Hiring Movers and Avoiding Moving Scams
FixCode Guide may earn a commission when you buy parts through links on this site, at no extra cost to you.
Quick answer: Interstate movers must be registered with FMCSA and have a U.S. DOT number; look it up on FMCSA’s Protect Your Move site. Get written estimates from several movers, and walk away from anyone who demands cash or a large deposit, won’t give a written estimate, or asks you to sign blank documents (FMCSA; FTC).
⚠ Safety first:
- Lift with your legs, get help for heavy items, and use a dolly or hand truck for appliances.
- Keep walkways and stairs clear and don’t block doors you may need to exit through.
- Never let anyone pressure you into signing blank or incomplete paperwork (FMCSA; FTC).
Steps: easiest & free first
- Check registrationFREE
Search the mover’s name or USDOT number on FMCSA’s registered mover search for status and complaints (FMCSA). In-state moves: check with your state consumer protection office (FTC). - Get written estimatesFREE
From several movers, after they see your things in person or you fully describe them (FTC). - Watch the red flagsFREE
Estimates sight-unseen, no written estimate, cash or large deposit demands, blank documents, no required FMCSA booklets, no local address, phone answered only “Movers”, or a rental truck on moving day (FMCSA). - Ask about coverageFREE
Ask what they charge to insure your goods and what they pay for damage (FTC). - Match the truckFREE
The name and USDOT number on the truck should match the paperwork (FMCSA). - Report problemsPRO
Interstate: FMCSA complaint or 1-888-DOT-SAFT. In-state: your state attorney general. Scams: ReportFraud.ftc.gov (FTC).
⚠ When to call a pro: gas appliances (disconnecting and reconnecting a gas dryer or range is a job for a qualified pro); damaged walls, floors or fixtures beyond small touch-ups; a mover who holds your belongings for more money or disappears (file with FMCSA at 1-888-DOT-SAFT, or your state attorney general for in-state moves); and deposit disputes your landlord won’t resolve. Renting? See what you can fix vs. call your landlord.