Consumer protection
Verify a mover's license in any state.
A moving company's license is the first thing to check and the easiest to fake. Use the lookup below to find exactly who regulates movers in your state and where to confirm a company is legitimate — then verify any interstate mover's USDOT number at the FMCSA. We work for you, not the movers.
How mover licensing actually works
Mover regulation splits cleanly along one line: whether your belongings cross a state border. That single fact determines which government agency oversees your move and where you go to verify the company.
- Interstate moves (crossing state lines) are regulated federally by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Every legitimate interstate mover has a USDOT number you can verify in the SAFER database. Check for active authority, no "out of service" flag, and a clean complaint record, and review the agency's consumer guidance at protectyourmove.gov.
- Intrastate moves (staying within one state)are regulated — if at all — by a state agency: a public utilities commission, a department of transportation, or a department of public safety. 42 of the 52 jurisdictions below issue a dedicated mover license or registration; the rest cover in-state moves under general consumer-protection law. The table shows which is which, and links the official verification and complaint pages for each.
How every state licenses movers
Each row links the state's official verify-a-mover page (where one exists) and its complaint channel. "State license" means the state issues a mover-specific license, registration, or operating authority for in-state moves. Interstate moves from every state are FMCSA-regulated regardless.
| State | Regulator | State license? | Verify / complaint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC), Motor Carrier Section | Yes | |
| Alaska | No dedicated state regulator for intrastate HHG movers. General business oversight falls under Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED); consumer complaints to Alaska Department of Law, Consumer Protection Unit. | No | |
| Arizona | No dedicated intrastate HHG carrier license. The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS), Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Task Force, enforces consumer-protection statutes governing in-state movers. The Arizona Attorney General's Office also handles fraud complaints. | No | |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), Legal Division, Intrastate Motor Carrier Authority | Yes | |
| California | Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS), California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). Note: regulatory authority transferred from California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to BHGS effective July 1, 2018. | Yes | |
| Colorado | Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) | Yes | |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), Bureau of Public Transportation, Regulatory and Compliance Unit | Yes | |
| Delaware | No dedicated state regulator for intrastate HHG movers. Vehicle/safety compliance falls to Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT). Consumer fraud complaints are handled by the Delaware Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Unit. | No | |
| Florida | Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) | Yes | |
| Georgia | Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS), Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) — gamccd.net | Yes | |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) | Yes | |
| Idaho | None (economically deregulated). Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) handles commercial vehicle registration only; Idaho PUC does not regulate household goods movers. | No | |
| Illinois | Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Transportation Division | Yes | |
| Indiana | Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR), Motor Carrier Services | Yes | |
| Iowa | Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Office of Motor Carrier Services (OMCS) | Yes | |
| Kansas | Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), Transportation Division | Yes | |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Motor Carriers | Yes | |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC), Transportation Division | Yes | |
| Maine | none / no dedicated state HHG regulator | No | |
| Maryland | Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DLLR) | Yes | |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Transportation Oversight Division | Yes | |
| Michigan | Michigan State Police, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (MSP/CVED), Regulatory and Credentialing Section | Yes | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Commercial Vehicle Operations Division | Yes | |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), Motor Carrier Division (Enforcement) | Yes | |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) — Motor Carrier Services Division, acting on behalf of the State Highways and Transportation Commission | Yes | |
| Montana | No dedicated state household-goods mover license. Montana retired the Public Service Commission Class C (household-goods) motor-carrier authority in 2023; the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Motor Carrier Services oversees commercial-vehicle safety, and consumer complaints go to the Montana Office of Consumer Protection (Dept of Justice). | No | |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Public Service Commission (NPSC) | Yes | |
| Nevada | Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA) | Yes | |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Department of Safety — Bureau of Road Toll (formerly regulated by a PUC-style tariff system under RSA 375-A, now deregulated to a registration/permit system under RSA 359-T) | Yes | |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs — Regulated Business Section (within the NJ Office of the Attorney General) | Yes | |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) — Transportation Regulation Bureau (TRB); formerly the NM Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) Transportation Division, transferred to NMDOT effective July 1, 2024 per Senate Bill 160 (2023 legislative session) | Yes | |
| New York | New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) — Office of Safety and Security Services | Yes | |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) | Yes | |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) — Motor Carrier Services division | Yes | |
| Ohio | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) | Yes | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) — Transportation Division | Yes | |
| Oregon | Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) — Commerce and Compliance Division (CCD) | Yes | |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) — Bureau of Transportation and Safety | Yes | |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC) — Motor Carriers Division | Yes | |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) — Transportation Division (issues certificates after SC Public Service Commission approval) | Yes | |
| South Dakota | No dedicated state HHG mover license. Intrastate commercial vehicle registration handled by South Dakota Department of Revenue (Motor Vehicle Division) via county treasurers. Consumer complaints to South Dakota Division of Consumer Protection (Office of the Attorney General). | No | |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Revenue (TDOR), Motor Carrier Division — issues Intrastate Authority via TNTAP. The Department of Safety (Rule 1340-06) promulgates consumer-protection rules for HHG movers once authority is issued. | Yes | |
| Texas | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), Motor Carrier Division | Yes | |
| Utah | No dedicated state HHG mover license. Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Motor Carrier Division, administers general motor carrier safety regulations. Consumer complaints to Utah Division of Consumer Protection (DCP). | No | |
| Vermont | No dedicated state HHG mover license. Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) / Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) oversees commercial vehicle safety compliance. Consumer complaints to Vermont Attorney General's Office, Consumer Assistance Program. | No | |
| Virginia | Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Motor Carrier Services | Yes | |
| Washington | Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), Transportation Division | Yes | |
| Washington, DC | Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing Division. Consumer fraud complaints also handled by DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Consumer Protection Unit. | Yes | |
| Washington, DC | Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing Division. Consumer fraud complaints also handled by DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Consumer Protection Unit. | Yes | |
| West Virginia | No dedicated HHG mover license since 2017 deregulation. The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) removed the Certificate of Convenience and Necessity requirement for household-goods movers via SB 174 (2017). Consumer complaints now go to the West Virginia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. | No | |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Motor Carrier Registration Unit — issues intrastate operating authority (LC number). Consumer complaints to Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). | Yes | |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), Motor Vehicle Services Division — issues intrastate operating authority (Letter of Authority) under W.S. Title 31, Chapter 18. | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a moving company is licensed?
For an interstate move (crossing state lines), check the company’s USDOT number in the FMCSA SAFER database at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov — look for active operating authority and no "out of service" flag. For an in-state (intrastate) move, verify the mover with your state regulator using the lookup tool and table on this page.
Which states require moving companies to be licensed?
Of the 52 U.S. jurisdictions we track (all 50 states plus Washington, DC), 42 require a dedicated state license, registration, or operating authority for intrastate household-goods movers. The remaining 10 have no mover-specific license and instead cover in-state moves under general consumer-protection law — but any interstate move from those states is still FMCSA-regulated.
What is a USDOT number and the FMCSA?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the federal agency that regulates interstate movers. Every legitimate interstate moving company is assigned a USDOT number you can verify at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. The number ties the carrier to its insurance, authority status, and complaint history.
What is the difference between intrastate and interstate mover licensing?
An intrastate move stays within one state and is regulated (if at all) by that state’s agency — a public utilities commission, department of transportation, or public safety department. An interstate move crosses state lines and is regulated federally by the FMCSA, regardless of which states are involved.
Is a licensed mover automatically trustworthy?
No. A license or USDOT number is the floor, not a guarantee. Before booking, also check the carrier’s complaint history, confirm it carries valuation coverage, and insist on a written estimate based on an in-home or video survey. A licensed company can still hold a load hostage or pad an estimate — vetting the record is what catches that.
What should I check before hiring a mover?
Confirm active licensing (USDOT for interstate, the state regulator for intrastate), an unblemished "in service" status, the complaint record, proof of insurance, and a written binding or not-to-exceed estimate. Avoid any mover that quotes a firm price sight-unseen or asks for a large cash deposit upfront — both are classic red flags.