Nearly half of the household-goods movers on record in Texas are not authorized to carry your belongings across a state line. MovePricer compiled Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) licensing, revocation and out-of-service data on October 17, 2026. Of the 3,887 Texas movers on record, 1,883 (48.4%) have no federal interstate operating authority, so they may move you only within Texas.
Across the United States the share is 31.9% (12,031 of 37,681 movers on record). Texas has the third-highest share of the 51 jurisdictions ranked. By business address, 592 Texas household-goods carriers hold active federal interstate authority.
A mover that works only inside Texas is not doing anything wrong. Many local movers never leave the state. The problem comes when a customer books one of these movers for a job that crosses a state line.
Two licenses for two kinds of moves
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) explains the split. A mover that crosses state lines needs interstate operating authority (an MC number) from FMCSA. A mover that stays in Texas needs intrastate authority, which is a TxDMV certificate. Under Texas law, every intrastate carrier must register with TxDMV and file proof of insurance. For household-goods movers with trucks under 26,000 pounds, the minimum liability coverage is $300,000. They also need cargo insurance of at least $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 in total.
A USDOT number alone does not show that a mover can legally move you to another state. You need to confirm that the mover has active interstate authority to carry household goods.
Why the state line matters, even on a short move
Some moves obviously cross a state line, like Dallas to Oklahoma City or Houston to Louisiana. Others are short trips in metro areas that straddle a border, such as Texarkana, or El Paso and southern New Mexico. If the mover you hire has no interstate authority, the move is not one that mover is authorized to do. That can make things much harder if something goes wrong.
One caveat matters for short cross-border moves. FMCSA's consumer handbook says the federal moving rules do not apply to moves within a commercial zone or between two points in the same state. For a short move across a state line, ask the mover which rules cover your move and in writing, and check with FMCSA if you're unsure.
What protections come with an interstate move
When federal rules apply, FMCSA says interstate movers must get federal authority and follow rules on estimates and on releasing your goods. Among other things:
- Written estimates. FMCSA requires your mover to give you a written estimate for every shipment.
- Required paperwork. Before an interstate move, movers and brokers must give you the booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move and FMCSA's Ready to Move brochure.
- A choice of liability coverage. Interstate movers must offer you Full Value Protection or Released Value coverage for loss or damage.
- Arbitration. Interstate movers must offer an arbitration program, which settles disputes through an independent third party without hiring a lawyer. If you ask for arbitration on a claim of $10,000 or less, the mover has to take part.
A Texas-only mover operates under TxDMV's state rules instead. You get the federal protections above only when you hire a mover that holds federal authority for that kind of move.
Enforcement and Texas's role
In 2023, FMCSA launched Operation Protect Your Move after what it called a significant uptick in complaints of movers holding possessions hostage to demand large extra charges. The operation also covers brokers that claim to connect customers with local movers but help scams instead. In one three-week sweep, FMCSA staff ran more than 100 investigations in 16 states. Those investigations produced over 60 enforcement actions that could lead to some movers and brokers losing their authority. The Texas Attorney General's office was among the first state agencies to join FMCSA's Household Goods State Enforcement Partnership Program.
This article is not legal advice. If you have a dispute about an interstate move, contact FMCSA through Protect Your Move. For a move within Texas, contact TxDMV. In either case you can also contact the Texas Attorney General's office.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Know whether you're crossing a state line. If you are, ask for the mover's USDOT and MC numbers. Confirm the mover has active interstate authority to carry household goods, not just a USDOT number.
- Look up the record yourself. Use FMCSA's Protect Your Move resources, or MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check, which shows a mover's USDOT record.
- Staying in Texas? Ask for the mover's TxDMV certificate number and confirm it is active with TxDMV.
- Ask whether you're dealing with a broker or a mover. A broker arranges your move but doesn't haul your goods. Find out which company will actually show up with the truck, and check that company too.
- Get everything in writing before anything is loaded, including the estimate, the coverage you chose and the rules that apply to your move.