MovePricer Research

Moving scams and mover data

How moving scams work, which movers have lost their federal authority, and how to check a company before you sign. Built from FMCSA records and MovePricer data.

October 20, 2026 · Massachusetts
183 of 892 Massachusetts movers can't legally take you across a state line
About one in five household-goods movers on record in Massachusetts has no federal interstate authority. Here's why that matters if your move crosses a state line, and how to check a mover.
October 20, 2026 · Scams explained
Blank contracts, missing estimates: the paperwork gap behind many moving scams
Federal rules require interstate movers to give you a written estimate and a rights booklet. Here is how blank or missing paperwork gets used against customers, and what the rules say.
October 20, 2026 · Pennsylvania
40 Pennsylvania movers had cargo insurance cancelled in the past year
12.9% of Pennsylvania's federally licensed movers had a cargo policy cancelled in the past 12 months. The national rate is 11.1%, and 3 Pennsylvania movers have no cargo policy on file now.
October 20, 2026 · Georgia
Georgia movers were ordered off the road at nearly twice the national rate
In 12 months, FMCSA ordered 40 Georgia household-goods movers out of service. Most were new companies that refused or ignored their required federal safety audit.
October 19, 2026 · North Carolina
FMCSA revoked the federal licenses of 58 North Carolina movers in the past year
Over the last 12 months, 16.9% of North Carolina's licensed interstate movers had their federal authority involuntarily revoked. That's above the 12.4% national rate. Here's what it means if you booked one.
October 19, 2026 · Scams explained
The Broker Posing as a Mover: How the Deposit-and-Resell Moving Scam Works
Some companies that book interstate moves are brokers that own no trucks. Here's how the disguise works, what federal rules require brokers to tell you, and what to do if it happens to you.
October 19, 2026 · Virginia
57 Virginia movers had cargo insurance cancelled in a year, and 7 now have none on file
16.1% of Virginia's federally licensed movers had cargo insurance cancelled in the past year, compared with 11.1% nationally. Virginia ranks 4th of 48 states.
October 19, 2026 · Illinois
11% of Illinois's licensed moving companies are brokers with no trucks
49 of Illinois's 444 federally licensed household-goods companies are brokers only. Here's how brokers work, what federal rules require of them and how to check before you pay.
October 18, 2026 · New York
942 of 2,477 New York movers can't legally take you across a state line
38% of household-goods movers on record in New York have no federal interstate authority. That matters for any move into New Jersey, Connecticut or farther.
October 18, 2026 · Scams explained
The 'Hostage Load': How Rogue Movers Hold Your Belongings for Ransom
Some rogue movers load a customer's belongings and then refuse to unload until they're paid far more than the quote. Here's how the scam works, what federal law says, and what to do.
October 18, 2026 · New Jersey
86 licensed New Jersey movers had cargo insurance cancelled in the past year
18.1% of New Jersey's federally licensed movers had a cargo policy cancelled in the last 12 months, compared with 11.1% nationally. Here's what that means for your belongings and how to check a mover.
October 18, 2026 · California
41% of California's movers on record have no authority to move you out of state
1,425 of California's 3,442 household-goods movers on record have no federal interstate authority. Here's why that matters if your move crosses a state line, even a short one.
October 17, 2026 · Texas
Nearly half of Texas movers on record can't legally take you across a state line
1,883 of 3,887 Texas household-goods movers on record have no federal interstate authority. Here's why that matters if your move crosses a state line, and how to check before you book.
October 17, 2026 · Scams explained
The lowball moving quote: how the cubic-foot 're-measure' works and what the law says
A cheap quote with no survey, then a much bigger 'remeasured' price on moving day. Here is how the tactic works, which federal rules apply, and what to do if it happens to you.
October 17, 2026 · Florida
Florida leads the nation in movers with no trucks: 18% of licensed firms are brokers
Of Florida's 726 federally licensed household-goods companies, 131 are brokers only. That is the highest share of any state ranked. Here is what that means for your move and your deposit.
October 17, 2026 · Scams explained
The big-deposit moving scam: how it works and how to protect your money
Some movers ask for a large deposit in cash or by wire, then never show up or demand more. Here's how the scam works, what federal rules require, and what to do if it happens to you.
October 16, 2026 · Louisiana
Louisiana movers: 105 of 153 federal interstate authorities are inactive or revoked
68.6% of interstate authorities held by Louisiana household-goods movers are no longer active, putting the state 12th of 51. Here's what that means if you're hiring a mover.