ratings from Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau.

    It is not a paid placement. Partners and non-partners are scored the same way.

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Is Local Motion moveBuddha Certified?

Local Motion 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. Local Motion 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 Local Motion?

Out of 1,563 verified reviews, 84% of customers left a positive review about Local Motion in Minneapolis, MN. 15.2% of reviews are negative and 1.3% are neutral. Local Motion has a 5% lower positive review percentage than the average Minnesota moving company (84% vs the Minnesota state average of 89%).

  • Positive83.6%(1,307)
  • Neutral1.3%(20)
  • Negative15.2%(238)

Based on 1,563 reviews across Google, Yelp, and other review sites.

What customers like about Local Motion

  • Helpful movers

    Movers were more than just muscle—they offered guidance and went above and beyond to assist customers.

  • Friendly and approachable staff

    Many customers felt at ease working with the courteous and personable team at Local Motion.

  • Professional and polite staff

    Customers say the Local Motion's crews and service representatives handled their move professionally and were friendly and helpful throughout the move.

  • Respectful of property

    Customers appreciated how carefully Local Motion's team maneuvered furniture through tight spaces without damaging walls or floors.

  • Efficient service

    Many customers praise Local Motion for completing moves smoothly and with minimal downtime.

What positive reviewers say

  • “Very good experience very helpful I would use them again.”

    terry stephenVerified ReviewerGoogle
  • “The guys were fantastic. Everything I asked they did for me and they moved quickly and everything was done safely.”

    Jane VanDeusen-MorrisonVerified ReviewerGoogle
  • “Three movers showed up on time. All were cordial and respectful of my property and did an initial walkthrough with me. Furniture was wrapped and well protected.”

    Steven MarkesVerified ReviewerGoogle
  • “The moving team was very nice, very respectful and careful. The company is very friendly, caring and professional, they stay in touch throughout the process and are on time.”

    Leslie DuLacVerified ReviewerGoogle

What mixed reviewers say

  • “The movers were very hardworking, but a few items were broken and LM would not compensate anything. Then they charged more than was quoted. I’ve had better moving experiences.”

    Patti GDanVerified ReviewerGoogle
  • “Things went ok. The furniture was packed and transported without damage. I was not impressed with the efficiency of the crew as a whole. They didn’t bring much effort, and it took longer than necessary.”

    J BoeshansVerified ReviewerGoogle
  • “I’m a returning customer and hired them for my last move. The crew was responsive and friendly. They left a treadmill, vacuums, and garage boxes behind, and the company did not resolve my complaint.”

    Aud RawVerified ReviewerGoogle
  • “We have used Local Motion twice. Their rates are really reasonable, and the movers were friendly. Our bedroom dresser and night stands ended up having scratches after the move.”

    Beth Schroeder HarperVerified ReviewerGoogle

Most common complaints about Local Motion

  • Damage to items

    Some customers reported that items were damaged during packing or loading.

  • Unexpected charges

    Hidden fees or surprise costs caused dissatisfaction among some Local Motion clients.

  • Inaccurate estimates

    Estimates from Local Motion were sometimes way off from what customers were ultimately billed.

What negative reviewers say

  • “They charged me almost double my estimate-the move took almost double their estimate. Several pieces of furniture and boxes were placed in the wrong places. Several things were damaged or destroyed in the move.”

    Tammy BussmanVerified ReviewerGoogle
  • “The men who came to move my items were pretty good. They broke one of my lamps so much that I had to throw it away, put a deep gouge into a television, and broke a dining room chair.”

    Jennifer AkehurstVerified ReviewerGoogle
  • “The quote was accurate and the movers were great, but they double charged my credit card. After four days of calls, the charges were still on my account.”

    Sarah OlsonVerified ReviewerGoogle
  • “The phone estimate process was super fast and lazy, leading to a 3-4x underestimate (i.e., thousands of dollars). The team was nice and worked diligently, but was clearly shocked and annoyed by how wrong the time estimate was.”

    Joseph LofgrenVerified ReviewerGoogle

Local Motion

3.30Minneapolis, MN

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What services does Local Motion offer?

Local Motion offers local moves.

Services offered

Is Local Motion licensed and insured?

Registered with the FMCSA

US DOT 4026922. Operating status is not on this profile. Check on SAFER

Verified against the FMCSA, not by moveBuddha

Local Motion is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under US DOT number 4026922.

Insurance is a separate question, and one this profile cannot settle: moveBuddha does not receive carriers' insurance filings, so nothing here confirms what cover Local Motion holds. Ask for a certificate of insurance before you book.

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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 Local Motion cost?

Local Motion does not publish hourly rates or flat fees publicly. Based on moveBuddha's data on moving companies operating in Minnesota, you can expect to pay approximately $177/hr. Total local-move costs from similar movers typically run $400–$750 for a studio or 1-bedroom, $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 Minnesota moving companies similar to Local Motion typically bill the amounts below using a $177/hr rate for a 2-person crew and scaling up for larger homes that need more movers and hours.

Typical local move totals from similar movers
Home sizeTypical totalTime and crew
Studio / 1 bedroom$400–$7503–5 hours, 2 movers
2-3 bedrooms$850–$1,7505–8 hours, 2–3 movers
4+ bedrooms$1,700–$3,4008–12 hours, 3–4 movers

How Local Motion compares with the top 10 Minneapolis movers

Local Motion's moveBuddha score of 3.30 out of 5 places it #25, outside the top 10 movers in Minneapolis, 1.12 points behind AAA Movers, the tenth-placed mover. At 1,563 reviews, Local Motion has more reviews than eight of the ten. Where Local Motion falls behind is review quality, with the lowest review quality score in the group.

The ten highest-scoring local movers near Minneapolis, by moveBuddha score.

#MoverScoreReviews
1AAA MoversNew Hope4.621,782
2Good Stuff MovingMaplewood4.522,170
3Piepho Moving & Storage, Inc.Rochester4.52143
4Matt's Moving CompanyMinneapolis4.501,254
5TWO MEN AND A TRUCKHopkins4.48818
6College Muscle Movers, LLCSt Paul4.48719
7The Move CrewMinneapolis4.48673
8Metcalf Moving & StorageSt. Paul4.48234
9Lighthouse MovingSt Paul4.44277
10AAA MoversBrooklyn Park4.42382
25Local MotionThis mover · ranks #253.301,563

How does Local Motion compare to other Minnesota movers?

  • moveBuddha score#112 of 152(worse than average)

    3.30vs 3.68 avg

    Local Motion scores 3.30, below the Minnesota average of 3.68, and ranks #112 of 152 Minnesota movers.

  • Positive reviews#111 of 152(worse than average)

    84%vs 89% avg

    Local Motion has 84% positive reviews, below the Minnesota average of 89%, and ranks #111 of 152 Minnesota movers.

  • Negative reviews#114 of 152(worse than average)

    15%vs 10% avg

    Local Motion has 15% negative reviews, above the Minnesota average of 10%, and ranks #114 of 152 Minnesota movers. A lower percentage is better.

  • Reviews analyzed#7 of 152(better than average)

    1,563vs 293 avg

    Local Motion has 1,563 reviews analyzed, above the Minnesota average of 293, and ranks #7 of 152 Minnesota movers.

MetricThis moverMinnesota avg
moveBuddha score#112 of 152 in Minnesota3.303.68
Positive reviews#111 of 152 in Minnesota84%89%
Negative reviewsLower is better#114 of 152 in Minnesota15%10%
Reviews analyzed#7 of 152 in Minnesota1,563293

Compared with 152 Minnesota movers with moveBuddha profiles. Rank #1 is the best in Minnesota.

Local Motion

3.30Minneapolis, MN

Save more than 30% on average by comparing movers before you book.

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Or call (952) 474-6683

Final verdict: Local Motion

Local Motion earns a 3.30/5 moveBuddha Score and ranks #25 among Minneapolis movers, with 84% positive feedback across 1,563 customer reviews.

Customers consistently praise its helpful movers and friendly and approachable staff. It is best for customers prioritizing crew professionalism, helpful crews, and reliable service experience.

The most common complaint is damage to items.

All ratings reflect moveBuddha's analysis updated October 2026, based on independent research and verified customer reviews.

Local Motion

Minneapolis, MN

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No obligation · Fast, easy, and free

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Why moveBuddha?

  • 30%+Average savings

    On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.

    Calculate your Minnesota 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.

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

Read the full scoring methodology

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.

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