Federal Rules Every Interstate Mover Must Follow
Researched and written by Daniel Novak · Reviewed by Brittany Evans · Last reviewed August 2026
An interstate household-goods move is governed by federal regulation, not by the mover. Part 375 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations sets what a mover must give you, what it may collect at delivery, and what it owes you if something arrives broken. These rules apply to every mover crossing a state line for compensation, whatever the company is called and however long it has been trading.
Each figure below is quoted with the CFR section it comes from, so you can read the rule yourself rather than take our word for it. None of this is a statement about any particular company. It is what the regulation requires of all of them.
How much can a mover charge above a non-binding estimate?
On an interstate move priced with a non-binding estimate, a mover may require no more than 110% of the estimated charges before it will release your goods at delivery. That cap is set by 49 CFR 375.407. The final price can legitimately come in higher than the estimate, because a non-binding estimate prices an assumed weight and you pay for the actual weight. What the mover cannot do is make the whole excess a condition of unloading the truck.
Anything owed above that amount is billed after the move. Under 49 CFR 375.407 you have 30 days from delivery to pay it. A crew that will not unload until the full overage is paid in cash is describing its own policy, not the regulation.
What is a mover liable for if my belongings are damaged?
Every interstate mover must offer released value, the no-extra-charge level of liability set by 49 CFR 375.701. Under released value the mover owes 60 cents per pound per article. A claim is settled on what the damaged item weighs, not on what it cost, so a heavy inexpensive item pays out more than a light expensive one. Released value applies by default if you sign nothing else.
The alternative is full value protection, which a mover must also offer. It costs extra, the price depends on the value you declare, and the mover settles by repairing the item, replacing it, or paying a cash equivalent. On a shipment with electronics, art, or antiques the difference between the two is usually larger than the cost of the upgrade.
What must a mover give me before the move?
An interstate household-goods carrier must give you a written estimate of charges before it moves anything, under 49 CFR 375.401. A verbal number on a phone call is not an estimate for the purposes of the rule. You may also observe each weighing of your shipment and request a re-weigh before the charges are computed, under 49 CFR 375.519, which matters whenever the billed weight is the thing you disagree with.
The rules on one page
| What the regulation requires | Figure | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| On a non-binding estimate the carrier may require no more than 110 percent of the estimated charges at delivery; the balance is billed afterwards. | 110% | 49 CFR 375.407 |
| Charges above the amount collectible at delivery must be billed and are payable within 30 days of delivery. | 30 days | 49 CFR 375.407 |
| An interstate household-goods carrier must give the shipper a written estimate of charges before the move. | written estimate | 49 CFR 375.401 |
| The shipper may observe each weighing and may request a re-weigh before charges are computed. | re-weigh on request | 49 CFR 375.519 |
| Released value is the no-extra-charge level of carrier liability on an interstate household-goods move, set at 60 cents per pound per article. | 60 cents per pound per article | 49 CFR 375.701 |
| Every interstate household-goods carrier must offer the shipper a neutral arbitration program for disputes over loss, damage and charges, and must describe that programme before the move. | carrier-provided neutral arbitration | 49 CFR 375.211 |
| A property broker, including a broker that arranges vehicle transport, must maintain a surety bond or trust fund of at least $75,000 to hold registration. | $75,000 | 49 CFR 387.307 |
| Anyone transporting or arranging transport of property for compensation in interstate commerce must register with FMCSA and hold operating authority before doing so. | USDOT number and operating authority | 49 U.S.C. 13901 |
| The federal consumer-protection rules in Part 375, including the estimate, delivery and arbitration duties, apply to interstate household-goods shipments; a vehicle moved on its own is not a household-goods shipment. | household goods only | 49 CFR 375.101 |
What these rules do not tell you
These are obligations placed on movers. They are not a rating, and a mover being subject to them says nothing about whether it follows them. Bestmovers.info does not publish compliance findings for individual companies, and no company page on this site claims a company complies with any rule on this page. What the rules give you is a standard to hold a quote against: if a salesperson describes a term that contradicts one of these sections, the section wins.
Official sources
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mover hold my belongings until I pay more than the estimate?
What does released value cover?
Do these rules apply to a local move inside one state?
Does a mover being registered mean it follows these rules?
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