Your Rights and Responsibilities When Moving Interstate

Your Rights When Moving Interstate

Any company that moves household goods across state lines — or brokers such a move — must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Registration isn't optional. It requires carriers to maintain active operating authority, carry federally mandated insurance, and comply with consumer protection regulations under 49 U.S.C. § 13706 and 49 C.F.R. Parts 371 and 375.

From the moment you request a quote, you are entitled to:

• A written estimate before any work begins — verbal quotes have no legal standing.
• A copy of the FMCSA's consumer booklet “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” — the carrier or broker is required to provide this before you sign anything.
• A copy of every document you sign, including the Bill of Lading, the Order for Service, and any addenda.
• The carrier's USDOT number and MC number, both of which you can verify independently.

Binding vs. Non-Binding Estimates

Understanding the difference between these two estimate types is critical — they determine how much you can be required to pay at delivery.

A binding estimateis a firm, written commitment to a total price based on a specified inventory and list of services. The carrier cannot charge more than the amount on the binding estimate for the services listed, regardless of the actual weight of your shipment. If you add services after the estimate is issued (such as packing materials you didn't originally request), those additions may be billed separately — but everything in the original scope is locked.

A non-binding estimateis the carrier's best projection based on the inventory, but the final price is calculated after the shipment is weighed. If your household goods weigh more than expected, your bill will be higher. A non-binding estimate is not a price guarantee — it's an educated estimate. If you receive only a non-binding estimate, it is worth asking the carrier explicitly whether a binding estimate is available.

The 110% Rule

One of the most important consumer protections in interstate moving law is what industry professionals call the “110% rule.” Here is what it means in plain language:

If you have a non-binding estimate, the carrier may not require you to pay more than 110% of that estimate at delivery before releasing your goods. So if your non-binding estimate was $4,000 and the actual weight came in higher, the maximum you can be required to pay on delivery day is $4,400. Any balance beyond 110% must be invoiced separately and paid within 30 days after delivery — the carrier cannot withhold your belongings to collect it.

If you have a binding estimate, the cap is simpler: the carrier cannot require any amount beyond the binding price for the listed services. The 110% rule does not apply because the binding estimate already sets the ceiling.

Knowing your estimate type before moving day means knowing your maximum exposure — which is why we always recommend getting it in writing.

Valuation and Claims: What Happens If Something Is Damaged

Federal regulation requires every carrier to offer two levels of liability coverage. Neither is insurance — both are the carrier's legal liability for loss or damage to your goods.

Released value protection(the default) costs you nothing, but provides minimal coverage: 60 cents per pound per item. If a 30-pound flatscreen television worth $800 is destroyed, the carrier's maximum liability under released value is $18. For most households, this is dangerously inadequate.

Full-value protection requires the carrier to repair, replace, or pay the current market value for any lost or damaged item — regardless of weight. Carriers may charge for this coverage, and the rates vary. You must declare the full-value option in writing before your move begins; you cannot elect it after the fact. Ask your carrier what their full-value rate is and what exclusions apply.

Filing a claim: You have a 9-month window from the date of delivery to file a written claim with the carrier. The carrier then has 30 days to acknowledge receipt and 120 days to either pay, deny, or make a settlement offer. Document damage on the Bill of Lading at delivery whenever possible, and photograph everything before and after the move.

Required Reading

The FMCSA publishes two resources every consumer should review before booking an interstate move:

• Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move (PDF) — the official FMCSA consumer booklet covering estimates, valuation, claims, dispute resolution, and prohibited practices. Every licensed carrier is required to provide this to you before your move.
• Protect Your Move — fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move — the FMCSA's consumer protection portal where you can verify a mover's registration, check their safety rating, and look up complaint history before signing anything.

Bundle Moving's Role: Broker Disclosure

Bundle Moving operates as a licensed household goods broker registered with the FMCSA. Our MC number appears in the footer of this website and can be verified at any time using the FMCSA's mover search tool above.

As a broker, we arrange transportation of your household goods by FMCSA-licensed motor carriers — we do not transport goods ourselves. The actual transportation is performed by a carrier in our vetted network, and that carrier's responsibilities are governed by federal regulation (49 C.F.R. Part 375) and by the terms of your Bill of Lading.

We disclose this arrangement in writing before you book, in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 371.113. You will receive:

• The name and USDOT number of the carrier assigned to your move.
• A written estimate from or on behalf of that carrier.
• A copy of the FMCSA consumer booklet and the carrier's arbitration program information, as required by regulation.

If you have questions about your rights or our process at any point, contact your dedicated move manager. We're here to help you navigate this — not to make it harder.