Which states require movers to be licensed?

While the federal government requires all interstate movers to be licensed with the FMSCA, licensing regulations for local movers vary from state to state. Over half of all states require that movers have a US DOT number even for moves within state lines, while some states do not require any licensing at all.

For a comprehensive list of the licensing requirements in each state, you can read this helpful guide.

If your state does not require your movers to be licensed, you will have to do further research to verify that the company is reputable and not a rogue mover. You can do this by asking the company for references from satisfied customers, doing a background check on the company for any outstanding complaints, and reading reviews on the Better Business Bureau website. Learn the signs of a rogue mover to make yourself invunerable to common moving scams and find out what important questions you should ask your mover to ensure they are a reputable company.