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.
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.
Select any row to browse and search the records included in that number. Some companies have no recent inspections, so they may have little or no safety data.
Who moves your belongings?
the role matters86%carriers
Carriers move belongings1,032
Brokers arrange moves172
Paid-price medians
WhatDidYouPayWashington, DC$840
n=133 · View prices →New York City$2,300
n=161 · View prices →Chicago$2,275
n=92 · View prices →Paid outcomes only. Different move sizes and distances explain part of the market spread.MOVERSIGNAL GUIDES
View all guides →Our latest blogs
Check a Mover
20 Questions to Ask a Moving Company Before You Hire Them
Ask these 20 questions before hiring movers, covering licensing, brokers, estimates, fees, delivery, insurance, claims, complaints, and payment.
Read the guide →Complaints & Consumer Rights
How to File a Complaint Against a Moving Company—and Send It to the Right Place
Learn how to file an FMCSA moving complaint, what evidence to include, when to file a damage claim, and where to report suspected fraud.
Read the guide →Complaints & Consumer Rights
How to Check Complaints Against a Moving Company Before You Hire It
Learn how to check moving company complaints, spot meaningful patterns, search federal records, and avoid judging a mover from one complaint alone.
Read the guide →Insurance & Claims
Full Value Protection vs. Released Value: Which Moving Protection Should You Choose?
Compare Full Value Protection vs Released Value for an interstate move. See 60¢-per-pound examples, FVP costs, high-value items, claims, and how to choose.
Read the guide →Insurance & Claims
Insured Movers: How to Verify a Moving Company Before You Hire It
Learn how to verify an interstate mover’s federal insurance filings, household-goods authority, and legal identity before you pay a deposit.
Read the guide →Insurance & Claims
Moving Insurance Explained: What Actually Protects Your Belongings?
Compare Full Value Protection, Released Value, third-party moving insurance, deductibles, claims, and what actually protects your belongings.
Read the guide →THE PRE-DEPOSIT CHECKLIST
Three layers. One clear decision.
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.
Understand the safety numbers
See how often inspectors stopped its vehicles or drivers from continuing because of safety problems, plus reported crashes and inspections.
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
What the safety record means
Federal data · Aug 13, 2026Vehicles 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.
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.
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.