How to Check a Mover's License in California

The two-minute check

1. Find the number. A licensed mover must show its permit number, written CAL-T followed by digits, in “all forms of advertising, solicitation, or other presentments made to the public”, and on every truck, in letters at least 1½ inches high. Many movers also write it as “MTR” with the same digits.
2. Look it up in the state’s household mover license search by company name or number. Check that the name and address match the company you’re talking to.
3. Moving out of state? The mover also needs to be registered with the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and have a USDOT number. Check it with FMCSA’s Protect Your Move tools.

On Movers Bay Area, when a mover publishes its CAL-T number on its Google profile, the listing shows it as self-reported, next to a link to the official search. We don’t verify licenses: always check yourself.

Who licenses movers

The Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS), part of the Department of Consumer Affairs, licenses household movers. In its words: “Companies moving household goods within, into, or out of California must be licensed with BHGS. Companies moving household goods into or out of California must also be licensed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.”

Some mover websites still say movers are permitted by the CPUC. That was the old system; BHGS issues the permits now.

What else the state tells you to check

From the BHGS consumer page:

• Licensed and insured. “Confirm the Moving Company is Licensed and Insured.”
• A real address. “Confirm the company’s business address by visiting their office, searching online, or checking their city business license.”
• A visual inspection. For moves within California, the estimate must follow a visual inspection, and the mover must sign it.
• Hourly or by weight. Moves under 100 miles can be charged by the hour; moves over 100 miles must be charged by weight and mileage.
• The agreement three days ahead. At least three days before the move, the mover must give you the agreement, with a Not to Exceed Price, the most you can be charged unless there are change orders.
• Who shows up. Ask for the name and ID of the people doing the move.

Red flags

The state says to be wary of:

• estimates given before a visual inspection, far cheaper than others, or missing inventory details;
• a P.O. box as the business address;
• a large deposit, or a deposit by electronic or digital transfer;
• movers whose CAL-T number isn’t shown anywhere.

Brokers are different from movers: a broker’s ads must say that it doesn’t take possession of your belongings and isn’t a party to the moving agreement.

Enforcement is real

In July 2026 the Department of Consumer Affairs announced a sweep of unlicensed movers in the Bay Area and Southern California that “resulted in 30 business citations totaling $110,230.” Its advice: “Always verify the company’s license online. Get a visual inspection … in person. Get all estimates and agreements in writing before the move.”

Sources

All checked September 28, 2026:

• BHGS: Household movers
• BHGS household mover license search
• Household Movers Laws and Regulations, effective January 1, 2026 (16 CCR § 2972 on advertising and vehicle markings)
• BHGS Maximum Rate Tariff 4, effective January 1, 2026 (Items 88, 108, 128 and 470)
• DCA news release, July 9, 2026
• For interstate moves: FMCSA Protect Your Move