Written Estimates for Interstate Moves

Your mover must provide you a written estimate of all charges, including transportation, accessorial, and advance charges. Your mover's "rate quote" is not an estimate. Be sure the estimate is based on actual or virtual inspection of your household goods.

Binding Estimates for Interstate Moves

A binding estimate guarantees that you do not have to pay more than the estimated amount at the time of delivery. However, if you include additional items and services to your shipment, or there are unforeseen circumstances such as stairs, elevators or required parking permits, in this case the mover must prepare a new binding estimate to include all services and items to be transported.  You are required to pay 100 percent of the binding estimate at the time of delivery.

Non-Binding Estimates

A non-binding estimate helps you determine the cost of your move, but it is not a guarantee of your final costs. It should be reasonably accurate and include what your final charges will be based upon such as the actual weight of your shipment, the services provided, and the mover’s published tariff.

Under a nonbinding estimate, the moving company cannot require you to pay more than 110 percent of the non-binding estimate at the time of delivery. Learn more by reading  Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet.

If yours is an interstate move it will be governed by FMCSA rules and regulations. Check the scenarios below in order to determine if your move is interstate. If you are still unclear about whether or not your move is considered interstate, check with your mover and state and local authorities for clarification. 

Interstate move means transportation of goods in the United States which is between a state and a place outside of that state (including a place outside the United States); or between two places within a state that travels through another state or place outside of the United States.

It is an interstate move if the move...

• occurs between a place in a state and a place outside of that state (i.e., in another state). Even if other modes of transportation, such as plane or rail, are involved in moving the goods... as long as the goods cross a state line and involve a mover at any point, it is an interstate move, and at least the portion involving the mover is governed by FMCSA rules and regulations. The moving truck or van does not have to physically cross a state line for it to be an interstate move.
• occurs between a place in a state and a place outside of the United States. The intent of the move can define whether the move is interstate. In this example, the move begins outside the state and goes to a warehouse—not the final destination—within the state. Nevertheless, since the move originated outside the state it is characterized as an interstate move.
• occurs between two places in the same state if the shipment passes through another state.
• occurs between two places in the same state if the shipment passes through a place outside the United States.

Review the scenarios above to determine if your household goods move is interstate. If your move is interstate, it will be governed by FMCSA rules and regulations. If you are still unsure whether your move is considered interstate, check with your HHG mover and state and local authorities for clarification.

When you're choosing a mover did you know that some companies are moving brokers?

What is a moving broker?

A moving broker is not a mover. A broker does not assume responsibility for, and is not authorized to transport, your household goods. Brokers do not have moving trucks or professional movers. Brokers for interstate moves are required to use only movers that are registered with FMCSA. Moving brokers are sales teams that book your move and sell it to an actual moving company.

Sometimes the broker is not able to sell the job for various reasons - low estimates, availability, resources and the list goes on - in this case you can get stuck without a mover on the day of your move. Many moving brokers operate from call centers located anywhere in the country.

When you book your move make sure to ask the company whether they are an actual moving company or broker. For example, ABC Moving is a local moving company with an office (and supervisors) close to you that can assist with any problems or concerns that may arise during the moving process. To ensure this, confirm that the company uses their own crews and trucks to pick up your shipment.

Moving Broker Checklist

A household goods broker arranges transportation by connecting people that need their shipment of household goods transported with movers that are capable and willing to transport their shipment for compensation. The broker does not operate the truck, or handle the shipment but does make all the arrangements for the truck and labor to load and unload the shipment. Brokers can provide estimates for service on behalf of motor carriers based on the rates in the motor carrier's tariff.

FMCSA has strengthened consumer protections when you utilize a broker to arrange for the transportation of your Household Goods. All household goods brokers must:

• Be registered with FMCSA;
• Provide you with the FMCSA Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet and the Ready to Move brochure;
• Provide you with a list of the moving companies they use;
• Use only movers that are registered with FMCSA;
• Have a written agreement with movers they use;
• Base binding or non-binding estimates on the tariff of the mover that will transport your shipment;
• Reference in their advertisements their physical business location, MC number, and their status as a broker that does not transport household goods but arranges for this service; and
• Have the mover that is transporting your shipment perform a physical survey of your household goods if they are within a 50-mile radius of the mover or its agent's location, whichever is closer. It is your option to waive this requirement.

To check whether your broker or mover is registered with FMCSA and/or check its complaint history, use our search tool.

• Under Important Resources, select "Search Movers/Brokers & Complaint History"
• Complete the form "Search by Company"
• Enter either the broker/mover name, U.S. DOT number or MC number
• Press "Search"

If you have paid the mover 110% of the non-binding estimate or 100% of the binding estimate and the mover fails to deliver your goods, they have violated the Federal regulations for the protection of household good shippers. You should file a complaint online or call 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238).

• Your name, address and telephone number
• The name, address and telephone number of the mover/broker
• The origin and destination of your shipment
• The mover's U.S. DOT and MC numbers if available
• A short narrative of specific violations alleged

Get money-saving moving tips from a trusted source: the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an agency within the Department of Transportation, offers free moving check lists at https://www.ProtectYourMove.gov. There are three different check lists for planning a move, moving day and delivery day available.

When moving, consumers are protected by federal and state agencies. If you’re moving out-of-state, you can search FMCSA’s mover database for up-to-date access to authorized interstate movers and their complaint history or call FMCSA at 800-832-5660. (FMCSA is an agency within the Department of Transportation.)  If you're moving to a new location within the same state, check with your state, county or local consumer affairs agency or state moving association. Each state has rules and regulations for moving household goods within the state.