Is This Moving Company Legit? Check It in 5 Minutes

The short answer: every legitimate interstate mover is registered with the federal government and has a USDOT number you can look up free in FMCSA’s SAFER system, which shows the company’s legal name, whether it is a carrier or a broker, whether its operating authority is active, and whether insurance is on file.

“Is this moving company legit?” is the single highest-value question to answer before any money changes hands — and unlike most consumer research, there is an official, free, federal database that answers most of it. This page is the five-minute check. It is general information, not legal advice.

Step 1 — Get the company’s USDOT or MC number

Ask directly: “Are you the carrier or a broker, and what is your USDOT or MC number?” Federal rules require interstate movers and brokers to register with FMCSA, and brokers must prominently display their USDOT and MC numbers — and their status as a broker — in their advertising and on their websites.^[3] A company that will not give you a number, or whose website shows none, has already answered the question in the worst way.

Step 2 — Look the number up in SAFER

Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and search by the USDOT number, MC number, or company name.^[1] The Company Snapshot is the official federal record. Four fields do most of the work:

1. Legal name and DBA. Does it match the name on your estimate and the name answering the phone? A mismatch is the first thread to pull.
2. Entity type. Carrier, broker, or both. If the salesperson said “we’re the movers” and the record says broker-only, you have found the most important fact of your move — see brokers vs. carriers.
3. Operating authority status. It should be active for household goods. Revoked or inactive authority means the company is not authorized to perform (or arrange) your interstate move.
4. Insurance on file. Required coverage should be current.

Step 3 — Cross-check the paperwork

The names and numbers in SAFER should reappear on your documents. The written estimate and the bill of lading must carry the mover’s FMCSA-registered name, and the bill of lading must list every carrier participating in the move — covered in the documents your mover must give you. If the company that shows up on moving day is not on any of your paperwork, stop and ask why.

Step 4 — Weigh the rest of the signals

Registration is necessary, not sufficient — a registered company can still run the classic scams. The remaining checks are behavioral, and FMCSA’s consumer guidance lists them: a real survey of your goods before quoting, a written estimate marked binding or non-binding, no demand for a large cash or wire deposit.^[2] The full checklist is in moving scam red flags.

If the check fails

A company with no number, a dead registration, or a mismatched name is one to walk away from while walking away is still free. If you have already booked — or your goods are already on a truck — start with movers scammed me: what to do, and confirm the federal rules apply with the Coverage Checker.

Last reviewed: June 10, 2026