Of the 895 household-goods movers on record in Washington, 358 (40%) have no federal interstate operating authority. That means they may only move you within Washington. These figures come from MovePricer's compilation of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) licensing, insurance, revocation and out-of-service data as of October 17, 2026. Nationally, the share is 31.9% (12,031 of 37,681 movers on record). Washington ranks 13th of 51 on this measure.
The same records show 214 Washington-based household-goods carriers with active federal (interstate) authority. Being in FMCSA's records is not the same thing as holding active authority to move your belongings across a state line.
A mover that only works in-state is not doing anything wrong. Many of these are legitimate local companies. The risk comes when a customer books one of them for a move it isn't authorized to do.
Why the state line matters
Washington and the federal government split the job. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) says any moving company working within Washington must hold a valid UTC permit, and that operating without one is illegal. The UTC also states that it "does not regulate moves that happen between states."
Moves that cross a state line fall under FMCSA, and every interstate moving company has to be registered with that agency. Distance doesn't change this. A 15-minute trip from Vancouver to Portland, or a drive from Spokane to Coeur d'Alene, is still an interstate move. A mover with only a UTC permit is not authorized to do it. It works the other way, too: an in-state Washington move needs a mover with a UTC permit.
What protections apply to interstate moves
Federal law (49 CFR Part 375) covers interstate household moves. If your mover has federal authority, you are entitled to these protections:
- The federal booklet. Before your goods are moved, the mover must give you Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. It explains the documents you'll be asked to sign and what you can do if items are lost or damaged.
- A choice of liability coverage. Interstate movers must offer you either Full Value Protection or Released Value for loss or damage.
- A complaint channel. FMCSA does not resolve individual claims. But a complaint filed at protectyourmove.gov or by calling 1-888-368-7238 can lead to a federal enforcement investigation. FMCSA says it can review and revoke the licenses of movers and brokers, and can refer possible criminal cases to the Department of Justice.
A mover without federal authority is outside that system. If it takes on an interstate job anyway, you may have to sort out any dispute without these federal rules on your side.
What has gone wrong in Washington
Public records show regular enforcement against movers working without a permit:
- In 2020, a UTC administrative law judge assessed a $62,000 penalty against Lugg, Inc. The commission found 10 violations for acting as a household goods carrier without a permit, plus violations for advertising service without a permit. The penalty was entered by default after the company failed to appear at a hearing.
- In 2023, at the UTC's request, Snohomish County Superior Court ordered Carl J. Washington, owner of a Lynnwood-based moving business, to pay $2,000 a day for continuing to operate illegally. He had done business as Jay's Moving Company, Jeffrey's Moving Company and Jack's Moving Company. The UTC says he has a long history of operating without the required permit.
- A 2022 UTC release, as reported by South Sound Business, said the agency had acted against 17 nonpermitted moving companies in the past year and issued $154,000 in penalties.
Interstate moves into Washington have gone badly too. In 2025, a news report followed an 83-year-old woman who moved from Palm Desert, California, to a senior community in Bothell. By her account, she was first quoted $3,700. Once everything was on the truck, she was handed a bill of more than $26,000. FMCSA has described this "hostage" pattern nationally: movers load a customer's belongings, then demand much more money before they will deliver them.
In a spring 2025 bulletin, the UTC warned that unpermitted movers may undercharge or overcharge, may not carry the required insurance, and often rely on a business license alone, which does not authorize household-goods moving.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Decide which rules apply. If your pickup and drop-off are in different states, you need a mover with active federal household-goods authority. If both are in Washington, you need a UTC permit.
- For interstate moves, get the USDOT number and look it up. Check it at FMCSA's Protect Your Move site, or use MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check to see a mover's USDOT record, including whether its interstate authority is active.
- For in-state moves, look for the UTC permit number. Movers must include it in their ads. Valid numbers start with THG or HG. You can confirm a permit and check complaint history with the UTC at 1-888-333-9882.
- Get estimates in writing. The UTC recommends getting at least two written estimates and knowing each company's full name, address and phone number.
- Know where to complain. Contact the UTC for in-state moves and FMCSA for interstate moves. For legal questions, contact the Washington Attorney General's Office or a lawyer.