Moving Soon? Maryland Now Requiring Movers To Be Registered And Insured

BALTIMORE — Maryland will soon require household moving companies to register with the state, a shift supporters call long-overdue consumer protection and critics describe as another layer of bureaucracy that could burden small operators and raise prices for residents.

The Maryland Department of Labor says applications open Dec. 1, 2025, with enforcement beginning March 1, 2026. After that date, movers may not charge for intrastate jobs using a commercial motor vehicle unless they’re registered. A new public database will allow residents to confirm whether a company is properly insured and approved before hiring.

The registration program was first authorized by the General Assembly in 2019 under Business Regulation, Title 8.5 and formally implemented this year through COMAR 09.30.01, which outlines insurance, compliance and enforcement requirements. Movers must provide proof of liability, cargo and workers’-compensation insurance before being approved.

Supporters say the registry is designed to curb uninsured “rogue” operators, protect customers from damage disputes and scams, and give legitimate businesses a fairer playing field. Consumer advocates point to the searchable database as a simple way to verify a mover before handing over valuable belongings.

The industry’s response, however, is divided. Established firms welcome the uniform standards, while independent movers say new fees and paperwork could make it harder to compete or even force them out of business. Some warn that customers could see higher rates as small companies absorb compliance costs.

State officials emphasize that the registration applies only to paid moving services within Maryland — not to residents who move themselves. Renting a U-Haul or similar truck and handling your own move is exempt, as are interstate moves regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Consumers can learn more, view forms or file complaints at labor.maryland.gov/license/hgm. For interstate moving protections and mover look-ups, visit the FMCSA’s Protect Your Move website.

With the rules taking effect just ahead of Maryland’s busy spring moving season, officials are urging companies to prepare early — and residents to get in the habit of checking a mover’s registration before booking.

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