Hiring a moving company involves handing over your belongings, your schedule, and often a significant amount of money to a company you may have only researched online. Before you sign anything, ask the right questions to avoid unexpected fees, damaged items, or a moving day that falls apart. Here’s what to ask before you commit.
Are You Licensed and Insured?
This is the single most important question, and any legitimate mover should answer it without hesitation. For interstate moves, companies are required to have a USDOT number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which you can look up independently to confirm it’s active and matches the company you’re hiring. For moves within your state, requirements vary, so ask what licensing applies locally and request proof.
Insurance matters just as much. Ask specifically about general liability coverage, cargo coverage, and workers’ compensation. If a mover is vague about any of these, treat it as a red flag.
How Do You Calculate Your Estimate?
Estimates typically come in two forms: binding and non-binding. A binding estimate locks in a price based on the inventory provided, while a non-binding estimate can change based on the actual weight or time the move takes. Ask which type you’re getting, and get it in writing either way.
Also ask what the estimate is based on: an in-person or video walkthrough, or a phone conversation. Estimates based only on a phone call tend to be the least accurate, since the company hasn’t actually seen your belongings or your home’s access points.
What’s Included, and What Costs Extra?
A low quote can look appealing until the extra charges start piling up. Ask directly about fees for:
- Stairs or elevators at either location
- Long carries (when the truck can’t park close to the entrance)
- Bulky or specialty items like pianos, safes, or pool tables
- Packing materials and packing labor, if you want that service
- Storage, if there’s a gap between move-out and move-in dates
- Fuel surcharges or travel fees for long-distance moves
Getting these costs itemized upfront prevents surprises on move-in day.
How Do You Handle Damaged or Lost Items?
Even with careful movers, accidents happen. Ask what valuation coverage is included by default, and whether you can purchase additional coverage for higher-value items. Ask about the claims process too: how damage gets reported, how long the company has to respond, and how disputes get resolved. A company that can walk you through this process clearly, rather than brushing off the question, usually stands behind its work.
What Happens If My Move Date Changes?
Life happens, and closing dates or move-in dates shift more often than people expect. Ask about the company’s rescheduling policy, including whether there’s a fee and how much notice they need. This is especially important during peak moving season, when availability tightens up, and last-minute changes can be harder to accommodate.
Who Will Actually Be Moving My Belongings?
Some companies use their own trained crews, while others subcontract to local labor or third-party movers, particularly for long-distance jobs. Ask directly whether the people showing up on moving day are employees of the company you hired. This affects accountability, training consistency, and how issues get resolved if something goes wrong.
Can I See Recent Reviews and References?
Online reviews are useful, but ask if the company can also share references from recent, similar moves, especially if you have specialty items or a complex move (multiple stops, tight timelines, or difficult access). A company confident in its work will have no problem connecting you with past customers.
Do You Offer a Written Contract?
Never move forward on a verbal agreement alone. Make sure everything discussed, pricing, dates, services included, and liability terms, is documented in a written contract before moving day. Read it fully, and don’t hesitate to ask questions about anything that seems unclear or contradicts what you were told verbally.
The Bottom Line
A trustworthy moving company will welcome these questions rather than deflect them. Taking the time to vet a mover properly, checking licensing, understanding the estimate, and clarifying costs and policies upfront, is one of the most effective ways to avoid a stressful moving day. Companies like Correira Brothers Moving & Storage, a family-owned mover serving Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, are used to fielding these kinds of questions and can walk you through licensing, insurance, and estimate details before you ever sign a contract.
