Check before you pay a deposit

Know who is
actually moving you.

Before you hand over a deposit, check the exact company, whether it can legally move household goods, and what its federal safety record shows.

No matching company yet.Keep typing, check the spelling, or enter the USDOT number from your estimate.
Active registrations are shown first. Select the legal entity that matches your estimate.
Popular checks: United Van LinesMayflower TransitUniGroup Logistics

Start with any letter—matching companies will appear automatically. For the best match, use the legal name printed on your estimate.

211,039 official mover records43,349 companies with safety dataFree to check
211Kmoving companies in the database43Kcompanies with safety information21Kout-of-service orders in the data

Federal registration and safety records, updated Aug 2026.

EXPLORE MOVERS NEAR YOU

Start with the country. Zoom into your state.

Compare the complete household-goods company census by state, then open a state to search every local record. Current authority is shown separately on each company profile.

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MoverSignal analysis of FMCSA household-goods census records imported August 2026. A record is not proof of current authority; verify the company profile before paying.

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 explain registration, authority, insurance filings and safety activity in plain English.

Who moves your belongings?

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

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THE PRE-DEPOSIT CHECKLIST

Three layers. One clear next step.

Do not look for one magic score. Match the company, verify its permission, then judge safety evidence in context.

01 · IDENTITY

Is this the exact company on your estimate?

  • Legal name matches
  • USDOT and MC numbers match
  • Carrier or broker role is clear
If yes

Continue to authority and insurance.

If no

Do not pay. Ask for corrected paperwork identifying the legal company.

02 · PERMISSION

Can it legally perform or arrange this move?

  • Active household-goods authority matched
  • Expected liability, cargo, or bond filings found
  • No current stop order found
If confirmed

Review the safety and operating record.

If missing or unclear

Open the live FMCSA record and get written clarification before paying.

03 · CONTEXT

Does the operating record raise questions?

  • Enough inspections to interpret rates
  • Crash severity viewed alongside fleet size
  • Safety dates and MCS-150 filing are current
If the evidence is current

Compare the contract, deposit terms, and mover identity one final time.

If data is old or sparse

Do not assume “zero” means safe. Verify directly and ask more questions.

Before any depositSave the estimate, inventory, authority check, insurance check, and payment receipt.Check a moving company →
MOVER REPORT

Loading the official record…

Looking up USDOT 1546332. No company data is shown until the exact record is found.

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.

What should I verify before paying a deposit?

Confirm the legal company name, USDOT and MC numbers, household-goods authority, required insurance filings, the company that will physically handle the move, and every charge in the written estimate. Save a copy of each record.