Binding vs. Non-Binding Estimates: What Movers Don't Explain

When you request a quote from a long-distance mover, you'll almost always be offered a number. What you may not be told is that the legal status of that number depends entirely on what kind of estimate it is — and the difference can add hundreds of dollars to your moving day bill.

What a Non-Binding Estimate Actually Means

A non-binding estimate is a projection. The mover looks at your inventory, calculates expected weight, and gives you a price based on those assumptions. But when your household goods are weighed at the scale station, reality takes over.

If your shipment weighs more than the estimate assumed, your final bill will be higher. There's no cap — except the one federal law imposes at delivery (more on that below). Non-binding estimates are common because they're easy to generate and because the liability stays with the customer if the weight comes in high.

What a Binding Estimate Actually Means

A binding estimate is a written, legally enforceable commitment to a total price for the services listed. If you have a binding estimate for $5,200 and your goods weigh 20% more than projected, the mover still charges $5,200 for those listed services. The weight doesn't change the price.

Binding estimates require more diligence up front — the mover needs an accurate, complete inventory. A binding estimate based on a partial or incorrect inventory may not cover items you add after the estimate is issued.

The 110% Rule: Your Protection on Non-Binding Estimates

Federal regulation (49 C.F.R. Part 375) includes an important protection called the 110% rule. If your estimate is non-binding, the carrier cannot require you to pay more than 110% of the non-binding estimate at delivery before releasing your goods.

So if your non-binding estimate was $4,000 and the actual weight pushes the calculated price to $5,000, the maximum you can be required to pay on delivery day is $4,400 (110% of the estimate). The remaining $600 must be billed separately, and you have 30 days after delivery to pay it — the carrier cannot hold your belongings to collect the difference.

This rule only applies to non-binding estimates. If you have a binding estimate, the ceiling is simply the binding price for listed services.

Which One Should You Choose?

For most customers, a binding estimate is the safer choice. You know your maximum cost before the truck pulls away. There are no surprises at delivery.

Non-binding estimates make sense when your inventory is genuinely uncertain — if you're still acquiring furniture, or if the mover is doing a visual survey and can't weigh items in advance. In those cases, understand that the estimate is a starting point, not a promise.

Always ask, in writing, which type of estimate you're receiving. The answer determines your exposure on moving day.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

• Is this estimate binding or non-binding?
• If non-binding, what was the assumed weight, and what happens if the actual weight exceeds that?
• What services are included in this price? What triggers an additional charge?
• Can I get a binding estimate based on a more detailed inventory?

At Bundle Moving, every quote we issue is binding and in writing. Start yours today — no surprises, no last-minute revisions.