Choosing a Mover Guide
A move is only as safe as the carrier you hire. This guide frames the estimate types, the verification you must do, and a selection matrix that scores movers on more than price.
Know the estimate type you sign
- Binding — A fixed price for the listed items and services. You pay the quoted amount even if the actual weight is higher — but you also cannot claim a refund if it is lower.
- Non-binding — An estimate based on weight. The final price can rise, but the federal rule caps what a mover may collect at delivery at 110% of the non-binding estimate; any balance is billed after delivery.
- Not-to-exceed — You pay the lower of the written estimate or the actual charged amount. Generally the most consumer-friendly structure because the mover carries the overage risk.
Verify before you pay
Interstate movers must hold FMCSA authority and a valid USDOT number; intrastate movers must hold the relevant state license. Check at safer.fmcsa.gov or the state regulator before any deposit. A broker is not a carrier — confirm who actually shows up.
Vendor selection matrix
| Criterion | Weight | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| FMCSA or state authority | Critical | Interstate movers need a valid USDOT number and active FMCSA authority; intrastate movers need the relevant state license. Verify at safer.fmcsa.gov or the state regulator before any deposit. |
| Estimate type | Critical | Know whether you signed binding, non-binding, or not-to-exceed. Non-binding can rise to 110% at delivery under the federal rule. |
| Certificate of insurance | High | Ask for the carrier's cargo and liability COI. Released-value protection is only about $0.60 per pound unless you buy Full Value Protection. |
| Written, in-person or video survey | High | Phone-only or 'we will weigh it later' estimates are a classic low-ball scam tell. Require a documented survey. |
| Inventory & Bill of Lading | High | A numbered inventory and a signed Bill of Lading are your contract and your claim basis. Never sign blank paperwork. |
| Reviews & complaint history | Medium | Check FMCSA's company snapshot, your state AG, and BBB — not only the star ratings on a lead-generation site that may be paid to rank movers. |
| Deposit & payment terms | Medium | Large cash-only deposits and demands for full payment before unloading are red flags. Card or check leaves a trail. |
Red flags
- Large cash-only deposit before the move
- Phone-only quote, no in-person or video survey
- Price far below other estimates
- No valid USDOT (interstate) or state license (intrastate)
- Unmarked or rented truck on move day; broker pretending to be the carrier
- Demand for full cash payment before unloading
Carry the Scam Red-Flag Card and the Estimate Comparison Sheet to every walkthrough.
www.fmcsa.dot.gov, www.protectyourmove.gov, www.bls.gov, www.eia.gov, www.irs.gov, www.usps.com. Figures are model benchmarks, not quotes. ReloFig never sells your information.
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