Check before you pay a deposit

Know who is
actually moving you.

Before you hand over a deposit, check who the company is, whether it can legally move your belongings, and what similar moves really cost.

211,039 official mover records649 paid-price observationsFree to check
211Kmoving companies in the database43Kcompanies with safety information649real prices people reported paying

Federal records and WhatDidYouPay prices, updated Aug 2026.

EXPLORE MOVERS NEAR YOU

Start with the country. Zoom into your state.

Compare licensed household-goods carriers and brokers, then open a state to search every local company in the data.

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TOP STATESLicensed movers

MoverSignal analysis of FMCSA records imported August 2026. Rankings are factual counts or rates—not recommendations or quality scores.

THE DATA BEHIND THE CHECK

A big database, boiled down to what matters.

You should not need to decode a federal record to avoid a bad deposit. We bring the most useful registration, safety and price signals together.

Who moves your belongings?

the role matters
A company can have more than one role. Always ask which company will physically carry your belongings.

Paid-price medians

WhatDidYouPay
Washington, DC$840
n=133
New York City$2,300
n=161
Chicago$2,275
n=92
Paid outcomes only. Different move sizes and distances explain part of the market spread.
MOVERSIGNAL GUIDES

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THE PRE-DEPOSIT CHECKLIST

Three layers. One clear decision.

01

Make sure it is the same company

Match the legal name and federal ID number on your estimate. A similar company name is not enough.

02

Understand the safety numbers

See how often inspectors stopped its vehicles or drivers from continuing because of safety problems, plus reported crashes and inspections.

03

See the real price

Compare estimates with final bills, delivery outcomes and damage-claim results from moderated consumer reports.

MOVER REPORT

United Van Lines

United Van Lines LLC · Federal ID (USDOT) 77949 · Operating license (MC) 67234

What the current records suggestBasic checks passedThis is information, not a government endorsement

Who this company is

Federal record
Allowed to move household goods
Yes
Federal role
Carrier
What that means
Can transport belongings
Required insurance records
On file as of this record
First added to federal data
52 years ago
Trucks and other powered vehicles
4,731
Other names it uses
United Van Lines, Uvl
Record last updated
Aug 23, 2026
Check this exact government record ↗

What the safety record means

Federal data · Aug 13, 2026
Vehicles stopped for a serious safety problem24.28%
United Van LinesComparison rate
Drivers stopped for a serious safety problem: 3.48%
2,129Federal inspections
69Crashes reported to the government

Government safety rating: Satisfactory. “Not rated” is not a passing grade, and zero inspections is not evidence of safe performance.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

The permission and insurance checks shown here were current when this record was collected.

  • Make sure the legal name and federal ID match your written estimate.
  • Ask for the name of the company that will physically move your belongings.
  • Use a credit card for the deposit when possible, and save every document.
COMMON QUESTIONS

Before you pay a moving deposit

How do I check if a moving company is legitimate?

First, match the exact legal name and federal ID number on your estimate. Then confirm the company is currently allowed to move household goods, has the required insurance records, and is not under an order to stop operating.

What is the difference between a carrier and a broker?

A carrier owns or operates the trucks that move your belongings. A broker finds another company to do the move. If you hire a broker, ask which carrier will handle your shipment and check that company too.

What does “out of service” mean?

During an inspection, a vehicle or driver can be stopped from continuing because inspectors found a serious safety problem. The percentage shows how often that happened across the company’s inspections.

Can a mover charge more than its estimate?

Sometimes. It depends on whether the estimate is binding, whether the shipment changed, and whether you approved extra services. Keep the written estimate, inventory, change orders and final bill so every added charge can be explained.

BUILD THE PRICE TRUTH LAYER

Share what happened on your move.

Your report helps the next customer understand real price changes, delays and claim outcomes. Contact details are never shown publicly.

Evidence links remain private. Contact details and unverified accusations are not published.