How to verify a moving company

Five minutes of checking before you pay a deposit is the cheapest insurance you can buy for a move. Do this for every company that gives you a quote.

1. Get the numbers in writing

Ask for the company’s USDOT number. A company that moves household goods between states must also have operating authority from FMCSA, usually shown as an MC number. Both should appear on the estimate, the contract and the company’s website. If a company can’t or won’t give you a USDOT number, don’t book it.

2. Check the authority

Look the number up on MoverLedger or on FMCSA’s own site. You want to see:

• Operating authority: active. “Pending” means the company has applied but may not operate between states yet. “Inactive” means it may not operate at all.
• Household goods authority. A company can have trucking authority without being allowed to move furniture and personal belongings.

3. Check the insurance or bond

• A carrier (the company with trucks) must keep liability and cargo insurance on file.
• A broker (a company that arranges moves) must keep a $75,000 bond or trust on file.

4. Make sure the company on your contract matches

The most common surprise is a different company showing up on moving day. If your quote came from a broker, ask which carrier will do the move and check that carrier too. Our Quote Checker compares the two for you.

5. Read the record, not just the reviews

Reviews can be bought. Registration age, linked companies and how long a company has kept its records up to date are harder to fake. A company registered a few weeks ago that shares a phone number with a company whose authority is inactive deserves extra questions.