Every state regulates moving companies differently — North Dakota included. This guide covers what a legal North Dakota 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
Under North Dakota Century Code chapter 39-31, a company that moves other people's household goods for hire between points in North Dakota must hold a Household Goods Carrier Permit issued by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDCC 39-31-06). The North Dakota Public Service Commission no longer regulates movers; its motor carrier chapter (NDCC 49-18) was repealed, and the PSC's published jurisdiction list does not include motor carriers. Under NDCC 39-31-04, the permit requirement does not apply to moves performed wholly within a single city (or within a short zone beyond city limits set by the department). The permit application fee is one hundred dollars and the annual filing fee is thirty-five dollars (NDCC 39-31-12). No public online lookup of permitted movers was found; consumers can confirm a mover's permit with the NDDOT Motor Carrier office at (701) 328-1287.
| Question | North Dakota answer |
|---|---|
| Regulator | North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Motor Carrier Section |
| Credential a legal mover holds | Household Goods Carrier Permit (NDDOT, application form SFN 10539) |
| Estimate rules | North Dakota law sets no written-estimate requirements for movers. NDCC chapter 39-31 does not require estimates, and the sections that once let the state review movers' rates (including NDCC 39-31-10) were repealed by the 2015 Legislature (Session Laws 2015, chapter 277). The Department of Transportation has adopted no administrative rules on estimates. Whatever price terms you and the mover put in writing become a matter of ordinary contract law, and misleading price claims can be pursued under North Dakota's consumer-fraud law (NDCC chapter 51-15). |
| Deposit rules | No statutory cap; North Dakota law sets no limit on deposits or prepayments a mover may request, and NDCC chapter 39-31 is silent on deposits. Any deposit is governed only by the written contract between the consumer and the mover, so consumers should get deposit and refund terms in writing before paying. |
| Liability / valuation | North Dakota sets no cents-per-pound valuation standard for movers. Under NDCC 39-31-14, before NDDOT issues a Household Goods Carrier Permit the mover must file and keep in force public liability insurance that covers loss or damage to property, and death or injury to any person, caused by the carrier's negligence; NDDOT must cancel the permit if the insurance lapses. Beyond that insurance-filing duty, state law does not fix a minimum per-pound liability, so the level of protection for your goods depends on the mover's insurance and your written contract. |
| Where to complain | For billing, damage, or deceptive-practice complaints, contact the North Dakota Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-complaints/ or (701) 328-3404 (toll-free 1-800-472-2600). For questions about whether a mover holds the required Household Goods Carrier Permit, contact the NDDOT Motor Carrier office at (701) 328-1287. Under NDCC 39-31-16, the North Dakota Highway Patrol enforces the household goods carrier law statewide. |
No 2024-2026 changes to North Dakota's mover law were identified; NDCC chapter 39-31 as published for the 2025-26 legislative assembly shows no recent amendments. The major change came earlier: the 2015 Legislature (Session Laws 2015, chapter 277) repealed rate regulation and the old certificate-of-need process, leaving a simple NDDOT permit-and-insurance system, and PSC motor carrier authority under NDCC chapter 49-18 was repealed. The NDDOT permit application form SFN 10539 was administratively revised in April 2026.
The moment your move leaves North Dakota, 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.
North Dakota took in 34,415 people from other states and sent 20,814 out in the most recent Census migration year — net +13,601, ranking #1 of 51 on arrivals per 1,000 residents. 16.0% of residents changed homes within the year (ACS). Here is where the traffic actually goes:
| Destination | Movers/yr |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | 6,062 |
| Texas | 2,515 |
| Louisiana | 1,345 |
| Florida | 1,189 |
| Montana | 799 |
| Origin | Movers/yr |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | 11,738 |
| Illinois | 2,370 |
| South Dakota | 2,238 |
| Montana | 2,032 |
| Texas | 1,823 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration flows. Full 51-state rankings on the study page.
Season & timing
North Dakota winters are among the harshest in the country: from roughly November through March, blizzards, ground blizzards, ice, and wind chills far below zero can shut down interstates such as I-94 and I-29 with little notice. If you are moving in winter, build schedule flexibility into your moving contract and check the NDDOT's ND Roads travel map (travel.dot.nd.gov) or dial 511 for road conditions before moving day.
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 North Dakota, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →How it works in North Dakota, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →How it works in North Dakota, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →How it works in North Dakota, what drives the estimate, and the questions that catch problems early.
How it works →Q & A
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: North Dakota movers should hold a Household Goods Carrier Permit (NDDOT, application form SFN 10539) from the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Motor Carrier Section. Then: written estimate, real address, and a contract you've actually read. Ten minutes, total.
Pets never — they ride with you. Plants rarely cross state lines legally (agricultural rules), and perishable food doesn't survive a van line. Local moves are more forgiving on plants and pantry boxes; ask on the call and get the answer for your route.
A carrier owns trucks and moves you; a broker sells your job to a carrier, and federal law requires brokers to say so. Our line is neither — it connects your call directly to a professional moving company serving Fargo, and we never take custody of your move or your money.
Modest deposits happen, especially peak season, but large cash-only deposits are the signature move of moving fraud. No statutory cap; North Dakota law sets no limit on deposits or prepayments a mover may request, and NDCC chapter 39-31 is silent on deposits. Any deposit is governed only by the written contract between the consumer…
Local pages
Local or long-distance, one call gets your dates, access questions, and estimate process sorted — no forms, no number-selling.