A company that moves household goods from one Tennessee address to another needs official intrastate authority from the Department of Revenue and a current Form H cargo-insurance filing. Ask for those credentials in writing before you hire the moving crew.

An in-state move is not governed by the same federal household-goods rules that apply when a shipment crosses a state line, and a truck with a logo is not, by itself, proof that the carrier is authorized.

What credentials should you see?

The Department of Revenue's Intrastate Authority page explains that intrastate authority allows for-hire motor carriers to use Tennessee's public highways to transport persons or property, or both, in intrastate commerce. New applicants apply through the Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point (TNTAP) or with a paper Intrastate Authority Application, a designated-agent-for-service-of-process form, and proof of insurance. Insurance companies must furnish Form E, the uniform motor carrier bodily injury and property damage liability certificate, and, for carriers hauling general freight, household goods, or mobile homes, Form H, the uniform motor carrier cargo certificate of insurance.

That last point is the one consumers can use. If a company offers to move your furniture inside Tennessee, ask for:

• The legal name on its Tennessee intrastate authority, and the authority or account number.
• Confirmation that Form E and Form H filings are current for household-goods cargo.
• A written estimate that states how charges were calculated, and a bill of lading that will show the estimate method and amount, as Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.13 requires.
• The physical business address, a working telephone number, and written complaint contacts.

Do not accept a claim that a friend's pickup, a labor-only crew, or an out-of-state USDOT number is a substitute for Tennessee household-goods authority on an in-state shipment. If the company cannot produce an authority number and proof of the cargo filing, look elsewhere. You can also ask the Department of Revenue's Motor Carrier unit to confirm that an authority is on file. Keep a copy of whatever written confirmation you receive.

Interstate moves are different. If the shipment starts in another state and ends in Tennessee, or the reverse, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the carrier. Check that company at ProtectYourMove.gov and at FMCSA, and still get a written estimate. A carrier can be authorized for one type of move and not the other. Confirm the authority that matches your shipment.

How to compare companies and avoid common problems

Once you have two or three authorized carriers, compare more than the headline price. Tennessee's household-goods rules require the mover to notify you before delivery if actual charges will exceed the estimate by more than 10 percent or $25, whichever is greater, unless an exception in the regulation applies. Written loss-or-damage claims have to be acknowledged within 30 calendar days and paid, declined, or met with a firm written settlement offer within 120 days. Those timing rules are a baseline, not a reason to skip a careful inventory.

When you book, put the following in the file:

• Pickup and delivery addresses and any intermediate storage.
• The estimate method and the estimated amount, in writing.
• Whether the price is based on weight, a constructive weight of seven pounds per cubic foot when no adequate scale is available, or some other method the carrier disclosed.
• Valuation or additional cargo protection you are buying, in the carrier's own words, including any deductible. Tennessee's estimate-and-claims rule does not, by itself, set a cents-per-pound released-value rate, so do not assume a number you saw in another state.
• A dated inventory, and photos of furniture and electronics before the crew arrives.

Be cautious of a large cash deposit demanded before a visual or virtual survey, a demand that you pay the entire balance in cash only, a refusal to provide a written estimate, or a crew that arrives in an unmarked truck and then asks for more money to unload. The Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney General's office take complaints about deceptive moving practices. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, is the agency named in the household-goods regulation for certain carrier reports. If a problem is also a licensing issue, start with the Department of Revenue Motor Carrier unit as well.

Get everything in writing, including changes to the date or the inventory, and do not sign a blank bill of lading. On moving day, walk the house with the crew leader before the truck leaves, and again at delivery before you sign that you received the goods.

FAQ

What license does an in-state Tennessee mover need?

Intrastate authority from the Department of Revenue, plus the Form E liability and Form H cargo-insurance filings required for household-goods carriers.

How can I confirm the authority?

Ask the company for its legal name and authority or account number, then ask the Department of Revenue Motor Carrier unit to confirm that the authority and insurance filings are on file.

What if my move crosses a state line?

That is an interstate shipment under FMCSA rules. Verify the carrier at ProtectYourMove.gov, and do not rely only on a Tennessee intrastate authority.

Where do I complain if something goes wrong?

Start with the carrier in writing. You can also contact the Division of Consumer Affairs, and, for authority or insurance questions, the Department of Revenue Motor Carrier unit. Interstate shipments can be reported to FMCSA.

Next step

Ask a licensed local moving broker or the carrier itself for written proof of Tennessee intrastate authority and Form H cargo coverage, then compare written estimates and talk with a licensed local agent if you also need coverage for items the mover's cargo filing may not fully protect.

Sources: Tennessee Department of Revenue, Intrastate Authority; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.13; ProtectYourMove.gov; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

A move between Tennessee and another state is an interstate shipment regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), not by Tennessee's intrastate authority rules. Check the company at ProtectYourMove.gov and get a written estimate before you book. A Tennessee intrastate authority and a Form H cargo filing are the right credentials for an in-state job.

They are not a substitute for federal household-goods authority on a shipment that crosses the state line.

How to verify an interstate carrier

An interstate household-goods mover must have the federal operating authority and the insurance FMCSA requires for that type of cargo. ProtectYourMove.gov is the consumer site FMCSA points to for checking a company, reading complaint history, and learning how interstate estimates and claims work. You can also use FMCSA's company lookup tools on fmcsa.dot.gov. Search by the legal name, the doing-business-as name, and the USDOT or MC number on the estimate. If the company will not give you those numbers in writing, do not book the move.

Confirm that the authority covers household goods, not only general freight or a broker registration. Brokers can arrange a move, but the carrier that actually loads the truck needs the household-goods authority. Get both names, and verify both. Be cautious of a website that uses a Tennessee city in the logo but lists only a cell phone and a P.O. box, or of a bid that is far below every other written estimate. Those are common patterns in interstate moving complaints nationwide.

Ask for a written estimate after a visual or virtual survey of the goods. Federal household-goods rules distinguish binding and non-binding estimates and set their own limits on what you can be asked to pay at delivery. Those rules are not the same as Tennessee's in-state test, which uses a 10 percent or $25 notice threshold. Do not mix the two. If the origin and destination are both in Tennessee, use the state rules and a Tennessee-authorized carrier. If either end is in another state, use the federal rules and an FMCSA-authorized household-goods carrier.

Put the following in the file before the truck arrives:

• The USDOT and MC numbers, and a printout of the ProtectYourMove.gov or FMCSA lookup.
• The written estimate, marked binding or non-binding, and the survey date.
• The valuation coverage you selected, in the carrier's words, including any deductible or additional protection you bought.
• Pickup and delivery dates or windows, and any storage-in-transit terms.
• A dated inventory, and photographs of furniture and electronics.

Claims, delivery, and when Tennessee law still matters

Interstate loss-and-damage claims follow FMCSA procedures and the terms on the bill of lading, including the valuation you chose. Those federal claim periods and released-value amounts are not the Tennessee 30-day acknowledgment and 120-day decision rule that applies to intrastate shipments. Read the order for service and the bill of lading, file the claim in writing by the deadline those documents and the federal rules set, and keep proof of delivery of the claim. You can also complain to FMCSA through ProtectYourMove.gov if the company fails to respond or appears unauthorized.

Tennessee law still matters at both ends of an interstate move. New residents need a Tennessee driver license no later than 30 days after establishing residency, and a regularly licensed passenger vehicle that is not operated for hire may be operated on out-of-state plates for no more than 30 days after residency is established. Have a Tennessee-compliant auto policy in force when you register. If you are renting on arrival, check whether the county is covered by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act before you treat deposit-return rules as statewide. Those are local-arrival tasks, not a substitute for federal mover authority.

If part of the job is an in-state shuttle or a later move from storage to a new Tennessee address, ask which carrier, and which authority, covers that segment. A shipment can change character if a new, separate in-state move is booked after you already live here. Get that answer in writing.

On delivery day, walk the inventory with the crew before you sign. Note damage on the delivery receipt, then follow with the formal written claim. Pay only according to the estimate type and the federal payment-on-delivery rules that apply to your shipment. A demand for a large extra cash payment before the crew will unload is a warning sign. Call the company office, and if needed, FMCSA or local law enforcement, before you hand over more money than the paperwork allows.

FAQ

When is a move to or from Tennessee considered interstate?

When the shipment crosses a state line, including a move from another state into Tennessee or from Tennessee to another state. FMCSA, not Tennessee intrastate authority, is the primary regulator of that household-goods shipment.

How do I check the company?

Use ProtectYourMove.gov and FMCSA's company lookup with the legal name and the USDOT or MC number. Confirm household-goods authority for the carrier that will load the truck.

Do Tennessee's 10 percent or $25 estimate rules apply to an interstate move?

No. Those figures are in the state regulation for intrastate household-goods shipments. Interstate estimates follow FMCSA rules, which use a different system.

Where do I file a damage claim on an interstate move?

Follow the bill of lading and FMCSA claim procedures, in writing, and use ProtectYourMove.gov to complain if the carrier is unresponsive or appears unauthorized.

Next step

Look up the carrier at ProtectYourMove.gov, get a written binding or non-binding estimate, and ask a licensed local agent whether you want additional insurance for items an interstate valuation option may not fully cover.

Sources: ProtectYourMove.gov; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Tennessee Department of Revenue, Intrastate Authority; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.13.

New Tennessee residents must obtain a driver license no later than 30 days after establishing residency. A regularly licensed passenger vehicle that is not operated for hire may be operated on an out-of-state registration for no more than 30 days after residency is established.

The driver-license rule is from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security's New Residents page. The vehicle rule is in Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-101(b)(2) and is summarized in the Department of Revenue's VR-6 article.

Getting a Tennessee driver license

New residents, and people returning to Tennessee who hold a license from another state, must obtain a Tennessee driver license no later than 30 days after establishing residency. You go to a full-service Driver Services Center. You can complete the regular driver license application and have required documents pre-approved online. The Department asks you to allow up to five business days for that pre-approval. Even after pre-approval, you still have to bring the original documents or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted, and documents may be verified with the issuing agency, which can delay issuance.

Bring proof of identity and of U.S. citizenship or lawful status, one proof of Social Security number (the exact document depends on whether you want a REAL ID license), and acceptable proofs of Tennessee residency. Current, for many residency documents, means dated within the last four months unless the list says otherwise. The official list includes, among other items, a mortgage contract or deed, a utility bill, a bank statement, an employer letter, a paycheck stub or work badge that shows the residential address, a W-2 for the last 12 months, an unexpired insurance policy, a Tennessee voter registration card, and a receipt for personal property or real estate taxes paid within the last 12 months. A rental lease with wet or electronic signatures counts as one proof only if it is accompanied by a signed landlord letter dated within the last 30 days, and a second proof from the approved list is still required. The Department publishes the full list and the landlord-letter rules on the New Residents page. Use that list, not a memory of another state's documents.

You must surrender the out-of-state license, or present a motor vehicle report, when you apply. Tennessee law does not allow a resident to hold more than one valid license or ID. Foreign-country licenses may be retained. New or returning residents transferring a license from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada, or West Virginia must obtain a motor vehicle record from the former state. Everyone takes a vision screening. If the out-of-state license has been expired for more than six months, or if you are a new resident from another country, you also take the Tennessee knowledge test and the road skills test.

Active-duty military members who hold a valid Tennessee license and are based outside the state have a separate "Code 30" rule that can keep the license valid. Assignment to Fort Campbell is treated as reassignment back to Tennessee. That exception is narrow. Family members and National Guard members are not eligible for the same Code 30 provision, the Department says.

Beginning May 7, 2025, a REAL ID or a passport is required to enter certain federal buildings, military bases, and nuclear power plants, and to board commercial flights within the United States. If you want a REAL ID license, follow the stricter document list on the Department's site.

Titling and registering the vehicle

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-101(b)(2) says a regularly licensed passenger motor vehicle that is not operated for hire, owned by a nonresident who establishes residency in Tennessee, may be operated in the state for a period not to exceed 30 days from the date residency is established. The Department of Revenue's VR-6 article tells new residents to register within 30 days of the move and notes limited exceptions, including students from other states who attend school in Tennessee.

To obtain a title, the Department of Revenue's new-resident titling page says to bring proof of identification and proof of residency, the most current out-of-state registration, and either the name and address of the lienholder to whom you are making payments or, if there is no lienholder, your out-of-state title. Applications are made with the county clerk in the county of your residence, or in a county where the vehicle is based or will be operated. Put a Tennessee-compliant auto liability policy in force before you register. For proof required after December 31, 2022, the split-limit minimums are $25,000/$50,000/$25,000, or a $65,000 single-limit policy, deposit, or bond.

Do not wait until day 29 to collect title paperwork from an out-of-state lienholder. If the title is held by a lender, ask that lender early how it will release or mail the title to Tennessee. Bring the insurance card, the prior registration, and your residency documents to the clerk in one visit if you can.

FAQ

How soon do I need a Tennessee driver license after I move?

No later than 30 days after establishing residency, according to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

How long can I drive on my out-of-state plates?

A regularly licensed passenger vehicle that is not operated for hire may be operated for no more than 30 days after residency is established, under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-101(b)(2).

Where do I title and register the vehicle?

With the county clerk, using proof of identity and residency, the current out-of-state registration, and either the lienholder's information or the out-of-state title.

Do I need Tennessee auto insurance before I register?

Yes. Have a policy that meets the current financial-responsibility minimums in force, and be ready to show proof when you register and when you drive.

Next step

Start the driver license document pre-approval online, ask the county clerk what to bring for title and registration, and talk with a licensed local agent about a Tennessee auto policy that meets the $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 minimums before those 30-day periods run out.

Sources: Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, New Residents; Tennessee Department of Revenue, Titling a Vehicle (New Residents); Tennessee Department of Revenue, VR-6 New Residents; Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-101.

Tennessee has no statewide cap on residential security deposits and no uniform statewide deadline for returning them. In counties covered by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), deposits must be held in a dedicated account, and several inspection and refund-notice rules apply.

Those URLTA rules are in Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-28-102 and 66-28-301. They do not automatically apply in every county, and they should not be confused with the deposit caps or 30-day return periods used in some other states.

Where URLTA applies, and what it requires

Section 66-28-102 says Chapter 66-28 applies only in counties having a population of more than 75,000 according to the 2010 federal census. If you rent in a smaller county that is not covered, the lease and other Tennessee law control, and the account, inspection, and 60-day notice rules described below may not apply in the same way. Confirm with the county, a legal-aid office, or a Tennessee attorney whether Chapter 66-28 covers the property. The statute also excludes certain arrangements, including institutional residences, occupancy under a contract of sale, transient hotel or motel occupancy, and occupancy used primarily for agricultural purposes.

In a covered county, § 66-28-301 requires every landlord of residential property who collects a security deposit before occupancy to put those deposits in an account used only for that purpose, in a bank or other lending institution regulated by the state or by a federal agency. At the time the lease is signed and the deposit is submitted, the landlord must notify the tenant of the location of that account, but is not required to provide the account number. There is no statutory statewide maximum amount. The lease sets the deposit, subject to whatever other law may apply to a particular property.

The tenant has a right, with exceptions, to inspect the premises to determine liability for physical damages that would be charged against the deposit. After the landlord asks the tenant to vacate, or within five days after the landlord receives written notice of the tenant's intent to vacate, the landlord may notify the tenant of the right to be present at an inspection. The inspection may be required after the tenant has completely vacated and is ready to surrender the keys, and it must be on the day the tenant completely vacates or within four calendar days after. If the landlord gives written notice of the right to be present, the tenant schedules an inspection and then fails to attend, the tenant waives the right to contest damages found at that inspection, provided the rental agreement describes that waiver.

If a mutual inspection is requested, the landlord and tenant inspect, compile a list of presently ascertainable damage and the estimated repair cost, and sign the list. Those signatures are conclusive evidence of the list's accuracy, except as subsection (g) provides. If the tenant refuses to sign, the tenant must state in writing the items on the list the tenant dissents from. A tenant who later sues over the final list is limited to the items specifically dissented from.

The tenant does not have that inspection right if the tenant vacated without written notice, abandoned the premises, was judicially removed, did not contact the landlord after notice of the right to a mutual inspection, failed to appear at the arranged time, or did not request a mutual inspection or was otherwise inaccessible. In those cases the landlord may inspect and prepare the list without the tenant present, and must provide a written copy, sent by certificate of mailing, upon the tenant's written request.

Refunds, unpaid rent, and later-discovered damage

No landlord may retain any portion of the deposit if the deposit was not placed in the required account and a listing of damages is not provided as required. If the tenant leaves owing rent or other amounts, the landlord may remove the deposit from the account and apply it to the unpaid debt.

If the tenant leaves not owing rent and a refund is due, the landlord shall send notification to the last known or reasonably determinable address of the amount of any refund due. If the landlord has not received a response from the tenant within 60 days from the sending of that notification, the landlord may remove the deposit from the account and retain it free from any claim of the tenant or anyone claiming on the tenant's behalf. That 60-day period is a response window after a refund notice, not a statewide deadline for the landlord to mail a check after move-out. The statute does not set a uniform number of days after vacating in which the remainder must be returned.

The landlord may still recover contractual damages, plus the cost of additional physical damage discovered after the inspection, but only if that physical damage was discovered before the earlier of 30 days after the tenant vacated or abandoned the premises, or seven days after a new tenant takes possession.

Photograph the unit at move-in and move-out, request the mutual inspection in writing, keep the landlord's account-location notice, and provide a forwarding address. If you rent outside a URLTA county, get the deposit terms, any inspection process, and the return method in the lease itself.

FAQ

Is there a statewide cap on a Tennessee security deposit?

No. The URLTA deposit statute does not set a maximum amount, and there is no uniform statewide cap that applies in every county.

How quickly must a landlord return a deposit?

There is no uniform statewide number of days after move-out. In URLTA counties, if a refund is due, the landlord must send notice of the amount, and if the tenant does not respond within 60 days, the landlord may retain the funds.

Do these rules apply in every Tennessee county?

No. Chapter 66-28 applies only in counties with a population of more than 75,000 according to the 2010 federal census. Confirm whether your county is covered.

What if the landlord never put the deposit in a separate account?

In a URLTA county, a landlord may not retain any portion of the deposit if it was not deposited in the required account and a damage listing was not provided as required.

Next step

Before you pay a deposit or move out, confirm whether URLTA applies to the county, request a mutual inspection in writing, and talk with a licensed local agent or a Tennessee attorney if the lease terms and the statute do not match.

Sources: Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-102; Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301.

On an in-state Tennessee household-goods shipment, a mover that receives a written loss-or-damage claim must acknowledge it within 30 calendar days and must pay, decline, or make a firm written settlement offer within 120 days, or send a written status update every 30 days after that.

Those timing rules are in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.13(3). They apply to common carriers of household goods in intrastate commerce, and they only start after the carrier has a written claim.

How to file the claim so the clock starts

The regulation is about written claims. A phone call, a text, or a comment on the bill of lading is not enough if you never follow it with a writing. As soon as you find loss or damage, photograph the item, the packing, and the label, keep the broken piece, and send a dated written claim to the carrier at the address on the bill of lading. Include the shipment date, bill-of-lading number, a description of each item, and what you are asking the carrier to do, such as repair, replacement, or a stated dollar amount. Keep a copy and a proof of delivery for the letter or email.

When the carrier or its agent receives the written claim, it must record the date of receipt on the claim and acknowledge receipt in writing to the claimant within 30 calendar days. If you do not have that acknowledgment by day 30, follow up in writing and keep the follow-up. The 30-day clock is an acknowledgment deadline, not a payment deadline.

The payment or denial deadline is 120 days after the carrier or its agent received the claim. Within that period the carrier must pay, decline, or make a firm compromise settlement offer in writing. If, for reasons beyond the carrier's control, the claim cannot be processed and disposed of within 120 days, the carrier shall at that time, and at the end of each succeeding 30-day period while the claim remains pending, advise you in writing of the status of the claim and the reasons for the delay, and send a copy of that letter to the Commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, 1150 Foster Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, 37243. A status letter is not the same as a denial or a payment. You can still ask, in writing, when a final decision will be made.

The regulation does not, in this section, set a cents-per-pound released-value rate or a maximum number of months after delivery in which you must file. Other contract terms, the bill of lading, and any additional cargo protection you bought may impose a filing window or a valuation limit. Read those documents when you book, not after a sofa is damaged. If a term is unclear, ask the carrier to explain the valuation in writing before the truck is loaded. Do not assume Tennessee uses the same released-value figures you may have seen for an interstate shipment or for another state.

Evidence, cargo filings, and where to go if the claim stalls

Form H cargo insurance is required for Tennessee household-goods carriers, according to the Department of Revenue's Intrastate Authority page. That filing is not a promise that every item will be paid at replacement cost. It is a regulatory insurance certificate the carrier must have on file. Your recovery still depends on the bill of lading, the valuation you selected, and the facts of the claim.

Helpful evidence includes the inventory, scale tickets, photographs taken before the move and at delivery, the written estimate, and any note you made about existing wear. Walk through the house with the crew at pickup and at delivery. If you see damage at the door, write it on the delivery receipt before you sign, then follow with the formal written claim. Signing a clean receipt can make the later claim harder, even if the timing rules still apply once a written claim is filed.

If the carrier misses the 30-day acknowledgment, misses the 120-day decision, or stops sending the 30-day status letters, write again, attach your earlier correspondence, and send a copy to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division at the address in the regulation. You can also contact the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs about a deceptive or unresolved moving practice, and you can ask the Department of Revenue Motor Carrier unit whether the carrier's authority and Form H filing are still current. These agencies can investigate or mediate in their own lanes. They may not be able to write you a check.

Interstate shipments follow FMCSA claim rules, which have their own acknowledgment and decision periods and their own valuation system. If your move crossed a state line, use the federal process and ProtectYourMove.gov, not only the Tennessee 30- and 120-day clocks.

FAQ

How quickly must a Tennessee mover acknowledge a damage claim?

In writing, within 30 calendar days after the carrier or its agent receives the written claim, and the carrier must record the date of receipt on the claim.

When must the mover pay, decline, or offer a settlement?

Within 120 days after receipt of the written claim, unless it cannot finish for reasons beyond its control, in which case it must send a written status update at the 120-day mark and every 30 days after that, with a copy to Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.

Does a phone call count as a claim?

The regulation's deadlines apply to a written claim. Follow any call with a dated writing and keep a copy.

Do these 30- and 120-day rules apply to a move from Kentucky or Alabama into Tennessee?

No. A shipment that crosses a state line is an interstate move under FMCSA rules. The Tennessee regulation applies to intrastate household-goods commerce.

Next step

If goods were lost or damaged on an in-state move, send a written claim immediately, calendar the 30- and 120-day dates, and talk with a licensed local agent about whether your own insurance or the mover's cargo filing applies to the loss.

Sources: Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.13; Tennessee Department of Revenue, Intrastate Authority; ProtectYourMove.gov.

On an in-state Tennessee household-goods move, if actual charges exceed the estimate by more than 10 percent or $25, whichever is greater, the carrier must notify you before delivery, with limited exceptions. The bill of lading must show how the estimate was made and the estimated amount.

Those rules are in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.13, which also governs how weights are determined and when a shipment can be reweighed.

How estimates and weights are supposed to work

Carriers may give shippers an estimate form that lists average weights for furniture and other household articles, so you can make your own estimate. That courtesy form is not a substitute for the carrier's estimate of charges. Whenever you specifically request notification of the actual weight and charges, the carrier must comply as soon as those figures are known, by telephone or telegraph if you asked for that, and as soon as possible before the shipment is offered for delivery.

The 10 percent or $25 notice rule is the consumer protection most people need. As soon as the carrier determines that actual charges exceed the estimate by more than 10 percent or $25, whichever is greater, it must notify you of the amount, at the carrier's expense, by telegram or telephone, as soon as possible and before delivery. The paragraph does not apply where the carrier is extending credit, or where you have not supplied, after the carrier asked, an address or telephone number at which the communication would be received. Give the company a reliable number and an email or forwarding address, and ask it to record that you requested notice of the actual charges.

Every motor common carrier of household goods also has to file a monthly report with the Commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, 1150 Foster Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, 37243, listing instances in which actual charges exceeded the estimate by 10 percent or $25, whichever is greater, with an explanation. That report is a regulatory duty. It does not replace notice to you, and it does not automatically reduce your bill.

Weight is the usual basis for a charge when the shipment is scaled. The regulation requires the carrier to determine the tare weight of the vehicle, without the crew, on a certified scale, with a full gasoline tank and with the pads, chains, dollies, hand trucks, and other equipment needed for the shipment. After loading, the vehicle is weighed again, without the crew, at origin if an adequate scale is available, and the net weight is the loaded weight minus the tare weight. If no adequate scale is available at origin, the loaded weight is obtained at the nearest certified scale in the direction of the move, or in the direction of the next pickup or delivery for a part load.

If no adequate scale is available at origin, en route, or at destination, a constructive weight based on seven pounds per cubic foot of properly loaded van space may be used. That constructive weight may also be used for a part load when a scale weight could not be obtained without first unloading it or other part loads in the same vehicle. A part load for any one shipper not exceeding 1,000 pounds may be weighed on a certified scale before it is loaded.

Reweighs, the bill of lading, and what you should ask for

Upon request of the shipper, owner, or consignee, made before delivery, and when practical, the carrier will reweigh the shipment. The lower of the two net scale weights is used to determine the charges. If the reweigh net weight is higher than the first net weight, and the difference is less than 100 pounds on a shipment of 5,000 pounds or less, or 2 percent or less of the lower net weight on a shipment over 5,000 pounds, a reasonable reweigh charge may be established. If you doubt the first weight, request the reweigh before the truck is unloaded.

Each bill of lading on a household-goods shipment must indicate the method by which the estimate of charges was made and the amount of the estimate. Read that line before you sign. If it is blank, or if it does not match the written estimate you were given, stop and ask for a corrected document. The carrier also has to present each prospective household-goods shipper an information pamphlet containing provisions the Commissioner prescribes or approves. Ask for that pamphlet when you request the estimate.

Practical steps that help later if the bill jumps:

• Get the estimate in writing, with the method and the dollar amount.
• Inventory rooms and large items, and tell the carrier about stairs, long carries, and third-floor walk-ups before the estimate is written.
• Request notice of actual weight and charges, in writing, and confirm a phone number.
• Ask whether a certified scale will be used or whether constructive weight may apply.
• Keep the estimate, the bill of lading, scale tickets, and any notice of a higher charge.

These rules apply to intrastate household-goods shipments under the Department of Safety regulation. An interstate move is subject to FMCSA estimate rules, which are not the same 10 percent or $25 test. Confirm which set of rules covers your shipment before you compare bids.

FAQ

When must a Tennessee mover tell me the bill will be higher than the estimate?

When actual charges exceed the estimate by more than 10 percent or $25, whichever is greater, the carrier must notify you before delivery, unless credit is being extended or you did not provide a reachable address or telephone number after being asked.

What has to appear on the bill of lading?

The method by which the estimate was made and the amount of the estimate, under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.13(2)(f).

Can I demand a reweigh?

Yes. If you request it before delivery and it is practical, the carrier will reweigh, and the lower net scale weight is used for the charges, subject to the regulation's rule on a reasonable reweigh charge.

What if no certified scale is available?

The regulation allows a constructive weight of seven pounds per cubic foot of properly loaded van space when no adequate scale is available at origin, en route, or at destination.

Next step

Ask each authorized Tennessee carrier for a written estimate that states the method and the amount, request notice of actual charges, and talk with a licensed local agent if you want to understand how the mover's cargo protection interacts with your own insurance.

Sources: Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.13; Tennessee Department of Revenue, Intrastate Authority.