(NAPSA}—Moving across town or to a different city in-state is complicated enough, but when your move crosses state lines,it’s a whole new ball game. Here are a few thingsto consider. Regulation and Protection Interstate moves are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The agency protects consumers from fraud by ensuring that moving companies meetlicensing and registration requirements, comply with rules i) on estimates and the release of goods, and educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities. Be sure to check insurance, and be certain you understand how much liability coverage you're agreeing to. Basic coverage is 60 cents a pound,so you'd get only $6 for a 10-pound microwave. You should be aware that part of your interstate move may be subcontracted to another com- pany. This means the company that loads your goods may not be the same company that unloads them at your destination. Ship Smart Most local moves are charged on an hourly basis, but interstate moves are charged either by the weight of the shipment or the cubic volumeof goods being transported. Adding a few extra boxes can translate into big addedcosts. If you have a piece of furniture you plan to replace, or one that’s bulky but inexpensive, it may be wise to toss or donateit. Don’t make a move, especially to anotherstate, until you've planned it all out properly. Services and Registrations Transferring, registering and setting up manyothercritical services prior to your move helps tremendously. Quite often, vehicle registration, change of address with the U.S. Postal Service, voter registration, utilities and cable can be taken care of before you move. Every state has different rules about how long you can wait to update yourdriver's license and vehicle registration. Some states also require a new state inspection andtitle changes. For one-stop shopping, you can go to the Change of Address sec- tion on Cable Mover at http:// eablemover.com. There, you can disconnect and set up new cable services, change your mailing address and link to the DMV for Also, remember, your goods will likely be in storage for a cer- registration requirements and should be part of that shipment, including canned food, unopened packaged goods, pet food, and key. Some states have deadlines tain amount of time. No food spices.It'll only attract vermin. forms. Similarly, you can update your voter registration. Timing is that are well before elections. The U.S. Election Assistance Commis- sion canhelp.
