If you are moving off-island to the mainland, nearly half the moving companies on record in Hawaii are not authorized to take the job. Of the 79 household-goods movers on record in Hawaii, 38 have no federal interstate authority. They may move you only within Hawaii. That is 48.1%, compared with 31.9% nationwide (12,031 of 37,681 movers). Hawaii has the 5th-highest in-state-only share of the 51 jurisdictions ranked.
The figures come from MovePricer's compilation of FMCSA licensing and insurance, revocation and out-of-service datasets published on data.transportation.gov, as of October 24, 2026. In the same data, 35 household-goods carriers with a Hawaii business address hold active federal operating authority.
Why the type of license matters
Hawaii has two regulators, depending on where your move goes. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates moves within the state. Under the PUC's motor carrier rules, any company moving household goods inside Hawaii needs a Motor Carrier Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, usually called a "PUC number." The PUC treats household goods as its own category of property carrier, alongside general commodities and dump-truck hauling.
Moves between states are a different matter. The federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates interstate movers, and they must have a USDOT number. A PUC number on its own does not allow a company to take your belongings out of Hawaii.
Hawaii has no land border, so you can't cross into another state on a short drive the way people can in places like the Washington, D.C., area. Any move to another state means a mainland shipment. Most household goods entering or leaving Hawaii go through the port of Honolulu, and these moves often involve more than one company: a local crew, an ocean shipment and a mainland delivery agent. Before you sign, ask in writing which company is responsible for each part of the move. Then check each one.
What federal rules give you on an interstate move
FMCSA's consumer rules apply to interstate household-goods movers and to the brokers who arrange those moves. They include:
- A written estimate. FMCSA requires your mover to give you a written estimate for every shipment.
- A price cap at delivery. With a binding estimate, you pay 100% of the estimate when your goods are delivered. With a non-binding estimate, the mover cannot require more than 110% at delivery. Once you pay that amount, the mover must hand over your shipment.
- The rights booklet. Movers must give you a copy of, or a link to, FMCSA's Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.
- A public complaint record. You can report a mover to FMCSA's hotline at 1-888-368-7238 or through protectyourmove.gov.
There are limits. FMCSA says it cannot settle your dispute with your mover. If a company has no federal authority at all, you may find it much harder to enforce these protections.
When moves to and from Hawaii go wrong
Hawaii families have been caught by interstate moving problems before. KHON2's Always Investigating reported that two California-based companies sold Hawaii moving services to dozens of families. Those families had not seen their belongings or their money for as long as a year. KHON reported that FMCSA had received dozens of complaints about both companies. Stephen Levins, who then led the state DCCA Office of Consumer Protection, told the station that people need to be especially careful with interstate moves.
FMCSA has taken companies to court for moving people without federal registration. In one case, the agency won a judgment against a household-goods mover for unauthorized transportation, in violation of FMCSA's registration rules. The agency also runs Operation Protect Your Move, which sends dozens of investigators each year to look into the movers with the worst complaint records.
Where to complain
For a move within Hawaii, you can file a complaint against a regulated mover with the Hawaii PUC. For an interstate move, contact FMCSA. For possible unfair or deceptive business practices, the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) takes complaints at 1-844-808-3222. This article is not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact FMCSA, the PUC or the DCCA Office of Consumer Protection.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Get the numbers. Ask for the mover's USDOT number and PUC number. FMCSA advises against hiring movers that don't list a USDOT number in their ads.
- Match the license to the move. For a move to the mainland, confirm the mover has active federal household-goods authority. For a move within Hawaii, check the PUC's list of active motor carriers.
- Look up the record. Use MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check or FMCSA's protectyourmove.gov to see the company's USDOT status and complaint history.
- Watch for red flags. Be wary of a mover that won't do an on-site or video inspection, won't give you the rights booklet, or asks for a large cash deposit before the move.