How to Choose an Interstate Mover and Avoid Moving Scams

Step 1: Verify the mover on FMCSA

Any company moving household goods across state lines must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Ask every mover for their USDOT number and MC number, then look them up yourself on the FMCSA website.

• Confirm the USDOT status is active.
• Confirm the company has active authority to carry household goods.
• Check that the company name and address match what they told you.
• Review the complaint history available through FMCSA.
• Note whether the company is a carrier (owns trucks) or a broker (arranges moves with carriers).

Step 2: Understand the estimate

A binding estimate is a guaranteed price for the items and services listed. If you add items, the price can change, but the mover cannot charge more for the same shipment.

A non-binding estimate is the mover's best guess. Your final cost is based on the actual weight. Federal rules limit how much a mover can require you to pay at delivery on a non-binding estimate.

A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps your price: if the shipment weighs less, you pay less; if it weighs more, you pay the estimate.

Ask for every estimate in writing, and for an in-home or video survey rather than a phone guess.

Red flags

• No USDOT or MC number, or numbers that don't match the company name.
• A large cash deposit required before the move.
• A quote far below every other estimate.
• Estimates given over the phone without seeing your belongings.
• Blank or incomplete paperwork you are asked to sign.
• A truck that arrives unmarked or a company that changes names.
• Not receiving FMCSA's "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" booklet.

If something goes wrong

Document everything in writing. You can file a complaint through FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database, and file a loss or damage claim with the mover in writing.