Illegal moving companies are operating statewide, taking a financial and emotional toll on Texans who find themselves faced with losing everything they own or paying a ransom to release their belongings.
At a press conference Monday afternoon on the South Steps of the Texas State Capitol, government agencies, moving industry experts, and consumer advocates cautioned Texans to do their homework before hiring a moving company. Leaders with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), Southwest Movers Association, American Moving & Storage Association, Texas Association of Realtors and Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin encouraged consumers to take note of their rights and responsibilities. State Representative Celia Israel (District 50-Austin), State Representative Jason Isaac (District 45-Dripping Springs) and a representative with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) were also present to explain state and federal laws protecting the public against unlicensed movers.
“TxDMV is determined to make Texas one of safest states in which consumers hire a moving company,” said Whitney Brewster, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles’ Executive Director. “Unlicensed movers are rogue operators who are not legitimate moving companies. We ask consumers to visit Truck Stop on www.TxDMV.gov to verify if a mover is licensed in Texas.”
