Almost half of the household-goods movers on record in Colorado cannot legally move you out of the state. MovePricer compiled federal records on October 17, 2026. Of the 947 Colorado movers in those records, 457 (48.3%) have no federal interstate operating authority. They may only do moves that start and end inside Colorado. Nationally the share is 31.9% (12,031 of 37,681 movers). Colorado has the 4th-highest share of the 51 jurisdictions ranked. The same data shows that only 185 household-goods carriers with a Colorado business address hold active federal interstate authority.
Being in-state-only is not a warning sign by itself. Many of these companies are local movers that hold a state permit. The problem comes when one of them takes a job that crosses a state line.
Why a state line changes the rules
Under federal rules, interstate moving companies must get authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) before they can do household-goods moves, and they must follow federal requirements. FMCSA's consumer handbook says its rules apply when you move from one state to another. They do not apply to moves between two points in the same state or within a commercial zone.
That means a move from Fort Collins to Cheyenne, or from Durango to New Mexico, counts as interstate, even though it's a short drive. For very short moves across a border, ask FMCSA whether a commercial-zone exception applies. If you hire a mover with only a state permit for an interstate job, you may not get the federal paperwork and protections described below.
What federal rules give interstate customers
- Required information. Before an interstate move, movers and brokers must give you FMCSA's booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move and its Ready to Move brochure.
- Written estimates. FMCSA requires interstate movers to give a written estimate on every shipment.
- A choice of coverage. Interstate movers must offer Full Value Protection or Released Value. Released Value is free but limits the mover's liability to 60 cents per pound per item. Under that option, a 10-pound item worth $1,000 would be covered for $6.
- Dispute settlement. Interstate movers must offer a neutral dispute settlement program and tell you about it before the move.
- Enforcement. FMCSA may take action when a mover or broker knowingly fails to deliver goods to the agreed destination after the customer has paid.
What Colorado requires for in-state moves
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates in-state movers. Every permitted mover has a PUC permit number containing the letters "HHG." Under state rules, movers must:
- give you a written document listing services and costs before the move, plus a written "consumer advisement" explaining your rights
- accept at least two forms of payment
- never withhold prescription medication, medical supplies or children's goods
- tell you where your goods are stored if there is a fee dispute
A mover without a PUC permit may not hold your property to force payment. Colorado also has an arbitration process for disputes. In an April 2026 alert, the PUC warned that using a mover without a permit can lead to theft or uninsured damage.
A Colorado case
The Weld County District Attorney's Office reported that in May 2024, the owner of an Aurora moving company, H&M Relocation Services, was sentenced to six years in prison after a jury convicted him of two counts of theft. He failed to deliver more than $150,000 worth of property that his company was hired to move in 2021. The prosecutor said the defendant
"preyed on people who were moving across the country, and who didn't have time or leverage to fight back."
Denver7 reported that in every case, customers thought they had hired a different company. They later learned that a moving broker had passed the job to his company.
The Colorado Attorney General's Office received more than 110 moving-related complaints in 2022. They ranged from lost items and late deliveries to goods "held hostage" over surprise charges. The office recommends getting written, in-home estimates from at least three companies. If a mover threatens to hold your belongings, call local police right away.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Decide whether your move crosses a state line. If it does, the mover needs active federal household-goods authority, not just a Colorado permit.
- Look up the mover's USDOT record. You can use FMCSA's tools or MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check to see whether a company's interstate authority is active, revoked or missing.
- For in-state moves, check the PUC permit through the PUC's online search or by calling 303-894-2070.
- Ask whether you're dealing with a mover or a broker, and get the name of the company that will actually move your things.
- Get everything in writing before anything goes on the truck.
If something goes wrong on an interstate move, file a complaint with FMCSA. For in-state moves, contact the PUC. Fraud can also be reported to the Colorado Attorney General. This article is general information, not legal advice.