Moving in Chicago: ICC licences, CDOT parking signs and local movers

Illinois mover licensing: the ICC

The Illinois Commerce Commission says any business or individual moving household goods for hire within Illinois must obtain a Household Goods License from the ICC, publish and file a list of its services and prices (a tariff), and follow the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law and the household goods rules. Its 2026 consumer guide says there are more than 300 licensed movers and that hiring an unlicensed mover is against the law. You can check a licence, and see complaints against a mover, on the ICC website or by calling 217-782-6448. For a move out of state, the mover must be licensed by the FMCSA instead.

How Chicago moves are priced under ICC rules

The ICC also advises starting your search at least six weeks ahead, not relying on mobile apps alone to pick a mover, and asking questions about any “freebies” such as cartons and tape. ICC police carry out patrols and issue citations, including for operating without a household goods licence.

Parking a moving truck in Chicago

Chicago’s 49th Ward office sets out how moving-day parking works across the city:

• Enforceable signs come from CDOT. If you have hired a moving company, the company must apply for and receive enforceable “No Parking” signs from the Chicago Department of Transportation. The permit costs $25, and the company passes the fee on to you.
• Ward signs are courtesy only. Ward offices offer free “No Parking” signs for residents moving themselves, but these cannot be enforced by ticket or tow. Hang them 48 hours before the move.
• No overnight parking. Moving vehicles are not allowed to park overnight on any street and can be ticketed.
• No containers on the street. Moving PODs and containers are not allowed on streets, alleys, parkways or sidewalks under city code, unless they stay on a working truck that can move on request.

Typical moving prices

We have not found a published price survey specific to Chicago, so start with the national ranges in our US moving costs guide. HomeGuide puts a local move (under 50 miles) at $300–$800 for a studio or one-bedroom home and $900–$2,800 for two to three bedrooms, with hourly rates of $50 to $100 or more per mover. ConsumerAffairs, updated May 2026, gives $80–$100 an hour for a team of two movers. Both checked September 2026. Because ICC rules allow hourly pricing across the Chicago area, ask each mover for the crew size and estimated hours, not just the hourly rate.

How to choose a mover in Chicago

• Check the ICC licence. For any move within Illinois, confirm the licence and complaint record with the ICC. For moves out of state, check the USDOT and MC numbers on FMCSA’s SAFER lookup.
• Ask for a home visit. The ICC suggests showing the estimator every room, closet and garage, and describing the access at the new home.
• Ask who gets the CDOT signs. A hired mover has to apply; check it is in the quote and in good time.
• Budget 110 percent. Have the estimate plus 10 percent ready on the day.
• Agree the liability level in writing. The default is 60 cents per pound per article. See removal insurance and liability.

Moving companies in Chicago

These firms appear in public business listings for Chicago. Where a firm shows a USDOT or MC number on its website, we checked it on FMCSA’s public SAFER lookup and show it below. We could not check ICC licences (the ICC search sits behind a robot check), so look each firm up on the ICC site or call 217-782-6448. We have not checked their insurance, prices or work, and they have not paid to appear.

More interstate movers registered in Chicago

These firms appear in FMCSA’s public Company Census File (checked 9 October 2026) as active, for-hire interstate carriers of household goods based in Chicago, with active operating authority and a registration update in the last two years. We have not checked their insurance, prices, reviews or work, and they have not paid to appear. Look up the USDOT number on FMCSA’s SAFER lookup before booking.

Moving out of state from Chicago: your federal rights

If your move crosses a state line, the mover must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and must give you its booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move (or a link to it). The booklet sets out the points that matter most when something goes wrong:

• Written estimate after a survey. The estimate must be in writing, signed by you and the mover, and based on a physical survey of your belongings, on-site or by video, unless you waive that in writing.
• The 110 percent rule. On a non-binding estimate, the mover cannot make you pay more than 110 percent of the estimate at delivery. Anything above that is billed later, after 30 days. On a binding estimate you pay 100 percent.
• Two levels of liability. Full Value Protection is the default and costs extra. If you waive it, the mover is liable for no more than 60 cents per pound per article, so a 10-pound item worth $1,000 could pay out $6.
• Claims. You have 9 months from delivery to file a written claim. The mover has 30 days to acknowledge it and 120 days to give you a decision. Every mover must offer arbitration, and for claims of $10,000 or less the mover must agree to it if you ask.

Our guide to booking an interstate mover in the USA goes through the paperwork step by step.

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Compare House Movers is a comparison and referral service, not a moving company. We do not carry out moves, and a listing here is not a recommendation.

Common questions

Sources

• Household Goods Movers, Illinois Commerce Commission (icc.illinois.gov)
• Moving? You Will Want to Read This First, 2026 consumer guide, Illinois Commerce Commission (icc.illinois.gov)
• ICC recommends tips for hiring a household goods mover, 30 April 2025 (icc.illinois.gov)
• Frequently Asked Questions, Chicago’s 49th Ward (49thward.org)
• Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, 49 CFR Part 375 Appendix A (ecfr.gov)
• SAFER Company Snapshot, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov)
• How Much Do Movers Cost? (2026) (homeguide.com)
• How Much Do Movers Cost? (2026), updated May 2026 (consumeraffairs.com)

Last checked: September 2026. City fees and state rules change, so confirm the current position with the agency before you rely on it.