Hiring movers you can trust shouldn’t be hard. After all, these service providers come into your home, handle your belongings, and are around you and your family. Sometimes they’re packing and unpacking your home, working around elderly parents, or handling business assets and inventory.
This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to verify movers before you book. We’ll walk you through the process and highlight what to look for so you can rest easy.
Check Licensing the Right Way
Finding movers you can trust starts before you pick up the phone for a quote. Federal and state governments regulate the moving industry and keep a database of verified professionals. The federal government licenses Interstate and long-distance movers. States license local moves, and regulations and databases vary.
Long-Distance and Interstate Moves
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains a database of current USDOT-verified companies. Each mover licensed for interstate travel is issued a USDOT number that’s tied to their activity. While one number covers a mover’s entire fleet, you can see their history and decide if they are movers you can trust.
Use the FMCSA’s Protect Your Move page to help plan and vet your movers.
Local Moves
Each state maintains its own database of licensed movers. Check your state’s moving association to verify licensing and company history before booking.
Want more information about long-distance moving? Get all the information you need here.
Confirm Real Insurance and Bonding
Movers must maintain insurance to cover any damages that happen during your move. As careful as they are, mistakes happen, and you need to trust that your movers can cover these costs.
Ask for a current certificate of insurance (COI) and confirm that it’s legit before booking.
Bonding protects you if the mover fails to perform under the contract or an employee steals from your move.
For more about insurance and bonding, read our blog, “What You’re Forgetting to Ask Before Hiring Movers.“
Read Reviews Like an Investigator
Reviews are one of the best places to look for movers you can trust. But you can’t stop at a few positive reviews. Dig in and see what customers say about their experiences online. Google, the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Reddit are all places where you can vet a potential mover.
Some red flags to look out for are:
- All positive or 5-star reviews
- Lots of positive reviews in a sudden cluster
- Relatively small number of reviews for the age of the company
- How a company responds to positive reviews and handles negative reviews
As always, word of mouth is a powerful indicator of whether you can trust a service provider. Look for input from people you know about their experiences.
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Know the Red Flags That Show Up Before You Even Book
We have a comprehensive list of red flags you can spend all afternoon on, but here are the ones you need to watch out for during the booking process.
- No in-home or video walkthrough: Trustworthy movers will come on-site or send a video walkthrough link to give you the most accurate estimate possible.
- Pressure for a large cash deposit upfront: A reasonable deposit is typical to hold your space on the calendar. If so, it will be a credit card hold, not a cash requirement.
- A blank or incomplete written estimate: A written estimate is your contract with the mover. It shows what they plan to move and how much the services cost. Without it, in a dispute, it’s your word against theirs.
- A different company shows up for your move: This is a sure sign that you’ve been routed through a broker, not a carrier. Brokers farm out your move to the lowest bidder, not a local service provider. More on that in the next section.
Understand Who You’re Actually Hiring: Broker or Carrier
This is one of the most important distinctions when hiring movers you can trust. Brokers typically operate out of a call center, book your job, and then subcontract the actual move to someone else. They don’t own the trucks, employ the movers, or carry out the move. If something goes wrong, they’re not much help.
Lowball subcontractors are also frequently involved in what’s called a “rogue mover” hostage-load scam. This is when your goods are already on the truck, and the mover demands a much higher price before they’ll unload.
Carriers book the jobs, operate the trucks, and employ the crews. They are the ones that will physically perform the job for you.
When booking, you can ask, “Will your company be performing this move or will it be subcontracted out?”
Learn more on the FMCSA site.
Ask About Hiring and Training Practices
Knowing something about the movers you’ll be working with is an important part of building trust. You should be in contact with the crew leader before the day of your move. They’ll tell you who to expect and what to expect when their truck rolls up at the designated time.
Beyond that, ask whether the company runs background checks, uses trained employees or day labor, and how long crews typically stay with the company.
National carriers likely won’t have this information, and that is where a local company truly shines. At Little Guys Movers, each location maintains a crew page listing long-standing employees. We have a structured system our movers follow, with progressive levels of responsibility they can achieve.
Look for Real Roots in the Community
Movers you can trust are often trusted by their communities, too. Obvious signs like years in business, BBB accreditation (or similar), and actual boots-on-the-ground involvement make a difference. You should see their name on local events, festivals, community organizations, and supporting those in need.
Little Guys Movers started with a company ethos rooted in doing the right thing. Over the last 30+ years, we’ve served in every community we work in. We support arts, culture, and service organizations with labor and funds to keep where we live and work strong.
Ready to Move? We've Got You Covered.
Whether you're ready to book or just have questions, we're here to help.
Quick Verification Checklist
Before booking with any mover, do these things first.
- Check and verify licensing
- Ask for a COI
- Dig into their reviews and look for red flags
- Know what to look for and when to walk away
- Hire a local carrier or take a risk with a broker
- Ask about employee tenure
- Look for local roots
FAQ
How do I check if a moving company is actually licensed?
Go to the FMCSA website and look up your mover by the company name. All information about licensing and customer complaints will be listed there.
What’s the difference between a moving broker and a moving company?
A broker uses a call center to book jobs, then sells them to the lowest bidder. You won’t know who is actually performing the service until they roll up to your door. Carriers own the trucks and employ the crews who carry out the job.
Is it normal for a mover to ask for a deposit before the move?
Yes, but it shouldn’t be a significant amount and should never be in cash. If a mover demands a large cash deposit, they can easily take your money and run!
How many reviews should a trustworthy moving company have?
It’s not about the number of reviews, but the number relative to how long they’ve been operating. A new company shouldn’t have a thousand 5-star reviews; that’s a serious red flag.
What is a “rogue mover”?
A rogue mover is a subcontractor who demands a higher price after they’ve loaded your items. This typically occurs when you’ve booked through a broker.
Do states require moving companies to be licensed?
Not all states require local movers to be licensed. Check with your state’s Department of Transportation or Public Service/Utility Commission to see what credentials local movers must hold.