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What are the warning signs of a moving company scam
Use the free tool — Moving Day Planner
Why this matters
Moving day scams target people who are stressed and short on time. Scammers know you need a mover fast. Learn the signs before you pay anyone.
Three warning signs
- A lowball quote given sight-unseen. A real mover needs to see your things — in person or by video — before giving a price.
- A demand for a large cash deposit. Deposits over about 20%, or cash-only demands, are the classic scam signature.
- A truck with no company name on it. Legitimate interstate movers operate branded trucks tied to a real business.
Check the USDOT number
Every legitimate interstate mover has a USDOT number. You can verify it in about 30 seconds. No number, no truck — do not load your things onto an unverified truck. Use the Mover search before you pay anything.
The "hostage load" scam
This is a real risk for cross-state moves. A mover loads your belongings, then demands more money than quoted before they will unload — holding your things "hostage." Get everything in writing before the truck is loaded.
Before you pay anyone
- Get three written estimates — in-home or video, not phone-only.
- Be wary of any deposit over roughly 20% of the total, or any cash-only demand.
- Verify the USDOT number at fmcsa.dot.gov before signing anything.
What to do next
This is general guidance, not legal advice. It can be wrong — confirm details with FMCSA and your state before you pay a mover. The free Moving Day Planner tool reads your own move date, distance, and household details, then gives you a dated plan with the mover-scam checks built in. Nothing you type is stored.
Moving Day Planner offers general planning guidance; it can be wrong. Verify deadlines with your state and providers. Nothing you type is stored.