Six of the 26 Delaware-based movers that hold active federal (interstate) operating authority had their cargo insurance cancelled in the past 12 months. That's 23.1%, according to MovePricer's analysis of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) licensing and insurance data compiled on October 24, 2026. Nationally the figure is 10.9% (920 of 8,473 licensed movers). Delaware's rate is the highest of the 48 states ranked.
As of the compile date, 2 of those Delaware movers had no cargo policy on file with FMCSA at all. Nationwide, 51 licensed movers were in the same position.
Delaware has a small base, so a handful of companies can move its rate a lot. MovePricer's data does not name any company, and a cancellation by itself is not evidence of wrongdoing. Still, if you're about to sign with a Delaware mover, the record is worth checking.
What a mover's cargo insurance is
Every for-hire household-goods carrier with interstate authority has to keep proof of insurance on file with FMCSA. In FMCSA's insurance-filing table, these carriers need $750,000 in bodily-injury and property-damage liability coverage plus $5,000 in cargo coverage, filed on forms BMC-34 (insurance) or BMC-83 (surety bond). Under the federal rule, 49 CFR 387.303(c), the cargo minimum is $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence.
Keep that floor in mind. A full truckload of household goods can easily be worth more than $10,000. The cargo filing shows that a mover has some money behind its obligations. It doesn't show that your whole shipment is covered.
Why a cancellation matters
FMCSA says carriers must keep proof of insurance on file to avoid revocation proceedings. An insurer can't quietly drop a federal filing. The policy stays in effect until 30 days after the insurer files a cancellation notice (Form BMC-35) with FMCSA. If no replacement is filed in that window, the mover's authority can be revoked.
Many cancellations are routine. When a mover switches insurers, the new filing replaces the old one. The risk comes when a policy lapses and nothing replaces it. If your goods are lost or damaged by a mover with no cargo coverage behind it, your claim may depend entirely on whether the company itself can pay.
Cargo insurance vs. released value and full value protection
These are different things, and people often confuse them.
- Cargo insurance is the mover's own policy, filed with FMCSA. You aren't a party to it.
- Valuation is how much the mover is liable for under your contract. FMCSA says interstate movers must offer two options: Full Value Protection and Released Value.
- Full Value Protection makes the mover responsible for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods across your whole shipment. Unless you choose Released Value, it applies automatically. Its cost varies by mover. Ask for the plan in writing.
- Released Value costs nothing, but FMCSA says the protection is minimal. It pays 60 cents per pound. In FMCSA's example, a lost 25-pound, 50-inch TV would bring $15.
Both valuation options are promises by the mover. Its insurance is part of what lets it keep those promises. That's why an insurance gap matters even if you paid for Full Value Protection.
Delaware's rules and enforcement
Delaware is unusual: according to This Old House, the state does not require local movers to get a state license. For moves within Delaware, there is no state mover license to look up. Federal authority and FMCSA's insurance filings apply only to carriers that cross state lines, and FMCSA may not have authority to investigate movers that stay within one state.
We found no recent Delaware Attorney General enforcement action against a moving company. Delaware has come up in national moving-scam cases, though. In one case in a Better Business Bureau study of rogue movers, the company's address appeared to be a mail drop in Delaware, even though the victim believed the people she dealt with were in Florida. A Delaware business address alone doesn't tell you where a mover actually operates or whether it is licensed.
If you have a problem with a mover, the Delaware Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Unit takes complaints. You can reach it at (800) 220-5424 or consumer.protection@delaware.gov. The office says many disputes are handled by informal mediation. For interstate moves, you can also file with FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database. This article is not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact FMCSA or the Delaware Attorney General.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Get the USDOT number in writing, and make sure it matches the company name on your estimate and contract.
- Look up the record with MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check or FMCSA's tools at protectyourmove.gov. Check that the operating authority is active and that a cargo filing (BMC-34 or BMC-83) is on file, not just pending cancellation.
- Check the dates. If a cancellation is recent, ask the mover for its current insurer and confirm the replacement filing shows up.
- Choose your valuation on purpose. Get the Full Value Protection terms in writing, and list high-value items in writing too.
- For moves within Delaware, there is no state license to check. Ask for proof of insurance directly and look at the company's complaint history.