Resource library

The free agency, regulator and maker pages this manual draws on, grouped by subject, with the date each was checked.

Every free source this manual links: 235 pages from federal and state agencies and regulators, statutes and regulations, rental and container companies, appliance makers, health and animal-welfare organizations and a few researchers. Each entry names its publisher, and the line after it says what we used it for. A company's page describes its own products and rules; we cite it for those only, never as a recommendation.

Verified: every link was opened on 2026-11-02. Next check: 2027-11-02. Pages move and rules change; if a link here is dead or a figure is out of date, tell us at guides@learnthings.online.

Nothing here is for sale through this manual, and no link carries a referral or tracking code. The paid move-management and mover-training programs we compared while planning the manual are not listed.

Federal mover rules, FMCSA and the Surface Transportation Board

• 49 CFR 372.241, Commercial zones determined generally. eCFR (regulation). How far a commercial zone reaches.
• 49 CFR 375.101 and 375.103, who must follow Part 375 and definitions. eCFR, FMCSA (regulation). Scope and key definitions.
• 49 CFR 375.201 and 375.203, normal liability and what reduces it. eCFR (regulation). Full Value Protection duty and the high-value rule.
• 49 CFR 375.207 and 375.209, advertisements and complaint handling. eCFR (regulation). What every interstate mover ad must show.
• 49 CFR 375.211, "Must I have an arbitration program?" eCFR (regulation).. . The 11 minimum elements.
• 49 CFR 375.213, information for a prospective shipper. eCFR (regulation). The documents a shipper must receive.
• 49 CFR 375.215 to 375.221, collecting charges and card payments. eCFR (regulation). Payment-form rules.
• 49 CFR 375.301 and 375.303, service options and selling liability insurance. eCFR (regulation). Rules for insurance sold through a mover.
• 49 CFR 375.401, "Must I estimate charges?" eCFR (regulation).. . The survey and written estimate requirement.
• 49 CFR 375.403, binding estimates. eCFR (regulation). When a binding estimate holds and what can be added.
• 49 CFR 375.405 and 375.407, non-binding estimates and release at 110 percent. eCFR (regulation). The 110 percent rule in full.
• 49 CFR 375.409, "May household goods brokers provide estimates?" eCFR (regulation).. . When a broker's estimate binds a carrier.
• 49 CFR 375.503, "Must I write up an inventory?" eCFR (regulation).. . Inventory duties at pickup and delivery.
• 49 CFR 375.505, "Must I write up a bill of lading?" eCFR (regulation).. . The 17 required items, signing and the 3-day rule.
• 49 CFR 375.507 to 375.521, weighing the shipment. eCFR (regulation). Weighing method and shipper rights.
• 49 CFR 375.601 to 375.609, transport, delays, early delivery, storage in transit. eCFR (regulation). The delay notice and storage-in-transit rules.
• 49 CFR 375.701 to 375.709. eCFR, FMCSA (regulation). Delivery and collecting charges at destination.
• 49 CFR 375.701 to 375.709, delivery and charges at delivery. eCFR (regulation). Maximum COD amounts and release language.
• 49 CFR 375.801 to 375.807, collecting balance-due charges. eCFR (regulation). Invoice and credit timing.
• 49 CFR 390.5, definition of interstate commerce. eCFR (regulation). The definition Part 375 uses.
• 49 CFR Part 370, Principles and Practices for the Investigation and Voluntary Disposition of Loss and Damage Claims. eCFR (regulation). What counts as a claim and the response clock.
• 49 CFR Part 371 subpart B, Special Rules for Household Goods Brokers (§§ 371.101 to 371.121). eCFR (regulation). What a household goods broker must do.
• 49 U.S.C. 13707(b)(3), Payment of rates; shipments of household goods. Legal Information Institute (statute). The statutory 110 percent rule.
• 49 U.S.C. 14706, Liability of carriers under receipts and bills of lading (the Carmack Amendment). Legal Information Institute copy of the U.S. Code (statute). Claim and suit minimums and full value protection.
• 49 U.S.C. 14708, Dispute settlement program for household goods carriers. Legal Information Institute (statute). Arbitration requirements and attorney's fees.
• 49 U.S.C. 14915, Penalties for holding goods hostage. Legal Information Institute (statute). The hostage statute.
• 49 U.S.C. 5124, Criminal penalty. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (statute; mirror of the U.S. Code). The actual penalty text.
• Appendix A to Part 375, "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move." eCFR (regulation; text of the booklet).. . The official consumer text a mover's booklet must follow in text and order.
• Appendix B to 49 CFR Part 386, Penalty Schedule, paragraphs (g)(7), (21) to (23). eCFR (regulation). Inflation-adjusted penalty amounts.
• Arbitration Program: What Household Goods Movers Must Do (FMCSA-ESO-08-010, October 2008). FMCSA (agency). Arbitration in Q&A form.
• Commercial Driver's License (Drivers). FMCSA (agency). Plain statement of the classes.
• File a Moving Fraud Complaint. FMCSA (agency). What to have ready.
• FMCSA Complaint Center (National Consumer Complaint Database). FMCSA (agency). The complaint portal.
• Frequently Asked Questions, Protect Your Move topic (28 questions; page 1 of 2 read). FMCSA (agency). FMCSA's answers on hostage goods, registration and complaints.
• Implementation of Household Goods Working Group Recommendations, final rule. FMCSA, Federal Register 87 FR 24431, April 26, 2022 (regulation preamble). What changed and why.
• Liability and Protection. FMCSA (agency). FMCSA's valuation summary.
• Movers vs. Brokers. FMCSA (agency). The plain-language mover and broker comparison.
• Protect Your Move. FMCSA (agency). The hub linking the booklet, brochure, search tool and complaints.
• Released Rates of Motor Common Carriers of Household Goods, Docket No. RR 999 (Amendment No. 5), decision served January 12, 2012 (decided January 10, 2012). Surface Transportation Board (agency). The released-rates order and FVP minimum values.
• Search for a Registered Mover, and the Mover search tool (Search by Company). FMCSA (agency). The USDOT and MC lookup.
• Search for a Registered Mover, and the Mover search tool (Search by Company). FMCSA (agency). The USDOT and MC lookup.
• Spot the Red Flags. FMCSA (agency). FMCSA's red-flag list.
• Household goods: lost or damaged items. Surface Transportation Board (agency). The board's consumer page on released value and full value protection.
• Steps to Select a Mover. FMCSA (agency). FMCSA's five steps.
• Tips for a Successful Move, and Moving Checklist. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (agency). What the regulator says about planning time (nothing).
• Tips for a Successful Move. FMCSA (agency). FMCSA's general tips.
• What if there are problems? FMCSA (agency).. . Post-move steps.
• What Should You Do if you Have a Dispute with your Mover? FMCSA (agency).. . Arbitration versus lawsuit in plain language.
• Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move (FMCSA-ESA-03-006, "Revised October 2022"; PDF created 2023-09-06, posted 2023-10). FMCSA (agency). The booklet movers must give.

State mover regulators and tariffs (examples)

• A Consumer Guide to Household Moving. California Bureau of Household Goods and Services, Department of Consumer Affairs (agency). California's in-state rules in summary, with the license lookup.
• Household mover license search. California Department of Consumer Affairs (agency, state). Looking up an in-state mover's California permit.
• Chapter 507, Household Moving Services, Florida Statutes (2026). Florida Legislature (statute). Florida's moving law.
• Consumer Guide to Moving in Washington State. Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (agency). Washington in-state rules.
• Don't Make a Move Without Us. Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (agency). Texas in-state rules.
• make your move (consumer brochure, undated). New York State Department of Transportation (agency). A New York checklist.
• Maximum Rate Tariff 4: Maximum Rates and Rules for the Transportation of Used Property (Household Goods) within California, effective January 1, 2026. California BHGS (regulation, tariff). The governing in-state tariff, its forms and the booklet text.
• Moving Within Florida. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (agency). Florida in-state consumer guidance.
• Tariff No. 15-C, Rates, terms and conditions for the transportation of household goods between points in the state of Washington. Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (agency; tariff). Constructive weight definition and use; carton classes; bulky-article and piano charges.
• The Mover's Guide to Transporting Household Goods in New York State (updated February 28, 2024), including the Summary of Information for Shippers of Household Goods (Rev 9-21) and excerpts of 17 NYCRR. New York State Department of Transportation (agency; regulation excerpts). New York in-state rules and the booklet movers must give.

Consumer protection, complaints and insurance

• Avoid scams when you hire a moving company (consumer alert, September 2024 per its URL). Federal Trade Commission (agency). FTC's scam advice for both interstate and in-state moves.
• Getting the right insurance coverage for moving. Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) (trade association; page marked "SPONSORED BY"). What homeowners and renters policies do in a move.
• How to create a home inventory. Insurance Information Institute (trade association). Inventory method.
• Know Your Mover: BBB study (2020). Better Business Bureau (nonprofit). Case examples of broker and hostage scams.
• Leaving Home: Insurance Considerations for a Move (February 1, 2011). National Association of Insurance Commissioners (standards body of state regulators). A regulator view on insurance in a move.

Trucks, containers, loading and lifting

• 11 Tips For Driving a Moving Truck. U-Haul International (rental company). Where the clearance is posted; towing speed.
• 26-Foot Moving Box Truck Rental (with Rental Terms and Conditions on the page). Budget Truck Rental (rental company). Specs and contract prohibitions.
• 49 CFR 383.5, Definitions (Commercial motor vehicle). eCFR (regulation). The 26,001-lb line.
• Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-110, Revised September 2021. NIOSH, CDC (agency). The 51-lb load constant and its limits.
• Can I Move My Safe? Liberty Safe (manufacturer; blog).. . Safe weights and when to hire.
• Commercial Storage (container specs). PODS Enterprises (rental company). Cubic feet for 12 and 16 ft.
• GSBCA 14709-RELO (1998). General Services Board of Contract Appeals (federal board decision). Measured household goods densities of 3.06 to 5.71 pounds per cubic foot, against the 7-pound convention.
• How To Use a Moving Truck Ramp (Moving Insider blog, March 22, 2013). U-Haul International (rental company). Ramp procedure.
• Materials Handling and Storage, OSHA 2236, 2002 (Revised). OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor (agency). When to get help with a load.
• Moving Guide. Budget Truck Rental (rental company). Clearance by size and driving rules of thumb.
• Portable Container Sizes, and the 8-Foot Container page. PODS Enterprises (rental company). Sizes, weight limits, home-size claims.
• ReloCube Size, and Trailer Dimensions. U-Pack, ABF/ArcBest (rental company; freight carrier). Container and trailer capacity.
• ReloCube Size, and Trailer Dimensions. U-Pack, ABF/ArcBest (rental company; freight carrier). Container and trailer capacity.
• Reserve A Parking Spot For Your Moving Truck; Moving Truck Permit FAQs. City of Boston, Office of the Parking Clerk (agency, city). A labelled city example.
• Reserve A Parking Spot For Your Moving Truck; Moving Truck Permit FAQs. City of Boston, Office of the Parking Clerk (agency, city). A labelled city example.
• Temporary Signage. San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (agency, city). A labelled city example.
• Truck rental pages: 9' Cargo Van, 10', 15', 17', 20', 26' and 29' Moving Truck. U-Haul International (rental company). Volume, payload, GVWR, deck height, clearance.
• Trucks and Vans (comparison table). Penske Truck Rental (rental company). Volume, load capacity, rooms.
• U-Box Container Dimensions. U-Haul International (rental company). Container size and weight.
• U-Haul Truck User Instructions, 69461162(K) 01/25. U-Haul International (rental company). Loading, overload, clearance, ramp, hazmat and following-distance rules.
• 20' moving truck. U-Haul International (rental company). One truck's cubic feet, payload and weight rating.

Boxes, packing and fragile things

• Conserve O Gram 17/6, Packing a Framed Two-Dimensional Object (August 2009). National Park Service, Museum Management Program (agency). A second museum method.
• How to Install a Refrigerator (blog). Whirlpool Corporation (manufacturer). Whirlpool's looser figure.
• How To Pack Books for Moving. PODS Enterprises (rental company; blog). A second company's box-weight figure.
• How to Pack Boxes for Moving. U-Haul International (rental company). The company's own weight advice.
• Install a Samsung washing machine in your home. Samsung Electronics America (manufacturer). Samsung's position.
• LG Front Load Washing Machine - Shipping Materials & Vibration. LG Electronics USA (manufacturer). Keep and reuse bolts.
• LG Refrigerator - How To Transport an LG Refrigerator? LG Electronics USA (manufacturer).. . LG wait.
• Moving a Front Load Washer. Whirlpool Corporation, Product Help (manufacturer). The conflicting instruction.
• Moving a Sub Zero (Quick Answers). Sub-Zero Group (manufacturer). The strictest wait.
• Owner's Manual, Safety and Reference, LED TV (MT57S series; LG UK). LG Electronics (manufacturer). TV transport rules.
• Owner's Manual, Washing Machine WM8000H*A. LG Electronics USA (manufacturer). Manual wording.
• Product Care. Tempur-Pedic, Tempur Sealy International (manufacturer). Mattress transport.
• Refrigerator - Moving Instructions. GE Appliances (manufacturer). Prep, orientation and wait.
• Standard moving box product pages (Small, Medium, Large, Extra-Large, Book Box, Dish Barrel). U-Haul International (rental company). Box sizes and rated capacity.
• Medium moving box. U-Haul International (rental company). A box's size in cubic feet and its rated capacity.
• Upright & Chest Freezer - Moving Instructions. GE Appliances (manufacturer). Freezer wait.

What cannot go on the truck: hazardous items, plants and pests, donation and disposal

• 7 CFR 301.45-1 (Definitions), 301.45-2 (Authorization to designate quarantined areas), 301.45-3 ([Reserved]), 301.45-4 (Conditions governing the interstate movement of regulated articles and outdoor household articles from quarantined areas). eCFR (regulation). The legal rule for spongy moth.
• 7 CFR 301.45-1 (Definitions), 301.45-2 (Authorization to designate quarantined areas), 301.45-3 ([Reserved]), 301.45-4 (Conditions governing the interstate movement of regulated articles and outdoor household articles from quarantined areas). eCFR (regulation). The legal rule for spongy moth.
• 7 CFR 301.81-2, Regulated articles (imported fire ant). eCFR (regulation). The correct citation.
• Spongy moth regulated areas (PDF). USDA APHIS (agency). The quarantined counties, last updated April 15, 2026.
• Bye Bye Mattress (home), and Mattress Recycling Council (home). Mattress Recycling Council, created by the International Sleep Products Association (nonprofit; industry). Which states have programs.
• California Border Protection Stations FAQs. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health (agency, state). What happens at the border.
• Donate goods to Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Habitat for Humanity International (nonprofit). Where large items can go.
• Donations Goodwill CANNOT Accept. Goodwill of Greater Washington (nonprofit; one regional Goodwill). A major charity's acceptance rules as a product fact.
• Electronics Donation and Recycling. U.S. EPA (agency). E-waste and battery line.
• Find a Mover (Donate Your Food When You Move). Move For Hunger (nonprofit, 501(c)(3), EIN 26-4826262). Food donation route.
• Frequently Asked Questions. Don't Move Firewood, managed by The Nature Conservancy's Forest Health Protection Program (nonprofit). Distance rule of thumb.
• Handling & Transporting Propane Cylinders. Canadian Propane Association (trade association; Canada). Cylinder transport practice.
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). U.S. EPA (agency). Disposal route for what cannot move.
• How Do I Recycle?: Common Recyclables. U.S. EPA (agency). What to do with boxes, wrap and foam.
• Imported Fire Ant Regulated Articles (last update December 29, 2022). USDA APHIS (agency). The list.
• Imported Fire Ants. USDA APHIS (agency). Which states and what to do.
• Interpretation Response #11-0203 (scuba and oxygen cylinders moved as household goods). PHMSA, U.S. DOT (agency; regulatory interpretation). Why self-movers and movers differ.
• Interpretation Response #21-0037 (e-bikes with installed lithium batteries). PHMSA, U.S. DOT (agency; regulatory interpretation). Installed vs loose batteries.
• It's the Law: Before Moving, Check for the Spongy Moth (Program Aid No. 2147, Revised September 2023), with PPQ Form 377. USDA APHIS (agency). The household procedure.
• Non-transportable Items. North American Van Lines (mover; interstate carrier, USDOT 070851). A van line's list.
• Paper and Paperboard: Material-Specific Data. U.S. EPA (agency). The corrugated recycling rate.
• PPQ Form 377, Spongy Moth Checklist and Record of Your Self-Inspection (APR 2023). USDA APHIS (agency; form). The item checklist.
• Spongy Moth; Spongy Moth Quarantine. USDA APHIS (agency). Identification and the move section.
• Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine and Permitting. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (agency, state). A state quarantine example.
• Transport of Privately-Owned House Plants Into California From Other States (FAQ). CDFA, Plant Health, Pest Exclusion (agency, state). Houseplant rules for movers.
• Transporting Lithium Batteries. PHMSA, U.S. DOT (agency). Disposal line and risk.
• U-Pack Do Not Ship List. U-Pack, ABF/ArcBest (rental company; freight carrier). A long carrier list.
• USDA Reminds the Public: Help Protect America's Trees: Buy Firewood Where You Burn It (October 1, 2026). USDA APHIS (agency). Current federal firewood advice.

Mail, ID, voting, taxes and federal records

• 2025 Instructions for Form FTB 3913, Moving Expense Deduction. California Franchise Tax Board (agency). A state that still allows the deduction for civilians.
• 21 CFR 1306.08. eCFR, Drug Enforcement Administration (regulation). Electronic prescriptions for controlled substances.
• 21 CFR 1306.25. eCFR, Drug Enforcement Administration (regulation). Transferring a controlled-substance prescription between pharmacies.
• 26 U.S. Code § 132(g), Qualified moving expense reimbursement. LII Cornell (statute mirror). Employer-paid moves are taxable for most people.
• 26 U.S. Code § 217, Moving expenses. Legal Information Institute, Cornell (statute mirror of the U.S. Code). The statute and the date in force of the 2025 change.
• 32 CFR 1621.1. eCFR, Selective Service System (regulation). A registrant's duty to report a change of address within 10 days.
• 45 CFR 164.524. eCFR, HHS (regulation). Your right to a copy of your medical records, within 30 days.
• 52 U.S. Code § 10502(e), Change of residence; voting in State of prior residence. LII Cornell (statute mirror). The statute behind the presidential-vote rule.
• 52 U.S. Code § 20507, Requirements with respect to administration of voter registration (NVRA). LII Cornell (statute mirror). What USPS data does to a voter record.
• 8 CFR 265.1. eCFR, USCIS (regulation). A noncitizen's duty to report a new address within 10 days.
• 8 U.S. Code §§ 1305 and 1306. LII Cornell (statute mirror). The statute and the stakes.
• About Form 8822, Change of Address, and Form 8822 (Rev. February 2021) PDF. Internal Revenue Service (agency). The individual address form.
• Address changes (FAQ). IRS (agency). Other ways to change the IRS address and the USPS link.
• AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card. USCIS (agency). The form facts.
• California Driver's Handbook, Section 4: Changing, Replacing, and Renewing Your Driver's License; and Update Information on Your DL/ID. California DMV (agency). The 10-day rule.
• Carr Warns of Fake Change-of-Address Websites (press release, 2021-09-03). Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division (agency). How the lookalike scheme works.
• Change of Address - The Basics (Knowledge Article 000005313). USPS (agency). Filing window, cost, temporary limits, timing gap, forwarding by class.
• Change of Address Scams. United States Postal Inspection Service (agency, law enforcement arm of USPS). The official warning on lookalike sites.
• Change your address on file with VA. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (agency). What one VA profile change covers.
• Change Your Address. New York State DMV (agency). The 10-day rule and the USPS myth.
• Domestic Mail Manual 507, Mailer Services (section 2.0 Forwarding). USPS (regulation: the DMM is incorporated by reference in 39 CFR 111). The rule text behind forwarding periods.
• Florida Statutes § 322.19, Change of address, name, or citizenship status (2026). The Florida Senate (statute). Florida's rule for residents who move.
• Frequently Asked Questions, and Update Your Information. Selective Service System (agency). Context.
• Frequently Asked Questions, and Update Your Voter Registration. Texas Secretary of State, VoteTexas.gov (agency). A within-state versus new-county example.
• Get it. Check it. Use it. (Right to Access). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (agency). The patient-facing right of access.
• How do I change my address with Medicare? Medicare.gov, CMS (agency).. . The Medicare route.
• How to Change Your Address. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (agency). The 10-day rule and the online route.
• How to report a move to the Marketplace. HealthCare.gov (agency). In-state versus out-of-state Marketplace moves.
• Informed Delivery. USPS (agency). Product facts for checking mail at the new address.
• Motor Vehicle Information for New Residents. PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services, pa.gov (agency). The fifth state example and the ID-before-vehicle trap.
• Motor Vehicle Registrations. FLHSMV (agency). The 10-day vehicle trigger.
• Moving to or from New York State. New York State DMV (agency). New-resident and leaving-NY rules.
• Moving to Texas: Guide to Driver Licenses and IDs. Texas Department of Public Safety (agency). The new-resident license rule.
• Moving Within PA. PennDOT, pa.gov (agency). The in-state rule.
• National Mail Voter Registration Form, and Register and Vote in Your State. U.S. Election Assistance Commission (agency). The federal form and the state directory.
• National Mail Voter Registration Form, and Register and Vote in Your State. U.S. Election Assistance Commission (agency). The federal form and the state directory.
• New California Resident Portal. California DMV (agency). New-resident vehicle deadline and residency definition.
• New Resident - Welcome to Florida!, and Visiting Florida FAQs. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (agency). Florida new-resident deadlines and documents.
• New to Texas. Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (agency). Vehicle steps and costs.
• Notice 123, Price List. USPS Postal Explorer (regulation: price list). The fee amounts.
• Plan My Move. Military OneSource, U.S. Department of Defense (agency). The DoD move checklist tool as a reference.
• Register to vote in U.S. elections. Vote.gov, U.S. Election Assistance Commission and GSA (agency). The federal rule of thumb for movers.
• Special Enrollment Period (SEP). HealthCare.gov, CMS (agency). Marketplace rules for movers.
• Special Enrollment Periods. Medicare.gov, CMS (agency). The plan-change window after a move.
• Standard Forward Mail & Change of Address. United States Postal Service (agency). The official how-to for permanent and temporary changes, what is forwarded, the fee, in-person filing.
• Texas Transportation Code §§ 521.029 and 521.054. Texas Legislature, Texas Constitution and Statutes (statute). The statute text.
• Topic no. 455, Moving expenses for members of the Armed Forces and the Intelligence Community. IRS (agency). Who can deduct moving expenses now.
• Update contact information. Social Security Administration (agency). Who updates an address with SSA and how.
• California Vehicle Code section 12505. California Legislature (statute). When a new resident's license is due, as a state example.
• Voter Registration. California Secretary of State (agency). A within-state example.

Leases, deposits and utilities (state examples)

• California Civil Code section 1946. California Legislature (statute). Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, as a state example.
• California Civil Code section 1950.5. California Legislature (statute). Security deposits: the pre-move-out inspection and the 21-day return, as a state example.
• Florida Statutes § 83.49(3), Deposit money or advance rent (2026). The Florida Senate (statute). Florida's return clock.
• Florida Statutes § 83.57, Termination of tenancy without specific term (2026). The Florida Senate (statute). Florida notice to vacate.
• New York General Obligations Law § 7-108 (deposits, non-rent-stabilized units). New York State Senate, Open Legislation (statute). The strongest condition-record rule found.
• Texas Property Code ch. 92, Subchapter C (§§ 92.103 to 92.109). Texas Legislature (statute). Texas deposit rules.
• Texas Property Code § 91.001, Notice for terminating certain tenancies. Texas Legislature (statute). Texas notice to vacate.
• Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Utility Consumer (booklet, November 2023). Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (agency). A state example of stopping and starting service and deposits.

Children and schools

• A Parent Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). U.S. Department of Education, Student Privacy Policy Office (agency). Plain-language transfer rights.
• K-12 Education: Many Challenges Arise in Educating Students Who Change Schools Frequently (GAO-11-40). U.S. Government Accountability Office (agency). The federal summary of evidence on frequent school changes.
• Making the Move Easier for Military-Connected Children. Military OneSource, U.S. Department of Defense (agency). A federal agency's family-move advice, written for military families but mostly general.
• Moving Repeatedly in Childhood Associated with Poorer Quality of Life Years Later (press release). American Psychological Association (nonprofit: scientific society). A summary of Oishi and Schimmack, J Pers Soc Psychol 98(6).
• Moving: Helping Children Cope (Facts for Families No. 14). American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (nonprofit: physician specialty society). Child psychiatrists' advice on moves by age, warning signs, and when to seek help.
• Preparing Your Child for a Move. KidsHealth (Nemours) content, published in Children's Minnesota patient and family education materials (nonprofit: children's hospital). The most concrete by-age advice found from a pediatric source.
• Residential mobility in childhood and health outcomes: a systematic review. Jelleyman T, Spencer N. J Epidemiol Community Health 2008;62(7):584-92. PubMed record (agency-hosted abstract of peer-reviewed research). The standard systematic review.
• Texas Education Code § 25.002, Requirements for Enrollment. Texas Legislature (statute). One state's enrollment documents and deadlines.

Pets

• Universal Pet Microchip Lookup. American Animal Hospital Association (nonprofit). Finding which registry holds a microchip number.
• Animal Import and Export Requirements. Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control (agency). A state that needs a rabies certificate but not a health certificate.
• Animal Quarantine Information Page (Updated). Hawai'i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Animal Industry Division (agency). The strictest US state rule.
• New World Screwworm. Colorado Department of Agriculture (agency, state). Colorado's emergency entry rule for dogs and cats, adopted October 9, 2026, in force through February 6, 2027.
• Entry Requirements & Information About Livestock & Pet Movement. California Department of Food and Agriculture (agency). California's pet entry position.
• How to Move with Your Pet. American Humane Society (nonprofit). The clearest moving-day escape and vehicle guidance.
• Microchipping: FAQs for pet owners. AVMA (nonprofit: professional association). Registration and update facts.
• Moving house (Essential guide W84003, VET_1169). Cats Protection (UK charity; nonprofit). The most detailed cat moving schedule, from a UK charity whose audience lets cats outdoors.
• Moving With Your Pet. ASPCA (nonprofit). Packing, moving-day and settling-in steps for cats and dogs.
• Take a Pet From One U.S. State or Territory to Another (Interstate). USDA APHIS (agency). Who sets interstate pet rules, plus a dropdown linking each state's official page.
• Travel safely with your pet by car, airplane, ship or train. Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States) (nonprofit). Car restraint, hot-car figures, and the airline certificate norm.
• Traveling with your dog or cat. American Veterinary Medical Association (nonprofit: veterinary professional association). Veterinary travel preparation, a packing list, and car rules.

Older relatives, move managers and feelings

• A Scoping Review: Characteristics and Outcomes of Residents Who Experience Involuntary Relocation. Weaver RH, Roberto KA, Brossoie N. Gerontologist 2020;60(1):e20-e37. PubMed (agency-hosted abstract). The careful form of the "relocation trauma" evidence.
• Eldercare Locator home. Administration for Community Living, HHS (agency). The referral line for local services.
• FAQs. National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers (trade association). What a move manager does and how members charge.
• How To Choose a Nursing Home or Other Long-Term Care Facility. NIA, NIH (agency). The visit method.
• How to Cope With Downsizing Your Home. AARP (nonprofit). The emotional side, from named psychiatrists.
• I'm So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet (NIH Publication No. 20-MH-8125). National Institute of Mental Health, NIH (agency). The line between normal stress and a reason to see a professional.
• It's So Much More Than Moving: Your Guide to Stress-Free Rightsizing & Relocation (PDF, 8 pages), and its landing page "Guide to Rightsizing & Relocation". NASMM (trade association). The free consumer guide from the move-manager trade.
• Long-Term Care Facilities: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, and Other Residential Care. National Institute on Aging, NIH (agency). NIA's transition advice for a move into care.
• The Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Holmes TH, Rahe RH. J Psychosom Res 1967;11(2):213-8. PubMed record (agency-hosted citation; no abstract). The citation for the original scale.
• Use These Tips to Declutter Your Home Before Moving. AARP (nonprofit membership organization). Practical downsizing steps quoted from named organizers and NASMM's board president.
• WB.21: Deep Dive – Life Changes as Stressors: Research findings. Introduction to Psychology: Supplemental Readings and Resources, BCcampus OpenText (open textbook). The Holmes and Rahe values for moving, with the scale's criticisms.

Unpacking and move-in safety

• 16 CFR Part 1260, Safety Standard for Operating Cords on Custom Window Coverings. eCFR (regulation). The cord rule's date, as the reason older blinds in a new home may still have hazardous cords.
• 16 CFR Part 1261, Safety Standard for Clothing Storage Units. eCFR (regulation). The STURDY Act rule's scope and date.
• Avoiding Tap Water Scalds (Publication 5098). CPSC (agency). The 120°F rule and burn times.
• Carbon Monoxide. USFA, FEMA (agency). CO alarm placement.
• Survey on Use and Functionality of Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Households. US Consumer Product Safety Commission (agency). How many homes had a working alarm when tested, and how many households knew their alarms' ages (2024).
• Crime Prevention Tips: At Home. Louisville Metro Police Department (agency: municipal police). The rekey rule from a police source.
• How to Install a Kit. CPSC Anchor It! (agency). The wall and furniture attachment details.
• Legionella: Hot Water Heater. Maine CDC, Department of Health and Human Services (agency: state health department). The opposite temperature advice and a move-in flush step.
• Personal Safety and Security Tips. San Diego Police Department, Neighborhood Policing Resource Team (agency: municipal police). A second police source for rekeying.
• Product Instability or Tip-Over Injuries and Fatalities Associated with Televisions, Furniture, and Appliances: 2023 Report. Suchy A, CPSC Directorate for Epidemiology (agency staff report). National tip-over numbers.
• Repair Tips. CPSC Anchor It! (agency). Patching anchor holes at move-out (renters).
• Smoke Alarms (safety information and FAQs). National Fire Protection Association (standards body). Placement distances, chirp meanings, the 10-year rule.
• Smoke Alarms. U.S. Fire Administration, FEMA (agency). Placement, types, maintenance and replacement age.
• What You'll Need. CPSC Anchor It! (agency). The "install right away" rule, kit costs and the TV options.

Who moves, and why

• 2023 Geographic Mobility Tables Available From the Current Population Survey (release, December 10, 2024). U.S. Census Bureau (agency). Release date and source of the 2023 tables.
• Calculating Migration Expectancy Using ACS Data. U.S. Census Bureau (agency). The "11.7 moves" figure with its method.
• Table A-1. Annual Geographic Mobility Rates, By Type of Movement: 1948-2023. U.S. Census Bureau, CPS ASEC (agency, survey). The mover rate and move types.

Other Learn Things manuals

• Learn Digital Security: Recognizing scams. Learn Things, a sister manual on the same shelf.
• Crate, pen and alone time. Learn Things, a sister manual on the same shelf.
• Learn First Home Basics: the lease, the walk-through and the condition record. Learn Things, a sister manual on the same shelf.
• Learn First Home Basics: setting up utilities, internet and your change of address. Learn Things, a sister manual on the same shelf.
• Learn First Home Basics: Your first night. Learn Things, a sister manual on the same shelf.
• Storage for a small apartment. Learn Things, a sister manual on the same shelf.
• How to measure a room and draw a floor plan to scale. Learn Things, a sister manual on the same shelf.
• How to measure furniture and the space it needs in use. Learn Things, a sister manual on the same shelf.
• Learn Space Planning: Furniture safety. Learn Things, a sister manual on the same shelf.