Your Rights When You Move: What a Mover Can and Can't Do
The short answer: on an interstate move, federal rules give you a written estimate, release of your goods at the 100%/110% cap, the right to watch the weighing and demand a reweigh, a choice of valuation, at least 9 months to file a loss-or-damage claim, and access to a neutral arbitration program.
When you hire a company to move your household goods across state lines, federal rules give you a specific set of rights — the kind most people never read until something goes wrong. This page is the plain-English version of what those rights are, drawn from FMCSA’s Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, the booklet a mover is required to hand you.[1] It is general information, not legal advice.
The right to a written estimate
A mover is expected to give you a written estimate, and to tell you whether it is binding (a guaranteed price) or non-binding (an approximation).[2] Which kind you have determines how much can be required at delivery — explained in binding vs. non-binding estimates.
The right to get your goods back at the cap (100% / 110%)
This is the one most people are looking for. A mover must release your shipment when you pay 100% of a binding estimate, or 110% of a non-binding estimate (plus, where it applies, a portion of certain “impracticable operations” charges).[3] A demand for more than that, before unloading, is the situation the hostage-load rules address. The full breakdown is in the 110% rule.
The right to watch the weighing
On a shipment priced by weight, you have the right to be present and observe the weighing, and to request a reweigh at no charge if the weight looks wrong.[2] Inflated weight is one of the quieter ways a non-binding bill climbs.
The right to choose how your goods are protected
A mover must offer two liability levels: Full Value Protection (the mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged items) and Released Value (free, but capped at 60 cents per pound, per article).[2] Which one is on your paperwork sets the ceiling if something breaks — see a damage claim.
The right to file a claim — and the time you have
If items are lost or damaged, you have at least 9 months from delivery to file a written claim with the mover (and at least 2 years to bring a civil action if it is denied).[2]
The right to arbitration
For a loss, damage, or charges dispute, the mover must offer a neutral arbitration program, and for a claim of $10,000 or less the mover must agree to arbitration if you request it, with the arbitrator’s decision binding.[4] How that works is in moving company arbitration.
The right to the required documents
Along the way, a mover must give you the written estimate, the Ready to Move? brochure, the arbitration-program information, access to its tariff, the claims procedure, and this rights booklet.[1] What changed in 2022 is covered in the documents your mover must give you.
If a move has gone wrong and one of these rights is in play, movers scammed me — what to do lays out the ordered path for raising it, step by step.
Sources
Every legal claim above links to one of these official sources. Rules change — check the source if you're acting on this.