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Moving Company Methodology - How We Select and Review Movers

Micheal Nash
MGM Editorial Team Updated Date: Apr 29th, 2026
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In This Post

At My Good Movers, our main purpose is to guide you through the moving process with information you can trust. We study the moving industry, we look at how companies perform, and we review real experiences from people who used these services. This helps us create clear and honest rankings of moving companies for many types of moves. We also share independent reviews and helpful content so you can understand your choices before you hire a mover.

We have been in the moving industry for several years, and each year we help hundreds of people find the right moving company according to their situation. To do this well, we gather information from multiple sources, including public and government records, customer reviews from our website and other platforms, and data from industry sources. We collect all of this in our own database and track movers across the USA.

We use this information to update our rating factors and our recommended movers on a regular basis. This allows us to show you those movers that fulfill the user demands and help you make an informed choice.

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How We Select and Review Movers

Every moving company works in a different way, so we look at several points to understand how they perform. We make sure we compare similar types of movers. For example, we do not compare a company that offers containers with a company that offers full service moves. This helps us keep the process fair and clear.

At My Good Movers, we review each company using the factors below. These factors guide our ratings and help you see where each mover stands.

  • Verified Licensing and Credentials (25%)
  • Real Customer Experiences (25%)
  • Range of Moving Services (20%)
  • Communication and Transparency (15%)
  • Coverage and  Availability (10%)
  • Quotations and Payments (5%)

Let’s discuss how we research these factors and use them to rank the movers on our website:

Verified Licensing and Credentials (25%)

When a company is listed on My Good Movers, the first big check we run is whether the company holds the right licenses and credentials. This matters a lot for your safety and peace of mind.

Why we focus on this

  • For interstate moves (across state lines), a mover must be registered with the federal body Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can check a mover’s status in their public database.
  • At the state level (for moves within one state), each state has its own rules. Some require moving-companies to be licensed; some don’t.
  • When a company lacks proper licensing, the risks rise: you may face hidden charges, damage claims may be harder to pursue, or the company may be a broker or re-seller rather than a true mover.
  • Because we know these risks exist, we assign this factor a full quarter of our overall rating (25 %) to reflect how important it is.

How we break down the 25 %

  • 10 %— Valid national registration (for interstate moves) or equivalent state-authority license
  • 6 %— Valid insurance and cargo coverage (does the mover carry insurance that covers damage, loss, or injury?)
  • 5 %— Proof of business registration and legality (registered company name, tax ID, truck registration, driver license)
  • 4 %— No major regulatory violations or consumer-protection hits in the past 24 months (we check complaint databases)

What you’ll see on our movers' profile page

When you click on a mover’s profile, we show:

  • License or registration number (if available)
  • Insurance status summary
  • Date of last regulatory check
  • Any recent serious complaints or license suspensions we found

How this help you

  • You can compare companies, knowing that each one passed the same baseline legal checks.
  • You are less likely to pick someone who "looks cheap" but lacks credentials.
  • You spend less time worrying about whether the mover is above board.

Real Customer Experiences (25%)

Genuine feedback from actual customers gives us insight into how a moving company really works: how they treat your belongings, how they manage timing, and how they handle problems.

How we measure it

We break down this 25 % score into different parts, so you know exactly how we assess the real-world performance of a moving company:

  • 10 %— Average rating across verified customer reviews (we look at public platforms and reviews submitted to us)
  • 6 %— Number of recent reviews in the last 6 months (we want to see recent performances, not just past)
  • 5 %— Feedback about key service elements: e.g., care of items, timeliness, clear communication
  • 4 %— How the mover responded to negative feedback: Did they correct the issue, follow up or improve processes

What we do at My Good Movers

  • We gather reviews from our site plus other trusted platforms, making sure they are from actual customers.
  • We check how many moves the company has done and whether reviews reflect those moves.
  • We read the reviews, not just the star rating. We check for recurring praises or problems.
  • We check that recent feedback is positive or improving. A mover whose reviews were good years ago but bad lately will rank lower.
  • We look at how the company handled issues. A perfect score does not tell the full story; how they fix things matters.
  • If a mover does not meet our review standards, we do not list them.

How this help you

  • You know that whenever you see a mover’s reviews on My Good Movers, they passed review checks you didn’t have to do.
  • You can compare movers based on how real customers say they perform right now.
  • You reduce your risk of choosing someone whose online image looks good but whose recent service is weak.

Range of Moving Services (20%)

The services a mover offers tell us how prepared they are for different types of moves. This is why the range of moving services makes up 20% of our rating system. We review what each company can handle before we decide to add them.

What we review in this category

Moving companies work under different service models. Each model shows us the level of skill, equipment, and support they provide.

Self-service moves

The mover offers limited help, such as a truck or a storage unit. The customer does most of the work. Companies that only offer this option score lower in this category.

Full service moves

The mover handles almost everything. This includes packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, transportation, and care for furniture. Movers with full service support usually score higher.

Flexible service model

Some movers allow customers to choose only what they need. For example, the mover handles loading and driving while the customer packs. This shows flexibility and earns stronger points.

Extra services that increase a mover’s score

Some movers offer additional services that show higher skill and better resources. We also add these to their overall score.

Such as:

  • Climate-controlled storage
  • Short-term or long-term storage
  • Vehicle transport
  • Care for fragile or high-value items
  • Furniture preparation
  • Support for senior or corporate moves
  • Shipment tracking and real-time updates

How we calculate the 20%

We divide this score into two parts.

  • 12% is based on the range of standard moving services such as packing, loading, transportation, and unloading.
  • 8% is based on extra services that show advanced ability or added convenience.

How we use this information

  • Movers with a limited range of services may still qualify if they perform well in other factors.
  • Movers with a broad selection of services and strong performance earn higher scores.
  • If a mover only offers basic help and does not meet our standards in other areas, we do not list them on My Good Movers.

Communication and Transparency (15%)

Clear communication shows us how professional a moving company is. Transparency shows us how honest they are. These two things help us understand how a mover treats customers and how they handle responsibilities. Because of that, communication and transparency make up 15% of our rating system.

What we look for

We check how open a mover is with information. We look at how quickly they respond. We study how clear they are when they explain services, pricing, and timelines. These details tell us a lot about their work culture.

Here is what we review:

  • Response time on calls and messages
  • Clarity of service details
  • Accuracy of written information
  • Availability of support teams
  • Honesty about limitations and risks
  • Consistency between what they say and what customers report

Movers who are slow to respond or unclear in their information rank lower in this area. Movers who hide prices or give incomplete details are not approved for our platform.

How our 15% score is measured

We divide this factor into three parts.

  • 7% is based on responsiveness. We check how quickly they reply to customers and how well they handle questions.
  • 5% is based on clarity. We study their service explanations, written materials, and pricing information.
  • 3% is based on transparency. We check for honest communication about extra fees, timeline changes, and possible issues.

How we review this

  • We contact the mover directly.
  • We study their communication style.
  • We compare their claims with customer feedback.
  • We check if their written information matches real service results.
  • We look for signs of confusion or misleading details.
  • If we find repeated gaps, we do not list the mover.

Coverage and Availability (10%)

Coverage and availability show us how far a moving company can reach and how dependable their network is. This factor makes up 10% of our rating system. We review this carefully before adding any mover to My Good Movers.

Why coverage matters

We study where the mover operates and how consistent their service is across those locations.

Here is what this tells us:

  • Accessibility: A mover must serve the cities and states where people actually need support.
  • Network strength: Companies with larger coverage often have more trucks, more teams, and more organized routes.
  • Convenience: Wide coverage removes the problem of switching between multiple movers for long routes.
  • Consistency: Companies that serve many states often work with set standards, so the service stays stable across locations.

A mover with very limited coverage may still qualify, but only if they perform well in our other rating factors.

How we score the 10%

We use a simple tier system based on the number of states a mover serves.

  • 50 states earn 5 points
  • From 25 to 49 states earn 3 points.
  • Up to 25 states earn 2 points.

This gives us a clear view of how strong and reliable the mover’s network is.

How we use this information

  • We verify the mover’s operating areas through public records and company data.
  • We confirm the states they serve and cross-check this with their service history.
  • We compare their claims with customer reports to ensure the coverage is real.
  • If their availability does not match their stated service area, we do not approve the listing.

Quotations and Payments (5%)

Pricing and payment tell us a lot about how a mover handles real customers. This factor makes up 5% of our rating system. Even though it is a smaller part of the total score, it plays an important role in trust and reliability.

Why we review this

We look at how a mover presents prices and how they collect payments. These points show us whether the mover is fair, consistent, and organized.

Here is what this reveals:

  • Budget clarity: A mover should explain the cost without confusing terms.
  • Billing control: Good companies allow customers to see charges clearly.
  • Price protection: Movers that offer solid estimates give better cost stability.
  • Payment convenience: More payment options mean less trouble for the customer.
  • Trust signals: Clear deposits and simple terms show professionalism.

What we check behind the scenes

We study how the mover handles:

  • Accepted payment methods include major cards, digital payments, checks, and online payments.
  • Online portals that show invoices, receipts, charges, and account history.
  • How easy it is to understand the quote.
  • Whether the mover explains what is included and what is not

How we measure the 5%

We divide this category into three parts:

  • 2% for solid estimates. Full points go to movers who offer binding or binding not to exceed estimates. These options provide strong cost protection.
  • 2% for helpful discounts. We review meaningful discounts such as military, senior, student, seasonal offers, referral credits, and bundled service savings.
  • 1% for price matching. We check if the mover offers a fair and simple price match policy. We also confirm whether they require a written competitor quote.

How we use this information

  • We compare the mover’s pricing claims with customer reports.
  • We check for surprise charges or unclear fees.
  • We study how the mover explains deposits, refunds, and payment timing.
  • If we find confusing or misleading practices, we do not list the mover on My Good Movers.

My Good Movers Moving Pricing Methodology

At My Good Movers, we study pricing data to understand how movers set their rates. We collect live quotes, customer submitted price information, and current cost ranges from movers listed on our platform. This helps us keep our pricing insights accurate and up to date.

We also review key pricing details such as binding estimates, not to exceed estimates, deposit rules, payment options, discounts, and price match policies. These signals help us understand how each mover handles cost transparency.

To keep our findings fair, we compare similar move types, refresh our data every month, and remove any numbers that cannot be verified. This gives us a clear and balanced picture of current moving costs.

If you want to read more about how we review moving prices, check our full Moving Pricing Methodology.

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