One in eight California-based companies licensed to handle interstate household moves doesn't move anything. MovePricer analyzed Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) licensing data compiled on November 1, 2026. Of the 667 household-goods companies with a California business address and active federal authority, 83 (12.4%) are brokers only. They have no trucks or crews and pass your move to another company. Nationwide the share is 7.2% (655 of 9,128). California has the 2nd-highest broker share of the 49 states ranked.
Brokers are legal and have to register with FMCSA. Booking with one means a second company handles your belongings, and many moving disputes start in the gap between the two.
What a broker does
FMCSA says a household-goods broker arranges the transportation of your shipment but does not haul it. The mover is the company that actually transports your goods. FMCSA also says a broker does not take on responsibility for your goods. A broker books the job and then gives it to a licensed carrier, and that carrier's crew loads the truck.
Why the price and the company can change after you book
A broker's price only holds if the carrier has formally agreed to it. Under federal rules, a broker can give you an estimate only if it has a written agreement with the carrier that adopts the broker's estimate as the carrier's own. The estimate also has to be based on that carrier's published tariff and on a physical survey of your belongings, done in person or by video. If you got a quick phone quote or a quote before any carrier was assigned, the company that arrives may give you a new price.
Federal limits still apply after that. A mover may not change the estimate once your goods are loaded. At delivery, it can demand no more than 100% of a binding estimate or 110% of a non-binding one. You have to sign a written addendum before you can be charged for extra services.
A case from this year shows how this can go wrong. CBS 8 and other outlets reported that an Oceanside couple moving to North Carolina signed a contract with a moving broker for just over $16,000 and paid a $7,000 deposit. They said the price went to $32,000 on moving day. The reports describe their belongings being held for months. The couple got them back after an investigator called it a "hostage load" and gave the movers seven days to deliver.
Federal rules brokers must follow
- Disclose that they are brokers. A broker's ads and website must say it does not transport household goods and only arranges the move with an FMCSA-authorized carrier.
- Give written estimates only. Estimates must follow the rules above. A verbal quote is not an official estimate.
- Name the carriers. Brokers must give you a list of the carriers they use and may only use carriers with active FMCSA authority.
- Hand over the federal paperwork. Movers and brokers must give you FMCSA's Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet and its Ready to Move brochure. Brokers must get a signed record showing you received them.
California's own rules
The state Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) says any company moving household goods within, into or out of California must be licensed with the bureau. Companies doing interstate moves also need an FMCSA license. Under state law a broker counts as a "household mover," so a broker that books California moves needs a state permit too. For moves within California, the mover must give you a "Not to Exceed" price. BHGS says you should receive the moving agreement at least three days before the move.
California prosecutors have brought these cases before. In 2004 the Attorney General's office announced that the owner of West Coast Movers was sentenced for felony grand theft. The case involved a Chula Vista woman's move to Florida, and her belongings were held while the company demanded more money. In 2013, a Santa Clara County grand jury charged eight people tied to ASAP Relocations of San Jose with conspiracy to commit grand theft, extortion and other crimes, according to the U.S. DOT Inspector General.
How to tell a broker from a mover before you pay a deposit
- Ask directly: "Are you the carrier, or are you a broker?" FMCSA says a legitimate company will tell you which it is.
- Ask for the name and USDOT number of the company that will load your truck. Then check that it has active household-goods carrier authority.
- Compare the names on the estimate, the contract and the deposit receipt. If they differ, ask why before you pay.
- Ask for a written estimate based on a survey of your belongings, not a phone figure.
- Make sure you received the two FMCSA documents. If you pay cash, FMCSA advises keeping every receipt.
About the data: The counts include companies with active federal interstate authority, sorted by business address. Brokers based in other states can also sell California moves. Companies licensed only by the state are not included.
How to check a mover before you sign
You can look up any company's USDOT record, including whether it is a carrier or a broker, with MovePricer's free tool at movepricer.com/check. FMCSA's Protect Your Move site also lets you check registration. For moves within, into or out of California, check the state license on the BHGS website. If something goes wrong, file a complaint with FMCSA, BHGS or the California Attorney General. They can explain your options.