Every state regulates moving companies differently — Georgia included. This guide covers what a legal Georgia mover must hold, what the law says about estimates and deposits, where residents are actually moving, and one phone line that reaches professional moving companies serving the state.
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The rulebook
A company that moves household goods between points within Georgia must hold a Household Goods Carrier Certificate from the Georgia Department of Public Safety before operating or even advertising as a mover; operating without one is punishable under O.C.G.A. sections 40-1-56 and 40-1-129 (DPS Rule 570-38-3-.03). The certificate number must appear in every advertisement along with the mover's name, address, and phone number (Rule 570-38-3-.19). DPS publishes a list of licensed movers on its Regulatory Compliance portal (gamccd.net) and recommends against hiring any mover that does not appear in its database; you can also verify a mover by calling the DPS Household Goods unit at 404-624-7241.
| Question | Georgia answer |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS), Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Regulatory Compliance section (formerly the Motor Carrier Compliance Division, MCCD) |
| Credential a legal mover holds | Household Goods Carrier Certificate issued by the Georgia Department of Public Safety under the Georgia Motor Carrier Act (O.C.G.A. Title 40, Chapter 1, Article 3, section 40-1-100 et seq.) and DPS Transportation Rules Chapter 570-38-3, plus annual Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier (GIMC) registration with DPS |
| Estimate rules | Under DPS Rule 570-38-3-.08, a Georgia mover may provide a written estimate at your request using the state's Uniform Estimated Cost of Services Form, and the form must clearly state whether the estimate is binding or non-binding. An estimate is non-binding unless both you and the mover agree in writing to a binding one. With a non-binding estimate, the mover must deliver your goods once you pay no more than 110 percent of the estimated charges, and must wait 30 days after delivery before demanding any balance above that. With a binding estimate, the mover must deliver upon payment of the estimated amount and may not charge more than the estimate for the listed services. All charges are also capped by the DPS Maximum Rate Tariff for household goods, and the mover must give you the state Moving Guide pamphlet (Rule 570-38-3-.12) and a bill of lading (Rule 570-38-3-.11) before the move. |
| Deposit rules | Georgia law does not set a specific dollar cap on deposits. DPS Rule 570-38-3-.16 lets a carrier require prepayment in part or in full, or other payment arrangements satisfactory to the carrier, in accordance with the Department's Maximum Rate Tariff, and lets it require payment of lawfully accrued charges before delivery. However, a mover may not hold your goods over charges you never agreed to in writing on the bill of lading, and with a non-binding estimate it must deliver once you pay 110 percent of the estimate. Forms asking you to waive your rights under the rules are prohibited (Rule 570-38-3-.13). |
| Liability / valuation | Under DPS Rule 570-38-3-.10, before your goods are loaded you must choose in writing, on the Addendum to the Uniform Household Goods Bill of Lading, between two liability levels: released value protection, which pays $0.60 per pound per lost or damaged article at no extra charge, or full value protection, which covers current replacement value up to the amount you declare (the mover may charge extra for it, capped by the Maximum Rate Tariff; the state Moving Guide describes a full-value option carrying a $300 deductible). Carrier liability is not the same as insurance, so consider asking your own insurer about additional coverage. Movers must also carry minimum insurance under DPS Rule 570-38-3-.09. |
| Where to complain | File complaints with the Georgia Department of Public Safety, CVE Regulatory Compliance section, using the Household Goods Complaint Form (form DPSTR0052, posted at gamccd.net): email it with supporting documents (photos, bills of lading, receipts) to householdgoods@gsp.net, fax it to 404-624-7246, or call the Household Goods unit at 404-624-7241 (959 United Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316). Claims against the mover itself for loss, damage, or overcharge must be submitted to the carrier in writing within 90 days of delivery under DPS Rule 570-38-3-.17. Consumers can also contact the Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division for deceptive business practices. |
Verify a Georgia mover in the official lookup →
On January 5, 2026, the Georgia Board of Public Safety approved a new Maximum Rate Tariff for intrastate household goods movers (Maximum Rate Tariff No. 7), adopted by administrative order signed January 12, 2026 and effective January 13, 2026, replacing DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 6. It was issued under O.C.G.A. sections 40-1-118 and 40-1-119 and DPS Rule 570-38-3-.06. Separately, the DPS unit that regulates movers, formerly the Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD), now operates under the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Regulatory Compliance name; regulation of movers did not move to a different agency.
The moment your move leaves Georgia, federal FMCSA rules take over: the mover needs an active USDOT number, estimates must be in writing, non-binding estimates carry the federal 110% cap on what's due at delivery, and you're entitled to the 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet plus access to arbitration. Our field guide walks each protection in plain English.
Georgia took in 310,452 people from other states and sent 250,484 out in the most recent Census migration year — net +59,968, ranking #12 of 51 on arrivals per 1,000 residents. 12.6% of residents changed homes within the year (ACS). Here is where the traffic actually goes:
| Destination | Movers/yr |
|---|---|
| Florida | 44,469 |
| North Carolina | 23,519 |
| Alabama | 19,270 |
| Texas | 17,398 |
| South Carolina | 17,378 |
| Origin | Movers/yr |
|---|---|
| Florida | 55,250 |
| New York | 21,998 |
| Texas | 20,923 |
| California | 20,191 |
| Alabama | 17,506 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration flows. Full 51-state rankings on the study page.
Season & timing
Georgia summers bring intense heat and high humidity - hard on movers, electronics, and anything that can melt or warp in a hot truck - and summer is also peak moving season, so licensed movers book up fastest then. From June through November, remnants of Gulf and Atlantic hurricanes can bring heavy rain and power outages across the state (Hurricane Helene crossed Georgia in September 2024), and occasional winter ice storms can shut down roads in north Georgia, including metro Atlanta.
The national demand math still applies on top of the weather: May through September is peak, month-ends spike with leases, and mid-month mid-week dates are the reliable capacity valley. Flexible dates are worth more than any coupon.
Services
How it works in Georgia, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →How it works in Georgia, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →How it works in Georgia, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →How it works in Georgia, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →Q & A
Standard crews handle ordinary disassembly — bed frames, table legs, mirrors off dressers — as part of the job. Complex items (exercise equipment, cribs, wall units) vary by company, so list them during the call. What they won't do is disconnect gas appliances; book a technician for that.
They can give you a process: inventory survey (in person or video), then a written estimate. Anyone offering a firm total in sixty seconds without seeing your inventory is either padding it or planning to renegotiate on your driveway. The call gets you started; the survey gets you the number.
Storage-in-transit is a standard, regulated service: your shipment waits in the mover's warehouse under your contract's liability terms, billed daily or monthly. It's usually smoother than renting a self-storage unit and moving twice. Mention the gap dates on your call.
On interstate moves with a non-binding estimate, federal FMCSA rules cap what the mover can require at delivery at 110% of the estimate — remaining charges bill later. It exists to prevent hostage-load pressure, and it only works if your estimate is in writing.
Interstate: an active USDOT number in FMCSA's free lookup, plus complaint history. In-state: Georgia movers should hold a Household Goods Carrier Certificate issued by the Georgia Department of Public Safety under the Georgia Motor Carrier Act (O.C.G.A. Title 40, Chapter 1, Article 3, section 40-1-100 et seq.) and DPS Transportation Rules Chapter 570-38-3, plus annual Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier (GIMC) registration with DPS from the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS), Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Regulatory Compliance section (formerly the Motor Carrier Compliance Division, MCCD). Then: written estimate, real address, and a contract you've actually read. Ten minutes, total.
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Local or long-distance, one call gets your dates, access questions, and estimate process sorted — no forms, no number-selling.