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Transparency Standards for Moving Companies

By MGM Editorial Team Last updated October 18, 2026

Unclear prices, surprise fees and last-minute changes are some of the most common problems people face when they move. These standards set out the information every mover listed on My Good Movers must share honestly, so you can compare movers on facts and spot red flags early.

Why Transparency Matters

Common problems people report include:

a final bill much higher than the estimate;
fees that weren’t mentioned before moving day;
no written terms, or terms that change after the move starts;
not knowing whether they are dealing with a mover or a broker.

Clear information up front prevents most of these problems.

What Transparency Means for a Mover

Before you book, you should be able to answer five questions:

Who is this company? Its legal name, address, phone number and registration.
Is it a carrier or a broker? A carrier moves your things. A broker arranges the move and hires a carrier. See Licensing, Brokers and Carriers.
What does the estimate include? Which services, which items and which fees.
How is the final price worked out? Whether the estimate is binding or non-binding, and what can change it.
What happens if something goes wrong? Who to contact, how claims work and what protection your belongings have.

What Every Listed Mover Must Do

Show who it is

Give us its real company name, address, phone number and USDOT and MC numbers, or state license where required.
Say clearly whether it is a carrier, a broker or both.
Keep these details up to date.

Be honest about price

Give customers a written estimate before the move.
List the services and fees the estimate includes.
Explain whether the estimate is binding or non-binding. On a non-binding interstate estimate, a mover can’t require more than 110% of the estimate at delivery; any remaining charges are billed later.
Tell customers about any change in price before the work is done.

Describe services accurately

Describe its services, service areas and availability accurately on its profile.
Not claim licenses, awards or partnerships it doesn’t have, or say that My Good Movers endorses it.

Communicate clearly

Answer customer questions promptly and in plain language.
Share its cancellation, deposit and refund policies in writing.
For interstate moves, give customers FMCSA’s “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.”

Treat reviews fairly

Follow our Guidelines for Moving Companies, including inviting every customer in the same way and never pressuring a customer about a review.

How My Good Movers Applies These Standards

Before listing: we check registration, identity and contact details. See How We Maintain Data Accuracy.
After listing: we recheck registration regularly and watch reviews, reports and risk signals, such as sudden price changes or details that don’t match.
When you report a problem: we check it. Use Report a Concern.

We can’t see every estimate or invoice a mover sends, so we rely on public records, reviews and your reports. Always get a written estimate and check the mover yourself.

What Happens When a Mover Breaks These Standards

We follow the steps on our Action We Take page:

Minor issues: we send a notice and give the mover time to fix it.
Repeated issues: a formal warning, lower visibility in our results, or a warning on the mover’s profile.
Serious issues, such as misleading prices, false claims or holding belongings: we may pause or remove the listing and report the mover to FMCSA or the FTC.

Movers can appeal any decision. Paying us never stops us from acting.

How These Standards Help You

You know who you are dealing with before you book.
You can compare movers on the same facts.
You can spot red flags early.

See something wrong?

Tell us about a fake review, a possible scam, wrong information or an ad without an “Ad” label.

Report a Concern