Every state regulates moving companies differently — Indiana included. This guide covers what a legal Indiana 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
Moves that start and end inside Indiana are regulated by the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) Motor Carrier Services Division. Under Indiana Code 8-2.1-22, a company that transports household goods for hire within the state must hold a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from DOR, commonly called Indiana Intrastate Operating Authority, which must be renewed every year by November 30. Licensed movers must also file proof of insurance and a tariff -- the official list of all their rates and charges -- with DOR. Indiana does not post a public online search of intrastate movers, but DOR keeps each mover's tariff on file and available to the public on request, and consumers can verify a mover's authority by calling Motor Carrier Services at 317-615-7200 (option 3, then option 1) or emailing passengerhhg@dor.in.gov.
| Question | Indiana answer |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR), Motor Carrier Services Division |
| Credential a legal mover holds | Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (Indiana Intrastate Operating Authority) |
| Estimate rules | Indiana law does not require intrastate movers to give the kind of detailed, state-approved written estimate that some states mandate. The key protection is the tariff rule: under Indiana Code 8-2.1-22-23, as explained by the Indiana Department of Revenue, a mover may not charge anything that is not listed in the tariff it has filed with DOR. Before hiring an Indiana mover, ask for its rates in writing and compare them against the tariff on file with DOR, which you can request from Motor Carrier Services. |
| Deposit rules | Indiana Code 8-2.1-22 does not set a statutory cap or specific rules on deposits for household goods moves. Any deposit or advance charge a mover collects must be part of the rates and charges published in the tariff it has filed with the Indiana Department of Revenue, since the law bars charging anything outside the tariff. Get any deposit terms in writing and be wary of movers demanding large upfront cash payments. |
| Liability / valuation | Indiana requires intrastate household goods movers to file proof of public liability insurance with the Department of Revenue (submitted by the insurer as a Form E), with household-goods insurance requirements set out on State Form IOA-1, the Indiana Operating Authority application. Unlike some states, Indiana Code 8-2.1-22 does not fix a per-pound released value for lost or damaged goods; each mover's claims policy and any valuation charges must be spelled out in the tariff it files with DOR. Ask the mover for its written claims policy and any options for declaring a higher value before your move, and get your choice in writing. |
| Where to complain | For problems with an intrastate mover's authority, rates, or tariff compliance, contact the Indiana Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Services Division at 317-615-7200 (option 3, then option 1) or passengerhhg@dor.in.gov. For deceptive practices, billing disputes, or damaged goods, consumers can also file a Consumer Complaint with the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division online at in.gov/attorneygeneral (File a Complaint page), which enforces Indiana's Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. |
No major changes to Indiana's intrastate household goods rules were identified for 2024-2026. As of July 2026, the Indiana Department of Revenue's current published requirements remain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity under Indiana Code 8-2.1-22, a $100 non-refundable application fee, annual renewal by November 30, and filing of insurance and a tariff within 60 days of approval.
The moment your move leaves Indiana, 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.
Indiana took in 150,649 people from other states and sent 120,876 out in the most recent Census migration year — net +29,773, ranking #14 of 51 on arrivals per 1,000 residents. 12.5% of residents changed homes within the year (ACS). Here is where the traffic actually goes:
| Destination | Movers/yr |
|---|---|
| Florida | 14,939 |
| Ohio | 12,068 |
| Illinois | 11,555 |
| Michigan | 11,338 |
| Kentucky | 8,310 |
| Origin | Movers/yr |
|---|---|
| Illinois | 29,426 |
| Florida | 14,798 |
| Ohio | 12,493 |
| Kentucky | 12,257 |
| Texas | 9,485 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration flows. Full 51-state rankings on the study page.
Season & timing
Indiana winters bring snow, ice storms, and lake-effect snow in the northern part of the state, which can delay trucks and make driveways and ramps hazardous from roughly December through March. Spring and early summer are severe-weather season -- Indiana averages a significant number of tornadoes and damaging thunderstorms -- and mid-summer moves contend with high heat and humidity, so plan for weather delays and protect furniture and electronics from moisture year-round.
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 Indiana, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →How it works in Indiana, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →How it works in Indiana, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →How it works in Indiana, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →Q & A
Interstate movers commit to a delivery window on the order for service, and reasonable-dispatch rules apply; delay claims are real and documented ones get paid. Get the window in writing and keep receipts if a delay forces expenses — that paper is your claim.
Three checks kill most scams: verify registration (USDOT for interstate, Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (Indiana Intrastate Operating Authority) in-state), insist on a written estimate from a real inventory, and never pay a large cash deposit. FMCSA's ProtectYourMove.gov lists the full playbook — and any mover who resists these basics has answered your question.
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.
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Local or long-distance, one call gets your dates, access questions, and estimate process sorted — no forms, no number-selling.