Identifying the Worst Moving Companies: The Red Flags to Look Out for and How to Protect Yourself

The Steps to Finding a Reliable Moving Company

Every year, 35 million Americans relocate – moving is one of life’s top five stressors, even when things go smoothly.

When things don’t go smoothly, it can quickly rocket up to the very top of that list.

The most important thing you can do to cut down on stress during your move is to do your due diligence prior to the move to avoid hiring the worst moving companies.

An interstate move is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make, and yet folks spend more time researching the TV they want to buy than the moving company that will load every one of their possessions onto truck and drive away.

Before you even get a moving quote, educate yourself prior to making a decision on which reliable moving company you’re going to entrust with all of your belongings.

Check for these red flags with home moving companies:

They don’t own the assets like trucks or warehouses. You can tell this by looking at social media to see if they have a physical location and branded vehicles.
They don’t have exclusive contracts with the drivers, they don’t manage and train the crews.
Unwilling or unable to actually see the items you want moved – whether in person or a video survey app – nor will they look at your specific situation like access to the residence. Therefore, they won’t understand the scope of work and can’t possibly provide an accurate quote. Moves are weight based, so a mover cannot provide an accurate estimate based just on the number of bedrooms or square footage.
They won’t provide a detailed estimate, or if they do it either won’t be binding or the fine print will exclude important services that are required.
They may ask you to sign blank documents – which you should never do.
The mover’s website has no address and no information about their registration – and they won’t provide you with their U.S. DOT number. Legally, all of their ads and written documents should show this number.
Reputable movers will NOT ask for a large deposit (more than 25%) in order to book your move. While it’s common to have to pay some money prior to loading day, remember that federal regulations do require that movers provide written estimates and specific disclosures, including information about any deposits. Be cautious when a deposit in order to book an interstate move is required.
The biggest red flag – and we hope it never gets to this point – is when the mover shows up and they claim you have more belongings than estimated (which is why the survey is vitally important) and demand more money before they will deliver and unload.

Important note: Sometimes a customer will decide to move more than what was originally surveyed.

Since a moving survey happens at the beginning of the process, people sometimes underestimate what they would like to move, or aren’t able to sell or donate as much as they originally think. If you are actually asking the moving company to move more than what was surveyed, notify them ahead of time and ask them to provide you with a new estimate that you both sign before they begin loading.

Start researching mover well in advance so you aren’t pressured to make a decision.

When moving to a new state, the FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – which is part of the US Dept of Transportation, has a website that provides free resources to protect yourself from moving fraud.

This website includes information on regulations and tips for planning your move, to your rights and responsibilities before, during and after your interstate move. It’s important to review this information to ensure you, in fact, protected.

Make sure to read the FMCSA’s “Rights and Responsibilities” before you select a mover, if moving from one state to another.

How do I report a rogue moving company or moving fraud?

If you think you have been the victim of moving fraud, the FMCSA encourages you to report that moving company, moving broker or auto transport service.

These complaints, along with other data sources, are used to make decisions about which companies FMCSA may investigate. These complaints are why it is important to review a moving company through FMCSA before booking them.

Filing a complaint requires the following information:

Your name, address, and telephone number
The name, address, and telephone number of the moving company, broker, or auto transporter
Origin and destination of the shipment
U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) identification numbers, if available
Details on the alleged specific violation(s)
Upload your moving documents to the complaint form: Estimate, Bill of Lading, and Inventory pages

How to research long distance moving companies:

Check to see if the mover is registered with the FMCSA (fmcsa.dot.gov) or call 800-832-5660. All interstate household goods movers must be registered with FMCSA to allow them to legally transport goods between states with the proper level of insurance.
The mover must have a U.S. DOT number properly displayed or be able to provide it to you.
Look at independent review sources. Don’t just go by the mover’s website. Google is the most popular independent source of reviews for customers who have moved.
Understand the required documents:
- Make sure the estimate includes all services required and is signed by the mover – and do not accept verbal estimates. The survey of items being moved should be included with the estimate.
- The Bill of Lading (BOL) is the actual contract between you and the mover – and a receipt of your belongings. You should be given a partially completed copy of the BOL before the mover leaves the residence at origin.
- An inventory should be prepared by the mover – usually done at the time of loading. The mover is required to list any pre-existing damages or unusual wear. After the inventory is completed, you and the mover sign each page of the inventory.
- Don’t ever sign a blank document, no matter what the mover says.

How to research local moving companies:

Ask your realtor. They typically know who the quality moving companies are in the area.
As with a long-distance mover, do your research online. While local movers may not have the online presence of a long distance or international moving company, they should still have an adequate online presence. Look for the longevity of the mover, their training and capabilities, and if they have a branch in your state.
Ensure the mover is licensed and insured.
Ask friends, colleagues and/or relatives for their local recommendations.
Remember major van lines do local moves too and might be a better option for your needs than a small mom and pop that has limited resources.
Check out Google reviews and other non-biased review sources.
Be sure the services you need are services the mover provides: packing, unpacking, protecting your furniture and property, furniture disassembly/ reassembly if required, moving items up and down stairs, insurance, storage, third-party services like appliance prep, etc.
Make sure to procure detailed and written quotes they sign. Even with a small local mover, you should still receive these documents, including a home survey (either virtual or in-person) that shows what is to be moved and the estimated hours required.
Even with a small local mover, it is not normal for a company to have little to no online presence, social media or Google reviews.

With any home move, understand the type of liability you select.

Movers are required to cover the cost of goods that are lost or damaged during the move, however there are different levels of liability for interstate moves. You’ll want to inquire with your moving company as to what is covered automatically, and decide if that is right for you.

Many people are unaware that the coverage supplied by moving companies is not insurance (legally, a moving company cannot sell you insurance) and decide to get additional coverage, or look into what is covered by their homeowners insurance.

The coverage supplied by the moving company is also typically weight based. So for example, an expensive object that is very light would not be covered for very much if it is damaged or broken.

The right moving company can go over this with you, and help guide you to the solution that works best for your situation.

Start your move with a company trusted for over 100 years.

The most important thing is to educate yourself prior to making a decision on which moving company you’re going to entrust with all of your belongings.

Suddath makes it easy, having moved families since 1919, and offering comprehensive moving services, whether you’re making a local, international or long-distance residential move.

Our professional and reliable moving coordinators are ready to take care of everything from packing, loading, storage and transportation. Get a free, no-obligation moving quote today.