How to Vet a Long-Distance Moving Company
Fifteen minutes of homework is all it takes to avoid the most common moving scam. Here's exactly what to check before you sign anything or pay a deposit.
The scam you're actually trying to avoid
It almost always runs the same way — and once you know the pattern, it's easy to spot.
A company gives you a suspiciously low quote over the phone to win your business. You sign, you pay a deposit, and then the price "increases" on move day or at delivery — after they already have your belongings on the truck. Suddenly the $2,500 move is $5,000, and if you don't pay, your things don't come off the truck.
This works because most people get one or two rushed phone quotes and pick the lowest number. The fix isn't luck — it's a short checklist.
The 6-step vetting checklist
Run every company you're considering through these six checks.
Look them up on FMCSA
Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and search their name or USDOT number. You can see their active authority, years in business, fleet size, and complaint history. No USDOT number = walk away.
Get a binding estimate in writing
Insist on a binding (or binding-not-to-exceed) estimate, in writing, based on a full inventory — a video walk-through of your home is fine. If they won't do a real inventory, that's your answer.
Read recent reviews for one word: “price”
Check Google and BBB. Skim for “price changed,” “hostage,” or “held my stuff.” A few bad reviews are normal; a pattern of surprise-charge complaints is the red flag.
Ask: are you a carrier or a broker?
Both can be great (more on this below). What matters is that they tell you honestly and, if it's a broker, that they disclose which vetted carrier will handle your move. Get it in writing either way.
Watch the deposit
A modest deposit to reserve a date is normal. A large, non-refundable deposit demanded up front from a company you haven't vetted is not. Never wire money or pay in gift cards or crypto.
Confirm coverage
Every interstate mover must offer basic released-value protection, and most offer full-value coverage. Ask what's included and what full protection costs before move day, not after.
Broker vs. carrier — what's the difference?
This trips people up, so here's the straight version.
A carrier owns the trucks and employs the crews. A broker arranges your move with a vetted carrier from their network. Neither is a scam — the industry runs on both.
What matters is transparency: a good broker tells you they're a broker, vets the carriers they work with, and tells you exactly who's handling your move before move day. A bad actor (broker or carrier) hides the details and lowballs the price. Judge companies on honesty and their binding estimate, not on the label.
Quick questions
Not always — but a quote far below everyone else's, given without a real inventory, usually means it will “change” later. Compare binding quotes built from a full inventory, and be skeptical of any number that seems too good to be true.
A small deposit to hold your date is standard. Be cautious with large, non-refundable deposits, and never pay by wire, gift card, or crypto. Use a credit card when you can.
Ask for the binding estimate you signed and the inventory it was based on in writing. File a complaint at FMCSA if a mover holds your goods hostage over charges beyond a valid binding estimate. Document everything.