The Better Business Bureau logs roughly 13,000 complaints against movers every year. Some involve damaged furniture or late deliveries. Others involve companies that hold belongings hostage until the customer pays double the original quote. Moving scams are real; they are common, and they target people who are too busy or too stressed to ask the right questions before signing.
The good news is that most professional movers are legitimate. Sorting trustworthy companies from bad actors takes about an hour of research, and it can save you thousands of dollars and weeks of headaches.
Here is exactly what to check, what to ask, and what should make you walk away.
Check Licensing First
Every interstate moving company in the United States is required by federal law to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). That registration comes with two numbers: a USDOT number and an MC number. Both should be printed on the company’s website, their contract paperwork, and the side of their trucks.
You can verify any mover’s registration, safety record, and complaint history in about 30 seconds using the FMCSA’s mover search tool. If the company cannot provide a USDOT number, or if the number they give you does not match their company name, stop the conversation there.
For local moves that stay within a single state, licensing requirements vary. In Ohio, movers need a PUCO (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio) license. In Florida, intrastate movers register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Check with your state’s consumer protection agency to confirm what is required in your area.
Insist on an In-Home Estimate
A reputable moving company will send an estimator to walk through your home, assess every room, and provide a written estimate based on what they actually see. This is the industry standard, and it exists for a reason: no one can accurately price a move over the phone.
Be cautious of any company that quotes you a firm price without seeing your belongings. Phone and email estimates are guesses at best and bait at worst. Scam operators use artificially low phone quotes to win your business, then inflate the price on loading day when your belongings are already on the truck, and your leverage is gone.
When you receive estimates, understand the difference between the two main types:
Binding estimate: The mover guarantees the total price. Even if your shipment weighs more than projected, you pay the quoted amount. This is the safest option for budgeting.
Non-binding estimate: The final price can change based on the actual weight or volume of your shipment. Legitimate movers use non-binding estimates regularly, but the final cost should land reasonably close to the original number if the estimator did a thorough walkthrough.
Get estimates from at least three companies. If one quote comes in dramatically lower than the others, treat that as a warning sign, not a bargain.
Read Reviews With a Strategy
Online reviews matter, but only if you read them with intention. A company with 200 reviews and a 4.5-star average on Google tells a very different story than a company with 12 reviews and a perfect 5.0.
Focus on patterns rather than individual complaints. Every moving company will have a handful of unhappy customers. That is unavoidable in a business built on physical labor, tight timelines, and high-stress situations. What you are looking for is repetition. If multiple reviews mention hidden fees, late arrivals, or damaged items without resolution, that pattern reveals how the company actually operates.
Check Google, the BBB, and at least one additional source like Yelp or Angi. Cross-referencing protects you from companies that manipulate reviews on a single platform.
Red Flags That Should End the Conversation
Certain behaviors signal trouble no matter how polished the company’s website looks. Walk away immediately if you encounter any of these:
A large cash deposit before the move. Most professional movers either require no deposit or a small one (under 20%) paid by credit card. Any company demanding full payment upfront or cash-only deposits is a serious risk.
No physical address. Legitimate moving companies operate from a real location with a warehouse, trucks, and staff. If the company’s website lists only a P.O. box or no address at all, keep looking.
A blank or vague contract. Never sign a document that leaves key terms undefined. Your contract should clearly itemize services, pricing, delivery windows, and liability coverage. Blank spaces on a moving contract invite charges you never agreed to.
Unmarked trucks on moving day. Licensed movers use branded vehicles with their company name and USDOT number displayed. A plain rental truck with no markings is a red flag, especially if the crew cannot produce proper identification or paperwork.
Pressure tactics. A company that pushes you to book immediately, threatens price increases if you wait, or refuses to let you compare estimates is not confident in its service. It is counting on your urgency.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Before you commit, put every company on your shortlist through the same set of questions. Their willingness and clarity in answering tells you as much as the answers themselves.
“Are you a carrier or a broker?” Carriers move your belongings with their own crews and trucks. Brokers sell your job to a carrier you may never have spoken with. Both are legal, but you deserve to know who is actually handling your possessions.
“What does the estimate include?” Get specifics. Does it cover disassembly and reassembly of furniture? Wrapping mattresses? Carrying items up stairs or through long hallways? Vague estimates produce surprise charges on moving day.
“What is your claims process if something is damaged?” The answer should be clear and documented. Trustworthy movers will walk you through the process, provide a timeline, and explain your options without hesitation.
“What insurance options do you offer?” Federal law requires movers to offer two tiers of liability coverage. Released Value Protection is included free but covers only 60 cents per pound per item, meaning a 50-pound television set is valued at $30 regardless of its actual cost. Full Value Protection costs extra but requires the mover to repair, replace, or reimburse the current market value of any damaged or lost item. Know what level of coverage you are paying for before anything goes on the truck.
How Robinson Relocations Measures Up
We are a licensed, insured carrier, not a broker. Our crews load, transport, and unload your belongings with our own trucks across every job. Our USDOT number (3320340), MC number (1056379), and PUCO license (00606684-H) are listed on our website, our contracts, and our vehicles because transparency is not optional in this industry.
Whether you are comparing local movers in Cincinnati, researching long-distance moving companies for an Ohio-to-Florida relocation, or looking for reliable movers in Dayton, we welcome every question on this list, and any others you bring to the table.
Request a free estimate and see how the experience should feel from the first phone call forward. And once you have locked in your mover, our guide on how much to tip movers covers what to expect when the job is done.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify if a moving company is legitimate?
Search the company’s USDOT number on the FMCSA website at fmcsa.dot.gov. This will show their registration status, safety rating, insurance coverage, and any complaints on file. For local-only movers, check your state’s licensing database. If a company cannot provide a valid license number, they are not operating legally.
What is the difference between a moving broker and a carrier?
A carrier is the company that physically moves your belongings using its own trucks and employees. A broker acts as a middleman. They take your booking and sell it to a carrier, sometimes one you have never vetted or spoken with. Both are legal, but if you hire a broker, ask which carrier will handle your move and verify that carrier’s credentials independently.
Should I always get a binding estimate?
A binding estimate offers the most budget certainty because the price is locked in regardless of final weight. However, a non-binding estimate from a company that conducts a thorough in-home walkthrough can be equally reliable. The real risk is not the estimate type. It is a mover who skips the walkthrough entirely and quotes over the phone.