Hire
How to hire movers in 2026
As of September 2026, the hire that holds up is three written estimates, a live licence ID, and a survey that saw the stairs. A $499 Facebook ad is not an estimate.
Haulest data team · 17 September 2026 · Research fallback. Not a first-party median.
Why this matters
The rage is a different truck than the name on the paper, and a deposit you cannot get back. That feeling has a preventable morning.
Why Haulest
We give you the questions, the official links, and a phone. We are not a carrier. We will not invent a best-of.
Call for a free quote
A person on the phone is faster than a form if you already know the dates. If you cannot talk now, leave From, To, and a number.
Call for a free quoteWe do not invent a star total.
| Market | Ask for | Official check |
|---|---|---|
| US interstate | USDOT / MC, binding vs not | FMCSA Protect Your Move |
| US in-state | State HHG number where it exists | TxDMV, BHGS, DPU, UTC, ICC… |
| Canada | Insurance, CVOR / safety-fitness, matching van name | Ontario hiring-a-mover page |
| UK | Companies House, GIT limit, waiting time | Companies House search |
The survey is the job
A phone number and a bedroom count is how bills jump at the door. Video or in-home, someone has to see the sofa, the walk-up, and the piano you swore was just a bit heavy.
If they will not survey and they want a large cash deposit, stop. That is the hostage-load pattern, not a bargain.
Licence, then reviews
A 5.0 from three cousins is not a licence. US interstate: USDOT on SAFER. Canada: there is no federal mover licence. UK: there is no national remover licence. Check the official thing that exists.
This page will not fake quotes or a star strip. Licence first.
Pay and paper
US interstate: know binding vs non-binding and the 110% rule. UK: ask waiting time and whether GIT covers boxes you packed. Canada: HST/GST on the invoice.
Never pay the whole job up front. Photograph the inventory and the truck doors.
Before you hire
1. Written estimate after a look
Interstate movers must give the booklet and a written estimate after a survey or a full description. A $499 ad is not an estimate.
FMCSA Protect Your Move2. Legal name matches SAFER
USDOT on the paper, the truck doors, and the census. A different name is the walk.
USDOT / Companies House lookup3. Walk from cash and blank paper
FTC: unregistered interstate, huge deposit, cash only, or a blank contract. Photograph and leave.
FTC: hiring a mover4. 110% on a COD non-binding job
Pay up to 110% plus agreed extras and they must hand over the load. Not a cap on extras you signed.
US interstate rules
Official sources
Links go to the publisher. Haulest does not add findings. We checked these URLs in September 2026. If the live page moved, believe the agency.
- FMCSA Protect Your Move
Opens a government site. Checked September 2026.
- Ontario: hiring a mover
Opens a government site. Checked September 2026.
- Companies House search
Opens an official public-body page. Checked September 2026.
- FTC: avoid scams when you hire a moving company
Opens a government site. Checked September 2026.
Ask out loud
- How many quotes do I need?
- Three written ones. One verbal cheap number is how you donate the day.
- Is Haulest a mover?
- No. We are a research desk and a quote line. We do not operate trucks.
- Can I hire from reviews alone?
- Reviews without a licence check are how people get stuck. Licence first.
- Video survey or visit?
- Video is faster. Stairs, pianos, and tight turns still win with a visit. See the video vs visit page.