Your rights on an interstate move
By the Moving Companies Long Distance data team · Updated July 2026
Because your move crosses state lines, it's regulated by the federal government, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). That gives you real, enforceable protections most people never read. Here are the ones that matter.
This is a plain-language summary for planning, not legal advice. The authoritative source is the FMCSA's "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" and the regulations at fmcsa.dot.gov.
Start with a licensed carrier
These federal protections apply to covered interstate moves. See your route estimate, then verify the provider's authority through FMCSA.
- No email required to see your route's cost range
- Verify every provider's USDOT number before hiring
- Your estimate is yours to keep either way
Prefer to talk it through? Call (561) 220-0117, free, no obligation.
Five rights every interstate mover owes you
The information booklets
Before the move, your carrier must give you the FMCSA booklet 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' and its 'Ready to Move' brochure. They spell out the rules below in the government's own words.
A written estimate
You're owed a written estimate, binding, non-binding, or binding-not-to-exceed. On a non-binding estimate, the 110% rule caps what you must pay at delivery to 110% of the estimate.
A bill of lading and inventory
The bill of lading is your contract; the inventory lists every item and its condition. Never sign either without reading it, and keep your copies through delivery and any claim.
Your choice of valuation
You choose between free released value (60¢/lb per item) and paid full value protection (replacement value). This is a decision, not a default, make it deliberately.
A claims and arbitration process
You generally have up to nine months to file a loss-or-damage claim, and interstate carriers must offer a neutral arbitration program if you and the mover can't agree.
The two-minute due-diligence check
Rights only help against a carrier that's actually accountable. Confirm your mover holds an active USDOT numberand interstate operating authority at fmcsa.dot.gov, insist on a written estimate, and choose full-value protection for a valuable shipment. If a company won't give you the booklet, the estimate, or a straight answer about licensing, that's covered in how to avoid broker scams.
FAQ
Interstate moves are regulated by the FMCSA. You're entitled to the 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet, a written estimate, a bill of lading, and an inventory. You choose a valuation level for your goods, and there are federal rules limiting how much more than a non-binding estimate a mover can require at delivery.
Move with a carrier that answers to the FMCSA
See your route estimate with no email gate, then check every provider's federal authority and insurance before hiring.
Or call Call (561) 220-0117, no email required to see your number.
Keep reading
- How to Avoid Moving Broker ScamsThe deposit trap, the lowball estimate, and the hostage-load scam, the red flags that separate a licensed carrier from a broker.
- Cheapest Way to Move Across the CountryFull-service vs. moving containers vs. rental trucks, priced side by side, and the real trade-offs behind each cheap option.
- 8-Week Interstate Moving ChecklistA week-by-week plan for a state-to-state move: when to book, when to change your address, and what to do on load day.
- Shipping a Car Cross-CountryOpen vs. enclosed transport, realistic per-mile pricing, timelines, and how to add auto transport to a household move.