The six red flags
Each one is a decision point. Any single flag is a reason to slow down and ask questions; two together is a reason to walk away.
A quote with no survey and no paperwork
A price given over the phone in two minutes, with no inventory list, no video walkthrough, and nothing in writing, is not an estimate. Federal rules require an interstate mover to give you a written estimate based on your actual goods. A verbal number that never becomes a document is the single most common opening move in a moving scam.
A large deposit demanded up front
Reputable movers take a modest deposit to reserve a truck and date, or none at all, and they accept traceable payment. Be wary of a company that wants a large share of the total before anything is loaded, and be much warier if they push you toward cash, wire, Zelle, Venmo, or a personal account. Those methods are chosen because they are hard to reverse.
An unmarked truck or a different company name
Interstate carriers must display their legal name and USDOT number on the vehicle. If a rental truck with no markings arrives, or the name on the truck does not match the name on your paperwork, your job was likely sold to a company you never vetted. Ask for the USDOT number before anything is loaded.
The price jumps once your goods are loaded
This is the hostage-load pattern: a low quote wins the job, then the price climbs sharply after everything is on the truck and leverage has shifted. Under federal rules a mover cannot hold your belongings for more than the amount allowed on a non-binding estimate at delivery, and you have the right to the goods after paying that amount. A binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate removes the ambiguity entirely.
No verifiable license, or a broker presenting as a carrier
Every legitimate interstate mover has a USDOT number you can look up in seconds. If a company will not give you one, that is the end of the conversation. Also ask directly whether they are a carrier or a broker. Brokers are legal and registered, but a broker sells your job to a carrier you have not vetted, so you should know which one you are hiring before you sign.
Pressure to sign blank or incomplete documents
Never sign a blank bill of lading, an inventory sheet with empty lines, or an estimate with a blank total. Once signed, those documents govern the move. Anything a salesperson promises verbally but will not put on the paperwork is not part of your contract.
The 60-second check that catches most of them
Almost every scam on this page fails one simple test: look the company up in the federal registry before you pay anything.
- Ask for the company's USDOT number. A legitimate interstate mover gives it immediately.
- Enter it at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and confirm the record is active.
- Check whether the entity type says Carrier or Broker, and confirm it matches what you were told.
- Confirm the legal name on the record matches the name on your estimate.
Our step-by-step walkthrough of that lookup is here, and the difference between carriers and brokers is explained here.
What federal law already gives you
Interstate moves are regulated under 49 CFR Part 375. Movers must furnish you with the FMCSA booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move and the Ready to Move? brochure, provide a written estimate, and issue a bill of lading. Every interstate move includes released-value protection at no extra cost, and full-value protection is available as an upgrade. You generally have up to nine months from delivery to file a written loss or damage claim.
Both federal booklets, plus the complaint process, are collected on our consumer information page.
If something has already gone wrong
File a complaint with the FMCSA at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov or call 1-888-368-7238. Keep your bill of lading, estimate, and inventory sheet, they are the basis of any claim.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a moving company is legitimate?
Ask for their USDOT number and look it up on the FMCSA SAFER database at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. The public record shows whether the company is active, whether it is registered as a carrier or a broker, and its complaint and safety history. A legitimate interstate mover will give you that number without hesitation. If a company cannot or will not, stop there.
What is a hostage load?
A hostage load is when a mover loads your belongings, then demands significantly more money than quoted before delivering them. Federal regulations limit what a mover can require at delivery on a non-binding estimate, and holding goods for an unlawful amount is a violation you can report to the FMCSA. The best prevention is a binding or binding-not-to-exceed written estimate, so the price cannot be renegotiated once you have lost leverage.
Is it normal for movers to ask for a deposit?
A modest deposit to reserve your date and truck is normal industry practice. What is not normal is a demand for a large portion of the total before any work is done, or pressure to pay by cash, wire, or a peer-to-peer app. Prefer a payment method that gives you recourse, and get the deposit terms and refund window in writing before you pay.
What should be in a written moving estimate?
Your estimate should identify the mover by legal name and USDOT number, state whether it is binding, non-binding, or binding-not-to-exceed, and itemize labor, transportation, valuation coverage, packing materials, and any accessorial charges such as long carries, stair carries, or shuttle service. If a charge is not on the document, do not assume it is included, and do not assume it is excluded either. Ask.
What do I do if I think I have been scammed by a mover?
File a complaint with the FMCSA at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov or by calling 1-888-368-7238. Keep your bill of lading, estimate, inventory sheet, and all correspondence, as those documents are the basis of any claim. For loss or damage on an interstate move you generally have up to nine months from delivery to file a written claim with the carrier. You can also file with your state consumer protection office and the Better Business Bureau.
Are moving brokers a scam?
No. Brokers are legal and many operate honestly; they must be registered with the FMCSA and hold a household goods broker license. The risk is not that a broker is inherently fraudulent, it is that you are vetting one company while a different, unvetted company performs the move. If you hire a broker, ask which carrier has been assigned and verify that carrier before moving day.