Does New York license moving companies?

Yes, for moves inside the state. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) issues the credential. Ask for the NYSDOT household goods certificate 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 New York?

In-state: the NYSDOT motor carrier complaint. Interstate: the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database, and the hotline for a hostage load.

Moving in New York: movers at work during a household move.

State desk

Moving in New York: Movers, Rules and Costs

A move that stays inside New York is regulated by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). Ask for the NYSDOT household goods certificate number. A move that crosses the state line is FMCSA, with a USDOT you can check.

Haulest data team · Desk opened official pages 17 September 2026. Editorial.

Who regulates a New York move. Checked September 2026.

Move	Regulator	Ask the mover for	Complaint
Inside New York	New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)	NYSDOT household goods certificate number, the NYDOT number on the truck	NYSDOT motor carrier complaint
Crossing a state line	FMCSA (federal)	USDOT and MC numbers with household-goods authority	NCCDB and the FMCSA hotline

Top-rated movers in New York

Each has 5+ reviews and 4.0+ stars. Movers reviewed in the last 3 years come first, then by rating weighted by how many reviews back it. No mover pays to be on this list.

Get free quotes from New York movers See all 291 movers in New York

Who moved to and from New York from other states, 2024. In: 284,868. Out: 415,304. Net: −130,436 people.

Came from	People	Left for	People
New Jersey	36,002	New Jersey	56,799
California	31,367	Florida	50,661
Florida	28,080	Pennsylvania	29,274
Pennsylvania	23,152	Texas	28,233
Massachusetts	17,862	Connecticut	25,095
Texas	16,324	California	24,927

Source: US Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration, read 2024.

What living in New York costs, against the US. Price parity: US = 100.

Measure	New York
Price level, all items	107.9 (5 of 51)
Housing (rents) price level	121.4
State income tax on wages	About $3,453 on a $75,000 salary (single filer, 2026 brackets)

Sources: US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, read 2024; Tax Foundation, 2026 state income tax brackets (estimate, no local tax).

What reviewers paid for moves touching New York, reviews posted since 1 Jan 2024. A median needs 20 priced reviews; a lane needs 10.

Move	Median paid	Priced reviews
Leaving from New York	$4,200	347
Arriving from another state	$3,900	185
Within New York	$1,700	95
New York to Florida	$5,000	42
Florida to New York	$3,600	25
New York to California	$5,400	21
New York to New Jersey	$3,680	19
California to New York	$4,000	18
New York to Texas	$4,000	13
New Jersey to New York	$4,000	12
New York to Virginia	$4,786	10

Source: Haulest review file (reviewer-reported whole-move prices).

Moving to a New York city

Cities in New York

All of United States

49 more cities

Search all 291 New York movers by name or USDOT

Housing pulse

New York housing, 2026

Median sale price: $620,500; +5.1% on a year earlier
Homes sold in the month: 8,348; -17.2% on a year earlier
Median days on market: 42
Months of supply: 4.6

Homes sold in the month is the closest public count of households changing address in the state. Mover demand follows the same calendar.

Source: Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, May 2026, read 1 Oct 2026.

What to know before the deposit

In-state moves need a NYSDOT household goods certificate. New York City adds no move permit of its own; the building's certificate of insurance and elevator booking are the paper that stops a Manhattan move.

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

608 dated review rows across New York City, as of 3 Nov 2026. Each has a moving-to page with costs; cities with three or more mover profiles also have a movers page, listed above with every other New York city we hold movers for.

Sources

Links go to the publisher. Haulest does not add findings. Checked September 2026; if the live page moved, believe the agency.

Ask out loud

Questions people ask

Does New York license moving companies?: Yes, for moves inside the state. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) issues the credential. Ask for the NYSDOT household goods certificate 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 New York?: In-state: the NYSDOT motor carrier complaint. Interstate: the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database, and the hotline for a hostage load.

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.

+1 (866) 961-9682Free moving quote

Haulest is not a carrier. We connect you to movers.

Haulest is a research desk and quote line. We are not a carrier.

+1 (866) 961-9682Free quote