How Do I Know if a Moving Company Is Reliable? 7 Things to Check

A reliable moving company holds an active USDOT number, provides a written estimate before loading anything, and shares its licensing information without hesitation. A mover that avoids any of these is a mover worth walking away from.

Key Takeaways

• Verify Credentials Independently: Ensure an interstate mover has an active USDOT number registered with the FMCSA, and verify their address, insurance, and complaint history using online databases like SAFER.
• Insist on In-Person Inspections and Written Quotes: Never rely on over-the-phone quotes; demand an in-home or video survey to get an accurate, fully documented binding or non-binding estimate.
• Spot Financial and Operational Red Flags: Avoid companies that ask for large cash deposits, use unmarked vehicles, operate under multiple names, or lack a verifiable physical address.

Moving is stressful enough without wondering if a stranger with a truck can be trusted. Most people vet a new mechanic or a new dentist more carefully than they vet the company handling everything they own.

That gap matters because moving fraud is not rare. The FMCSA received more than 7,500 complaints against moving companies and brokers in a single recent year, more than double the number from a decade earlier. Behind each of those complaints is a household that trusted the wrong company.

The good news: you don’t need a background in transportation law to protect yourself. You just need to know what to look for before you sign anything. Here are seven checks that separate a legitimate mover from a risky one.

1. Ask for Their USDOT Number

Every company moving household goods across state lines is required to hold an active USDOT number issued by the FMCSA. This number should be easy to find on the mover’s website, trucks, and paperwork.

A trustworthy mover shares it without hesitation. A company that hesitates, or gives a vague answer when asked, has already failed the first test.

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2. Look It Up Yourself

Confirming a mover’s credentials takes a few minutes and no special access.

The FMCSA’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) system lets anyone look up a USDOT number directly. This shows the company’s operating status, insurance filings, and how long it has actually been registered.

Table: Where to Verify a Mover’s Credentials

3. Check the National Consumer Complaint Database

The FMCSA maintains a public database built specifically for this. A company with a pattern of complaints for undelivered shipments, deceptive pricing, or operating without proper authority will usually show up here before it shows up in a Google review.

This step takes five minutes and can save a much longer headache later.

4. Require an In-Home or Video Survey Before Getting a Quote

One of the clearest red flags of moving fraud is a mover that skips the onsite inspection and gives a price over the phone, sight unseen. No legitimate company can accurately estimate cost, weight, or time without actually seeing what’s being moved.

If a quote comes in without anyone asking to see the home or the inventory, treat it as unreliable, not a bargain.

5. Get the Estimate in Writing

Estimates come in two forms: binding, which locks in a total price regardless of final weight, and non-binding, which can shift once the shipment is weighed.

Either way, it should be documented, not promised over the phone. A company that won’t put anything on paper, or pressures a quick signature on a blank or incomplete form, is not one worth continuing with.

6. Watch How They Ask for Payment

Reliable movers rarely demand large deposits upfront, and they should never ask for full payment in cash before belongings are loaded onto the truck.

Large cash deposits, payment apps with no paper trail, or demands made under time pressure are among the most common tactics used in moving scams.

7. Look for a Real Business Address and Consistent Branding

Search the company’s name alongside its address. Fraudulent operators often use rented mailboxes, virtual offices, or addresses that don’t match a real warehouse or terminal.

It’s also worth noticing whether the company operates under several different names. This kind of rebranding is sometimes used by movers trying to outrun a bad reputation or a revoked operating authority.

In Summation

Skipping simple checks is how moves go wrong. A valid USDOT number, clean complaint history, in-home estimate, written quote, fair payment terms, and real business address are standard requirements for any reliable mover.

A smooth move relies on the work you do early on. Spending a few minutes on research now brings clear peace of mind and ensures your belongings stay safe.

Ready to Book a Reliable Mover?

Choose a seasoned professional for a seamless experience. Experts will put pricing in writing, answer licensing questions upfront, and treat transparency as the baseline, not the exception.