Published by Chris Townsend
Moving a home, an office, or an entire life in Georgia means threading your way through state certificates, city curb permits, federal safety filings, and even ocean-freight licenses—all before the first carton leaves the porch. Georgia treats household-goods movers as regulated carriers that must hold a Department of Public Safety (DPS) certificate, publish a state-approved tariff, and meet insurance minimums. Add local lane-closure rules in Atlanta, right-of-way reservations in Savannah, oversize-load clearances from the Georgia DOT, and—if you’re international—a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) OTI license and TSA air-cargo endorsement. Skip one layer and fines can reach $5,000 per violation or strand your truck at a roadside weigh station. The guide below walks through every clearance—local, state, federal, and international—so you and Three Movers can glide from Peachtree Street to the Port of Brunswick without a single compliance hiccup.
Georgia’s Regulatory Backbone
1. Household-Goods Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity
Georgia classifies movers of “household goods in use” as motor carriers that must secure a Class B Household Goods Certificate from the DPS Motor Carrier Compliance Division before touching a sofa inside state lines. The application is filed through the DPS Household Goods portal and must include criminal-history consent forms, insurance binders, and a proposed tariff gamccd.net. Approved carriers are added to the DPS public roster so customers can verify legality.
- Tariff requirement: All intrastate rates and fees must follow the DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 4 unless a carrier publishes lower charges. Georgia Department of Public Safety
- Insurance minimums: Liability coverage of at least $300,000 for vehicles under 10,000 lbs GVWR and $750,000 for heavier trucks is filed with DPS on Form E; cargo coverage must equal $0.60 per pound released value.
- Public notice & hearings: New certificates are subject to a 15-day protest period and, if challenged, a public DPS hearing. Georgia Department of Public Safety.
2. Enforcement & Penalties
Operating or even advertising as a mover without a certificate is a misdemeanor, and DPS may impose fines up to $5,000 per incident under O.C.G.A. § 40-1-129. DPS can also assess investigative costs and place holds on vehicle registrations until penalties are paid.
Local Street-Use Permits
3. Atlanta
Loading in Midtown? Any activity that blocks a traffic lane or sidewalk—even for a moving truck—requires an ATL-DOT Lane Closure Permit plus payment of the applicable fee schedule. atldot.atlantaga.gov Residential neighborhoods from Atlanta that participate in the Restricted Parking Permit (RPP) program issue one-year decals for $20 per vehicle, and commercial loading spaces require a separate permit administered by ATLPlus atldot.atlantaga.gov. Applications must be filed online, and lane-closure requests must arrive at least 10 days in advance with proof of POST-certified police officers for traffic control atlantapd.org.
4. Savannah
Moves inside Savannah’s Historic District often require reserving curb space through a Right-of-Way Permit issued by Mobility Services; forms are emailed or faxed and fees are invoiced through the city’s eTRAC portal. savannahga.gov Without the permit, trucks risk citation or towing from cobblestone streets that prohibit vehicles over 8,000 lbs without advance clearance.
State Vehicle Clearances
5. Oversize & Overweight Loads (GDOT GAPROS)
Georgia limits standard moving vans to 8 ft 6 in width, 13 ft 6 in height, 75 ft overall length, and 80,000 lbs GVW. Exceeding any dimension means filing a Special Hauling Permit via the Georgia Permitting & Routing Optimization System (GAPROS) Georgia Department of Transportation. Annual and seasonal oversize permits are available by phone, but every issued permit carries specific routing and escort rules.
- Fines: Excess weight is fined at $0.05 per pound over the allowed limit, plus mandatory off-loading or rerouting.
- Curfews: Permits bar travel through Atlanta’s I-285 perimeter between 6 a.m.–9 a.m. and 3 p.m.–6 p.m. on weekdays.
6. IFTA & IRP
Any truck over 26,000 lbs GVWR that leaves Georgia must display a current International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) decal and file quarterly mileage reports with the Department of Revenue. The same vehicle must carry apportioned International Registration Plan plates with weight endorsements matching its heaviest state of travel.
Crossing State Lines
7. USDOT Identification
Interstate operations require a USDOT number that records safety scores, insurance, and inspections with FMCSA. Biennial MCS-150 updates are mandatory.
8. FMCSA Operating Authority (MC Number)
Household-Goods Motor Carriers must also hold HHG Operating Authority (MC prefix) and pay a one-time $300 filing fee. Proof of $750,000 public-liability insurance must reach FMCSA within 90 days of application.
9. BOC-3 Process Agent Network
FMCSA requires carriers to designate a legal process agent in every U.S. state on Form BOC-3; the filing is electronic and must be updated whenever an agent relationship ends.
Going Global from Georgia
10. Ocean Freight Licensing
If your shipment departs via Savannah or Brunswick, the arranging mover must hold an active Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) license—either as an Ocean Freight Forwarder or NVOCC—issued by the FMC. The public OTI database lets shippers verify licensing before booking.
11. Importer Security Filing (ISF 10 + 2)
For imports to the U.S., the importer or its agent must transmit 10 data elements to Customs 24 hours before vessel loading or face penalties up to $5,000 per late or inaccurate filing.
12. Air-Cargo Security
Movers that tender packed household goods directly to airlines must enroll as a TSA Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) and follow chain-of-custody protocols audited annually through the IAC Management System.
Special Endorsements & Facilities
- Hazardous Materials CDL Endorsement: Required when transporting propane grills, gasoline-powered tools, or other placarded hazmat; background checks are completed via the Georgia DDS before TSA issues the fingerprint-based clearance.
- Public Warehouse Registration: Georgia treats household-goods storage as a “public warehouse” activity; facilities must file a $5,000 bond with the Commissioner of Agriculture before offering storage-in-transit services.
Compliance Snapshot
| Permit / License | Issuing Body | Renewal | Typical Fee* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household-Goods Certificate | Georgia DPS | Permanent (tariff updates) | $300 app + publication |
| Atlanta Lane-Closure Permit | ATL-DOT | Per move | $75–$200/day |
| Savannah ROW Permit | Mobility Services | Per move | $50 first day + $25 add’l |
| Oversize/Overweight Permit | GDOT (GAPROS) | Per trip or annual | $30–$150 + mileage |
| USDOT Number | FMCSA | Biennial report | $0 |
| HHG MC Authority | FMCSA | One-time | $300 |
| FMC OTI License | FMC | 3-year renewal | $125 app + $75 triennial |
| IFTA Decal | GA DOR | Annual | $10 decal + tax |
| IRP Apportioned Plate | GA DOR | Annual | Based on weight / states |
*Representative as of May 2025; agencies adjust fees periodically—verify before filing.
How Three Movers Keeps You Compliant
- Certificate in Good Standing – We maintain active Georgia DPS authority and a published tariff, so your intrastate move is already cleared.
- Automatic Lane Reservations – Our permitting desk files ATL-DOT lane-closure or Savannah ROW requests the same day you lock in load dates, ensuring curb space is coned off when the truck arrives.
- Real-Time GAPROS Routing – Extra-tall wardrobes? We run instant GDOT simulations and issue pilot-car orders when escorts are required.
- Borderless Paperwork – From IFTA mileage uploads to ISF filings, our compliance staff closes every loop so your shipment never stalls at a scale house or foreign port.
With every permit pre-approved, you can concentrate on new school zones, new restaurants, and new memories—while we quietly steer the paperwork.
Ready to Move the Right Way?
Georgia’s layered permits exist to protect roads, neighborhoods, and your belongings. Partner with Three Movers and those layers become one seamless checklist already stamped “approved.”
