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.
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.