How to Research a Moving Company Before You Pay a Deposit

You are about to hand over everything you own to someone you do not know.

Think about what that means: furniture, family photographs, children’s belongings, and the things you need to start life in your next home. Researching a mover deserves a place alongside finding that home and planning the move.

A professional website, friendly salesperson, low estimate, or five-star rating cannot answer every important question. Before paying a deposit, verify who the company is, whether it has the authority your move requires, and what happens if something goes wrong.

1. Get the company’s identity in writing

Ask for its legal business name, any name it trades under, physical address, USDOT number, and applicable state license or permit number.

Also ask: “Are you transporting my belongings, or arranging for another company to transport them?”

A broker arranges transportation. The carrier performs it. For an interstate move, check both the broker and the assigned carrier; verifying one does not verify the other. FMCSA: Movers vs. Brokers.

2. Check federal records for an interstate move

Start with these official resources:

• Motus: USDOT Registration System — check the company’s federal registration record. FMCSA identifies entity-record searches as a public-user feature in its official Motus guide.
• FMCSA’s Search for a Registered Mover — review registration status, business type, contact information, complaints, and safety information.
• Protect Your Move — find consumer rights, moving documents, warning signs, and complaint resources.

Search by the USDOT number, then compare the record with your estimate and contract. Resolve differences in names, addresses, or contact information before proceeding.

A USDOT number identifies a company; it does not, by itself, establish operating authority. Confirm that the company has the authority required for its role and your move. TxDMV: USDOT numbers and operating authority.

Federal registration is also not a government endorsement or a guarantee of service quality. FMCSA mover-search disclaimer.

3. Check the state agency for a move within your state

Intrastate requirements vary. A federal record does not replace checking the state requirements that apply to your move. FMCSA: Selecting a mover.

For the six states covered in our intrastate pilot:

• Arizona: Attorney General moving guidance. The guidance states that Arizona has no mover-specific registration law or professional licensing requirement; do not mistake that for an absence of consumer protections.
• California: BHGS license search and disciplinary actions. Check household-mover authority and any restrictions or enforcement history.
• Florida: FDACS business lookup. Its current notice directs users to check both legacy and new databases during migration.
• North Carolina: NCUC Moving 101 and carrier list. The list updates monthly; call the agency to confirm current status.
• Texas: TxDMV’s moving guidance and verification route. Confirm active state authority.
• Washington: UTC’s Before Hiring a Mover. Check permit status and consumer complaint history.

For other states, start with FMCSA’s state enforcement directory, then confirm current requirements with the responsible agency.

4. Read the history behind the rating

Look for recurring complaints about surprise charges, missed deliveries, withheld belongings, or unresolved damage. Consider dates, the nature of complaints, and the company’s responses. An allegation is not an agency finding, and an empty complaint record is not proof of good service.

Use consumer reviews and BBB information as additional evidence. BBB is not a government licensing agency. The FTC recommends checking registration and researching complaints before hiring. FTC: Avoid moving scams.

5. Protect yourself before the truck is loaded

• Get a written estimate that identifies your inventory, services, charges, and payment terms.
• Read every document and keep copies. Never sign blank paperwork.
• Treat demands for cash or a large upfront deposit as warning signs.
• Photograph your belongings and record their condition.
• Ask what you would actually receive if an item is lost or damaged.

These precautions follow FMCSA’s warning signs and California’s consumer guidance.

“Insured” does not explain your belongings’ protection. For interstate moves, Released Value generally limits liability to 60 cents per pound per item: a 20-pound item would have a $12 limit. Ask about Full Value Protection, exclusions, deductibles, and any separate insurance before choosing. State-move options may differ. FMCSA: Protecting your belongings.

6. Know where to turn

For interstate complaints, use FMCSA’s complaint guidance. For intrastate problems, contact the responsible state regulator or attorney general. Report suspected scams through the FTC’s reporting route.

Keep contracts, inventories, receipts, photographs, and messages. Follow the mover’s written claims procedure promptly: a regulatory complaint is separate from a loss-or-damage claim, and FMCSA does not resolve individual claims against movers. FMCSA: Protect Your Move.

Print the Mover Comparison Worksheet and Pre-Deposit Checklist → Record three companies’ official checks, scope, prices and protection terms before deciding.

Your pre-deposit checklist

Use this checklist for each company you are considering. Save the records and the date you checked them with your estimate.

• I have the legal business name, trading name, address, and applicable registration numbers.
• I know whether I am booking with a carrier or broker, and who will transport my belongings.
• I have checked the official record myself and matched it to the estimate and contract.
• I have confirmed the authority required for my move and resolved any inactive status, restrictions, or identity mismatch with the responsible agency.
• I have reviewed complaint patterns and any available enforcement history.
• I have a written estimate based on my actual goods, services, and access conditions.
• I understand the deposit, cancellation and refund terms, accepted payment methods, and when the balance is due.
• I understand my protection election, exclusions, and how to submit a claim.
• I have saved copies of the documents and know whom to contact if something goes wrong.

If you cannot check a box, resolve it before paying or authorizing loading. Recheck the assigned carrier before pickup if the company handling the move changes.

Before you sign: read the official FMCSA moving guides

These free publications address interstate household-goods moves. Start with the brochure, then save the handbook to understand the paperwork, protection choices, and steps available if something goes wrong. For a move within your state, also check the responsible state agency and its consumer guidance.

• Ready to Move? — download the 2-page brochure (PDF). A quick introduction with checklists for planning, moving day, and delivery.
• Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move — download the 23-page handbook (PDF). Read about estimates, moving documents, mover liability, charges, delivery, storage, claims, and disputes.
• Successful Move Guide — download the 1-page handout (PDF). Keep this fraud-prevention reminder beside your pre-deposit checklist.

Ask your interstate mover: “Have you provided the FMCSA brochure and rights-and-responsibilities booklet?” FMCSA identifies these as materials interstate movers must provide. See Protect Your Move.

For updated downloads and before-, during-, and after-move resources, visit the FMCSA Moving Resources Hub. The brochure is revised October 2022 and includes older system references; use our current Motus and state-verification guidance alongside it.

Keep researching your move

Start with Local, Intrastate and Interstate Moving to identify your move type. Use Moving Within Your State for the six-state pilot, Moving Estimates to compare proposals, and Moving Documents to check the paperwork.

Official resources checked September 4, 2026. Registration status and agency systems can change; check the live official record before booking. This guide explains research steps and does not certify or endorse any moving company.

Revision September 5, 2026: improved section navigation. Official-source check date remains September 4, 2026.