Verify the license first
Household movers operating inside Texas must be registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and carry a TxDMV number. Interstate movers must have a USDOT number. Both are public records you can look up in two minutes.
Understand what 'insured' means
Every licensed mover includes released-value protection, which is 60 cents per pound per article — that's about $30 for a 50-pound TV. Full-value protection costs extra and actually repairs or replaces. Ask which one your quote includes.
Four red flags
Any one of these is a reason to walk away:
- A large cash deposit demanded upfront
- A quote given over the phone with no inventory questions at all
- No physical address or a name that changes across review sites
- A blank or unsigned bill of lading presented on move day
Ask these five questions
Is the hourly rate all-inclusive? Are movers employees or day labor? What is the minimum? How is drive time charged? What happens if my closing is delayed? Straight answers to all five are the real test.