Hiring a mover means trusting other people with nearly everything you own, but the words “licensed and insured” don’t tell you much on their own. Before you book, figure out whether the company is transporting your belongings in its own truck or providing the labor only, confirm its credentials with the right federal or state agency, and get its insurance and valuation terms in writing.
HireAHelper has helped people compare and book moving labor for nearly two decades, so we know which checks are worth making before moving day. This guide explains which credentials movers may need, how insurance differs from valuation coverage, and what to verify before choosing a provider.
Karen Bodkin is a writer at HireAHelper who's passionate about helping people navigate their moves with less stress and more confidence. She empowers readers by turning the many overwhelming parts of moving into clear, actionable guidance.
Karen draws from a broad writing portfolio that includes home improvement, health, and travel. Her work reflects a deep understanding of life's transitions and a genuine drive to make moving feel more manageable for everyone.
A licensed and insured mover has the legal authorization required for the services it provides and current coverage for the business risks associated with those services. Licensing may come from the federal government, a state agency, or both.
The important part for you is verifying the claim. A dishonest company can say it’s licensed and insured without showing proof, use another mover’s number, or advertise credentials that have expired. HireAHelper’s guide to whether movers are licensed and insured offers a closer overview, but the sections below explain exactly what to check.
A licensed mover has registered with the agency responsible for regulating the type of moving service it provides. The required license depends largely on whether the company transports your belongings across state lines, within one state, or not at all.
The distinction matters for labor-only moves. A crew that loads your rental truck or moving container but doesn’t operate the vehicle may not meet the legal definition of a motor carrier. That crew may still need a business license, local registration, and insurance, but not the same transportation authority as a mover supplying the truck.
A license doesn’t guarantee perfect service. However, it does show that the business has completed the required registration process and gives you an agency to contact if something goes wrong.
An insured mover carries active policies covering at least some of the risks involved in running its business. Depending on the company and local requirements, that may include:
These business policies aren’t the same as valuation coverage for your belongings. Valuation establishes how much the mover may owe if an item is lost or damaged. It’s based on the moving contract, not an insurance policy you purchase from the mover. Basic federally required valuation coverage is extremely limited, as well. You can jump to the mover coverage options to see how each one works.
You can also buy a separate moving insurance policy from a licensed third-party insurer. That policy may cover risks or amounts that the mover’s valuation plan doesn’t. Our guide to moving insurance explains these differences in more detail.
The licenses a mover needs depend on where your belongings travel and who provides the transportation. Interstate movers register federally, while local movers generally follow state and local requirements.
A company offering both types of service may need federal authority, state permits, business registrations, insurance filings, and other approvals.
Before checking federal registration and authority, you need to know whether you’re dealing with a carrier or a broker. They play different roles in an interstate move.
Both interstate household goods carriers and brokers must register with the FMCSA. Brokers must clearly identify themselves as brokers and arrange transportation through an authorized carrier.
A mover transporting household goods from one state to another must register with the FMCSA and have a USDOT number. The number identifies the legal business and allows consumers and regulators to review its federal record.
Interstate household goods carriers generally also need active operating authority, traditionally identified by an MC number. However, a company can have a USDOT number but lack authorization to transport household goods, so check both its registration status and authority type.
"A certificate of insurance, or COI, is a document summarizing a company’s active insurance policies that shows that the mover has coverage for certain risks...Some apartment buildings, condominiums, and homeowners associations require a COI before allowing movers onto the property."
Federal requirements for interstate movers also cover consumer documents and business practices. Movers must provide written estimates, issue a bill of lading, explain valuation options, maintain required insurance filings, and participate in a dispute settlement or arbitration program.
Movers working entirely within one state follow that state’s licensing and registration rules. There’s no single national standard for local moves.
One state may require a household goods permit, published rates, cargo insurance, and annual renewals. Another may only require a general business registration and compliance with consumer protection laws. California, Florida, Nebraska, Texas, and Washington are among the states with mover-specific registration or permitting systems.
States place these programs under different agencies, including:
Many agencies have an online license lookup. Others ask consumers to call or email the regulating office.
Moving labor can fall into a different category. A crew that only packs, loads, or unloads may not need a household goods carrier permit because it doesn’t transport the shipment. Make sure you check what services the company is actually providing before checking for a specific license.
A surety bond is a financial guarantee, not an insurance policy for your belongings. If a bonded business breaks an obligation covered by the bond, an eligible claimant may seek payment from the surety. The business generally remains responsible for repaying the surety.
Requirements vary widely. Louisiana requires regulated household goods movers to maintain a $5,000 surety bond, while Washington allows certain motor carriers to file a Form G surety bond as an alternative form of proof for required liability protection. Florida allows some movers operating fewer than two trucks to file a $50,000 performance bond or certificate of deposit instead of maintaining the state’s required household goods liability coverage.
Federal household goods brokers have a separate financial security requirement. They must maintain a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust fund. That protects carriers and shippers from certain broker payment failures, but it doesn’t replace valuation coverage or moving insurance.
Interstate movers must offer Released Value Protection and Full Value Protection. These plans establish the mover’s financial responsibility if your belongings are lost or damaged during an interstate move.
Valuation protection isn’t a standalone insurance policy. Unlike third-party moving insurance, which comes from an insurance company and has its own premiums, deductibles, covered events, and exclusions, valuation protection tends to cover a lot less and is a one-time payment.
Released Value Protection is the free, basic option for an interstate move. It limits the mover’s responsibility to no more than $0.60 per pound per item, regardless of what the item is actually worth. That can leave you with very little compensation. If a 25-pound television is destroyed, the maximum payment would be $15.
Released Value Protection is available at no additional charge, but you must choose it by signing the valuation statement on your moving documents. If you don’t waive Full Value Protection in writing, an interstate shipment is generally moved under Full Value Protection instead.
This option may be enough for a low-value shipment, but it usually falls far short of replacing furniture, electronics, or other expensive belongings.
Full Value Protection makes the mover responsible for the replacement value of belongings lost, destroyed, or damaged during an interstate move.
For each covered item, the mover may choose to:
Full Value Protection costs more than Released Value Protection. Movers may offer different deductibles and pricing, so ask for the full terms in writing.
The plan can be useful when your shipment includes quality furniture, appliances, electronics, or other items that would be expensive to replace. Items worth more than $100 per pound may need to be declared separately or listed on the mover’s high-value inventory form. Otherwise, the mover may limit its responsibility for them.
Third-party moving insurance may make sense when the mover’s valuation plan doesn’t cover enough of your financial risk. It can be especially useful for high-value shipments, long-distance moves, storage periods, or policies covering events beyond mover negligence.
Coverage varies by insurer. A policy may include protection for theft, fire, certain weather events, or loss during approved storage. However, it may also exclude some items or situations, like owner-packed boxes, valuables that weren’t declared, or certain natural disasters.
"A licensed mover can still cause damage, and licensing doesn’t guarantee that a claim will be approved. However, you’re more likely to have a written contract, an established claims procedure, insurance information, and a government agency overseeing the business."
Before buying a policy, ask your homeowners or renters insurer whether your existing coverage applies while your belongings are in transit. Some policies cover a limited list of events, while others provide little or no moving protection.
When you’re shopping for a policy, make sure you compare the deductible, claim deadline, replacement-value rules, exclusions, and storage limits rather than looking only at the total coverage amount.
To verify a mover, you typically have to check its government registration, confirm that the legal name and contact information match your documents, and request current proof of insurance before booking.
It’s a tedious enough process that many people skip it, especially when they’re comparing several companies at once. The good news is HireAHelper already does much of the early vetting for you. Providers on our marketplace are screened before accepting jobs, and you can compare services, prices, job history, and verified customer reviews in one place.
As a disclaimer, however, you should still understand what you’re booking even with the level of convenience at HireAHelper. You should always check with a moving company directly and know if you’re working with a labor-only provider, local carrier, interstate carrier, or broker. Each may have different credentials and require different licensing depending on their services and the state you’re in.
Use the FMCSA’s registered mover search for any company transporting your belongings across state lines.
Search by the company’s legal name, trade name, or USDOT number. Then check:
A company may be registered with the FMCSA without being authorized to move household goods. Look for active household goods authority rather than stopping once you find a USDOT number.
The name on the search result should match the business on your estimate and bill of lading. Be cautious if a salesperson gives you a number belonging to a different company or says the physical carrier will be chosen later without identifying it. An interstate mover that can’t or won’t provide its USDOT number at all is a major red flag and you should look elsewhere.
To check for licensing on a state level, start by searching your state’s official website for “household goods mover license lookup,” “moving company registration,” or “intrastate mover permit.” The FMCSA also maintains a state enforcement resource list showing which agency consumers can contact in each state.
Once you find the correct agency, confirm:
Not every state has a dedicated household goods license or mover database. Alaska, Maine, South Dakota, and Vermont, for example, direct moving complaints and consumer questions through an attorney general or consumer protection office rather than a dedicated mover licensing agency.
Where no mover-specific license exists, check the company’s general business registration, local permits, insurance documents, complaint history, physical address, and customer reviews. Also confirm whether the company transports your belongings or only provides moving labor.
A certificate of insurance, or COI, is a document summarizing a company’s active insurance policies that shows that the mover has coverage for certain risks, such as qualifying damage to a building or injuries workers experience on the job. It typically comes from the insurance agent or carrier rather than being created by the mover.
A COI may show:
Check that the named business matches your estimate and that the policies remain active through moving day. Some apartment buildings, condominiums, and homeowners associations require a COI before allowing movers onto the property. They may also ask to be named as a certificate holder or additional insured and specify minimum coverage limits. Send the building’s exact requirements to the mover early enough for its insurer to prepare the document.
Our guide to moving certificates of insurance explains what the document contains and when a building may request one.
The clearest warning signs you’re dealing with an unscrupulous mover are missing credentials, mismatched company information, vague coverage claims, and resistance when you ask for written proof.
Be cautious if a mover:
Before paying a deposit, go back through the steps for verifying that a mover is licensed and insured.
If an unlicensed or uninsured mover damages your belongings, you have fewer practical ways to recover the loss. The company may have no valid cargo policy, valuation process, regulator, or reliable business address.
A licensed mover can still cause damage, and licensing doesn’t guarantee that a claim will be approved. However, you’re more likely to have a written contract, an established claims procedure, insurance information, and a government agency overseeing the business.
If damage occurs:
You may also need to consider small claims court or legal advice if the company refuses to respond. Your options depend on the contract, type of move, location, and amount of the loss.
HireAHelper has spent nearly two decades helping people find and book moving labor for rental trucks, moving containers, freight trailers, and other moving setups. More than one million moves have been booked through its nationwide marketplace of over 1,700 vetted providers.
Providers are screened before joining the marketplace, and customers can compare upfront pricing, available services, job history, ratings, and verified reviews. HireAHelper also continues monitoring providers based on completed jobs and customer feedback.
That experience gives us a clear view of which credentials matter, how requirements change with the type of move, and what people should confirm before trusting a crew with their home and belongings.
Choosing a moving company can feel confusing and opaque when you’re trying to avoid hidden fees, damaged items, or a no-show on moving day, but every mover claims they’re reliable. The safest place to start is with... Read More
Melanie MorrisJul 20, 2026
Choosing between a moving broker and a carrier comes down to how much control you want over your move. A carrier is usually the better choice if you want to work directly with the company handling your belongings.... Read More
Karen BodkinJul 24, 2026
Hiring movers is worth it when the cost (usually about $80 to $240 per hour depending on crew size and service type) saves you from heavy lifting, injury risk, tight timelines, or damage to your belongings. What... Read More
Karen BodkinJul 23, 2026
Looking over a moving estimate can feel overwhelming and confusing, especially when you're worried about surprise fees or extra weight that could increase your budget. To read a moving estimate, confirm the type of... Read More
Karen BodkinJul 06, 2026
So, you’ve booked your movers. Nice! But what if something gets scratched or dented while they’re loading or unloading your stuff?
Enter SmartProtection: optional damage coverage you can add for extra peace of mind,... Read More
Daniel CobbNov 20, 2025
Nothing spikes moving-day stress like noticing something important is lost or damaged after the movers leave. The good news is that acting quickly can make all the difference. If movers damage or lose items, you... Read More
Casey BondJun 30, 2026