To hire a moving company in 2026, line up three licensed movers, verify each interstate carrier's USDOT number with the FMCSA, get three written in-home estimates, read the bill of lading before signing, and refuse any large upfront deposit. Done properly, the process takes one to two weeks of phone calls and surveys, which is why you should start four to eight weeks before moving day. This guide walks through every step in order, with the exact questions to ask and the red flags that should make you hang up.
Before you call anyone, decide the scope. A local move (under 50 miles) is billed by the hour; a long-distance or interstate move is billed by weight and distance and is federally regulated. Decide whether you want full-service (the movers pack, load, drive, and unload), labor-only (you rent the truck, they lift), or a hybrid. The clearer your scope, the more comparable your estimates will be.
Find candidates through referrals, your real-estate agent, and review sites, then filter to companies that are properly licensed. For interstate moves, every legitimate carrier has a USDOT number and, if it brokers loads, an MC number. Write those numbers down — you will verify them in the next step.
This single step eliminates most rogue operators. For interstate movers, enter the USDOT number into the FMCSA Protect Your Move mover search to confirm the company is registered, active, and carries the required insurance. Then check the Better Business Bureau for accreditation, the complaint volume, and how complaints were resolved. A pattern of unresolved billing or hostage-load complaints is a deal-breaker.
| Check | Where | What good looks like |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT / operating authority | fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move | Registered, active, insurance on file |
| Complaint history | FMCSA + BBB | Few complaints, all resolved |
| Physical address & reviews | Company site, Google, BBB | Real local address, consistent name |
| State license (local intrastate) | Your state utility/transport board | Active intrastate authority |
Never accept a binding price sight-unseen. Insist on an in-home survey or a guided video walkthrough so the estimator can inventory your belongings. A real survey produces an accurate weight or hours figure and slashes the risk of a doubled price at delivery. Ask each company for the estimate in writing and make sure all three cover the same scope — same boxes packed, same specialty items, same stairs and access.
Reduce each quote to a single all-in figure: base price, packing labor and materials, travel or fuel surcharge, stairs and long-carry fees, valuation coverage, and storage if any. A low headline that hides a steep fuel surcharge and a long minimum can cost more than a higher, cleaner quote. Our how much do movers cost guide shows the typical line items so nothing surprises you.
Understand which kind of estimate you are signing. A binding estimate locks the price for the listed inventory; a non-binding estimate can change with actual weight; a binding-not-to-exceed estimate is the most consumer-friendly because the price can only go down. Our binding vs non-binding guide explains the differences and which to ask for.
Movers are required to offer two liability levels: Released Value Protection (free, but only 60 cents per pound per item) and Full Value Protection (paid, the mover repairs, replaces, or reimburses). For anything valuable, 60 cents a pound is almost nothing — a 10-pound laptop pays out six dollars. Read our moving insurance cost and coverage guide before you decide, and consider a separate third-party policy for high-value loads.
The bill of lading is your contract. Before you sign, confirm it shows the agreed price basis, the valuation you chose, the pickup and delivery dates or window, and the inventory. Do not sign a blank or incomplete document, and never sign anything you have not read. Keep a copy. On an interstate move the mover must also hand you the FMCSA booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.
Reputable interstate movers collect payment on delivery, not before pickup. Refuse to pay a large deposit, never wire money, and be wary of cash-only demands. If everything goes well, tipping is customary — see our tipping movers guide for the going rate. Inspect your goods against the inventory at delivery and note any damage on the paperwork before the crew leaves, because that note protects your claim.
Hiring a moving company well is mostly diligence, not luck. Verify the license, get three real estimates, read every document, and never overpay upfront. Spend the week it takes to do this right and you trade a small amount of time for protection against the most common and most expensive moving problems. When you are ready to estimate the price, start with our free moving cost calculator and bring the number to each survey as your sanity check.
Start by listing three to five licensed movers, then verify each interstate mover's USDOT number on the FMCSA website at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move and check the company's Better Business Bureau profile. Get three written in-home or video-survey estimates, compare them line by line, read the bill of lading before signing, and never pay a large deposit. The whole process takes one to two weeks, so start booking four to eight weeks before your move date.
Book movers four to eight weeks ahead for a standard move, and eight to twelve weeks ahead if you are moving between May and September, around the end of the month, or on a weekend, which are peak windows. Last-minute or same-day bookings are possible but cost 20 to 50 percent more and give you far less choice of reputable carriers.
A reputable mover may ask for a small deposit, but FMCSA warns that a large upfront deposit is a classic red flag. Legitimate interstate movers typically collect payment on delivery, not before pickup. Never pay in cash or by wire transfer, never pay more than a modest deposit, and walk away from any company that demands full payment before the truck is loaded.
Get at least three written estimates from licensed movers. Insist on an in-home or live video survey rather than a phone or email quote, because a visual inventory produces an accurate price and reduces the chance of a surprise add-on at delivery. Compare the estimates on the same scope of work, not just the bottom-line number.
For an interstate move, a licensed mover must give you the FMCSA booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, a written estimate, an order for service, and a bill of lading, which is your contract. Read the bill of lading before signing and keep a copy. It states the valuation coverage, the price basis, and the pickup and delivery terms.