Check a moving estimate before you sign.
Use this list to slow the paperwork down and identify questions worth resolving in writing. It is educational information, not legal advice or a guarantee of the final bill.
Moving estimate red-flag checklist
□ Mover identity
The document names the company responsible for the move and, for interstate moves, gives identifying registration information. Confirm whether the seller is a carrier or broker.
□ Estimate type
It says binding, non-binding, or binding-not-to-exceed. Do not assume the headline total is a fixed price.
□ Inventory and scope
Rooms, boxes, bulky items, packing, stairs, elevators, long carries, shuttle service, and storage needs match what you disclosed.
□ Transportation basis
The document explains whether transportation is based on weight, cubic feet, time, distance, or a flat amount.
□ Conditional charges
Possible charges are listed with a rate or a clear way to calculate them—not just words such as “if applicable.”
□ Valuation coverage
Released-value or full-value protection is identified separately from the transportation price and insurance is not implied.
□ Deposit and payment
Deposit amount, refund terms, accepted payment methods, and what is due at pickup and delivery are written down.
□ Pickup and delivery
Dates are described as firm dates or windows, with any storage-in-transit or delay terms visible.
□ Changes before loading
The document explains how added goods or services will be documented and priced before work proceeds.
□ Blank or conflicting terms
No important field is blank, illegible, contradicted elsewhere, or dependent on a verbal promise that is absent from the paperwork.
Comparing two estimates? Use the worksheet.
Download the comparison worksheet (PDF, 2 pages). It includes a blank side-by-side sheet and a clearly fictional worked example. No account or upload is required.
The checklist helps you identify questions on one estimate; the worksheet helps you keep the exact wording from two estimates beside each other. Read the web guide and accessible example for context and source references.
For interstate moves
Federal requirements apply to interstate household-goods moves; local and intrastate moves may follow state rules instead. Start with the FMCSA Protect Your Move program and its explanation of written binding and non-binding estimates.