Finding a reliable moving company and avoiding fraudulent movers is always a priority when moving house. Checking the mover’s license number will tell you if you can trust them and give you some vital pieces of information. Our guide will teach you how to check the mover’s license number and understand why it’s so important to check if the company is properly registered.
USDOT Number
All movers performing interstate movers are required to register with The FMSCA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and have a USDOT number (U.S. Department of transportation). This number is unique for every mover and serves to identify a specific company. The same way people have personal IDs, movers have USDOT numbers.
How to check Movers License Number?
Checking the USDOT number of a moving company is pretty simple and you’ll usually find this information on their website. Check the bottom of the home page or “about us” section, and you should have no trouble finding it. Another way is to ask your movers to provide their USDOT number to you. After you get their number, visit the FMCSA’s search tool (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), enter the number, and click the “search” button. This will tell you if an interstate mover is registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Reasons to check Movers License Number
Checking the company’s license number will give you some important pieces of information, including:
Company details
There should be updated information about their contacts, such as phone number, email, or any other numbers for reaching them, as well as their physical address.
Safety info
You should also be able to find the company’s number of drivers, how many vehicles they have, as well as the vehicle inspection, safety rating, and crash records. If there was unsafe driving, crashing, or any similar issue, you’ll be able to see it.
Complaints
This section can be very useful because it gives you an overview of complaints filed against a certain company, and it also lets you see those complaints in different categories. For example, you can check if there were complaints related to damaged goods, insurance complaints, etc.
What happens if I hire movers without a license number?
You should never skip checking the company’s USDOT number because it’s easy to find. It will give you peace of mind knowing that you can trust your company. Legit companies are required by federal law to register if they’re performing long-distance moves. If they don’t have a number, search for another company. Things can be a bit different with short-distance moving companies NYC because they’re not always required to register. Do extra research if you want to hire local movers NYC without a license. If you’re wondering what can happen if you hire movers without a license number, here are some of the most common scams you could run into:
Holding your possessions
This is a common practice of rogue movers. They will hold your belongings hostage until you agree to pay the bill that’s much higher than the original Brooklyn moving quotes. Sometimes even two or three times higher than quoted.
Unexpected expenses
Fraudulent movers often add costs that were not mentioned before and force you to pay much more than you thought you would.
No delivery
This is also not impossible to happen– the moving company doesn’t show up with your shipment. They can also request payment upfront and ditch your belongings.
How to check if a moving company is legit?
Besides checking a USDOT number, there are various ways to check if movers you’re eyeing to hire are reliable, and the more research you do, the better. Here are some things you should look into:
Insurance
All movers should have the required insurance and be able to offer different options to you. One very important thing to check is if they carry Worker’s Compensation insurance. This will protect you in case any of the employees involved in your move get injured at work. They should also offer Full Value Protection and Released Value Protection to you.
ATA and BBB
Another great way to check if the mover is reliable is to see if they’re a ProMover member of the ATA (American Trucking Association). Each company has to go through several screenings to become a member and get the ATA Code of Ethics. You should also check the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Their purpose is to protect customers and offers honest ratings of any business.
Observe their professionalism
This is not something you can do online. You should also trust your gut and ask some simple questions that can tell you about their way of running the business. For example, think about how they spoke to you and were they open to answer your question. Did they offer onsite inspection to provide a quote? Did they show up on time? Is there an address where you could visit them? Have they offered the Bill of Landing? This type of question will tell you if there’re any red flags you should pay attention to.
Movers’ reviews
This can be a tricky part, especially if you’re looking into a company that has thousands of reviews, but it is definitely a great addition to the rest of your research. Don’t rely on solely customers’ reviews because they can be false, but do try to find specific NYC moving companies reviews that relate to your situation. For example, if you’re moving to another state, search for long-distance reviews. Don’t get discouraged if you come across a few bad reviews, but do pay attention to how movers respond to those complaints.
If you’re about to move and you still haven’t found a reliable moving company, Big Apple could be the best solution. Reach out and we’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.