Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Moving Company

The phone call or in-home estimate is where you stop being a passive shopper and start being an interviewer. A moving company will happily tell you its price; it is far less likely to volunteer how it limits its liability, what happens if delivery runs late, or whether it even owns a truck. The fix is simple: ask. Below are the questions that pull those answers into the open, grouped by topic, along with the responses that should make you reconsider.

This guide is a literal question list you can read aloud or paste into an email. It is not a walkthrough of how to vet and select a company from start to finish, which has its own steps and ordering (see our guide on how to choose a moving company you can trust). Here, the job is narrower: know exactly what to ask, and know what a good answer sounds like versus a bad one. Most of these questions map directly to consumer protections published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the federal agency that registers and oversees movers for moves that cross state lines, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Questions About Licensing and Insurance

Start here, because the answers tell you whether you are talking to a real, registered operator or a stranger with a rented truck.

“For an interstate move, what is your USDOT number?” FMCSA requires companies that transport household goods across state lines to register and carry a USDOT number, and to have the proper level of insurance. Ask for the number and write it down. You can then check it yourself on the agency’s mover search at protectyourmove.gov, which also shows complaint history.
“Are you a mover (carrier) or a broker?” This matters more than most people realize. A broker does not transport your belongings; it books your move and sells it to an actual carrier. Brokers must be registered with FMCSA, must use only registered interstate movers, and are required to reference their physical business location, MC number, and broker status in their advertising. If you are hiring online, asking this directly tells you who is really handling your shipment. For a fuller treatment of the difference, see our guide on moving brokers versus carriers.
“What level of insurance do you carry, and can you confirm your registration is active?” A legitimate interstate mover maintains the insurance FMCSA requires. You can verify both licensing and insurance status through FMCSA, including by calling the agency for the information.
“Will you give me the ‘Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move’ booklet and the ‘Ready to Move’ brochure?” For interstate moves, movers and brokers are required to provide these FMCSA publications, plus written information describing how they handle questions and complaints and a phone number to call. A company that has never heard of them is a problem.

If the move stays within one state, the federal USDOT rules may not apply, and oversight usually falls to a state agency instead. In that case, ask which state authority licenses the mover, and verify with that office. An established local operator such as Ready To Move, for instance, is exactly the kind of mover you can ask for a state license and registration number, then confirm it yourself.

Questions About Pricing and Estimates

Price is where confusion and overcharging tend to live, so make the company commit to specifics in writing.

“Will you provide a written estimate based on an in-person or virtual inspection of my belongings?” FMCSA expects estimates to be based on an actual or virtual survey of your household goods, and your mover must give you a written estimate of all charges, including transportation, accessorial, and advance charges. The FTC echoes this: a company should look at your property or have you fully describe it before quoting. A flat price quoted sight unseen over the phone is a warning sign, not a convenience.
“Is this a binding or non-binding estimate?” The distinction changes what you can be charged on delivery day. With a binding estimate, you pay the agreed amount and are required to pay 100 percent of it at delivery; if you add items or services, the mover must prepare a new binding estimate. With a non-binding estimate, the figure is only the mover’s best guess, but federal rules protect you on the back end: the mover cannot require you to pay more than 110 percent of a non-binding estimate at delivery, and must release your shipment for that amount while billing any remainder later. (Our guide on binding versus non-binding estimates covers the mechanics in depth.)
“What could make the final bill go up?” Stairs, long carries from truck to door, elevators, shuttle service, bulky-item handling, parking permits, and added weight all carry charges. Ask the company to name the ones that could apply to your specific move so nothing is a surprise.
“Do you require a deposit, and how do you want to be paid?” Get the deposit amount and payment terms in writing. The FTC’s general guidance is to be wary of paying with cash or wire transfer and to avoid large upfront sums; treat a demand for a hefty cash deposit as a reason to slow down and compare other companies.

Questions About the Process and Timeline

A clear price means little if you do not know when your belongings will arrive or who is touching them.

“What is the delivery window, not just the pickup date?” Long-distance shipments often arrive within a spread of days rather than on a single guaranteed date. Ask for the window in writing and ask what happens if delivery falls outside it. (Delivery-window mechanics are covered in our long-distance guides.)
“Will my belongings travel on one truck, or could they be combined with other shipments?” Consolidated, shared-truck moves are common and legitimate, but they affect timing. Knowing in advance prevents confusion when your goods are not first off the truck.
“Do you use your own crews and equipment, or subcontract the labor?” This is a fair follow-up to the mover-versus-broker question. You want to know whose hands are on your sofa.
“How can I reach you before, during, and after the move?” FMCSA specifically suggests asking how the mover can be contacted at each stage. Get a real phone number and a name, not just a web form.
“What is your cancellation or rescheduling policy?” Plans change. Know the rules before you sign, not after.

Questions About Liability and Claims

This is the category people skip and later regret. If something is broken or missing, these answers decide what you can recover.

“What level of liability is included, and what does it cover?” For interstate moves, two options exist. Released Value Protection is offered at no extra charge, but it limits the mover’s responsibility to no more than 60 cents per pound per article. FMCSA’s own example makes the gap vivid: a 25-pound television, lost or damaged, would pay out only $15 under that standard. Full Value Protection makes the mover liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged items, costs extra, and may carry deductibles. Ask which one is built into your quote.
“How do you handle items of extraordinary value?” Movers may limit liability on articles valued at more than $100 per pound, such as jewelry, china, or furs, unless you specifically list them on the shipping documents. Ask how the company wants those items declared.
“What is your claims process and deadline?” Under federal rules, you generally have up to nine months after delivery to file a written claim, the mover has 30 days to acknowledge it, and 120 days to deny it or make an offer. Ask the company to confirm its claim form and where to send it.
“Are you part of an arbitration program?” Interstate movers are required to offer a neutral arbitration program and to give you a summary of it before you sign the bill of lading. It is a way to settle certain loss, damage, or charge disputes without going to court.

Whether the included coverage is enough, or whether you should buy separate moving insurance, is its own decision (see our guide on moving insurance beyond your mover’s coverage).

Red-Flag Answers to Listen For

The questions above only help if you pay attention to the answers. These responses, drawn from FMCSA and FTC consumer warnings, should make you stop and look elsewhere.

No USDOT number, or refusal to provide one for an interstate move. FMCSA advises avoiding movers and brokers that do not show a USDOT number in their advertising.
A price quoted without any inspection of your belongings, in person or virtually. Rogue operators are known to give low telephone estimates, then raise the cost once your goods are loaded.
A demand to sign blank or incomplete documents. FMCSA is emphatic here: never sign blank paperwork, make sure anything you sign has no unfilled blanks except for actual weight or in-transit charges, and always keep a copy. The FTC says the same about paperwork with empty spaces where prices, dates, or signatures belong.
A large upfront cash deposit, or pressure to pay by wire transfer. Treat unusual payment demands as a reason to compare other companies.
Vagueness about liability, a brushed-off claims process, or no mention of an arbitration program.
No physical address, only a generic name, or no copy of the Rights and Responsibilities booklet. A company that cannot point you to where it operates, or to the federal disclosures it is required to provide, has told you something important.

A good company answers all of this without hesitation and puts the important parts in writing. If you find yourself getting dodgy non-answers, that pattern is itself the answer.

This article is general consumer information, not legal advice, and the rules summarized here apply to interstate (across-state-line) moves; intrastate moves are governed by individual states, and federal requirements can change. Confirm current rules and a mover’s status with the official sources below before you sign anything.

Sources

FMCSA, “Liability & Protection” (Released Value vs. Full Value Protection, 60 cents per pound, $100/lb extraordinary value): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/are-you-moving/liability-protection
FMCSA, “What is a binding move estimate?” and Estimating Charges guidance (100% binding, 110% non-binding rule, written estimate, inspection): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/consumer-protection/protect-your-move/what-binding-move-estimate
FMCSA, “Have you discovered Loss and/or Damage to your Household Goods Shipment?” (9-month claim filing, 30-day acknowledgment, 120-day decision): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/resources/discovered-loss-damage
FMCSA, “What Should You Do if you Have a Dispute with your Mover?” (arbitration program, bill of lading summary): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/handling-disputes
FMCSA, “Consumer Rights and Responsibilities” / “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” (required booklet and Ready to Move brochure): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/consumer-rights
FMCSA, “Movers vs. Brokers” (broker does not transport, registration and advertising disclosure requirements): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/movers-vs-brokers
FMCSA, “Spot the Red Flags” and “Blank Document Warning” (USDOT in advertising, no inspection, never sign blank documents, keep a copy): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/red-flags
FMCSA, “Search for a Registered Mover” / Protect Your Move (verify USDOT, registration, complaint history): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/search-mover
FTC Consumer Advice, “Avoid scams when you hire a moving company” (written estimates, inspection, check credentials and reviews, blank-paperwork and payment red flags): https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/09/avoid-scams-when-you-hire-moving-company