How to Spot a Bad Moving Quote (Before It Costs You Thousands)

Red Flag #1: The Quote Is a Range, Not a Number
"Starting at $600" isn't a quote. It's a hook. A real moving company inventories your home, calculates the labor, mileage, and materials, and gives you one flat number. If a mover won't commit to a single price, they're building room to charge you more on move day.

Red Flag #2: They Won't Put It in Writing
Verbal quotes are worthless. A legitimate mover sends every quote in writing (email, PDF, or contract) with the itemized costs, the date, the crew size, and the total. If your quote is a phone call and nothing else, walk away.

Red Flag #3: The Deposit Is Suspicious
Small deposits (10 to 25% to hold the date) are normal in Ohio. Large deposits (50% or more) are a warning sign, especially if the mover asks for cash, wire, or Venmo instead of a card. Rogue movers vanish with deposits. Professional movers hold your date with a modest, refundable deposit paid by credit card.

Red Flag #4: No USDOT Number or Ohio Licensing
Every legitimate Ohio mover has a USDOT number and is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Check any mover at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before booking. If they can't or won't provide their USDOT and PUCO credentials, they aren't legal to move you.

Red Flag #5: The Crew Isn't Insured
Ask directly: "Are your crews covered under workers' compensation and liability insurance?" If the answer is anything other than "yes, and we can send you the certificate," you're on the hook if someone gets hurt in your home. A legitimate mover carries real coverage and can prove it.

Red Flag #6: They Show Up in Unmarked Trucks
Rogue movers rent U-Hauls and slap magnetic logos on them. Legitimate moving companies own or lease their trucks and brand them permanently. If the truck arriving at your home looks like a rental, ask questions fast.

At Silver Bullets Moving, we do quotes one way: flat, written, and honest. USDOT 4027482, PUCO regulated, fully insured. If you're comparing movers in Columbus or anywhere in Ohio, ask us for a quote, and use this list to check every other mover you're talking to.