Texas

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

License Required

Yes

Yes. An Intrastate Household Goods Carrier Certificate is mandatory.

Insurance Required

Yes. Liability and cargo insurance must be filed via Form E and Form H/I.

Tariff Required

Yes. Movers must maintain a filed tariff of their rates.

USDOT / UCR Required

Where applicable. Required for interstate or federally regulated operations. Official UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) guidance is at plan.ucr.gov and filing at www.ucr.gov.

Written Proposal Required

Yes. A written “proposal” or estimate must be provided before loading.

Contract Required

Yes. A moving services contract must be issued to the shipper prior to loading and at delivery.

Application Fee

$100 application fee, plus $10 per vehicle and $100 per insurance filing per Form E/H/I.

Consumer Complaints

Through TxDMV’s enforcement division: Online Form

OverviewOverview & Scope

Texas law mandates that every household goods carrier operating within state boundaries hold a valid TxDMV intrastate mover certificate. Operating without one is illegal and may result in significant penalties.

Federal requirements are separate: a USDOT number attaches to the company operating vehicles in interstate or federally regulated operations, and UCR applies to interstate operations. Where a mover subcontracts transport, the carrier’s own registrations cover the transport it performs.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Requirements

Movers must:

1. Apply for a Carrier Certificate through TxDMV.
2. Maintain Proper Insurance Filing:
   • Liability (via Form E)
   • Cargo insurance (via Form H/I)
3. File a Tariff that details services, pricing, and valuation levels.
4. Provide a Written Proposal (binding or not-to-exceed estimate) before loading. It must include the carrier’s name, address, liability limits, and payment terms.
5. Issue a Contract for moving services prior to loading and again at delivery, detailing shipment information, carrier liability, and claims process.
6. Display Official Identifiers (the TxDMV certificate number and, if applicable, the USDOT number) on marketing materials and on the vehicles the mover operates.
7. Renew annually and update all operational, insurance, and tariff records as needed.

ConsumerConsumer Protections

• Licensure ensures regulation, transparency, and recourse for disputes.
• Required documents (proposal, contract, and tariff) provide clarity and prevent hidden charges.
• Standard mover liability applies automatically, with options for higher declared values.
• Consumers have 90 days to file damage claims, and carriers have timelines to respond and resolve issues.
• Unlicensed movers or “rogue” operators expose consumers to fraud, unregulated practices, and risk of loss.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• TxDMV Intrastate Household Goods Carrier Certificate, renewed annuallyWhere applicable (mover operates as a household goods carrier within Texas)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Liability (Form E) and cargo (Form H/I) insurance filed with TxDMVWhere applicable (mover holds a TxDMV household goods certificate)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Tariff filed, covering services, pricing and valuation levelsWhere applicable (mover holds a TxDMV household goods certificate)Verified by DocumentRequired
• UCR registrationWhere applicable (mover engages in interstate operations)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• TxDMV certificate number and, if applicable, USDOT number displayed on vehiclesWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• USDOT numberWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles in interstate or federally regulated operations)Verified by DocumentRequired

Customer practices

• Written proposal (binding or not-to-exceed estimate) given before loading, with carrier name, address, liability limits and payment termsWhere applicable (mover holds a TxDMV household goods certificate)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Moving services contract issued before loading and at delivery, with shipment information, carrier liability and claims processWhere applicable (mover holds a TxDMV household goods certificate)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• TxDMV certificate number and, if applicable, USDOT number shown on marketing materialsWhere applicable (mover holds a TxDMV household goods certificate)Verified by AffirmationRequired