Moving Cost in Texas (2026)

Hiring movers in Texas for a local 2-bedroom 50-mile household-goods move typically runs $600–$1,700, with moderate state intrastate regulation under the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) — Motor Carrier Division. Texas's combination of TxDMV Motor Carrier Division intrastate HHG regulation under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 643, vast geographic distances producing some of the longest typical intrastate moves in the country (Houston-to-El Paso 750+ miles, Dallas-to-Brownsville 525+ miles), highest net-positive interstate inbound migration volume in the country (driven by California + Northeast outbound flow to Houston + Dallas-Fort Worth + Austin + San Antonio), $17.94/hr BLS Laborers and Movers mean wage, mandatory TxDMV 'Important Information for Texas Movers' Consumer Bill of Rights disclosure, and hurricane-season Gulf-Coast evacuation patterns.

State Texas
Cities Covered 6
Typical local 2-bedroom 50-mile household-goods move $600 – $1,700
BLS Laborers and Movers wage $17.94/hr

Texas intrastate regulator, tariff & valuation drivers

  • Intrastate regulator type: Texas DMV Motor Carrier Division regulation
  • State regulator name: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) — Motor Carrier Division
  • Tariff filing requirement: Voluntary blanket tariff filing — carriers may file or charge market rates
  • Valuation disclosure (FVP vs RVP): State requires Released-Value-vs-Full-Value Protection election disclosure on every estimate
  • Intrastate license requirement: Yes — state intrastate operating authority permit required
  • Overall regulation intensity: Moderate — state operating authority + voluntary tariff filing regime
  • Typical mover hourly labor rate (BLS SOC 53-7062 mean): $17.94/hr

Texas mover licensing & permits

  • License status: Statewide license required
  • License board: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) — Motor Carrier Division (official site)
  • Permit: Texas DMV Motor Carrier Division Household Goods Carrier (HGC) certificate required for intrastate moves under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 643; mandatory written estimate and FVP-vs-RVP election; mandatory TxDMV 'Important Information for Texas Movers' disclosure on every estimate; minimum $300K liability + $5K cargo coverage; TxDMV complaint authority

How household-goods moving costs vary in Texas

State-specific code or insurance rule: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) Motor Carrier Division regulates intrastate household-goods carriers under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 643 — TxDMV requires a Household Goods Carrier (HGC) certificate for any intrastate move with mandatory written estimate disclosure plus mandatory FVP-vs-RVP valuation election plus mandatory TxDMV 'Important Information for Texas Movers' Consumer Bill of Rights disclosure, and Texas's vast geographic distances (Texas is the 2nd-largest state by area at 268,596 square miles) produce some of the longest typical intrastate moves in the country with Houston-to-El Paso, Dallas-to-Brownsville, or Austin-to-Amarillo routes commonly exceeding 500-800 miles.

Cities in Texas

Compare household-goods moving pricing for 6 cities across Texas.

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