During your moving process, if you feel like you have been a victim of moving fraud, please contact the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs. Moving companies in Los Angeles can receive a fine up to $30,000 or revocation of their license for theft or fraud. For more information, click here or call (800) 593-8222
Switching Your License
Once you are finally moved in, you will need to change your license with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of California. Just in case you were concerned about cost, it is absolutely free to change your address but there are a fees associated with getting a new license. Here is a list of fees.
How To Notify The DMV
There are three ways to notify the DMV of your new address:
- In Person: If you don't feel like paying for a stamp, drop in to your local DMV office and complete a Notice of Change of Address form there.
For more information you can contact the DMV of California by calling (800) 777-0133.
Commuting in Los Angeles
Everyone that moves to California has a major concern for commuting, especially the metropolitan area of Los Angeles. Depending on where your home is located, your commute to and from home, work, or school can either be extremely excellent or dreadful.
Here are some helpful links to help with your daily commute:
LADOT Transit – Primary site for transit services in the Southern California area. Everything from DASH, Cityride, Commuter Express, and Charter Bus Programs will help you get on the right track. Get additional information on bicycling in Los Angeles and parking in Los Angeles.
MetroLink Trains - Metrolink is a premier regional rail system, including commuter and other passenger services, linking communities to employment and activity centers. Metrolink provides reliable transportation and mobility for the region, leading toward more livable communities.
MetroNet-Serves as a transportation resource to help plan and coordinate the Los Angeles transportation system. MetroNet has a great mobile application to get alerts, arrival times, and more on your Android device.
Los Angeles traffic is something you may not want to go head-to-head with. Get a plan together on how you plan to handle your daily commute throughout the city of L.A.
Finding the Right Neighborhood
Finding a neighborhood can be hard if you don’t know what you are looking for. No matter if you are looking for a house or an apartment, you have to know exactly what neighborhood is fitting for your lifestyle. Here are a few questions to keep in mind:
- How long am I willing to commute to work?
- How close are schools, grocery stores, and gas stations?
- How are there any good schools in the area?
- How far am I from the nightlife scene?
- How far am I from public transportation?
- What is the crime rate in the area and surrounding neighborhoods?
Even if you have the answer to all the questions above, still make it a point to do as much research as possible and visit each community to see which Los Angeles community interest you.
Searching for a Home
As the second largest populated city in the United States, finding an apartment or home in Los Angeles can be quite the challenge if this is your first time. Finding an apartment can seem like an overwhelming process, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some other great ways to find a home in Los Angeles:
Apartment Guides – You can always rely on apartment search resources like ForRent.com. These general references are great for apartment hunting right from your computer.
Brokers - One of the most common methods of finding an apartment in Los Angeles is using a real estate broker. If you know what neighborhood you want to live in, it's usually best to find a broker based there. Many brokers also have Web sites where you can view available apartments, sometimes even with photos and detailed descriptions. If you have decided to use a broker, keep in mind that you will probably have to pay a brokers fee which is usually one month’s rent.
Word-of-Mouth – If you know someone who currently lives in Los Angeles, getting references from them could help out substantially. Finding an apartment through word of mouth is a lot cheaper than using a broker. Ask your friends and family if they can provide any help with your search.
Local Guides and Reviews - Area guides will certainly point you in the right direction to finding the right place. Make sure to check out the web sites of local papers and online message boards like losangeles.craigslist.org. For a better overview of the city, look for a Thomas Guide, a grid-by-grid map of the vast landscape that is Southern California.
Apartment Referral Service - For the savvy hunters who are comfortable searching the Internet, there is an apartment referral service. For a monthly fee, referral services will provide you with a list of no-fee apartment rentals as they become available.
For other housing options, check out these great resources:
Los Angeles Housing Department - Affordable Housing Program
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles – Public Housing
Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles – Housing Programs
Apartments are in high demand, making the search for openings a time-consuming task. Give yourself enough time so you won’t feel rushed to make a haste decision. After you find the right apartment, contact licensed moving companies in Los Angeles.
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