A method and apparatus for performing a predictive motion search in a video encoder system using motion vectors representing the difference in coordinates of a macroblock of data in a current frame of video data and coordinates of a related macroblock of data in a reference frame of video data. A plurality of motion vector predictors is obtained where the motion vector predictors represent approximations of possible motion vectors for a current macroblock. A search pattern is defined. Each motion vector predictor of the plurality of motion vector predictors is searched around using the search pattern. A final motion vector is then determined.