Editorial illustration for What legally counts as an interstate move and which federal agency regulates it?
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Interstate moves

Prepare records, providers and state-specific changes. Find practical guides, checklists, and next steps for interstate moves.

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Editorial illustration for What legally counts as an interstate move and which federal agency regulates it? Interstate moves

What legally counts as an interstate move and which federal agency regulates it?

A move is "interstate" under federal law when household goods cross a state line during transport, putting the carrier under FMCSA jurisdiction. Here is how that line is drawn, what the FMCSA requires of carriers, and when an in-state move falls outside federal rules.

Updated July 2026 · 6 min read →
Editorial illustration for What licenses and insurance does a moving company need to legally operate across state lines? Interstate moves

What licenses and insurance does a moving company need to legally operate across state lines?

Anyone hauling household goods across state lines needs a USDOT number, MC operating authority, process agents in every state, minimum liability insurance, and an annual UCR fee. Here's what each piece does, what it costs, and how a same-state move changes the rules.

Updated July 2026 · 7 min read →
Editorial illustration for What federal regulations and recordkeeping rules apply to interstate moving companies? Interstate moves

What federal regulations and recordkeeping rules apply to interstate moving companies?

An interstate household goods carrier answers to a stack of FMCSA rules — registration, insurance, consumer protection, and a record preservation rule — before it ever quotes your move. Here is exactly which federal regulations apply, which records the carrier must keep, and where state rules take over for an in-state job.

Updated July 2026 · 6 min read →