State desk
Moving in California: who regulates the mover
A move that stays inside California is regulated by the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS), Department of Consumer Affairs. Ask for the BHGS household mover permit number (older paper shows a CAL-T number). A move that crosses the state line is FMCSA, with a USDOT you can check.
Call +1 (866) 961-9682Haulest data team · Desk opened official pages 17 September 2026. Editorial.
Why you are here
National moving sites clone the FMCSA booklet onto every state. Most in-state moves are not federal, and the desk that can actually help is a state office with its own number.
Why Haulest
We name the regulator, the ID to ask for, and the complaint door. We do not print a fee or a tariff figure we did not open. We are not a carrier.
| Move | Regulator | Ask the mover for | Complaint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside California | Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS), Department of Consumer Affairs | BHGS household mover permit number (older paper shows a CAL-T number) | BHGS complaint form |
| Crossing a state line | FMCSA (federal) | USDOT and MC numbers with household-goods authority | NCCDB and the FMCSA hotline |
What to know before the deposit
California moved mover oversight from the Public Utilities Commission to BHGS in 2018. A licensed mover gives a written estimate with a maximum price, and a not-to-exceed figure on paper is what the state expects at delivery.
Registered is not the same as good. A state credential means the office can find the company and that it filed what the state requires. Read the dated reviews, then call.
Cities we hold rows for
171 dated review rows across Los Angeles, San Diego, as of 17 Sep 2026. Each city has a cost page; cities with three or more mover profiles also have a directory.
Official sources
Links go to the publisher. Haulest does not add findings. We checked these URLs in September 2026. If the live page moved, believe the agency.
- Bureau of Household Goods and Services
Opens a government site. Checked September 2026.
- DCA licence search
Opens a government site. Checked September 2026.
- FMCSA Protect Your Move
Opens a government site. Checked September 2026.
- FMCSA SAFER company snapshot
Opens a government site. Checked September 2026.
Ask out loud
- Does California license moving companies?
- Yes, for moves inside the state. The Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS), Department of Consumer Affairs issues the credential. Ask for the BHGS household mover permit number (older paper shows a CAL-T number) and check it on the official site.
- Does the state rule apply to an interstate move?
- No. A move that crosses the state line is under FMCSA rules: written estimate, binding or non-binding, the 110% rule, and a USDOT you can check on SAFER.
- Where do I complain about a mover in California?
- In-state: the BHGS complaint form. Interstate: the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database, and the hotline for a hostage load.
Next
Call for a free quote
From, then To. Date and home size after that. A person on the phone is faster if you already know the dates.
Call +1 (866) 961-9682Haulest is not a carrier. We connect you to movers. We do not dispatch a truck.
Haulest is a research desk and quote line operated by Panaweb LLC. We are not a carrier.