Hiring a moving company feels risky because it is. A bad crew can damage your stuff, charge double, or just not show up. Skip the guesswork and ask the right questions before you book.
Licensing & Insurance Questions
Ask for their USDOT number if they cross state lines. Every interstate mover is legally required to have one, and you can check it on the FMCSA website. For local moves, state-level licensing matters — look up your state’s transportation department rules. Insurance is where people get burned. Liability coverage at sixty cents per pound covers almost nothing. That’s the default. Ask for full value protection if your stuff is worth anything. Write down what they actually cover and what they won’t. If they hesitate to show proof, walk.
Experience & References Questions
Anybody can rent a truck and post an ad. Ask how long they have been running crews full time — three years minimum. Then ask for three recent references from customers with similar moves. Call them. One flaky reference is a red flag. Also ask if they do their own background checks on crews. You want people who have been vetted, not day laborers pulled from a parking lot.
Pricing & Timeline Questions
Get a binding estimate in writing before anything moves. Verbal quotes are worthless. If they won’t do an in-person walkthrough, be suspicious — you can’t price a move over a phone call. Ask how they handle overtime. Cheap hourly rates often mean slow crews that run the clock. Ask for a worst-case timeline and what happens if they’re late. Get the pickup and delivery window in the contract. No vague language like “within three days.”
Contract Questions
Read the fine print before you sign. Look for cancellation penalties, arbitration clauses, and clauses that let them subcontract your move without telling you. Make sure the total price is on one page and itemized. If they want a large deposit upfront, say no. Anything over twenty percent before the truck arrives is a bad sign. Get a copy of the signed contract before the job starts.
Once you have these answers, compare local moving companies on RatingsNearMe.