How to Choose a Reliable Moving Company and Avoid Scams

(A Clean, Customer-Friendly, Deep-Research Guide)

Choosing a mover isn’t about picking the cheapest quote. You’re trusting strangers with everything you own. If you choose wrong, you can end up with:

• Movers doubling or tripling the price on moving day
• Loads being held hostage until you pay more
• Belongings lost or damaged, with no clear recourse
  
  Check local local license with a state that you are moving

Most scams follow predictable patterns. And they’re easy to avoid if you know what to look for.

This guide is based on consumer protection guidance from FMCSA and other U.S. government resources.

1. Know Your Type of Move

Before comparing companies, define:

• Local move – within your state
• Interstate move – crossing state lines
• Services needed – packing, storage, labor-only, full-service

Why it matters:

• Interstate movers must be registered with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).
  You can verify registration and complaint history here:
  https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov
• If a company is not listed, do not use them.

2. How to Build a Safe Shortlist of Movers

✔ Ask people you trust

Friends, family, coworkers, real estate agents — real experiences matter more than ads or Google rankings.

✔ Look for long-term credibility

A legitimate moving company should have:

• A real business website
• A physical address (not only a PO box)
• Company email (not just Gmail/Yahoo)
• Branded trucks and clear photos of real crews
• Real reviews over multiple years (not 30 reviews posted in one week)

✔ Be careful with brokers

Brokers are legal but riskier.
If a company is a broker, they must tell you who the actual carrier is before moving day.

You can check this by searching the company’s USDOT or MC number through FMCSA.

3. Verify License, Registration & Complaints

For interstate moves, this step is non-negotiable.

Use the FMCSA Mover Search Tool

Official site:
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move

Check:

• USDOT number
• Whether the company is a Carrier or a Broker
• Active operating status
• Insurance information
• Complaint history
• Any patterns involving hostage loads, sudden price increases, or delivery delays

If the company cannot provide a USDOT number → End the conversation immediately.

4. Get at Least 3 Written Estimates (Never Verbal)

FMCSA explicitly warns consumers: never rely on verbal or text-message estimates.

A legitimate mover will:

• Perform an on-site or video survey of your belongings
• Create a detailed inventory
• Provide a written estimate based on the real volume/weight

Red flags:

• They refuse to do a walkthrough
• They estimate based only on the number of bedrooms
• They give you a “flat price” without seeing your things

Types of estimates you must understand:

• Non-binding
  – Final cost may increase based on actual weight/services.
• Binding
  – Fixed price, but only for the specific inventory provided.
• Binding Not-to-Exceed (best for customers)
  – If weight is less, you pay less; if more, you don’t pay extra.

Make sure the type is clearly stated in writing.

5. Read the Contract Like It’s a Legal Document — Because It Is

Before signing:

• Check the company name matches the USDOT registration
• Ensure the bill of lading includes:
  • Pickup & delivery dates or windows
  • List of services included
  • Extra fees (stairs, long carry, fuel, heavy items, shuttle truck)
  • Valuation (not insurance) options
  • Payment terms

Everything must be in writing.

6. Understand Valuation vs Insurance

Customers often misunderstand this — and scammers exploit that.

Released Value Protection (free, federally required)

• Pays $0.60 per pound per item
• If your 50 lb TV breaks, payout = $30
• This is the default unless you choose otherwise

Full Value Protection (FVP)

Movers are required to offer it for interstate moves.

With FVP, the mover must:

• Repair, replace, or
• Reimburse fair market value

This costs more but protects you from catastrophic losses.

For extremely high-value items, consider your own third-party insurance.

7. The Most Common Moving Scams (FMCSA-Identified)

These are the patterns government agencies warn about.

Scam 1: Hostage Load

Movers load your belongings, then demand more money before delivery.

Red flags:

• Very low initial estimate
• Vague or incomplete contract
• Price suddenly changes after loading
• Demands for cash only

FMCSA identifies hostage loads as a major consumer complaint and enforcement target.

Scam 2: Bait-and-Switch Pricing

A company quotes you 50% less than competitors, then increases the price 2–4x later.

Red flags:

• No inventory taken
• “It’ll be fine, we include everything”
• Pressure to sign quickly
• Refusal to provide a written binding or not-to-exceed estimate

Scam 3: Fake or Unregistered Movers

These “companies” take deposits but never show up — or they show up with a rental truck and disappear with your belongings.

Red flags:

• No USDOT registration
• Newly created website
• Many generic 5-star reviews posted in one burst
• Only a cell phone number, no real address

You can avoid this entirely by verifying on FMCSA.

Scam 4: Large Upfront Cash Deposits

Most legitimate movers don’t ask for large deposits.

Red flags:

• Demands for 30–50% deposit
• Cash, wire, or Zelle only
• Threats that “your spot will be lost” if you don’t pay immediately

FMCSA states that large deposits are major fraud indicators.

Scam 5: No Written Contract

If the mover shows up without paperwork, walk away.

For interstate moves, the mover must give you:

• A written estimate
• A bill of lading
• “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” – required by law
  (FMCSA resource, available at protectyourmove.gov)

If they don’t — it’s illegal.

8. What To Do Before Moving Day

Protect yourself with these steps:

✔ Photograph everything valuable

Before movers arrive, take photos of furniture, electronics, fragile items, and anything high-value.

✔ Keep small valuables with you

Do NOT pack:

• Jewelry
• Cash
• Passports
• IDs
• Medications
• Hard drives with sensitive data

✔ Confirm arrival details

One day before the move, confirm:

• Arrival time
• Crew size
• Truck size
• Company name on the truck matches your contract

9. If Something Feels Wrong on Moving Day

Cancel the move immediately if:

• A totally different company shows up
• The crew demands more money before loading
• Truck is unmarked
• Movers refuse to show a contract
• Movers ask you to sign blank documents

A few minutes of hesitation can prevent thousands in losses.

10. If You Suspect Fraud or a Scam

FMCSA provides official channels for reporting fraudulent or unsafe movers.

File an official complaint with FMCSA:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/file-a-complaint

You can also notify:

• Your state’s Attorney General office (most have online consumer complaint portals)
• Local police — especially in hostage-load/extortion cases
• Small Claims Court for financial damages

Government agencies take moving scams seriously. Reporting them also protects other people.

11. Quick 10-Point Checklist (Print or Save)

• Verify USDOT number on FMCSA.gov
• Confirm the mover is a carrier, not an undisclosed broker
• Get 3 written estimates after an on-site or video walkthrough
• Avoid “too-good-to-be-true” low pricing
• Confirm estimate type (binding, non-binding, not-to-exceed)
• Understand valuation options — don’t rely on default $0.60/lb
• Do NOT pay large deposits or cash-only payments
• Ensure all services and fees are listed in the contract
• Confirm company name on trucks matches your contract

Receive the required FMCSA booklet:
“Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move”
You can find the booklet at the bottom of our website