How we vet moving companies
By the Movalign team · updated 2026-06-05
The moving industry has a trust problem: shared-lead sites sell your number to anyone who pays, and rogue operators quote low and demand more on moving day. Movalign exists to filter those out. Here is exactly what every company goes through before it can claim your request.
Licensing & authority check
Before a company can claim a single request, we confirm it operates as a real, registered moving business. For interstate moves we look for a USDOT number and active operating authority — the federal credential a legitimate long-distance mover must carry.
USDOT / FMCSA lookup
For carriers with a DOT or MC number, we look the company up against the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) public registry and surface its authorized status and legal name to our review team. Because DOT/MC numbers are public, a match is treated as an advisory signal — it informs approval, it does not replace human review.
Reputation screening
We review the company’s track record and screen out the anonymous brokers and bait-and-switch operators that the “lowball quote, double the price on moving day” complaints come from.
Human approval gate
Every applicant is approved by a person before it can ever see a request. No automated sign-up grants instant access to your details — approval is a deliberate decision, not a checkbox.
Ongoing accountability
Movers only receive requests they actively claim, with your consent, and we track disputes. A mover that misuses the platform loses access. Bad-fit leads (wrong number, duplicate) are credited back, so movers have no incentive to chase low-quality contacts.
Vetting reduces risk but is not a guarantee — always confirm your mover's credentials and written estimate before moving day. For interstate moves you can verify any carrier yourself at the FMCSA Protect Your Move site.
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