A normal moving-company deposit is usually a modest flat reservation amount, one labor-hour minimum, or a stated percentage of the estimate. Current public tariffs filed with Massachusetts regulators show real examples ranging from $100 to $250, or 10% to 25% for larger and peak-date jobs. Those are examples, not a legal cap. The most important test is whether the mover identifies the amount, refund deadline, rescheduling rules and credit toward the final bill in writing.
FMCSA's consumer guidance does provide a clear warning: a mover that demands cash or a large deposit before the move is a red flag. This guide helps you separate a documented reservation charge from a risky prepayment and estimates what you could lose if plans change.
| Contract item | Observed structure | Planning range | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small local-move deposit | Flat amount or one labor hour | $100–$250 | Applied to final invoice |
| Large or peak-date reservation | Percentage of written estimate | 10%–25% is seen in filed tariffs | Exact refund deadline |
| Early cancellation | Refund, sometimes less admin fee | $0–$50 planning exposure | Written notice method |
| Late cancellation | Deposit forfeiture or flat fee | Deposit, minimum hours, or roughly $300–$450 in some tariffs | 24-, 48-, 72-hour or 7-day window |
| Rescheduling | First change may be free; later changes charged | $0–$200 example range | Whether deposit transfers |
Choose the deposit clause actually shown in your quote. The cancellation result is a planning estimate, not a reading of your contract.
A deposit should reserve a date, truck and crew. It should not make the estimate meaningless. Before authorizing payment, match the legal company name on the receipt to the name on the estimate, then confirm five points:
The deposit is only one part of payment risk. FMCSA says a mover using a binding estimate generally cannot require more than 100% of that estimate at delivery, except for properly added services or qualifying charges. With a non-binding estimate, the mover generally must release the shipment when you pay up to 110% of the estimate, plus permitted requested services and limited impracticable-operation charges. Remaining qualifying charges are billed later.
That protection does not turn a deposit into an automatic refund. It controls collection at delivery. Your refund rights still depend on the booking terms and applicable state rules. This is why the deposit clause and estimate type should be reviewed together. See the site's binding vs non-binding quote guide for the estimate rules.
The mover credits $150 to the invoice, leaving a planned $1,450 balance before legitimate adjustments. If the contract allows a full refund more than 72 hours before the move and forfeiture inside 48 hours, cancelling five days ahead should return $150; cancelling the night before could cost the full $150.
A 15% deposit is $1,200 and leaves $6,800 before changes. That is material enough to demand a precise refund clause and a traceable payment. Verify the carrier or broker in FMCSA records, confirm which company will transport the goods, and compare the request against FMCSA's warning about large pre-move deposits. If the paperwork is vague, pause rather than trying to recover the money later.
There is no universal amount. Current filed tariffs show flat deposits around $100–$250, a labor-hour minimum, and percentage deposits of 10%–25% in some circumstances. The amount should be written, credited to the final bill and paired with clear refund terms.
It depends on the contract and applicable state rules. Published tariffs use different cutoffs, including 24, 48 or 72 hours and seven days. Never assume a verbal promise overrides the written clause.
No single percentage proves fraud, especially for a complex job that reserves specialty equipment. But FMCSA expressly lists a cash or large advance deposit as a red flag. Verify the company, compare multiple written estimates and require a payment trail.
For interstate household goods, FMCSA's 100% binding-estimate and 110% non-binding-estimate delivery rules generally limit what must be paid to obtain the shipment, subject to properly requested additional services and qualifying impracticable-operation charges.
Confirm it in writing. FMCSA guidance says acceptable payment methods should be stated on the estimate, order for service and bill of lading. Ask which card networks are accepted and when authorization must occur.
Not necessarily. The deposit may transfer while the hourly rate, fuel charge or seasonal rate changes. Ask for a revised written estimate as well as confirmation that the deposit remains credited.