Money
How to read a moving estimate
As of September 2026, the line that matters is not the big number. It is binding vs not, the accessorial list, and who is paid at delivery.
Haulest data team · Desk opened official pages 17 September 2026. Editorial.
Estimate types. Do not mix countries.
| Type | Market | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Binding | US | Price locked if the inventory matches. |
| Non-binding | US interstate | Can rise. 110% rule may cap what you must pay at delivery to get the goods. |
| Not-to-exceed | US | A ceiling if the inventory matches. |
| Fixed / quoted job | UK common | Still ask about waiting time and access. |
Why does the inventory come before the price?
If the sofa is not on the paper, it is not in the price. Video and in-home surveys exist so that list is real.
How do you read a moving estimate line by line?
Name and USDOT or company number. Binding, non-binding, or not-to-exceed. Inventory that names the sofa. Origin and destination access. Shuttle, stairs, long carry, elevator wait, packing, bulky, storage-in-transit, fuel. Who is paid at delivery. Valuation or GIT limit. Deposit amount and who is named on it.
If a line is missing, ask where it lives before you sign. A cheap headline with no extras list is how the driveway grows.
Which accessorials should be named on the estimate?
Long carry, shuttle, flight charge, stairs, elevator wait, packing, bulky, storage-in-transit, fuel. If those words are missing, ask where they live.
What are the Haulest numbers, and what are they not?
City and route tables on this site are September 2026 research fallback. They are not your estimate. Methodology is public.
Before you hire
Four checks before a deposit
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 MoveLegal name matches SAFER
USDOT on the paper, the truck doors, and the census. A different name is the walk.
USDOT / Companies House lookupWalk from cash and blank paper
FTC: unregistered interstate, huge deposit, cash only, or a blank contract. Photograph and leave.
FTC: hiring a mover110% 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
Reviewed September 2026 by the Haulest desk. Numbers on this page carry their own dates; the official pages below are the sources.
Sources
Links go to the publisher. Haulest does not add findings. Checked September 2026; if the live page moved, believe the agency.
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- What is the 110% rule?
- US interstate non-binding: the carrier generally cannot demand more than 110% of the estimate at delivery to release the shipment. Read FMCSA. Not a UK or Canada rule.
- Is a cheap quote better?
- A cheap quote with no survey is a warning. Compare line items, not headlines.
- UK fixed quote?
- Ask what happens if keys are late and if the sofa will not turn. Fixed is not magic.
- Should I sign on the driveway?
- Read first. Photograph the inventory. Do not sign a blank add-on sheet.
Next steps
Next
Keep going
Call for a free quote
From, then To. Date and home size after that. A person on the phone is faster if you already know the dates.
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Haulest is a research desk and quote line. We are not a carrier.