If your entire move happened within one state, FMCSA does not regulate it and the federal rules in most moving articles do not apply to you. Intrastate moves are governed by state law, and the regulator varies: some states license movers through a public utilities commission or department of transportation, some through consumer affairs, and a few barely regulate movers at all. Your route is your state regulator and your state Attorney General.
This is the single biggest blind spot in moving scam advice. Almost everything published assumes an interstate move, and a large share of moves are not.
How to tell which kind of move you had
| Interstate | Intrastate | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Crosses a state line | Entirely within one state |
| Regulator | FMCSA, federal | Your state, varies |
| Governing rules | 49 CFR Part 375 and related statutes | State statutes and regulations |
| The 110% rule | Applies | Depends entirely on state law |
| 9-month claim deadline | Applies | Depends on state law |
| Where to complain | nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov | State regulator and Attorney General |
The test is the route, not the distance. A move from one end of Texas to the other, six hundred miles, is intrastate. A move from Manhattan to Newark, twelve miles, is interstate.
One thing worth checking: if your goods crossed a state line at any point, even briefly for routing or storage, the move may be treated as interstate. If your situation is close to the line, that is a question for a lawyer, because the answer decides which entire body of law applies.
What this means practically
None of these federal protections automatically apply to an intrastate move:
- The requirement that a mover release your shipment on payment of 110% of a weight-based non-binding estimate
- The requirement that non-binding estimates be based on weight rather than cubic feet
- The rule against amending an estimate after loading
- The 9-month written claim window and the 30-day and 120-day response obligations
- Released Value Protection at 60 cents per pound as the default
- The right to file at the National Consumer Complaint Database
Some states have adopted rules that look very similar, sometimes modeled directly on the federal scheme. Others have far less. The only way to know is to check your state.
Finding your state’s regulator
There is no single national answer, which is why this is confusing. Depending on the state, movers are overseen by a public utilities or public service commission, a state department of transportation, a motor vehicle agency, a department of consumer affairs, or in some cases nobody in particular.
How to find yours:
- Search: [your state] household goods mover licensing
- Also try: [your state] intrastate moving company regulations
- Look for a .gov result rather than a moving company’s blog
- Check whether that agency has a licence lookup, so you can verify the mover
- Check whether it accepts consumer complaints, and how
If you cannot find a dedicated regulator, your state may not license movers separately. In that case your Attorney General’s consumer protection division is the primary route.
Where to complain about an intrastate mover
- Your state’s mover regulator, if one exists. This is the body that can actually suspend a licence
- Your state Attorney General’s consumer protection division. They have jurisdiction over deceptive trade practices regardless of whether movers are separately licensed
- The Better Business Bureau, which is public and visible and does produce settlements
- Small claims court, often the most practical route for recovering money on a smaller intrastate claim
Do not file at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov for a purely intrastate move. FMCSA does not have jurisdiction and the complaint will not go anywhere useful.
One thing that helps regardless of state
Even where state rules are thin, general consumer protection law still applies. Deceptive practices, misrepresentation, and failure to deliver contracted services are actionable in every state, and that is your Attorney General’s territory.
So the evidence that matters is the same as an interstate move:
- The written estimate, and whether the final charge matched it
- The bill of lading
- Written communication, especially anything showing a price changing after loading
- Photographs of your belongings and of any damage
- What you were told verbally versus what the documents say
A mover who quoted one number, loaded your goods, then demanded another is describing a deceptive practice in any state, whatever the specific licensing regime.
Before you hire an intrastate mover
Verification still matters, it just happens somewhere different.
- Check whether your state licenses movers, and whether this one is licensed
- Ask for a written estimate and read whether it is binding or non-binding
- Ask whether pricing is by weight, cubic feet, or hourly, and get it in writing
- Insist on an in-person or video survey
- Refuse a large cash deposit
- Pay by credit card, which preserves a chargeback route no matter what the state rules say
That last point is worth emphasising for intrastate moves specifically. Where the regulatory protection is weaker, your payment method becomes a bigger part of your protection.
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates moving companies within a single state?
State law, not FMCSA. The specific agency varies: a public utilities commission, a state department of transportation, a consumer affairs department, or in some states no dedicated mover regulator at all. Your state Attorney General handles deceptive practices in any case.
Does the 110% rule apply to a local move?
Not automatically. The 110% rule comes from federal regulations that apply to interstate moves. Some states have adopted similar rules, but you have to check your state’s own regulations.
Can I file an FMCSA complaint about a local mover?
No. FMCSA regulates interstate transportation. For a move entirely within one state, file with your state regulator and your state Attorney General instead.
Is a 600-mile move within one state interstate?
No. The test is whether the move crosses a state line, not how far it goes. A long move inside one state is intrastate; a short move across a state line is interstate.
What if my goods crossed a state line during a local move?
It may be treated as interstate, which would change which rules apply entirely. If your situation is near that line, it is worth asking a lawyer rather than assuming.
Related reading
- Red flags in a moving quote
- Why your payment method matters most when rules are thin
- How to write a demand letter to a moving company
- Can you sue a moving company?
- How to check if a moving company is licensed and insured
Related
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