Moving in Houston: TxDMV mover checks, parking rules and local movers

Texas mover registration: TxDMV

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles says that by law Texas movers must be licensed with TxDMV, and that it is illegal for a mover to operate without a licence. Before you hire, search the company on TxDMV’s Truck Stop motor carrier lookup: an “Active” certificate status means the mover is licensed. We used the same lookup for the firms listed below.

Parking a moving truck in Houston

ParkHouston, the city’s parking department, publishes two rules that matter on moving day:

• Meter bagging. A meter bagging permit reserves a metered parking space for construction, special events, moving and similar uses. It needs 48 hours’ notice, any overdue parking citations must be resolved first, and the application is faxed or mailed to Parking Management. It only helps where the street has parking meters.
• Rental trucks in residential areas. ParkHouston’s large and commercial vehicle guidance says short-term rentals can park in a residential area for up to 72 hours while you are loading and unloading.

High-rise buildings and deed-restricted neighbourhoods may have their own rules on loading docks and moving hours, so ask your building manager or association before you book.

Typical moving prices

We have not found a published price survey specific to Houston, 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. In summer, heat and storms can slow a move down; our guide to moving in extreme weather covers what to plan for.

How to choose a mover in Houston

• Check Truck Stop. Search the company name or TxDMV number and look for an “Active” status. For moves out of Texas, also check the USDOT and MC numbers on FMCSA’s SAFER lookup.
• Binding or not-to-exceed. Ask which type of proposal you are getting and what could change it.
• Parking and building rules. Tell the mover about metered streets, high-rise docks and any HOA moving hours.
• Liability. Ask what cover beyond 60 cents per pound costs. See removal insurance and liability.
• Beware bargain listings. TxDMV warns that the lowest price may not be the best deal, especially offers on internet message boards.

Moving companies in Houston

These firms appear in public business listings for Houston. We checked each firm’s USDOT number on FMCSA’s public SAFER lookup and its TxDMV certificate on TxDMV’s Truck Stop lookup in September 2026. An active certificate shows the firm is licensed for moves in Texas; we have not checked their prices or work, and they have not paid to appear. Certificates expire, so check again before you book.

More interstate movers registered in Houston

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 Houston, 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 Houston: 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.

Ready to compare? See our removal and moving options or ask for moving quotes with one short form. Our guide to comparing quotes without missing extra charges is worth reading first.

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

• Don’t Make a Move Without Us, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (txdmv.gov)
• Truck Stop motor carrier lookup, TxDMV (txmccs.txdmv.gov)
• Meter Bagging, ParkHouston (houstontx.gov)
• Large and Commercial Vehicles, ParkHouston (houstontx.gov)
• 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.