Moving Estimate Change Orders: What to Check
Learn what to check when a mover asks you to sign a revised estimate, change order, or addendum before an interstate move.
Reviewed September 29, 2026 · General information, not legal adviceA moving estimate change order, revised estimate, or addendum should explain what changed before you sign it. For interstate household-goods moves, compare the original and revised documents line by line: the goods, services, estimate type, total, and any new conditions. Keep both copies. A verbal change is unresolved until it appears in writing. Local rules vary by state.
Start with the original estimate
Put the original estimate beside the new page. Confirm the legal mover name, origin, destination, dates, inventory or weight assumptions, included services, conditional services, valuation, and estimate type. A new total without a clear written difference does not explain what changed.
What can change before loading
For interstate household-goods moves, a mover may amend an estimate before loading when the mover and customer mutually agree. If extra goods or services are identified before loading, the federal rule describes reaffirming the estimate or negotiating a revised written estimate. Read current 49 CFR 375.403 for the details.
Read the estimate type again
Do not assume a revised total has the same terms as the original. A binding estimate and a non-binding estimate work differently. For an interstate binding estimate, FMCSA says the written estimate must clearly describe the shipment and services. For a non-binding estimate, the documents should show the estimated charges and services. Check the exact label on every version.
Keep the document chain
Save the original estimate, every revised estimate or addendum, the inventory, bill of lading, invoice, and messages that explain the change. If the mover uses an optional legacy form, keep it with the same file. That chain helps you compare what was first described with what you later signed.
Questions to ask before signing
- What exact goods, services, dates, or access conditions changed?
- Is this a new estimate, a change order, or an attachment to the bill of lading?
- Does it stay binding or non-binding?
- Which charges are included, conditional, omitted, or unclear?
- Can I have a dated copy of both versions before loading?
Interstate and local moves
This guide gives general information, not legal advice. The federal materials linked here address interstate household-goods moves. Local and intrastate rules can differ by state.
Frequently asked questions
- Can an interstate mover revise an estimate before loading?
- Before loading, a mover and customer may mutually agree to amend an interstate estimate. For a changed binding or non-binding estimate, keep the revised version in writing and compare the listed goods and services to the original.
- What should a revised moving estimate show?
- It should make the change understandable: the shipment or service that changed, the estimate type, the amount, and the services covered. Keep both the original and revised documents.
- Can an estimate be amended after loading?
- For an interstate move, FMCSA says a mover may amend an estimate before loading upon mutual agreement and may not amend it after loading. Separate rules can apply to services requested after the contract is executed.