Reference guide
How to verify a piano mover.
Five free checks against public records. They take about ten minutes and do not require you to hand your number to anyone.
Live federal record
Look up a USDOT number.
Enter the number printed on the truck or given in the quote. The lookup reads the Department of Transportation carrier census; it does not use our directory data.
1. Get the USDOT number and legal name
Ask for both in writing before anything else. Any company moving household goods across state lines for money must be registered with the FMCSA. Different legal and trading names can be normal; the name, city and phone in the record should still match what you were told.
2. Check operating authority
A USDOT number means a carrier is in the system. For interstate household-goods moves, also check that the SAFER snapshot shows active operating authority. A mover working only within one state may legitimately have no interstate authority.
3. Check insurance filings and get a COI
Use the FMCSA Licensing and Insurance system to check active filings, then ask the mover’s insurer for a certificate of insurance. Settle the valuation question too: basic released value is $0.60 per pound.
4. Read the record, not the star rating
Most piano specialists are one-truck operations with a thin record, and that alone is not bad news. Look for a lapsed registration, a fleet size that does not match the service being sold, or an out-of-service order.
5. Check the state register for local moves
A move entirely within one state is regulated by that state. These are the four public registers people ask about most.
| State | Who regulates movers | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| California | California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) | Household-goods carriers operating inside California need a CPUC permit. |
| Texas | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles | Intrastate household-goods movers must hold a TxDMV motor carrier registration. |
| Florida | Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) | Intrastate movers must register with FDACS. |
| Illinois | Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) | Illinois household-goods carriers need ICC authority. |
The free piano scam
Fraudsters offer a free piano with a convincing sad story, then insist you pay their shipping company through an irreversible transfer. A real donor does not choose the mover for you. Hire your own mover, pay that mover directly and verify its USDOT number before sending money.
What a good answer looks like
A mover worth booking gives you the USDOT number without being pushed, puts the stair count and crane decision into the written quote, explains the valuation choice, and can obtain a COI for your building without drama.