How is an interstate move priced compared to a Georgia local move?
On this page
A Georgia move of 50 miles or less is priced by the hour for a van and crew, under ceilings set by the state. An interstate move is priced under the mover’s own tariff, and on a non-binding estimate the final bill follows the shipment’s actual weight and the distance; on a binding estimate the price is fixed for the goods and services listed. State caps and the closed list of Georgia extras do not carry across the state line.
Side by side
| Georgia move, 50 miles or less | Georgia move, more than 50 miles | Interstate move | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basis | Hours x hourly rate for a van and crew | Weight x rate per 100 pounds for the mileage band, lowered by the tariff's break point rule when the next weight bracket costs less | The mover's tariff; weight and distance on a non-binding estimate |
| Who sets the maximum | DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 7 | DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 7 | No state ceiling; the mover's published tariff |
| Extras | Only items the tariff lists | Only items the tariff lists, each capped | Accessorial services in the mover's tariff, determined before the bill of lading |
| Delivery cap on a non-binding estimate | 110% of the estimate | 110% of the estimate | 110% of the estimate, plus requested services and up to 15% for impracticable operations |
| Reweigh | Not applicable | One re-measurement, at your cost when the rules allow a charge (up to $91.03) | Free, if you ask before unloading begins |
The Georgia side is set out in how Georgia local moving costs are calculated. The rest of this page is about the interstate column.
Why weight drives an interstate bill
On a long haul, the carrier’s cost tracks how heavy the load is and how far it travels, not how many hours the crew spends at your house. That is why a non-binding interstate estimate converts to a weight-based charge. A room of pillows fills space without weighing much, while a few cartons of books or a stone tabletop weigh a great deal; two households that look similar can produce very different bills.
The type of estimate decides whether weight changes your price. The federal consumer booklet in Appendix A to 49 CFR Part 375 says: “If your mover provided a binding estimate, the weight of the shipment will not affect the charges you will pay, so there is no requirement to weigh shipments moving under binding estimates.” On a non-binding estimate, the mover “must determine the actual weight of your shipment on a certified scale”.
How the weight is measured, and how to check it
Federal rules allow two methods under 49 CFR 375.509: weighing the empty truck before loading and again after (origin weigh), or weighing it loaded and again after unloading (back weigh). For both weighings, the truck’s pads, dollies, and other equipment must be aboard, the driver must be off, and the fuel tanks must be full at each weighing or, on an origin weigh, left without added fuel between the two weighings.
You have three rights around that number:
- Watch the weighing. The mover must tell you “where and when each weighing will occur” and give you a reasonable chance to be there (49 CFR 375.513).
- Ask for a reweigh before unloading. After the mover gives you the billing weight and charges, and “before actually beginning to unload a shipment weighed at origin”, you may demand a reweigh, and the bill must use the reweigh weight (49 CFR 375.517).
- Pay nothing for it. The booklet says “The mover is not permitted to charge you for the reweighing, but the final charges due will be based on the reweigh weight, even if it is more than the initial weight.”
What the estimate must say
An interstate estimate must rest on a physical survey of your goods, in person or by video, unless you waive it in writing before loading, and it must say whether it is binding or non-binding. A non-binding estimate must state that you will not be required to pay more than 110% of it at delivery. The mover must also settle the charges for accessorial services, “such as elevators, long carries, etc.”, before the bill of lading. How the survey works is covered in what a physical survey is.
Reading an interstate quote
- Find the estimate type first: binding or non-binding.
- On a non-binding estimate, note the estimated weight, the mileage, and the rate, and ask how the weight will be measured and where.
- Check every accessorial line, and ask what would trigger any that are not listed, such as a shuttle.
- Compare quotes only when they cover the same goods, services, and valuation level.
- Plan to be present at the weighing, or arrange for someone to be, and keep the reweigh right in mind.
For a move that stays in Georgia, the ceilings and the closed list of extras do the comparing for you; across state lines, the estimate and the weight ticket are what you check. Which kind of company fits each route is covered in local Georgia mover or national van line.