Home Move timeline
How long does it take to move a mobile home?
Short answer: LocalMovers.com says the haul itself is usually one day. Breakdown at the old lot often takes 1 to 2 days, and setup at the new lot often takes 1 to 3 days, so the full process is often about a week (LocalMovers.com, the mobile home moving process). Louisiana’s DOTD trip permit covers up to 72 consecutive hours of travel for that haul (Louisiana DOTD, Regulations for Trucks, Vehicles and Loads (2026)). Weather, permits at the new address and utility schedules can push the calendar out.
What the week usually looks like
| Step | What LocalMovers.com says | Louisiana note |
|---|---|---|
| Breakdown / prep | About 1 to 2 days | Utilities off, skirting and decks removed. See the prep checklist. |
| Transport | Usually one day | DOTD trip permit: $10, one trip, up to 72 hours, no extensions (Louisiana DOTD, Regulations for Trucks, Vehicles and Loads (2026)). |
| Setup | About 1 to 3 days | Blocking, leveling, anchoring; a double-wide also has to be rejoined. |
| Full process | Often about a week | Parish placement permits and utility reconnects sit outside that haul window. |
Timeline ranges from LocalMovers.com, the mobile home moving process. Permit rules from Louisiana DOTD, Regulations for Trucks, Vehicles and Loads (2026).
Before the truck shows up
LocalMovers.com puts tax clearance and the building permits at the new site on the homeowner, and the DOT haul permit on the mover (LocalMovers.com, the mobile home moving process). In Lafayette Parish, that local piece is LCG’s Mobile Home Permit Application, and some lots also need a Floodplain Development Permit (Lafayette Consolidated Government, building permits). Start those early. A home that arrives before the lot is ready can sit on its wheels while you wait.
- Get written quotes that spell out breakdown, transport and setup days.
- Confirm the mover’s Louisiana transporter or installer license (Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal).
- Check registration: a Louisiana-origin home needs a valid Louisiana registration certificate to move (Louisiana DOTD, Regulations for Trucks, Vehicles and Loads (2026)).
- Walk the route into the new lot for trees, power lines and soft ground.
Moving day and weather
LocalMovers.com says you or an agent should be there to sign the bill of lading and inspect the home before it leaves and when it arrives (LocalMovers.com, the mobile home moving process). DOTD tells permitted loads to pull off when weather creates a hazard and uses a mobile home in wind as an example (Louisiana DOTD, Regulations for Trucks, Vehicles and Loads (2026)). Build a weather buffer into the schedule, especially on the Gulf Coast.
Escorted loads also face daylight and speed limits. The transport rules page covers escorts, hours and the 55 mph cap.
After the home lands
Setup is where a double-wide takes longer than a single-wide, because the halves have to be joined and sealed. Louisiana licenses installers separately from transporters and sets anchoring rules for its hurricane wind zones (Louisiana manufactured home installation and transportation law (R.S. 51:912.21 and following)). Ask which inspections the parish wants before you move in, and who reconnects water, sewer, gas and power.
Checklist: keep the calendar honest
- Ask each mover for a day-by-day plan covering prep, haul and setup.
- Confirm the DOTD trip permit is in the quote ($10, up to 72 hours).
- File the Lafayette Parish placement permit before the delivery date if the home is coming into LCG’s area.
- Schedule utility disconnects and reconnects with the providers, not for the morning of the haul.
- Leave room for a wind delay.
For price ranges, see the cost guide. For who pulls which permit, see the permits page.
Quick answers
How long does it take to move a mobile home?
LocalMovers.com says transport is usually one day, breakdown takes 1 to 2 days, and setup takes 1 to 3 days, so the full process is often about a week (LocalMovers.com, the mobile home moving process).
How long is the Louisiana trip permit good for?
DOTD’s mobile home permit covers one trip of up to 72 consecutive hours, with no extensions (Louisiana DOTD, Regulations for Trucks, Vehicles and Loads (2026)).
Can weather delay the move?
Yes. DOTD tells permitted loads to wait when weather creates a hazard and uses a mobile home in wind as an example (Louisiana DOTD, Regulations for Trucks, Vehicles and Loads (2026)). LocalMovers.com also flags high winds as a common delay (LocalMovers.com, the mobile home moving process).
Do I need to be there on moving day?
LocalMovers.com says yes: you or an agent should sign the bill of lading and inspect the home before it leaves and when it arrives (LocalMovers.com, the mobile home moving process).
What takes longer than the haul itself?
Prep at the old lot, setup and anchoring at the new lot, utility reconnects and any parish inspections. Ask each mover for a written schedule that covers those steps.
Does a double-wide take longer?
It travels as two loads and has to be rejoined, so setup is the step that usually stretches. Ask the installer how many days they plan for joining and sealing the marriage line.
This page is a plain summary, not a schedule for your move. Your mover and the local permit office set the dates that count.
Sources: LocalMovers.com, the mobile home moving process; Louisiana DOTD, Regulations for Trucks, Vehicles and Loads (2026); Lafayette Consolidated Government, building permits; Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal; Louisiana manufactured home installation and transportation law (R.S. 51:912.21 and following).
Get a mobile home moving quote
Only your name and phone are required. A local mover follows up with you.
How this works
- We send it to one mover on your route, or up to 3.
- If they can take the job, they contact you with a price.
- Asking is free.
LocalMovers.com’s Lafayette data (Q1 2026) puts a full-service single-wide move under 50 miles at about $6,500. Source: LocalMovers.com, Lafayette mobile home movers.
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