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Moving Estimate Guides
Moving estimates are full of terms most people only see once. Start with the question you are trying to answer, whether that is what a charge means, why the price can change, who is actually moving your belongings, or what you should check before signing.
These guides cover U.S. interstate household-goods moves and are based on FMCSA guidance and federal rules.
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How to Read a Moving Estimate Before You Sign
Not sure where to start? This guide walks through the estimate in a simple order: who the company is, what kind of estimate you have, what is included, what could cost extra, and what you may want to clarify before signing.
Check the price and charges
- Moving Estimate Charges: What to Check Before You Sign
See whether services such as stairs, long carry, shuttle, packing, storage, or specialty handling are actually priced, included, conditional, or left unclear.
- Why Is My Moving Bill Higher Than the Estimate?
Understand the difference between an estimate changing before loading and final charges changing because of weight, added services, or other circumstances.
- Binding vs. Non-Binding Moving Estimates: What’s the Difference?
Learn the federal distinction and what the 110% rule does and does not mean.
- The 110% Rule for Interstate Moving Estimates
The 110% rule limits what your mover can require you to pay at delivery on a non-binding estimate. See what it covers, what it does not cap, and what can still be billed afterwards.
- How Much Should You Pay as a Moving Company Deposit?
Federal interstate-moving regulations set no universal maximum or safe percentage. See what FMCSA actually says, what brokers must disclose about deposits and refunds, and what to check before you pay.
Understand the documents
- Moving Estimate vs. Bill of Lading: What’s the Difference?
See how the pre-move estimate connects to the shipment contract and receipt.
- Full Value Protection vs. Released Value Protection for Moving
Your paperwork asks you to choose how much your mover is liable for if something is lost or damaged. See what each level covers, what 60 cents per pound per article actually pays, and where the choice is recorded.
- What Should Be Included in an Interstate Moving Estimate?
A primary-source checklist based on FMCSA guidance and 49 CFR Part 375.
Check who you are dealing with
- Moving Broker vs. Carrier: How to Tell Which One You’re Hiring
Learn the difference between arranging a move and transporting it, then verify the company role in federal records.
- Moving Company Deposit Red Flags: What to Check Before You Pay
Review warning signs FMCSA tells consumers to notice before moving forward.
- How to Check a Moving Company’s USDOT Number and FMCSA Authority
Look up a mover in official FMCSA records before you sign. See what a USDOT number proves, what it does not, and how to tell whether the company is a carrier, a broker, or both.
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