Choosing a moving company is one of those decisions people usually make once every few years — which means most people go into it without knowing what actually separates a reliable mover from a risky one. Here's what to actually check before you book.

1. Confirm the USDOT license is real and active

Any company that crosses state lines is legally required to hold an active USDOT number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This isn't optional paperwork — it's how the federal government tracks a mover's safety record, insurance status, and complaint history.

Every listing on MoverScout shows the USDOT number pulled directly from FMCSA records, along with whether that authority is currently active. If a company can't (or won't) give you a USDOT number, treat that as a hard stop.

2. Understand the difference between a mover and a broker

This is the single most common source of moving-day horror stories. A broker doesn't own trucks or employ movers — they take your booking and hand the job to a subcontracted carrier you've never vetted. That carrier can be a completely different company than the one you thought you booked with, and pricing/liability can get messy fast.

If a company can't tell you plainly whether they're a broker or a carrier, ask again — and check their FMCSA broker authority status before you sign anything.

3. Check insurance and cargo coverage

Two things matter here, and they're different:

  • Liability insurance — covers damage the mover's truck or crew causes to property (yours or others') during the move.
  • Cargo coverage — covers your actual belongings while they're in transit. Ask what the default valuation is (often a low per-pound rate) and whether you can buy additional coverage.

4. Read reviews from more than one source

A company with only 5 reviews, all five stars, all posted the same week, is a red flag — not a green one. Look for a review history that spans years, with a realistic mix of ratings, and read a few of the critical ones to see how the company responded.

5. Get the quote in writing, in detail

A trustworthy mover will give you a written estimate that spells out whether it's binding or non-binding, what's included, and what triggers extra charges (stairs, long carries, packing materials). If a quote feels vague on purpose, that's usually not an accident.

Ready to compare licensed movers in your area? Browse movers on MoverScout and see FMCSA licensing, insurance status and real reviews side by side.