How to Check a Moving Company
Before choosing a mover, make sure you're researching the correct company. Moving businesses may use legal names, trade names and federal identifiers that can make company-name searches confusing.
1. Start with identifying information
Collect the advertised company name, legal business name, trade or DBA name, USDOT number and MC number where applicable. A USDOT number can be particularly useful when distinguishing businesses with similar or changing names.
2. Determine whether you're dealing with a mover or broker
A household-goods mover performs the transportation. A household-goods broker arranges transportation with a mover and is not authorized to transport the household goods in its broker role.
3. Check registration and authority
Federal registration and authorization are not identical concepts. A company can appear in federal records without necessarily being authorized to transport household goods.
Search FMCSA mover and broker records →
4. Review more than one signal
- current federal information
- company identity
- mover or broker role
- applicable authority
- complaint information where available
- estimate information
- consumer reviews as context rather than sole verification