Guide
Hiring a moving company without getting scammed
Check a mover's registration and reputation, get written estimates from several, and learn the red flags of a moving scam.
Satisfy+ Editorial · Published July 17, 2026 · 2 min read
This is general education, not individual financial, investment or tax advice.
At a glance
- Across state lines
- Look the mover up in the DOT's search
- In-state
- Check with your state consumer protection office
- Estimates
- In writing, from several movers
- Red flags
- Blank forms, cash only, a large deposit
A mover that crosses state lines or leaves the country has to be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and anyone can search that registration online. Check the company before you book it, get everything in writing, and know the red flags.
Check the company
- Registration. For a move across state lines or out of the country, check the mover's Department of Transportation registration, which you can search online.
- In-state moves. For a move inside one state, your state consumer protection office can tell you the local rules for movers.
- The basics. Confirm the company's local address, contact details, licenses and insurance.
- Reputation. Read reviews, and search the company's name with words like "complaint" or "scam".
Get it in writing
Get written estimates from several movers. An estimate is more reliable when the mover inspects your belongings, or gets a full description of them, before giving it. Compare the estimates side by side, and make sure each one lists everything you're moving.
Ask each mover what its insurance covers, what that costs, and what it pays if your things are damaged at any point during the move.
The red flags
- Forms with blank spaces. Don't sign paperwork that has blanks for prices, dates or signatures.
- Cash only, or a big deposit. A mover that demands cash or a large deposit before the move is a warning sign.
- No DOT registration for a move across state lines. An interstate mover has to be registered.
An annotated example
What to do next
Look up each mover you're considering, get written estimates from several, and read each one against your list of belongings. Keep every estimate and the final paperwork together.
Check movers before you hire one
- Look up each interstate mover in the DOT's online search
- Get written estimates from several movers
- Ask each mover what it pays for damage
FAQ
How do I check a moving company?
For a move across state lines, check the mover's Department of Transportation registration online. For an in-state move, check with your state consumer protection office.
What are signs of a moving scam?
Forms with blank spaces, a demand for cash or a large deposit before the move, and no DOT registration for an interstate move.
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026
- Federal Trade Commission. Avoid scams when you hire a moving company (2024)
- Moving
