# Operating Authority for Household Goods Carriers

Canonical: https://www.fasttruckauthority.com/guides/operating-authority-for-household-goods
Category: Operating Authority
Published: 2026-05-02
Updated: 2026-05-02
Read time: 8 min read

> Household goods (HHG) authority is separate from regular property authority. HHG carriers file under 49 CFR §365.403, post BMC-84, and meet stricter consumer-protection rules.

## TL;DR

> Household-goods (HHG) operating authority is the same OP-1 filing and $300 FMCSA fee as general property authority, but the regulatory layer underneath is meaningfully heavier. HHG carriers are subject to 49 CFR §375 consumer-protection rules, tariff registration, and a mandatory arbitration program; HHG brokers post a $75,000 BMC-84 bond.

## Key takeaways

- HHG operations must be declared on the OP-1 — selecting only "Authorized For-Hire (Property)" and then moving households is non-compliant.
- 49 CFR §375 imposes binding/non-binding written estimates, the federal moving-rights pamphlet, weight tickets, and inventory disclosures that do not apply to general property.
- HHG carriers must publish a tariff and offer customers a third-party arbitration program for unresolved disputes (49 CFR §375.211).
- HHG brokers post the same $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust fund as property brokers under 49 CFR §387.307.
- Intrastate-only movers operate under state authority; an interstate leg of any length triggers federal HHG authority and §375 compliance.

## Cited entities

- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Motor_Carrier_Safety_Administration)
- 49 U.S.C. § 13902 — Registration of motor carriers (https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/49/13902)
- 49 CFR Part 365 — Rules governing applications for operating authority (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-365)
- 49 CFR Part 375 — Transportation of household goods (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-375)
- 49 CFR Part 387 — Minimum levels of financial responsibility (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-387)

## FAQ

### What is household goods (HHG) operating authority?

HHG operating authority is the FMCSA license for motor carriers and brokers that transport or arrange transportation of household goods — furniture, personal effects, and similar items being moved between residences. It is a separate authority class from general property authority because of the consumer-protection rules under 49 CFR §375 (HHG-specific) and the specific bond and tariff requirements that apply only to HHG carriers.

### How is HHG authority different from regular property authority?

HHG carriers and brokers must comply with 49 CFR §375 — the consumer-protection regulations that include written estimates, the "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" pamphlet, weight tickets, and dispute-resolution requirements. HHG brokers post the same $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond as property brokers but are subject to additional disclosure rules. Regular property carriers do not have these consumer-facing rules; HHG carriers do.

### Do I need a separate MC number for household goods?

You need to declare HHG operations on your OP-1 application — there is a specific operations classification for HHG. The MC number itself looks identical to a property-authority MC number, but the FMCSA record flags the carrier as HHG-authorized, which triggers the consumer-protection regulations and the additional reporting under the Released Rates Order. Filing as a regular property carrier and then moving households is not compliant.

### What is the BMC-84 bond for household goods brokers?

Under 49 CFR §387.307, household-goods brokers must post a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust fund — the same face value as property-broker bonds. The bond protects consumers and motor carriers if the HHG broker fails to perform. Premiums for HHG brokers are typically 1-4% of the face value annually depending on credit, and the bond must remain on file for the authority to stay active.

### Are intrastate movers required to file with FMCSA?

Generally no. A moving company that operates entirely within one state needs intrastate authority from the state DOT, PUC, or moving regulator — not federal MC authority. The FMCSA HHG framework applies to interstate moves only. The catch: a "local" move that crosses a state line at any point during the relocation falls under federal jurisdiction and requires HHG MC authority plus full 49 CFR §375 compliance.

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