Free printable checklist
Questions to ask a moving company
Ask every mover you’re thinking of booking these questions, and get the answers in writing: a good one is happy to. Tick them off as you go, or download the PDF, with a table to compare three quotes. The rules here are the federal ones for moves between US states. No sign-up.
Who they are
0/5The estimate
0/5If something breaks or goes missing
0/6Moving day
0/5Warning signs of a moving scam
The FMCSA’s red flags. One on its own isn’t proof; two or three together are a reason to look elsewhere.
- They give you a price over the phone or online without seeing your things.
- They won’t put the estimate in writing, or say they’ll work out the price after loading.
- They want cash, or a large deposit before the move.
- They ask you to sign papers that are blank or unfinished.
- They don’t give you the “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” booklet.
- Their website has no address, and no registration or insurance details.
- They answer the phone “Movers” or “Moving company” instead of with their name.
- A rental truck turns up on moving day instead of a company truck.
- They say everything you own is covered by their insurance.
- On moving day they say you have more than they estimated, and the price goes up.
Where to check a mover
- FMCSA mover search (fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/search-mover). Registration, insurance and complaints for movers between states, by name or USDOT number.
- National Consumer Complaint Database (nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov). To report a mover or a broker online, or call 1-888-368-7238, weekdays 8am to 8pm Eastern.
- Your state’s consumer protection office. For a move within one state.
Free from BoxTrack: box-track.com/free/questions-to-ask-movers
Questions
What should I ask a moving company?
Their USDOT number, whether they’re the mover or a broker, whether the estimate is binding, what could cost extra, how much the deposit is, what protection your things have, and how to file a claim. Get the answers in writing.
How do I check that a moving company is legitimate?
For a move between states, look up its USDOT number in the FMCSA’s mover search: it shows whether the company is registered and insured to move households, and its complaints. Check its address and read reviews on more than one site. For a move within one state, ask your state’s consumer protection office.
What are the warning signs of a moving scam?
A price given without seeing your things, no written estimate, a demand for cash or a large deposit, blank papers to sign, no address or registration details, and a rental truck on moving day. The FMCSA lists these as red flags.
What’s the difference between a binding and a non-binding estimate?
A binding estimate is the price you pay, unless you add things or services. A non-binding one is a guess: the bill follows the real weight and services, and at delivery the mover can only ask for up to 110 percent of the estimate, billing the rest at least 30 days later. With a binding not-to-exceed estimate, you pay that or less.
What is Full Value Protection?
The cover movers between states must offer: if something is lost or broken, the mover repairs it, replaces it, or pays what it would cost to replace. Its cost varies by mover. The free option, Released Value, pays only 60 cents a pound per item, and you have to choose it in writing.
How long do I have to file a claim against a mover?
For a move between US states, 9 months from delivery, in writing. The mover must say it got your claim within 30 days, and pay it, deny it or make an offer within 120 days. If you can’t agree, movers between states must offer arbitration.