State moving rules reference

Local Movers US: moving company rules, state by state

Choose your state to see who licenses movers there, how to look one up and where to complain. If your move crosses a state line, federal rules apply instead.

Choose a state

Compare all states in one table

Who regulates your move

Moving within one state

State law applies. Each state sets its own rules for in-state moves, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration notes. Some states license movers, some require registration or a rate filing, and some have no rule written for movers.

Moving between states

Federal law applies. Interstate movers must be registered with the federal government and have a U.S. DOT number. 49 CFR Part 375 sets their rules for estimates, liability and payment at delivery.

A short move across a state line

Distance does not decide. Federal jurisdiction covers moves between two states, and moves between two places in one state that pass through another state (49 U.S.C. 13501). How to tell which rules apply.

Guides

How to check a mover's license
Look up a USDOT or MC number with FMCSA, then check the state record for an in-state move.
Interstate vs. intrastate moves: who regulates yours
The route decides, not the distance. A short move that crosses a state line falls under federal rules.
Binding vs. non-binding moving estimates
What each estimate guarantees on an interstate move, the 110 percent rule, and what changes before loading.
Mover liability: full value protection vs. released value
The two levels of mover liability on an interstate move, and the deadlines for a damage claim.
How to file a complaint against a moving company
Where to report an interstate mover, an in-state mover or a scam, and what to have ready.
Moving scam red flags
The warning signs federal agencies list, and what to do before you sign anything.
Hostage loads: what a mover can demand at delivery
The most an interstate mover may collect before unloading, and the federal penalties for holding goods.