How to Vet a Long-Distance Mover in 15 Minutes
Choosing the wrong long-distance mover doesn't just result in bad service — it can result in your belongings being held hostage or a company disappearing with your deposit. The good news is that legitimate movers are easy to verify, and fraudulent ones are surprisingly easy to expose if you know where to look.
Here's the 15-minute process.
Minute 1–3: Look Up the USDOT Number
Every legitimate interstate mover and broker must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Go to fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move and search for the company by name or USDOT number.
You're looking for:
- Active operating authority — if it says "revoked" or "inactive," stop here.
- Insurance on file — verify their carrier has current cargo and liability insurance.
- Safety rating — "Satisfactory" is good. "Conditional" or "Unsatisfactory" is a red flag.
If the company cannot provide a USDOT number, that's your answer.
Minute 4–6: Check Their Physical Presence
Search for the company's address on Google Maps Street View. Does the address resolve to a real office or warehouse? Or a residential home, a UPS store, or nothing at all? Fraudulent movers frequently list fake addresses.
Search their phone number. Does it appear on multiple business listings for different company names? This is a common tactic used by rogue brokers operating under several names.
Minute 7–10: Read the Reviews — But Read Them Carefully
Don't just count stars. Look for patterns in the negative reviews:
- Price changed significantly between estimate and delivery
- Goods held until additional payment made
- Company unreachable after deposit was paid
- Items went missing or were damaged with no resolution
A handful of negative reviews about schedule delays is normal. Multiple reviews describing price doubling or ransom-style delivery demands is not.
Also look at the company's response to negative reviews. A company that defends its conduct professionally is more trustworthy than one that doesn't respond at all or responds with hostility.
Minute 11–13: Evaluate the Estimate Process
A company that quotes you over the phone in two minutes without discussing your full inventory is not giving you a real estimate. A legitimate estimate requires:
- A complete inventory of items being moved
- Disclosure of any access fees (stairs, elevators, long carries)
- Specification of origin and destination addresses
- Clear designation as binding or non-binding
If a company is willing to give you a rock-bottom quote sight unseen, that quote is meaningless. It will change.
Minute 14–15: Ask Three Direct Questions
Call or email the company and ask:
- Are you a broker or a carrier? (Both are legitimate — but you should know which.)
- What is your MC number, and can I verify it on the FMCSA site?
- Will my estimate be binding and in writing?
Legitimate companies answer these questions directly. Evasion or irritation in response to basic compliance questions tells you everything.
Bundle Moving is an FMCSA-licensed broker. Our MC number is in our footer — verify it anytime. Start your free binding quote and know exactly what you're paying before moving day.