Of the 734 household-goods movers on record in Arizona, 307 (41.8%) have no federal interstate operating authority. That means they may legally move you only within Arizona. The figures come from MovePricer's analysis of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) licensing, revocation and out-of-service data, compiled October 17, 2026. Nationally the share is 31.9% (12,031 of 37,681 movers on record). Arizona ranks 9th of the 51 jurisdictions in the ranking.
The same data show 141 household-goods carriers with Arizona business addresses that hold active federal interstate authority.
Why the state line matters
FMCSA regulates moves that cross state lines. Moves that stay entirely inside one state fall under that state's law. A company without interstate authority isn't permitted to haul your belongings into another state. That's true for a cross-country move and also for a short move across the Colorado River to Nevada or California.
Arizona's own protections don't fill that gap. The Arizona Department of Public Safety says the state's household-goods moving law applies to in-state moves only. One caveat: FMCSA's consumer booklet notes that some moves crossing a state line inside federally defined commercial zones are exempt from its rules. If you're making a short move across the border, ask the mover directly which rules will apply.
What protects you on an interstate move
When you hire a mover registered with FMCSA for a move across state lines, federal rules (49 CFR Part 375) give you specific protections:
- The rights booklet. Movers must give you FMCSA's Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, along with a written estimate and information about claims and arbitration.
- A cap on what you pay at delivery. On a non-binding estimate, the mover can't make you pay more than 110% of the estimate at delivery. On a binding estimate, the limit is 100%. Remaining charges are billed later.
- Protection against hostage loads. FMCSA's handbook says a mover that won't hand over your goods after you pay those amounts is holding your shipment hostage in violation of federal law.
- A place to complain. FMCSA takes complaints at 1-888-368-7238, and a complaint can trigger a federal enforcement investigation. FMCSA can't settle your individual dispute, though.
What Arizona law covers, and what it doesn't
According to the Arizona Attorney General's Office, Arizona has no registration law or professional licensing requirement for movers. What the state does have is a Hostage Load Law (A.R.S. §§ 44-1611 to 44-1616), passed in 2017 as HB 2145. Under that law, an in-state mover can't refuse to deliver or unload your goods once you pay the "total estimated price" in the signed contract. Movers must also accurately disclose their fees and the scope of their insurance, and violations count as unlawful practices under the Consumer Fraud Act. DPS's Household Goods Enforcement unit investigates moving complaints and enforces FMCSA household-goods rules.
Recent Arizona complaints and enforcement
In September 2026, ABC15 reported that DPS had received 97 complaints against moving companies so far that year, 14 of them involving Arizona-based companies. One resident told the station it took more than 30 days and $5,000 to get her belongings back. A 69-year-old Sierra Vista man said he had paid a deposit of about $1,500 for a move from Illinois in May and was still waiting for his things to arrive.
The Attorney General's Office has also sued movers. In 2010, then-Attorney General Terry Goddard sued Chandler-based Allstar Moving and Storage. The state alleged the company added more than 40% to its advertised rates through extra fees. In 2014, Attorney General Tom Horne sued Allstars Movers and Storage Inc. and Tucson's 3 Gorillas Moving and Storage, LLC. The state alleged false cost estimates and refusals to unload unless customers paid higher rates. A 2015 consent judgment in the Allstars case barred its owner from the moving, packing and storage business for two years. Attorney General Kris Mayes has since warned consumers about hostage-load schemes, where a mover gives a low estimate and then raises the price once your things are on the truck.
This article is not legal advice. For questions about your rights, contact FMCSA or the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Get the USDOT number and look it up with the free tool at movepricer.com/check or on FMCSA's Protect Your Move site.
- If you're crossing a state line, make sure the company has active interstate household-goods authority, not just a USDOT number.
- Ask whether it's a mover or a broker. FMCSA notes that brokers don't transport your goods themselves.
- Get written estimates from at least three companies. For an interstate move, expect the Your Rights and Responsibilities booklet.
- If a mover holds your goods, call local police and the DPS moving hotline at (602) 223-5000 for an in-state move, or FMCSA at 1-888-368-7238 for an interstate move. You can also file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General.