Moving company rules by state
This table shows how each state oversees movers on moves that start and end inside its borders. Interstate moves follow federal rules in every state; see interstate vs. intrastate moves.
- State license Movers must hold a state license, permit or certificate to move household goods within the state.
- State registration Movers must register with a state agency before moving household goods within the state.
- Tariff filing Movers must file their rates or rules (a tariff) with a state agency. We found no separate mover license.
- No state mover license We found no state license or registration specific to household goods movers. General business and consumer laws still apply.
- Could not confirm Official sources did not give a clear answer. The state page explains what we could and could not confirm.
| State | Code | In-state oversight | Credential name | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | AL | State license | APSC motor carrier certificate (household goods) | Alabama Public Service Commission, Motor Carrier Services Section |
| Alaska | AK | No state mover license | No state credential | — |
| Arizona | AZ | No state mover license | No state credential | Arizona Attorney General (enforces the household goods mover statutes) |
| Arkansas | AR | State license | No state credential | Arkansas Department of Transportation, Legal Division (for the Arkansas State Highway Commission) |
| California | CA | State license | BHGS household mover permit | Bureau of Household Goods and Services (California Department of Consumer Affairs) |
| Colorado | CO | State license | PUC Household Goods Mover permit (HHG number) | Colorado Public Utilities Commission |
| Connecticut | CT | State license | CTDOT household goods carrier certificate | Connecticut Department of Transportation |
| Delaware | DE | State registration | Delaware business license (Drayperson or Mover) | — |
| District of Columbia | DC | State license | Basic Business License, Moving and Storage | DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) |
| Florida | FL | State registration | FDACS mover registration (shown as "Fla. Mover Reg. No." or "Fla. IM No.") | Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Consumer Services |
| Georgia | GA | State license | DPS household goods carrier certificate (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity) | Georgia Department of Public Safety, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (Regulatory Compliance) |
| Hawaii | HI | State license | PUC motor carrier certificate (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity), household goods classification | Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, Motor Carriers |
| Idaho | ID | No state mover license | No state credential | — |
| Illinois | IL | State license | ICC Household Goods License (ILCC number) | Illinois Commerce Commission, Transportation |
| Indiana | IN | State license | No state credential | Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services |
| Iowa | IA | State license | No state credential | Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (Motor Carrier Services) |
| Kansas | KS | State license | KCC certificate of convenience and necessity (household goods) | Kansas Corporation Commission, Transportation Division |
| Kentucky | KY | State license | Kentucky Intrastate Household Goods Certificate (Household Goods Authority) | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Motor Carriers |
| Louisiana | LA | State license | LPSC common carrier certificate (household goods) | Louisiana Public Service Commission, Transportation Division |
| Maine | ME | No state mover license | No state credential | — |
| Maryland | MD | State registration | Household Goods Mover Registration | Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Household Goods Movers Registration Unit |
| Massachusetts | MA | State license | DPU operating certificate (household goods mover license) | Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Transportation Oversight Division |
| Michigan | MI | State license | CVED Authority (intrastate operating authority) | Michigan State Police, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Regulatory and Credentialing Section |
| Minnesota | MN | State license | No state credential | Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations |
| Mississippi | MS | State license | No state credential | Mississippi Department of Transportation (for the Mississippi Transportation Commission) |
| Missouri | MO | State license | Missouri intrastate household goods operating authority | Missouri Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services |
| Montana | MT | No state mover license | No state credential | — |
| Nebraska | NE | State license | Household Goods Mover License (ML number) | Nebraska Public Service Commission, Transportation Department |
| Nevada | NV | State license | Certificate from the Nevada Transportation Authority | Nevada Transportation Authority |
| New Hampshire | NH | State license | No state credential | New Hampshire Department of Safety (Division of Motor Vehicles; Bureau of Road Toll) |
| New Jersey | NJ | State license | Public Mover and Warehouseman license (PM moving only, PW warehousing only, or PC combined) | New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Regulated Business Section |
| New Mexico | NM | State license | NMDOT operating authority (certificate) for household goods service | New Mexico Department of Transportation, Transportation Regulation Bureau |
| New York | NY | State license | NYSDOT household goods certificate of authority (NYDOT number) | New York State Department of Transportation, Office of Modal Safety and Security |
| North Carolina | NC | State license | Certificate of exemption for household goods transportation (C number) | North Carolina Utilities Commission |
| North Dakota | ND | State license | Household goods carrier permit | North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division, Motor Carrier Section |
| Ohio | OH | State license | PUCO household goods certificate (CPCN) | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), Transportation Department |
| Oklahoma | OK | State license | Intrastate Household Goods Carriers Certificate | Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Transportation Division |
| Oregon | OR | State license | ODOT certificate of authority to transport household goods | Oregon Department of Transportation, Commerce and Compliance Division |
| Pennsylvania | PA | State license | PUC certificate of public convenience (household goods in use) | Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission |
| Rhode Island | RI | State license | DPUC household goods certificate (MC number) | Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, Motor Carriers Section |
| South Carolina | SC | State license | Class E (Household Goods) Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity | South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff, Transportation Department (with the Public Service Commission) |
| South Dakota | SD | No state mover license | No state credential | — |
| Tennessee | TN | State registration | No state credential | Tennessee Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Section |
| Texas | TX | State license | TxDMV certificate number (motor carrier registration) | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) |
| Utah | UT | No state mover license | USDOT number | — |
| Vermont | VT | No state mover license | No state credential | — |
| Virginia | VA | State license | DMV Household Goods Carrier certificate (moves over 30 miles) or Property Carrier authority (moves of 30 miles or less) | Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Services |
| Washington | WA | State license | UTC household goods carrier permit | Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) |
| West Virginia | WV | No state mover license | No state credential | — |
| Wisconsin | WI | State registration | No state credential | Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services |
| Wyoming | WY | State registration | No state credential | Wyoming Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Services, Operating Authority Section |
Totals in this table: state license: 36; state registration: 6; tariff filing: 0; no state mover license: 9; could not confirm: 0.