An in-state Louisiana household-goods move is regulated by the Public Service Commission. R.S. 45:164.E requires a common carrier certificate before a company engages in that work. Confirm that the mover is registered and in good standing with the commission before you hire.

A business card, a truck logo, or a website is not a substitute for that certificate. Relocation companies and third-party moving services that use non-certificated carriers in Louisiana are subject to citation for knowingly assisting in a violation of the commission's orders, the official household-goods page warns.

How do I check a mover?

Household-goods movers that are currently registered with the LPSC may be researched through the official tools linked from the commission's household-goods page. Commission staff can confirm whether there are outstanding fines or citations against a carrier if you request that information. Contact the Transportation Division before your move if you have questions.

The official Transportation Division mailing address is Post Office Box 91154, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-9154. The published numbers on that page are 225-342-4439 and 888-342-5717. The commission also publishes a main consumer number of 800-256-2397 and an office number of 225-342-4999, with offices in the Galvez Building, 12th Floor, 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge. Use official @la.gov accounts. The commission has warned of phishing emails that only appear to come from the agency.

Ask for the certificate number and the legal name, and match them to the commission's records. If a crew arrives under a different name, pause and call the Transportation Division before the truck is loaded.

What consumer protections apply to the estimate?

Pursuant to the commission's General Order dated July 12, 2013, all customers have the right to a written estimate from their household goods mover. The customer may elect to waive this right so long as the waiver clearly notifies the customer of the right to a written estimate. Additional consumer protections are available pursuant to that General Order. Read the official order rather than assuming a federal percentage cap applies to a purely in-state shipment.

If the move will cross a state line, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has jurisdiction. The official LPSC page points consumers to 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238) and to ProtectYourMove.gov. An LPSC certificate is the in-state credential, not a substitute for interstate authority.

If you experienced sub-standard service, or you discovered that the mover was not registered, you may file a complaint with the Transportation Division and an investigation will be opened. The official page links a complaint form. Keep the estimate, receipts, and photographs.

What should you confirm before a deposit is paid?

Ask for the legal name, physical address, telephone number, and certificate information in writing. Match those details to the official household-goods tools linked from lpsc.louisiana.gov/Carrier_HGM. If the company cannot produce a certificate number, or if the name on the truck and the name in the commission's records do not match, do not load the household goods. Relocation companies and third-party booking sites that use a non-certificated carrier can be cited, as the official page warns.

Get the written estimate required by the General Order dated July 12, 2013, unless you clearly waive that right in a document that notifies you of the right. Keep a copy of the estimate, any waiver, and any change order. Photograph the truck markings and high-value items before the load leaves.

The Transportation Division mailing address is P.O. Box 91154, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9154. Published numbers are 225-342-4439 and 888-342-5717. The commission also publishes 800-256-2397 and 225-342-4999, with offices in the Galvez Building, 12th Floor, 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge. Legitimate commission business comes from an official la.gov account. The official page has warned of phishing messages that only appear to come from the agency.

If the shipment will later cross a state line, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has jurisdiction. The official LPSC page points consumers to 1-888-368-7238 and to ProtectYourMove.gov. Treat the LPSC certificate as the in-state credential, and use the federal estimate, order for service, and bill of lading process for an interstate shipment.

A complaint can be filed with the Transportation Division if service is sub-standard or if you later learn that the mover was not registered. Keep the estimate, receipts, and photographs, and ask staff whether there are outstanding fines or citations against the carrier.

If you later need to complain, use the official complaint form linked from the household-goods page and include the certificate name, dates, addresses, and a copy of the estimate. Ask the division to confirm whether any outstanding fines or citations were already on the carrier's record when you hired.

If you are planning a move that stays inside Louisiana, talk with a licensed local agent if the shipment also raises insurance questions, and hire a mover that holds a current LPSC common carrier certificate.

FAQ

Who licenses an in-state Louisiana household-goods mover?

The Louisiana Public Service Commission. R.S. 45:164.E requires a common carrier certificate before a mover engages in intrastate household-goods activities.

How do I check a certificate?

Use the official research tools linked from the LPSC household-goods page, and ask commission staff whether there are outstanding fines or citations. Official Transportation Division numbers include 225-342-4439 and 888-342-5717.

Do I have a right to a written estimate?

Yes. The official General Order dated July 12, 2013, gives every customer the right to a written estimate. A waiver is valid only if it clearly notifies the customer of that right.

Does an LPSC certificate cover a move out of Louisiana?

No. A move that crosses a state line is an interstate shipment under FMCSA jurisdiction. Use ProtectYourMove.gov in addition to any state credential.

Sources: LPSC Household Goods Moving, LPSC Carrier Regulations and Applications, ProtectYourMove.gov.

Complaints about an in-state Louisiana household-goods move go to the Public Service Commission Transportation Division. Official numbers are 225-342-4439 and 888-342-5717. You may file if service was sub-standard or the mover was not registered, and the commission can open an investigation.

Call with the mover's legal name, the certificate information you were given, the dates of the shipment, the origin and destination, and a short timeline. Have the written estimate, any waiver, change orders, receipts, and photographs in hand. The commission regulates motor-carrier authority inside Louisiana. It is not the Department of Insurance, and it is not the federal household-goods office used for interstate shipments.

What problems are worth documenting immediately?

Common disputes include a delivery price that does not match the written estimate, a crew that appears under a different name, lost or damaged goods, a delay that leaves household goods on a truck, or a refusal to unload until extra cash is paid. Official LPSC rules give you a right to a written estimate, unless you clearly waived that right. Photograph damaged items, damaged doorways, and the truck markings before the crew leaves.

If goods are still on the truck and the mover will not deliver, contact the Transportation Division while the shipment can still be located. Do not sign a blank or altered receipt that waives claims you have not had a chance to inspect. Note any exception on the delivery paper if you do have to sign, and follow up in writing the same day.

The official page also links a complaint form. Include your contact information, the mover's legal name and certificate number, dates and addresses, copies of the estimate and receipts, photographs, and the amount in dispute. Keep originals. Commission staff can also tell you whether there are outstanding fines or citations against a carrier if you request that information before you hire.

When is the complaint federal instead of state?

If the shipment crossed a state line, use the federal process on ProtectYourMove.gov, and the FMCSA number published by the LPSC, 1-888-368-7238. Interstate movers are subject to federal household-goods rules, including the estimate, order for service, bill of lading, and "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" pamphlet. A purely in-state job that is later re-routed across a state line can change the rules that apply, which is one more reason to keep every paper.

Do not file an LDI insurance complaint and assume it covers a mover. LDI handles insurance companies and producers. A mover's certificate is a motor-carrier requirement at the Public Service Commission. If the dispute is with your own renters or homeowners insurer about goods in transit, that claim follows the insurance policy and, if needed, LDI's complaint path after you contact the insurer.

The commission has warned of phishing emails that only appear to come from the agency. Legitimate Public Service Commission business will only come from an "la.gov" account. Do not provide information to a look-alike domain.

How should you follow up after you file?

Keep a copy of the complaint, the date you mailed or submitted it, and any confirmation number. If household goods are still on a truck, say so clearly and ask the Transportation Division how to help the commission locate the shipment. Do not sign a blank or altered receipt that waives claims you have not had a chance to inspect. Note any exception on the delivery paper if you have to sign, and follow up in writing the same day.

The official LPSC page also publishes 800-256-2397 and 225-342-4999, with offices in the Galvez Building, 12th Floor, 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge. Use official la.gov accounts. The commission has warned of phishing emails that only appear to come from the agency.

If the dispute is really about your own renters or homeowners policy covering goods in transit, that claim follows the insurance contract. The Department of Insurance Office of Consumer Services, at 1-800-259-5300 or (225) 342-5900, is the official insurance complaint office. It does not issue mover certificates. A contractor-license dispute belongs at the State Licensing Board for Contractors, not at the LPSC.

When the job is still in the hiring stage, you can also ask commission staff whether a carrier has outstanding fines or citations. That question can prevent a later complaint. Check the legal name and certificate before a deposit is paid, and keep the written estimate required by the General Order dated July 12, 2013, unless you clearly waived that right.

Keep a simple inventory of high-value items and photographs of the origin and destination conditions. Those records help the investigation if goods are missing or damaged, and they also support any separate insurance claim you may have under a renters or homeowners policy.

If a Louisiana in-state move is delayed, damaged, or repriced in a way the written estimate does not support, talk with a licensed local agent only if your own insurance may respond, and contact the LPSC Transportation Division with the documents in hand.

FAQ

What number do I call about an in-state Louisiana moving complaint?

The Transportation Division is published at 225-342-4439 and 888-342-5717. The official mailing address is P.O. Box 91154, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9154.

What if the move already crossed a state line?

Use the federal household-goods complaint resources on ProtectYourMove.gov, and keep the bill of lading and estimate. The LPSC page also lists 1-888-368-7238 for FMCSA.

Is the Department of Insurance the right office for a mover complaint?

Not for the mover's certificate or in-state service. Those issues go to the Public Service Commission. LDI is the right office for a complaint about an insurance company or producer.

What if the company was never certificated?

The official LPSC page states that you may file a complaint if you discovered that the mover was not registered, and that an investigation will be opened.

Sources: LPSC Household Goods Moving, ProtectYourMove.gov, LDI Consumer Services.

When a household-goods shipment crosses a state line, federal consumer rules apply, even if the truck starts or ends in Louisiana. The Public Service Commission points consumers to ProtectYourMove.gov and 1-888-368-7238. An LPSC certificate covers in-state moves, not interstate authority.

If you are leaving Louisiana or moving into Louisiana from another state, ask the company for its federal registration information and read the estimate before the load date. Do not rely on a local website claim that the mover is "fully licensed" without checking the federal and, if some legs stay in-state, the LPSC records.

What documents should you have before the truck is loaded?

The federal consumer process is built on papers:

• A written estimate, with the mover's legal name and the services included.
• An order for service.
• A bill of lading, which is the contract for the interstate shipment.
• An inventory of the goods, in the usual household-goods move.
• The official rights-and-responsibilities pamphlet.

Read the estimate for binding or non-binding terms, packing charges, storage, extra services, and the valuation option. This article does not invent a released-value rate or a claim deadline that the current federal pamphlet does not state. If a figure is important to you, confirm it on ProtectYourMove.gov and on the form you sign. Do not sign blank documents. If the mover wants to change the estimate after a walk-through, get the new figure in writing before the load.

Check that the crew at your door is the carrier named on the bill of lading. If a local name on the truck does not match, stop and call the office listed on the federal paperwork before the load leaves. Delivery windows on interstate shipments can be a span of days rather than a single hour. Plan occupancy and elevator reservations around the dates on the order for service.

How do complaints and new-resident deadlines fit together?

Company claims come first, using the process in the bill of lading and the federal rules. If you need to complain about an interstate mover, use the official federal path on ProtectYourMove.gov. Keep the bill of lading, estimate, inventory, and photographs. The LPSC Transportation Division at 225-342-4439 or 888-342-5717 remains the official in-state contact, but it is not the federal household-goods office.

New residents have an official 30-day period after establishing a Louisiana domicile to transfer a driver license at OMV, and they must title and register vehicles with proof of liability insurance. If you are moving out of a rental, R.S. 9:3251 gives the landlord one month after the lease terminates to return the deposit or explain what was kept. Budget those calendar items alongside the delivery window in the bill of lading.

How should you check the carrier before the load date?

Ask for the federal registration information and match the legal name to the carrier named on the estimate and the bill of lading. The official LPSC page is not a substitute for that federal check, though you should still confirm any in-state leg with the commission if part of the work stays inside Louisiana. If a local name on the truck does not match the bill of lading, stop and call the office listed on the federal paperwork before the load leaves.

Read the estimate for binding or non-binding terms, packing charges, storage, extra services, and the valuation option. This article does not invent a released-value rate or a claim deadline that the current federal pamphlet does not state. If a figure is important, confirm it on ProtectYourMove.gov and on the form you sign. Do not sign blank documents. If the mover wants to change the estimate after a walk-through, get the new figure in writing before the load.

Delivery windows on interstate shipments can be a span of days rather than a single hour. Plan occupancy, elevator reservations, and the start of a new lease around the dates on the order for service. New residents have an official 30-day period after establishing a Louisiana domicile to transfer a driver license at OMV, and they must title and register vehicles with proof of liability insurance. This article does not invent a statewide vehicle-registration deadline. If you are moving out of a rental, R.S. 9:3251 gives the landlord one month after the lease terminates to return the deposit or explain what was kept.

Company claims come first, using the process in the bill of lading and the federal rules. If you need to complain about an interstate mover, use the official federal path on ProtectYourMove.gov. Keep the bill of lading, estimate, inventory, and photographs. The LPSC Transportation Division at 225-342-4439 or 888-342-5717 remains the official in-state contact, but it is not the federal household-goods office.

If your Louisiana move will cross a state line, talk with a licensed local agent about goods-in-transit or a new auto policy, and use the federal household-goods documents on ProtectYourMove.gov before you let the truck be loaded.

FAQ

When do federal moving rules apply?

When the household-goods shipment goes from one state to another, including a shipment that starts in Louisiana and ends elsewhere, or the reverse.

What official site explains my interstate rights?

ProtectYourMove.gov is the official federal consumer site. The LPSC household-goods page also lists 1-888-368-7238 for FMCSA.

Does an LPSC certificate cover an interstate move?

No. The commission's certificate is for transportation between points in Louisiana. Interstate work requires federal household-goods authority.

Who handles an interstate complaint?

Follow the federal complaint process on ProtectYourMove.gov. Use the LPSC Transportation Division for in-state authority issues, and LDI only for a complaint about an insurance company or producer.

Sources: ProtectYourMove.gov, LPSC Household Goods Moving, OMV License Transfers, R.S. 9:3251.

A driver license must be transferred to Louisiana within 30 days of establishing a domicile here, according to the Office of Motor Vehicles. The out-of-state license is surrendered when the Louisiana license is issued. Title and register vehicles at OMV with proof of liability insurance.

This article does not invent a statewide number of days for vehicle registration when the official title-and-registration pages do not state one. What those official pages do require is that vehicles be titled and registered with OMV, at headquarters, an OMV office, or a public tag agent, with the application, supporting title documents, applicable fees, and proof of liability insurance coverage if you are obtaining a license plate.

What do official driver-license transfer rules say?

Official requirements include one primary document, a Social Security number, proof of residency, and a photo license from the last state of issuance, or an official driving record from that state listing personal information and the license number if you do not have a photo license. All applicants must meet visual and medical requirements, and a vision test is administered for all driver's license transactions.

Persons transferring valid, non-commercial, out-of-state licenses, as exemplified in Louisiana's Class E and D, will not be required to take any examination other than the vision test. If a transferee surrenders a Class E equivalent and wants a Louisiana Class D, no driving examination is required, but the written examination must be passed. A person transferring a valid out-of-state learner's permit equivalent to Class E is issued a Louisiana learner's permit with no written test.

The official OMV phone number is (225) 925-6146. The mailing address is Office of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 64886, Baton Rouge, LA 70896. The physical address published for headquarters is 7979 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Book an appointment through official OMV channels, and use the current document lists on expresslane.la.gov. REAL ID, if you want that credential, has additional official requirements.

What do official vehicle-title and registration rules say?

All new vehicles must be titled with OMV. Official items include a completed vehicle application form (DPSMV 1799), the manufacturer's statement of origin assigned to the buyer, the dealer's itemized invoice, an odometer disclosure, and any lien document if a lien is to be recorded, plus payment of applicable fees. To obtain a license plate, include a copy of each vehicle owner's current photo identification and proof of liability insurance coverage, unless the vehicle transfer is being submitted by a licensed vehicle dealer.

Official fee figures published on the new-title page include a $68.50 title fee, a $15.00 lien recordation fee for UCC-1 financing statements or $10.00 for other security-agreement documents, an $8.00 handling fee, and a local fee that may apply and will not exceed $8. License-plate fees depend on the type, weight, and selling price of the vehicle. Sales use tax is based on the domicile of the vehicle and is assessed on the sales price minus any qualifying trade and rebate, using the official parish tax table. Used vehicles and out-of-state titles follow the official used-title instructions on the OMV site. Confirm current fees before you go, because published amounts can be updated.

Louisiana law also requires minimum 15/30/25 liability coverage on an automobile you own. Bring proof of that coverage to the tag transaction. If a household-goods mover brought you into the state, keep the bill of lading or the in-state estimate with the same file as the title, registration, and insurance card.

What else should a new resident put on the calendar?

If you are leaving a Louisiana rental, R.S. 9:3251 gives the landlord one month after the lease terminates to return a security deposit or explain what was kept. Give a forwarding address at termination. If a household-goods mover brought you into the state, keep the bill of lading or the in-state written estimate with the same file as the title, registration, and insurance card.

This article does not invent a statewide number of days for vehicle registration, because the official title-and-registration pages reviewed for this article do not state one. Title and register the vehicle at OMV or a public tag agent, and confirm current new-resident vehicle timing with official OMV materials. Official fee figures on the new-title page include a $68.50 title fee, lien recordation fees, an $8.00 handling fee, and a local fee that will not exceed $8, plus plate fees and sales or use tax. Confirm the current schedule before you pay.

Louisiana's minimum auto liability limits remain 15/30/25. Bring proof of that coverage to the tag transaction. If you cannot find a voluntary-market policy, ask an agent about the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Program. Book an OMV appointment through official channels, and use the current document lists on expresslane.la.gov. The official OMV phone number is (225) 925-6146. Headquarters is published at 7979 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 64886, Baton Rouge, LA 70896.

If you have just moved to Louisiana, talk with a licensed local agent about obtaining a Louisiana auto policy, transfer your driver license within the official 30-day period, and title and register the vehicle at OMV or a public tag agent with the documents the official pages list.

FAQ

How long do I have to transfer my driver license after I move?

Official OMV rules require the transfer within 30 days of establishing a domicile in Louisiana. The out-of-state license is surrendered when the Louisiana license is issued.

Do I have to take a driving test?

Persons transferring a valid non-commercial out-of-state license generally take only the vision test. A change from a Class E equivalent to a Louisiana Class D requires the written examination.

Where do I title and register a vehicle?

At OMV headquarters, an OMV office, or a public tag agent, with the official application, supporting documents, fees, and proof of liability insurance if you are obtaining a plate.

What title fee does OMV publish for a new vehicle?

The official new-title page lists a $68.50 title fee, plus lien, handling, local, plate, and sales-tax amounts as they apply. Confirm the current schedule before you pay.

Sources: OMV License Transfers, OMV New Title and Registration, LDI Auto Insurance Resources, LDI Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance.

Under R.S. 9:3251, a Louisiana residential security deposit must be returned within one month after the lease ends, except amounts reasonably needed to remedy a default or unreasonable wear. If any portion is kept, the landlord must send an itemized statement with the reasons.

That 15-day alternative for the itemized statement was added by Acts 2026, No. 63. The refund itself remains due within one month after the lease terminates. The tenant shall furnish a forwarding address at the termination of the lease, to which such statements may be sent. Subsection A does not apply when the tenant abandons the premises, either without giving notice as required or prior to the termination of the lease.

What if the landlord does not comply?

R.S. 9:3252 provides that the willful failure to comply with R.S. 9:3251 gives the tenant the right to recover any portion of the security deposit wrongfully retained and three hundred dollars or twice the amount of the portion wrongfully retained, whichever is greater, from the landlord or from the lessor's successor in interest. Failure to remit within 30 days after written demand for a refund shall constitute willful failure. An action may be brought in the parish of the lessor's domicile or in the parish where the property is situated.

This article does not invent a statewide cap on the size of a deposit. The official statute regulates return, itemization, and damages, not a maximum deposit amount. If the lease promises interest, that promise is a contract term, not a figure invented here.

If the leased premises are transferred during the term, the transferor shall also transfer the security deposit to the successor, and the transferee is then responsible for returning the deposit at termination, as subsection B provides.

How should you close out a rental when you also have a mover?

Schedule the move so you can complete a walk-through, return keys, and end the lease on a date you can prove. Photograph each room after furniture is out. Give the forwarding address at termination, in writing, and keep a copy. If a mover caused damage, document whether the claim belongs with the mover, the landlord, or both, and do not let one dispute erase the one-month deposit clock.

If deductions include cleaning or ordinary wear, compare them with the lease and with the statutory standard of default or unreasonable wear. The official paper has to itemize amounts retained and give the reasons. A single lump-sum deduction with no list is not the itemized statement the statute describes. If no refund arrives, send a written demand and count the 30 days that official law treats as willful failure if the landlord does not remit.

What records should you keep at move-out?

Complete a walk-through after furniture is out, return the keys, and end the lease on a date you can prove. Photograph each room, appliances, and any existing damage that was already noted at move-in. Give the forwarding address at termination, in writing, and keep a copy. If a mover caused damage, document whether the claim belongs with the mover, the landlord, or both, and do not let one dispute erase the one-month deposit clock.

The refund itself remains due within one month after the lease terminates. The 15-day alternative added by Acts 2026, No. 63, is a timing rule for the itemized statement, not a longer deadline for returning money that is not being kept. If no refund arrives, send a written demand and count the 30 days that R.S. 9:3252 treats as willful failure if the landlord does not remit. The official recovery is the wrongfully retained portion plus $300 or twice that retained amount, whichever is greater. Venue is the parish of the lessor's domicile or the parish where the property is situated.

This article does not invent a statewide cap on the size of a deposit. The official statute regulates return, itemization, and damages. If the lessor's interest is transferred during the term, the deposit goes to the successor, who then becomes responsible for the return.

If the move also stays inside Louisiana, hire an LPSC-certificated household-goods mover and keep the written estimate. If the shipment crosses a state line, use the federal papers on ProtectYourMove.gov. Those moving rules are separate from the deposit statute, but the same move-out date often starts both clocks.

If the landlord sends an itemized statement, compare each line with the lease and with the statutory standard of default or unreasonable wear. A single lump-sum deduction with no list is not the itemized statement the statute describes. Keep the statement with your move-out photographs and the written demand, if you have to send one.

If you are leaving a Louisiana rental, talk with a licensed local agent if you also need renter's or auto coverage at the new address, and use the official one-month deposit rules when you turn over the keys.

FAQ

When is a Louisiana security deposit due back?

Within one month after the lease terminates, under R.S. 9:3251, except for amounts reasonably necessary to remedy a default or unreasonable wear.

When is the itemized statement due if money is kept?

Within one month after the tenancy terminates, or within 15 days after that one-month date, as amended by Acts 2026, No. 63. The tenant should provide a forwarding address at termination.

What can I recover if the landlord willfully fails to comply?

The wrongfully retained portion plus $300 or twice that retained amount, whichever is greater, under R.S. 9:3252. Failure to remit within 30 days after a written demand for a refund constitutes willful failure.

What if I leave before the lease ends without required notice?

Subsection A does not apply when the tenant abandons the premises without giving required notice or prior to termination of the lease.

Sources: R.S. 9:3251, R.S. 9:3252.

Louisiana customers have a right to a written estimate from an in-state household-goods mover. The Public Service Commission's General Order dated July 12, 2013, allows a waiver only if it clearly notifies the customer of that right. Confirm the mover's LPSC certificate before you sign.

Confirm that the legal name on the estimate matches a current LPSC common carrier certificate. R.S. 45:164.E requires the certificate before a company engages in any activities related to moving household goods inside the state. Do not assume a federal 110 percent or 125 percent estimate formula applies to a shipment that never leaves Louisiana.

What should the written estimate include?

Ask the mover to put at least the following in writing:

• The legal company name, physical address, telephone number, and LPSC certificate information.
• The origin and destination addresses and the planned load and delivery dates.
• A description of the services, such as packing, stairs, long carries, or storage.
• Whether the figure is an estimate or a binding or guaranteed price, in words the mover will honor.
• Any valuation or cargo-liability option, and what is not included.

Walk through the house with the estimator so major items are listed. If the mover later says the load is larger than the estimate, ask for a written change before the truck is loaded. If someone asks you to waive the written estimate, read the waiver. Official rules require that a waiver clearly notify you of the right you are giving up. If you do not want to waive it, ask for the paper and keep a copy.

Compare more than one certificated company on the same scope. A low oral price that omits stairs or packing is not a useful comparison. After you pick a company, send a short confirmation that restates the load date, the destination, and the written total or the method that will set the final charge.

What documents matter on moving day?

Keep the estimate, any waiver or change order, photo identification, payment receipts, and a simple inventory of high-value items. Photograph the truck markings and the condition of furniture before the load. Make sure the name on the truck and the receipt matches the certificate holder you checked. A crew that arrives under a different name is a reason to call the office and, if needed, the Transportation Division at 225-342-4439 or 888-342-5717 before you allow the load to leave.

Avoid large unexplained cash demands at the door. If delivery is held for money that was never on the estimate, contact the Transportation Division and keep the estimate in hand. If the shipment will cross a state line, do not load without the federal estimate, order for service, and bill of lading described on ProtectYourMove.gov.

How should you compare certificated movers?

Ask each company for the same origin, destination, load date, packing scope, and list of bulky items. A low oral price that leaves stairs, long carries, or packing off the page is not a useful comparison. Confirm that the legal name on each estimate matches a current LPSC common carrier certificate under R.S. 45:164.E. If a company will not put the figure in writing, that is a reason to choose a certificated mover that will.

Do not assume a federal 110 percent or 125 percent estimate formula applies to a shipment that never leaves Louisiana. Those federal consumer rules apply to interstate household-goods shipments described on ProtectYourMove.gov. For an in-state job, read the written estimate and the official July 12, 2013 General Order rather than importing a federal percentage cap that the order may not state.

On moving day, keep the estimate, any waiver or change order, photo identification, payment receipts, and a simple inventory of high-value items. Photograph furniture and the truck markings before the load. If a crew arrives under a different name, call the office and, if needed, the Transportation Division at 225-342-4439 or 888-342-5717 before the load leaves. Avoid large unexplained cash demands at the door. If delivery is held for money that was never on the estimate, contact the division with the estimate in hand.

The Transportation Division mailing address is P.O. Box 91154, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9154. The commission also publishes 800-256-2397 and 225-342-4999. Use official la.gov accounts only. If part of the job later crosses a state line, stop and follow the federal paperwork on ProtectYourMove.gov before that leg is loaded.

If you later file a complaint, include the written estimate, any waiver, change orders, receipts, and photographs. The official complaint path is the Transportation Division, not the Department of Insurance, unless the dispute is about an insurance company or producer.

If you are moving inside Louisiana, talk with a licensed local agent about coverage for goods in transit, and do not accept an oral price in place of the official written estimate, unless you have clearly waived that right in the manner the General Order allows.

FAQ

Is a written estimate required on an in-state Louisiana move?

Yes. The official LPSC General Order dated July 12, 2013, gives all customers the right to a written estimate. A waiver is allowed only if it clearly notifies the customer of that right.

What official number should appear on the estimate?

The mover's legal name and LPSC common carrier certificate information should match the commission's records.

What if my shipment will leave Louisiana?

Federal household-goods rules apply. Use the written estimate, order for service, bill of lading, and inventory process described on ProtectYourMove.gov.

Where do I call if the mover demands more money at delivery?

The LPSC Transportation Division is published at 225-342-4439 and 888-342-5717. Keep the estimate and receipts.

Sources: LPSC Household Goods Moving, ProtectYourMove.gov.