How to Choose a Long-Distance Moving Company: The Complete Vetting Guide

Your household goods — everything you own — are going on a truck and traveling hundreds or thousands of miles. The company you hire to do that is responsible for those items from the moment they're loaded until the moment they're placed in your new home. Choosing the wrong company can mean damaged belongings, surprise charges on delivery day, delayed shipments, or in the worst cases, your goods being held hostage until you pay inflated fees.

The long-distance moving industry has legitimate players and bad actors, and distinguishing between them requires more than reading a few Yelp reviews. This guide covers everything you need to know to vet, compare, and select a long-distance moving company with confidence.

Step 1: Verify Licensing and Authority

This is not optional — it's the first filter. Any company transporting household goods across state lines is required by federal law to hold active operating authority from the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).

What to Check

USDOT Number: Every registered interstate moving company has a USDOT number. Search the FMCSA's SAFER database at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov to verify that a company's USDOT number is real, active, and in good standing.

MC Number (Motor Carrier Number): In addition to a USDOT number, interstate household goods carriers must have an active MC number authorizing them specifically to transport household goods. Verify this on the SAFER system as well.

Carrier vs. Broker: The SAFER database will tell you whether a company is registered as a "carrier" or a "broker." This distinction matters enormously (see Step 3 below).

California-Specific: If your move originates in California, also verify that the company has a valid California PUC (Public Utilities Commission) license number, also called a CAL T-number. Search the CPUC's licensed mover database at cpuc.ca.gov.

Step 2: Require an In-Home or Video Survey

Never accept a phone-only estimate for a long-distance move.

Reputable long-distance movers conduct an actual inventory of your belongings — either in person or via a video walkthrough — before providing an estimate. This takes time (typically 30–90 minutes depending on home size), but it produces a price that actually reflects your shipment.

Phone estimates without an inventory tend to come in lower because the sales person doesn't know what you actually have. When your goods are weighed on a certified scale (which is standard for non-binding interstate moves), the weight often exceeds what the phone estimate was based on — and you end up paying more than you expected.

Require an inventory-based estimate. Any company that won't do one is either cutting corners or setting you up for a bait-and-switch.

Step 3: Understand the Carrier vs. Broker Distinction

This is one of the most important — and least understood — distinctions in the moving industry.

Carrier

A carrier owns trucks and employs crew members who physically perform your move. When you hire a carrier, the company you sign a contract with is the same company that will show up on moving day.

Broker

A broker connects you with a carrier but does not perform the move themselves. Brokers collect their fee and assign your move to a carrier — often the lowest bidder available at the time of your move. The carrier that shows up on moving day may be completely unknown to you.

The problem with brokers:

• You cannot research or vet the actual carrier doing your move
• Responsibility for problems is split between the broker and the carrier, making dispute resolution complicated
• Some unscrupulous brokers sell your move to carriers with poor track records
• The moving company that quoted you may have nothing to do with the company that handles your goods

How to tell the difference: Ask directly — "Are you a carrier or a broker? Will the company I'm signing this contract with be the same company loading and transporting my goods?" Also verify on the FMCSA SAFER database: the company's registration type is listed.

At LuxeMove, we are a carrier. Our team handles your move from loading through delivery with our own trained crews and vehicles.

Step 4: Get Multiple Binding Estimates

Collect a minimum of three binding estimates from different companies. Here's why each word in "multiple binding estimates" matters:

Multiple: One estimate provides no frame of reference. Three estimates let you identify outliers — both suspicious low-ballers and unexpectedly high quotes. The mid-range estimates from reputable carriers give you an accurate market picture.

Binding: A binding estimate locks in your price based on the inventory surveyed. Your final bill cannot exceed the binding amount (absent changes in services requested). Non-binding estimates, by contrast, can result in a higher final bill based on actual weight — and the carrier must deliver your goods if you pay the non-binding estimate amount plus 10% (with remaining charges due within 30 days of delivery).

For a long-distance move, insist on binding or not-to-exceed estimates.

Red Flag: A Quote Significantly Below the Others

If two companies quote you $6,500–$8,000 for a 3-bedroom move and a third quotes $3,800, that's not a deal — it's a warning sign. Low-ball tactics are common in the moving industry: attract customers with artificially low quotes, then raise the price once your goods are loaded and en route.

Step 5: Research the Company's Reputation — Thoroughly

Reviews matter, but context matters more. Here's how to research effectively:

Multiple platforms: Check Google, Yelp, BBB (Better Business Bureau), and FMCSA's complaint database. Don't rely on any single source.

Look at complaint patterns: One negative review in 100 is normal. Twenty complaints about "price went up after loading" or "delivery was three weeks late" is a pattern.

Check the FMCSA complaint database: At safer.fmcsa.dot.gov, you can see the number of complaints filed against a carrier with the FMCSA. This is public information.

BBB rating: While not definitive, a BBB rating provides a useful data point. Look at how the company responds to complaints, not just whether they have any.

Years in business: Established companies have track records. Be cautious of companies that appeared recently or have changed their name multiple times (sometimes a tactic to escape complaint histories).

Step 6: Understand the Contract Documents

Before signing anything, understand what you're signing. Long-distance moves involve several key documents:

Order for Service: The written confirmation of all services to be performed, the estimated cost, and the pickup and delivery windows. Review this carefully — the delivery window range should be clearly specified.

Bill of Lading: The formal moving contract, signed at the time of loading. This document specifies the charges, pickup date, delivery window, liability terms, and shipment inventory. Do not let your goods be loaded without receiving and reviewing a Bill of Lading.

Inventory List: A detailed record of every item loaded, often with numbered tags. This is your legal record of what was loaded and the condition of items at pickup. Review it carefully and note any pre-existing damage accurately.

Valuation addendum: Your choice of released value protection vs. full value protection (and declared value) should be documented in your contract.

Step 7: Clarify the Valuation/Insurance Terms

Understand exactly what protection you have if something is damaged:

Released value protection (basic, free): $0.60 per pound per item. A 50-pound lamp worth $800 gets $30 in coverage. This is wholly inadequate for most households.

Full value protection (paid): The carrier is responsible for repairing or replacing damaged items at current market value. Typically costs 1–2% of declared value. For a household with $50,000 in goods, that's $500–$1,000 for meaningful coverage — worth it.

Homeowner's or renter's insurance: Some policies extend coverage to goods in transit. Check before purchasing duplicate coverage from the carrier.

Ask specifically: "If my furniture is damaged during the move, what am I entitled to under the coverage I've selected?"

Step 8: Confirm Access Logistics on Both Ends

Logistical failures on moving day — a truck that can't access your building, a delivery that was never coordinated with the destination building — are frustrating and costly. Head them off:

At origin (Los Angeles): Confirm street access for a large moving truck near your home. Narrow streets, loading restrictions, parking permit requirements, and elevator reservations should all be resolved in advance.

At destination: Does your new building require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) from your mover? Most NYC buildings do; many high-rises in other cities do as well. Elevator reservations? Loading dock hours? Building management contact? Give your mover all of this information before moving day.

Step 9: Ask the Right Questions

When evaluating moving companies, ask:

1. "What is your USDOT number and MC number, and can you provide them in writing?"
2. "Are you a carrier or a broker?"
3. "Will you conduct an in-home or video survey before providing an estimate?"
4. "Is this estimate binding or non-binding?"
5. "What is your standard delivery window for this route?"
6. "What happens if my goods are damaged — what is your claims process?"
7. "Can you provide a Certificate of Insurance for my destination building?"
8. "Do you offer full-value protection, and what is the cost?"
9. "Are there any services or circumstances that would cause my final price to exceed this estimate?"
10. "Who will actually perform my move — your employees or contracted laborers?"

How LuxeMove Meets the Standard

LuxeMove is an FMCSA-licensed interstate carrier with a valid California PUC license. We operate as a carrier — not a broker — meaning our own trained crews handle your move from loading through delivery. We conduct in-home or virtual inventory assessments before providing binding estimates, and we provide the full required federal disclosures.

We've built our reputation on long-distance moves from the Los Angeles area with transparent pricing, professional handling, and responsive communication throughout the process.

Explore our services to see what we offer, or contact us to schedule your free moving consultation. We're glad to answer every question on this list and more.

Quick Vetting Checklist

Before signing with any long-distance mover, confirm:

• [ ] Valid USDOT number (verified on FMCSA SAFER system)
• [ ] Active MC number for household goods
• [ ] Valid California PUC license (if moving from CA)
• [ ] Carrier status confirmed (not a broker)
• [ ] In-home or video inventory survey completed
• [ ] Binding or not-to-exceed estimate received in writing
• [ ] At least 3 estimates collected and compared
• [ ] Company reviews checked on multiple platforms
• [ ] FMCSA complaint history reviewed
• [ ] Bill of Lading reviewed and understood before signing
• [ ] Valuation coverage selected and documented
• [ ] Access logistics confirmed at origin and destination