Ship Your Household Overseas Without the Customs Backlog
Documentation cross-checked before loading day - not after your flight departs.
Start your move plan
No costBook 8 to 12 weeks ahead where possible. US DOT 1691575 · CA PUC MTR0191887
Yes, We Move Households and Offices From Los Angeles to Destinations Worldwide
Presto Movers handles international moving from Los Angeles - including packing, documentation, freight, and destination delivery coordination.
We are a Los Angeles-based moving company with over 17 years of relocation experience. International moving - also called overseas household and commercial goods relocation - means shipping your belongings across national borders using sea freight, air freight, or a combination of both. This includes customs documentation, freight forwarding, container loading, and handoff to a destination agent in the receiving country.
We serve homeowners, renters, and businesses relocating from the Greater Los Angeles area to destinations across Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia, and beyond. Our job is to make sure your shipment is ready to clear before it ever leaves the ground.
Why International Shipments Originating in LA Have Specific Logistics Requirements
Los Angeles is one of the highest-volume international cargo markets in the country - and that creates specific coordination requirements.
Presto Movers dispatches from Simi Valley and coordinates international shipments through the Port of Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles - a major international cargo hub handling millions of containers each year - sits approximately 35 miles from our dispatch office. That proximity matters. We work regularly with freight forwarders and ocean carriers operating out of this terminal.
Here's what most homeowners don't realize about moving from LA internationally: the volume of cargo moving through that port means processing windows are fixed, and documentation errors cause real delays. A shipment missing one form doesn't wait - it gets held in a bonded warehouse while the owner is already abroad. Los Angeles County also has specific export documentation requirements for certain categories of goods - including antiques, electronics, and vehicles - that differ from other US departure points.
That's the local reality. Our process is built around it.
How Documentation Problems Hold Shipments at Port - and How We Prevent Them
Every international shipment we coordinate is cross-checked against destination country requirements before loading day - not after.
It happens to people who planned carefully. They hired a mover, packed everything properly, and watched the truck pull away. Two weeks later, they were living out of a suitcase in their new city while their container sat at port. The reason: the inventory manifest - the detailed list of all items in a shipment required for customs clearance - listed a piece of furniture by a different description than what appeared on the purchase receipt.
That's not an edge case. Different countries use different product classification systems. What we call a "display cabinet" in the US may need to be declared as a "glass-fronted storage unit" to match the destination country's customs entry system. A mismatch between the bill of lading - the legal document between the shipper and carrier listing what is being transported - and the customs declaration will hold a container until a local agent reconciles it. In many countries, that means coordinating with a bonded warehouse from thousands of miles away. It can take weeks.
At Presto Movers, every international shipment goes through a documentation pre-check before we load a single box. We review the inventory manifest against the destination country's customs requirements, cross-reference the bill of lading, and confirm with our destination agent - the partner company in the receiving country who handles final delivery - that everything is in order. We have been doing this since 2007. The goal is always the same: your shipment clears on arrival, not after a warehouse delay you cannot resolve from 8,000 miles away.
What You Can Count On Throughout Every Phase of an Overseas Move
International moving has more variables than domestic moving - here's how we manage each one.
Customers sometimes ask whether they need to be on-site for every step of an international move. The short answer is no. We document everything. You get a copy of the inventory manifest before the truck is loaded. You know what's in each container, how it's packed, and what freight option is being used.
We work with vetted freight forwarding partners - specialists in organizing the transport of goods across international borders using carrier networks. That means we don't hand your shipment to an unknown carrier at a terminal and lose visibility. We stay in contact with the freight forwarder from origin to destination agent handoff. If a question comes up mid-transit, you have one point of contact: us.
Presto Movers is fully insured and bonded, and DOT-compliant across all domestic transportation legs of any international move.
How an International Move Actually Works: Packing, Documentation, Freight, and Delivery
International moving follows a specific sequence - and each stage affects the next.
No two international moves are identical. The right freight method, packing standard, and documentation set depends on your destination country, your volume, and your timeline. Here's how we approach each stage:
- Packing standards for overseas freight
- Items shipped internationally face ocean conditions - humidity, pressure changes, and extended transit times. We use export-grade materials: double-walled cartons, custom crating for fragile items, and moisture-resistant wrapping for electronics and wooden furniture.
- Customs clearance coordination
- Customs clearance - the process of getting government approval for goods entering or leaving a country - begins with an accurate, classified inventory. We build that manifest with destination requirements already factored in.
- Container shipping vs. air freight
- Container shipping - moving belongings in sealed metal containers by sea freight - is the standard method for full household volumes. Air freight is faster but cost-prohibitive for most household moves; it's typically used for irreplaceable documents, specialty items, or business-critical equipment.
- Destination agent handoff
- Our destination agent receives the container at the port of entry, manages local customs clearance, and coordinates final delivery to your new address. We select destination agents based on country-specific expertise, not availability.
Our Pre-Load Checklist: What We Verify Before Your Shipment Leaves Los Angeles
We run a documented pre-load check on every international shipment - no exceptions.
Inventory Manifest Review
We build the inventory manifest - the comprehensive list of all items in your shipment for customs purposes - and cross-reference it against the destination country's import classification system. Every item category is confirmed before loading begins.
Documentation Package Confirmation
This includes the bill of lading, customs declaration forms, proof of ownership for high-value items, and any country-specific certificates required before departure. Phytosanitary certificates for wooden furniture, for example, are required by several destination countries and must be issued before the container is sealed. We confirm every required document is signed, stamped, and attached before loading day.
Freight Forwarding Coordination
We confirm the freight forwarder has the booking, the container is confirmed at the Port of Los Angeles, and the transit timeline aligns with your move-in date at the destination. Container shipping schedules are fixed. Missing a sailing window may add two to three weeks before the next available vessel.
Destination Agent Briefing
Before loading day, we brief the destination agent on your shipment contents, estimated arrival date, and any delivery access requirements at your new address. This is the handoff plan - documented before the container leaves the terminal.
International Moves Coordinated From Greater Los Angeles and the Surrounding Region
We serve the full Greater Los Angeles Area and coordinate international shipments across every major destination.
Our team works with clients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, El Monte, West Covina, and throughout the Inland Empire - including Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, San Bernardino, and Riverside. If you're in the Greater LA footprint, we can coordinate your international move from origin to destination.
- Los Angeles
- Santa Monica
- Long Beach
- Pasadena
- Burbank
- Glendale
- Torrance
- Manhattan Beach
- Redondo Beach
- El Monte
- West Covina
- Ontario
- Rancho Cucamonga
- Fontana
- San Bernardino
- Riverside
Questions We Hear From Los Angeles Residents Planning an International Move
Something not covered? Call 888-678-6151 and we'll walk through your destination.
How much does an international move from Los Angeles typically cost?
International moving costs vary by destination, volume, and freight method. Sea freight for a full household runs significantly less than air freight. Container shipping from the Port of Los Angeles to Europe or Asia typically ranges from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on shipment size. Call 888-678-6151 for a quote based on your destination and volume.
How far in advance should I book an international move?
Book at least 8-12 weeks before your target departure date. Documentation preparation, freight booking, and destination agent coordination all require lead time. Container shipping schedules are fixed - missing a sailing window adds 2-3 weeks before the next available vessel.
What documents do I need before my shipment leaves port?
You need an inventory manifest, bill of lading, customs declaration forms, and proof of ownership for high-value items. Some destination countries also require phytosanitary certificates for wooden furniture. Presto Movers cross-checks every document against destination requirements before loading day - not after the truck is packed.
How is Presto Movers' international process different from booking a freight broker directly?
A freight broker handles transport only. Presto Movers manages the entire chain - packing, documentation, freight coordination, and destination agent briefing - under one company. That means one point of contact from Los Angeles to your front door abroad. No handoff gaps where paperwork errors go unnoticed.
Will my belongings have tracking visibility during ocean transit?
Yes. Presto Movers maintains contact with the freight forwarder from origin through destination agent handoff. You receive a copy of the inventory manifest before loading. If a question arises during transit, you reach us directly - not a carrier's automated line.
Can I ship just a few items internationally, or does this service require a full household?
Partial shipments are handled through shared container arrangements, called LCL (less-than-container load) shipping. Full household volumes typically use a dedicated container. The right method depends on your volume and destination. We confirm the best option during the planning call.
Ready to Plan Your Overseas Move? Here's How to Start
International moves require planning lead time - the sooner we talk, the smoother the documentation process.
Call us at 888-678-6151 or email info@prestomovers.net to start your international moving plan. Tell us your destination country, your approximate volume, and your target move date. We'll outline the documentation requirements, freight options, and destination agent availability for your specific move. Early coordination means your paperwork is ready before your flight is booked.
Prefer a callback?
Pick a timeOr call 888-678-6151 directly. US DOT 1691575 · CA PUC MTR0191887