How to Check a Moving Company in California Before You Book
Choosing a mover is choosing who carries everything you own. A few minutes of checking before you book saves a lot of stress later.
1. Licenses and registration
- Moving within California: household movers need a state permit. Ask for the permit number and verify it with the state agency before you book.
- Moving to another state: interstate movers must have a USDOT number, which you can look up on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website, FMCSA.
A real company shares these numbers without hesitation. They are usually on the website, the estimate and the truck.
2. A written estimate after a walkthrough
A price given over the phone in two minutes, without seeing your home, is a guess. Look for a mover who walks through the home in person or by video and gives you a written price that states what is included and whether it can change.
3. Reviews that look real
Read recent reviews on Google and Yelp. Look for details: names of crew members, how damage was handled, whether the final price matched the estimate. A wall of short five-star reviews posted in the same week is a warning sign.
4. How damage is handled
Ask directly: if something is scratched or broken, what happens? Get the answer in writing. Ask how furniture is protected — blankets on every piece, floor runners and door guards should be standard, not extras.
Red flags
- A large cash deposit before anyone has seen your home.
- No physical address and no name on the paperwork.
- A price that is far below every other quote.
- Pressure to sign today.
- Rental trucks with no company name, when the company claims to have its own fleet.
The short version
- Check the license or USDOT number.
- Get a written price after a walkthrough.
- Read real reviews.
- Ask about damage before you sign.
Gold Moving gives every client a written flat rate after a walkthrough. Get yours — we call back within 20 minutes.
