Use this checklist alongside the current documents supplied by your mover or broker. Federal interstate rules do not automatically govern every local or intrastate move, and this guide is practical planning information—not legal advice.
Define who is moving the shipment
A broker arranges transportation; a carrier transports the household goods. The distinction affects which company appears on the estimate, which registration you verify, and who controls pickup and delivery.
- Write the exact legal name, website, phone number, physical address, USDOT number, and MC number shown by each company
- Ask directly whether the company is a broker, carrier, or both
- Search the mover or broker in FMCSA's registration and complaint-history tools
- Confirm which carrier is expected to transport the shipment if a broker is involved
- Keep screenshots or PDFs of the registration information reviewed
Do not let a familiar brand name substitute for the legal entity and registration number on the documents.
Make every estimate describe the same move
An estimate is only comparable when providers see the same property, dates, addresses, inventory, packing responsibility, and access conditions. Hidden differences in scope become price differences later.
- Create a room-by-room inventory and mark items that will not move
- Photograph or record large, fragile, high-value, and unusual items
- Disclose stairs, elevators, long carries, parking limits, narrow streets, and possible shuttle service
- List packing, crating, disassembly, storage, and appliance services required
- Record requested pickup and delivery windows—not only a preferred single day
If the inventory or services change before loading, get the effect on the estimate documented before the shipment is loaded.
Read the estimate type and included charges
FMCSA distinguishes binding and non-binding estimates for interstate household-goods moves. The title alone is not enough: the document should describe the shipment, services, charges, and payment terms that apply to your move.
- Confirm the estimate is written, dated, and tied to the inventory reviewed
- Identify whether it is binding, non-binding, or binding-not-to-exceed
- Locate transportation, accessorial, advance, packing, storage, and valuation-related charges
- Check acceptable payment forms and the timing of deposits and delivery payment
- Do not sign a document with blank spaces for important prices, dates, services, or signatures
A rate quote or phone number is not the same thing as a complete written estimate.
Separate mover liability from optional insurance
Interstate movers provide valuation choices that define their liability under the shipping contract. Optional insurance is a different product. Read the mover's written explanation and do not assume the declared choice equals replacement-cost insurance.
- Read the valuation options and cost before signing
- Ask how high-value items must be declared
- Check exclusions, deductibles, repair options, and claim deadlines
- Compare any homeowner, renter, credit-card, or separate transit coverage without assuming it applies
- Keep receipts, serial numbers, appraisals, and condition photographs for important items
Ask the mover to explain any term you cannot connect to a dollar amount or claim process.
Control the paperwork before loading
Moving day is the worst time to discover a changed company name, missing service, or new payment condition. Pause before the first item enters the vehicle and match the paperwork to the accepted plan.
- Match the truck, crew, company name, and contact information to the scheduled provider
- Review any revised estimate before loading begins
- Receive and retain the order for service, inventory, and bill of lading as applicable
- Mark pre-existing damage and missing items on the inventory before signing
- Keep passports, medication, keys, financial records, contracts, and irreplaceable items with you
Never sign an inventory or delivery document as complete when exceptions have not been written on it.
Inspect, document, and close the shipment
Prepare the destination before the truck arrives. Know the accepted payment form, make space for inventory control, and record exceptions while the crew and documents are still present.
- Confirm the delivery window, access route, parking, elevator, and payment method in advance
- Use inventory numbers or labels to check items as they enter
- Photograph visible loss or damage before items are moved again
- Write missing or damaged items on the delivery paperwork before signing
- Keep copies of every document, payment record, photograph, email, and claim submission
For a dispute, first follow the mover's claim process, then use the relevant federal or state complaint path for the type of move.
Verify changeable details
These sources support regulatory or service-specific details in this guide. Recheck them before acting because rules, fees, and processes can change.
- Steps to select a moverFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- How can I avoid unexpected moving costs?Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Moving checklistFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Avoid scams when you hire a moving companyFederal Trade Commission