How to check a moving company before you book
Check a moving company against FMCSA’s own records: USDOT and MC numbers, household goods authority, insurance on file, complaints and safety data, each dated and linked to the source.
374 household goods movers checked October 25, 2026. Nothing here is a review or a ranking.
The 5-minute check
- Get the USDOT number (and MC number for interstate moves) from the mover in writing. Interstate movers must show it.
- Look it up on FMCSA: Search Movers & Complaint History or the SAFER Company Snapshot. The legal name and address should match the company you talked to.
- Confirm household goods authority. Operating authority must say “AUTHORIZED FOR … Household Goods”. USDOT status must be ACTIVE, with no out-of-service date.
- Check insurance on file in FMCSA’s Licensing & Insurance system. Household goods carriers must file liability and cargo insurance.
- Check that it is a mover, not a broker. A broker does not own trucks and hands your move to someone else. Mover vs broker
- Read the complaint history FMCSA publishes (last 4 years), keeping fleet size in mind.
- Moving inside one state? Check the state license too (below).
Based on FMCSA Protect Your Move and red flags guidance.
Movers and state rules by state
25 FMCSA-authorized household goods movers · state license: Louisiana Public Service Commission Texas
202 FMCSA-authorized household goods movers · state license: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Florida
147 FMCSA-authorized household goods movers · state license: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Coming next: California, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, Washington, Virginia, Tennessee.
Red flags FMCSA warns about
- An estimate given over the phone or online without seeing your things.
- No written estimate, or a demand for cash or a large deposit before the move.
- Asking you to sign blank or incomplete documents.
- No copy of “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” for an interstate move.
- No local address, no license or insurance information, or the phone answered with a generic “Movers”.
- A rental truck shows up instead of a company-owned truck.
- Claims that your goods weigh more, or take more space, than estimated after loading.
Source: FMCSA, Red Flags.
Report a problem mover
Interstate moves: file with FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database or call 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238). Intrastate moves: use the state agency on each state page.
Questions
Where do I look up a mover’s USDOT number?
Use FMCSA’s SAFER Company Snapshot or FMCSA’s “Search Movers & Complaint History” tool. Both are free and run by FMCSA. Every company page on this site links straight to both for that mover.
What does “authorized for household goods” mean?
An interstate mover needs FMCSA operating authority that specifically covers household goods. A carrier authorized only for “Property (Except Household Goods)” is not allowed to move your furniture across state lines.
Does a local move need FMCSA authority?
Not always. A move that starts and ends in one state is usually regulated by that state. Louisiana, Texas and Florida each license intrastate movers; see the state pages.
Are these reviews?
No. We publish only what FMCSA and state agencies publish: registration, authority, insurance filings, inspections, crashes, safety ratings and the complaint counts FMCSA reports. We never estimate or rate companies.