How to Choose a Long-Distance Moving Company (Without Getting Scammed)

Long-distance moving scams are not rare. In the US, a common scheme involves a company providing an unusually low estimate, loading your belongings onto the truck, and then presenting a significantly higher bill before releasing your goods — a practice known as a "hostage load." You either pay or your belongings stay on the truck.

The good news is that legitimate moving companies are easy to identify if you know what to look for. The red flags are equally obvious once you understand the pattern.

Start With Accreditation, Not Price

The first thing to check is whether a moving company is registered and accredited. This is not optional.

United States: Interstate movers must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and have a USDOT number. You can verify any company's USDOT number at the FMCSA website (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov). Legitimate interstate movers also typically hold membership in the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). If a company cannot provide a USDOT number, do not hire them.

United Kingdom: Look for membership in the British Association of Removers (BAR). BAR members are subject to a code of practice, professional standards, and an independent dispute resolution scheme. It is not a legal requirement, but it is the strongest quality signal in the UK market.

Australia: Membership in the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) is the equivalent benchmark. AFRA members carry appropriate insurance, use trained staff, and operate to industry standards. For interstate moves in Australia, check whether the company operates its own vehicles or subcontracts — subcontracting chains increase the risk of damaged goods and accountability gaps.

Canada: The Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) is the national trade body. Provincial licensing requirements also vary — in Ontario, for example, household movers must be licensed under the Household Movers Regulation. Check province-specific requirements.

New Zealand: The New Zealand Movers Association (NZMA) is the relevant trade body. For inter-island moves (Auckland to Christchurch, for example), confirm the company uses its own vessels or has established carrier relationships rather than third-party brokers.

Get Three Binding Quotes — In Writing

For any long-distance move, get at minimum three quotes. More importantly, understand what type of quote you are getting.

Non-binding estimate: A rough figure based on a visual or virtual inspection. The company can charge more than this if the actual weight or volume exceeds the estimate. Non-binding estimates create most of the dispute situations in the moving industry.

Binding estimate: A fixed price. The company cannot charge more than this amount regardless of actual weight. Legitimate movers will offer binding estimates; dishonest ones prefer non-binding because it gives them room to inflate charges.

Binding not-to-exceed estimate: A binding estimate where the final charge can be lower than the estimate if the shipment is lighter than expected, but never higher. This is the most consumer-friendly option.

Request binding estimates. If a company refuses or is evasive about the type of estimate they provide, treat that as a warning sign.

For the estimate to be accurate, the company needs to do an in-home survey (physically or via video call). Any company that provides a price based only on the number of rooms and a brief phone call is guessing — and will likely adjust the price upward on moving day.

Red Flags That Indicate a Fraudulent Mover

These are the patterns consistently associated with scam operations:

No physical address or a residential address. Legitimate companies have commercial premises. Check that the address on their website corresponds to an actual commercial location.

Requires a large cash deposit upfront. Legitimate movers typically require no deposit or a small one. A large upfront cash deposit before any work is done is a significant warning sign.

Provides an unusually low estimate. If a quote is substantially lower than all other quotes you received, treat it with scepticism. A legitimate mover who knows the actual cost of providing a quality service cannot sustainably underprice the competition by 40%. They are either cutting corners on insurance and licensing, or planning to add charges later.

Unmarked trucks or no company branding. Professional moving companies operate branded vehicles. An unmarked hire truck operated by a company claiming to be a professional mover should raise questions.

Cannot or will not provide documentation. Before signing, a legitimate mover should provide: a written binding estimate, a Bill of Lading (the contract of carriage), information about their valuation/insurance options, and contact details for complaint resolution. If they are reluctant to provide any of this in writing, do not proceed.

Asks you to sign blank or incomplete documents. Never sign incomplete paperwork. All details — inventory list, estimated weight, price, delivery window, liability coverage — should be filled in before you sign.

Understanding Insurance and Liability Coverage

Moving company liability coverage is not the same as insurance on your home contents, and most people discover this too late.

Basic carrier liability (US): Interstate movers are legally required to offer a minimum of 60 cents per pound per article. This means that if a 30-pound television worth $800 is destroyed, the mover owes you $18. This is not useful coverage.

Full Value Protection (US): Under this option, the mover is liable to either repair, replace, or pay the market value of damaged or lost items. This costs more but is the only coverage that provides meaningful protection for valuable belongings.

UK: Removal companies are required to carry goods in transit insurance. Check that this is included in the quote and ask what the per-item and total claim limits are. Some policies have per-item limits too low to cover high-value electronics or artwork.

Australia: AFRA members carry transit and storage insurance. Check that the policy covers the full replacement value of your belongings, not a depreciated value.

If your household contents insurance policy covers goods in transit, check the exact conditions: some policies require professional movers, some specify packing standards, and most have per-item limits on high-value items.

Moving Day: Your Rights and How to Document

When the movers arrive, walk through the property with the crew leader and point out any pre-existing damage to furniture and walls. Do this before loading begins.

The Bill of Lading is your primary document. Read it in full before signing. It should list your pickup address, delivery address, estimated delivery window, total price, and liability coverage. Do not sign a blank or incomplete Bill of Lading.

At the destination, inspect items as they are unloaded. Note any damage on the delivery documentation before the crew leaves. Signing the delivery paperwork without noting damage makes it significantly harder to file a claim afterward.

For interstate moves in the US, you have nine months to file a claim for loss or damage. Keep your copy of the Bill of Lading and any written estimates — these are essential if a dispute arises.

Booking Lead Time

For peak season moves (May through September in the Northern Hemisphere; December through February in Australia and New Zealand), book your moving company 6–8 weeks in advance. Reputable long-distance movers book up quickly during these periods, and last-minute bookings narrow your options to whoever still has availability — which is not always the most reliable operators.

In the UK, do not book a firm date with removalists until contracts on your property have been exchanged. The exchange-to-completion gap is typically one to four weeks, and cancellation fees from pre-booked movers before exchange add unnecessary cost to an already expensive process.

A Complete Moving System Beyond the Company Decision

Choosing the right mover is one decision in a larger process. The rest — eight weeks of preparation, packing guides, address changes across government agencies, utility transfers, and cleaning protocols to protect your deposit — needs its own checklist.

The Moving Checklist covers the complete process from hiring decisions through to post-move settling in, with specific guidance for the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.