How to Compare Moving Quotes (and Spot a Moving Scam)

Life in the USOct 18, 2026 · 8 min read

Three moving quotes for the same two-bedroom apartment can be thousands of dollars apart, and the cheapest one is not always the best deal. Sometimes it is the start of a scam. This guide explains what the numbers on a moving estimate actually promise, which federal protections you have on an interstate move, and the warning signs to watch for. If you still can't tell whether a quote is fair, you can post it on Roast My Move and let other people vote before you sign.

Step 1: Get written estimates based on a survey

For interstate moves, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires the mover to give you a written estimate before the move. A price someone tells you on the phone is not an official estimate. The estimate must be based on a physical survey of your household goods, and FMCSA's rules say that survey can be done on-site or virtually, through live or pre-recorded video that lets the mover clearly see what is being moved. You can waive the survey, but only in writing, signed before loading.

To make quotes comparable, give every mover the same inventory and the same details:

• Every room, plus the garage, attic, storage unit and patio.
• Stairs, elevators, long walks from the door to the truck and tight streets at both ends.
• Whether you want packing, packing materials, disassembly or storage.
• Your pickup and delivery windows.

Accessorial charges for things like elevators and long carries are supposed to be settled before the bill of lading is prepared, so mention them up front.

Step 2: Know which kind of estimate you have

A suspiciously low non-binding estimate is the classic setup. You can't be forced to pay more than 110% at the door, but the remainder can still show up as a bill later, and a dishonest mover may not follow the rules at all.

Step 3: Check the mover, not just the price

USDOT number and FMCSA lookup

Companies that move household goods across state lines must be registered with FMCSA and have a USDOT number. Ask for it, then look it up on FMCSA's Protect Your Move site (also at protectyourmove.gov) or the SAFER company snapshot. Check that the name and address match the company you are talking to, and whether it is registered as a mover (motor carrier) or a broker.

Mover or broker?

A broker arranges your move and hands it to a carrier. That can be fine, but under federal rules a broker may give you an estimate only if it has a written agreement with the mover and uses the mover's tariff. Ask who will actually show up with the truck, and look up that company too.

The booklet you should receive

With the written estimate, an interstate mover must give you (or link to) the FMCSA booklet "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" and "Ready to Move?". It's short and worth reading: it covers estimates, the 110% rule, the bill of lading, weighing, liability and how to file a claim.

Step 4: Choose your liability coverage on purpose

Every interstate estimate must offer two levels of mover liability:

• Full Value Protection. The default, and the one your estimate must be priced with. If something is lost or damaged, the mover repairs it, replaces it or pays its replacement value, up to the declared value of the shipment and subject to the mover's tariff. Items worth more than $100 per pound need to be listed in writing.
• Waiver of Full Value Protection (Released Value). It costs less, but the mover's liability is only 60 cents per pound per article. A 10-pound TV that's destroyed is worth at most $6 under this option.

You only get Released Value if you waive Full Value Protection in writing. Compare quotes at the same coverage level, or the cheapest one may simply have less protection. If something does go wrong, the booklet says you have 9 months from delivery to file a written claim; the mover then has 30 days to acknowledge it and 120 days to respond.

Red flags of a moving scam

• No survey. A firm price quoted by phone or online without seeing your things.
• A large deposit or cash-only payment before the move.
• No written estimate, or an estimate that doesn't say whether it's binding or non-binding.
• No USDOT number, or a number that belongs to a different company.
• Blank or incomplete documents you're asked to sign. The FMCSA booklet says never sign blank paperwork.
• A delivery receipt that releases the mover from liability. Strike that language out before signing.
• A hostage load. The truck arrives and the mover demands far more than agreed before unloading. On an interstate move the mover must deliver once you pay 100% of a binding estimate or 110% of a non-binding one, plus up to 15% of any impracticable-operations charges. Holding your goods after that is, in FMCSA's words, holding your shipment hostage in violation of federal law.

If that happens, file a complaint in FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database. FMCSA can act against the company, but it can't settle your individual dispute.

Moving within one state

Everything above is about interstate moves, which FMCSA regulates. A move that stays inside one state is regulated by that state, so licensing, estimate rules and liability coverage differ. Ask the mover for its state license number and check it with the state agency that licenses movers or with your state's consumer protection office.

Get a second opinion before you sign

Even with all the right paperwork, it's hard to know whether $4,800 is a fair price for your move. That's what Roast My Move is for. Its Quote Roast form asks for the basics: local or interstate, home size, how much stuff, the price, what's included (labor, truck, packing materials, insurance, tips) and a one-line note. For 24 hours people vote "fair deal" or "you're getting ripped off", and you only see the split after you vote, so nobody just follows the crowd. Locations are city-level only and the site blocks street addresses, exact dates, phone numbers and emails. It takes no mover referral fees and has no paid placement. Votes are community opinions, not professional advice, so use them alongside the checks above.

Moving to a new state? You'll likely need a new driver's license soon after you arrive; our DMV practice test covers the written test in English and Chinese. And if you want Mandarin- or Cantonese-speaking doctors, lawyers or schools near your new home, see the Huaren Local Directory.

FAQ

Is a binding estimate always better than a non-binding one?

Not always. A binding estimate gives you price certainty, but you pay that price even if your shipment turns out lighter, and some movers charge for writing one. A non-binding estimate is free and can come in lower, but the final bill can be higher. For interstate moves you only have to pay up to 110 percent of it at delivery; the rest can be billed later.

Can a mover give me an estimate over the phone?

For an interstate move, federal rules say the written estimate must be based on a physical survey, which can be on-site or by live or pre-recorded video, unless you waive the survey in writing. A price quoted sight unseen over the phone is not an official estimate and is a common scam warning sign.

What does 60 cents per pound actually cover?

Under Released Value, the mover's liability is limited to 60 cents per pound per article. A 10-pound item that is destroyed would be worth at most 6 dollars, no matter what it cost. Full Value Protection, which is the default on an interstate estimate, makes the mover repair, replace or pay for lost or damaged items, up to the shipment's declared value and subject to its tariff.

Do the same rules apply to a move within my state?

No. The FMCSA rules in this guide cover interstate moves. Moves that stay inside one state are regulated by that state, and rules on licensing, estimates and liability vary. Check your state's consumer protection office or the agency that licenses movers there.

Where do I report a moving company?

For an interstate mover or broker, file a complaint in FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov. FMCSA cannot settle your dispute for you, so also use the mover's own claims and arbitration process. For an in-state move, contact your state attorney general or consumer protection office.

Sources

• FMCSA: Protect Your Move (also protectyourmove.gov)
• 49 CFR Part 375: Transportation of Household Goods in Interstate Commerce, including Appendix A, "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move"
• FMCSA SAFER company snapshot
• FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database

Last updated 2026-10-18. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules, coverage amounts and procedures can change; check FMCSA or your state agency before you sign anything.