Before you book a US mover, determine whether your shipment is interstate or intrastate, verify the legal company, and get the estimate in writing. Then read the bill of lading before loading begins.
Start with the legal identity, not the logo.
Federal rules govern interstate household-goods moves, including written estimates, bills of lading, and delivery charges. A move that stays within one state usually adds that state's regulator and requirements.
Save every quote and message. Prices deserve extra care because a binding estimate and a non-binding estimate work very differently.
First, identify which rules apply
Crossing a state line generally brings FMCSA household-goods rules into play. A move that stays in one state is usually regulated under state law, although storage arrangements and shipment routes can blur the line.
If a company says your move is intrastate, confirm that with the relevant state agency. Do not rely on a sales representative's description alone.
Verify the company, not just the brand
Some moving brands sell the job under one name and perform it under another. The number alone isn't enough.
Use FMCSA's SAFER system to check the company's legal identity and safety information. Check the FMCSA licensing record for operating authority, then compare the result with your estimate and contract.
| Check | Match it against | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Legal company name | Advertisement, estimate, contract, truck, and FMCSA record | A name mismatch can show that you are dealing with another entity |
| USDOT number | Quote, website, paperwork, and federal record | Numbers can be copied or displayed beside the wrong business name |
| Carrier or broker role | What the salesperson promised and who will transport the goods | A broker arranges transportation; the carrier handles the shipment |
| Address and contact details | Contract and public record | Consistent details make later complaints easier to document |
An MC number or USDOT number does not prove that the company on your quote is the company authorized to move your goods. Keep a screenshot or PDF of the record you checked.
Understand the estimate before comparing prices
For an interstate household-goods move, the mover generally must provide a written estimate before loading. The paperwork should identify whether the estimate is binding or non-binding and describe the services covered.
Ask how the mover calculated weight, packing, stairs, long carries, storage, shuttle service, and other accessorial charges. A low number can hide missing services.
| Estimate type | What usually controls the charge | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Binding | The agreed amount for the services and shipment described, subject to documented changes | What happens if I add items or request extra work? |
| Non-binding | Actual charges based on weight and services under the mover's applicable tariff | Which charges are subject to the 110% collection rule at delivery? |
The governing federal provisions appear in 49 CFR Part 375, Subpart D.
Turns out, the 110% rule is easy to misunderstand. If a qualifying non-binding estimate is $5,000, 110% is $5,500. That figure can generally limit what the mover collects at delivery for charges covered by the rule, but it does not necessarily cap the final bill or erase a later balance.
An inaccurately low estimate can still create a payment dispute. The rule deals with collection at delivery; it is not a promise that the original estimate becomes the final price.
Ask for all changes in writing. Do not sign a surprise amendment without checking what changed, why it changed, and whether the added service affects the estimate type.
Payment terms deserve the same attention. Federal rules list payment forms that may include cash, certified checks, money orders, cashier's checks, and specified cards, but your agreement should state what this mover accepts.
Do not assume a universal three-day cancellation period applies to a moving contract. Check the contract and applicable state rules for deposits, cancellation terms, and refunds before sending money.
Read the bill of lading, inventory, and valuation terms
For an interstate household-goods shipment, the bill of lading sets out important shipment and service terms. It should match the legal carrier, pickup and delivery addresses, dates, services, charges, payment terms, and valuation choice.
Read it before loading. Keep the signed copy.
At pickup, review the inventory and note existing damage. Take photos of valuable or fragile items, including serial numbers when practical. At delivery, record missing boxes and new damage on the delivery paperwork, then photograph the condition before unpacking everything.
Valuation is separate from the carrier's general insurance filings. Ask whether you selected released-value protection or full-value protection, what it costs, whether there is a deductible, what exclusions apply, and how to file a claim.
A weight-based valuation can be far below an item's replacement price. Read that section carefully.
If a broker is involved
A broker arranges transportation rather than physically carrying your goods. Some companies perform both roles, so ask which legal entity will quote the move, collect payment, issue the bill of lading, and place the truck at your door.
A property broker arranging an interstate move must maintain financial security. 49 CFR 387.307 sets the required surety bond or trust fund at $75,000 and addresses what happens if the security falls below that amount.
The bond is not contents insurance. It also is not a guarantee that every customer will recover every dollar claimed.
Before paying a broker, request the actual carrier's legal name, USDOT number, authority status, and written role in the transaction. If those details will come later, pause and ask why.
State licensing for intrastate moves
There is no dependable nationwide fee chart for state moving licenses. States use different agencies, forms, rate rules, insurance requirements, and complaint processes.
For a move that stays within one state, check the state public utilities commission, transportation department, or consumer protection agency. Ask whether the company needs a household-goods permit, a state license, a tariff, or a specific estimate form.
State rules may also control storage, cancellation, claims, arbitration, and deposit terms. A move involving out-of-state storage or a border crossing can raise a federal question, so ask the mover and the relevant regulator which rules apply.
The number of a state business license is not a substitute for household-goods authority when the state requires separate approval.
Warning signs before you sign
A warning sign is not proof of fraud. Several signs together deserve a pause.
- The salesperson refuses to give the legal carrier name, USDOT number, or broker disclosure.
- The quote comes from a quick phone estimate with no meaningful inventory review.
- The name changes between the advertisement, contract, payment recipient, and truck.
- The paperwork leaves charges, valuation, pickup dates, or delivery terms blank.
- The mover demands a higher delivery payment without a clear itemization or explanation under the estimate.
- The company pressures you to sign immediately or relies on reviews instead of verifiable authority.
Ask questions in writing. A reputable explanation should be specific.
A practical booking workflow
Use this sequence before you send a deposit:
- Write down the route, shipment dates, storage plans, and services you need.
- Search the legal company name and USDOT number in FMCSA records. Save what you find.
- Compare written estimates that use the same inventory and services.
- Confirm whether each estimate is binding or non-binding. Ask how added items and services will be priced.
- If a broker is involved, get the transporting carrier's identity before payment.
- Read the bill of lading, inventory, valuation terms, payment methods, cancellation terms, and storage provisions.
- Keep the estimate, contract, authority record, emails, texts, receipts, photographs, and delivery notes in one folder.
The direct question is simple: will the company's own authorized carrier transport the shipment, or is the company arranging the move with another carrier?
If the move goes wrong
Document the problem before arguing about it. Keep the original estimate, signed bill of lading, inventory, photos, messages, receipts, payment records, and a dated timeline.
| Problem | First step | Possible escalation |
|---|---|---|
| Company identity or authority mismatch | Save the records and complain in writing | FMCSA for an interstate issue, or the state regulator for an intrastate issue |
| Damage or missing goods | Follow the claim instructions in the bill of lading and attach evidence | The contract's arbitration or court process, depending on the terms and applicable law |
| Unexpected delivery charge | Request an itemized statement and document the amount offered at delivery | FMCSA or a state consumer agency, depending on the move |
| Intrastate licensing concern | Ask the state agency to confirm the company's authority | State consumer protection officials or the attorney general |
If a qualifying interstate non-binding estimate is involved, the 110% collection rule may limit what the mover can require at delivery. Document the payment you offered and request the remaining charges in writing.
That rule does not automatically cancel the final bill. An agency complaint also does not automatically award damages or resolve a private contract dispute.
Send a written claim promptly for loss or damage. Check the contract for claim deadlines, arbitration requirements, and the correct recipient. Do not wait for a regulator's response before following the carrier's claim procedure.
What these rules do not promise
Federal registration is a screening tool, not a recommendation from FMCSA. A clean record cannot guarantee careful handling or on-time delivery.
A broker's $75,000 financial security is not the same as insurance on your furniture. Your shipment's valuation terms control a different question.
The 110% rule is not a universal price cap. It concerns what may be collected at delivery under specific interstate estimate circumstances.
State licensing is not uniform. A company compliant in one state may need different authority for a move governed by another state's rules.
Before paying, save the FMCSA record, the signed estimate, and the bill of lading together. If a dispute starts, write a dated summary and send one clear complaint to the carrier and broker, then contact the regulator that matches the move.