Before paying a deposit for a move from Atlanta, identify the company that will handle the shipment. This 15-minute routine uses federal and Georgia databases to check registration. It also sets out the payment terms to confirm in writing.
The 15-minute verification checklist
Complete these five checks before sending a deposit. Each takes two to four minutes using official public records.
1 Confirm they are a carrier, not a broker
Ask whether the company is a carrier, then check the estimate. The FMCSA record lists its entity type. A broker doesn’t own trucks or employ movers. Get a clear statement of the company’s role before proceeding.
2 Verify USDOT and MC numbers in the FMCSA database
Look up the USDOT number in SAFER or Protect Your Move. Read the operating authority status and entity type, then check the fleet entry. If it lists zero trucks, ask how the company will transport the shipment.
3 Check the physical address and Georgia DPS certificate
For a move within Georgia, check the DPS certificate on gamccd.net. For an interstate move, compare the FMCSA business address with the address the company gives you.
4 Understand the deposit type and amount
A carrier may ask for a deposit. Review a request for 40% or more in cash carefully. Confirm what the payment covers and the refund terms.
5 Refuse peer-to-peer payment apps for the deposit
Read Zelle and Venmo terms for reporting fraud and recovering a payment. Check the applicable terms for Cash App and wire transfers separately. A legitimate carrier accepts credit cards or checks. Decline if it insists on a P2P app.
Step 1: confirm you are talking to a carrier, not a broker
The carrier owns trucks and employs the loading crew. A broker arranges the move with a third-party carrier, sometimes without identifying that company to you. Before paying, confirm who will carry the goods and obtain that carrier’s written estimate.
Ask whether the company will carry the shipment itself or arrange transport with another carrier. Get the answer in writing before paying.
| Aspect | Carrier | Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Owns trucks | Yes | No |
| Employs movers | Yes | No |
| FMCSA entity type | CARRIER | BROKER |
| Responsibility for goods | Full | Arranges only |
| Deposit called | Deposit or booking fee | Binder fee |
Step 2: verify USDOT and MC numbers in the right database
An interstate mover must hold active USDOT and MC operating authority. The FMCSA’s SAFER Company Snapshot identifies a CARRIER or BROKER and shows whether the company is authorized to transport household goods. You can check the registration in two official systems.
At safer.fmcsa.dot.gov, search by USDOT number rather than company name. Compare the legal name and any DBA with your paperwork. Check the physical address next. Read entity type and authority status together to identify the company’s role and authorization.
Protect Your Move at protectyourmove.gov is another lookup designed for household goods customers. It includes complaint history alongside registration details.
Step 3: check the physical address and Georgia DPS status
Compare the physical address in the FMCSA record with the website and contract. Virtual offices or mail drops are common covers for brokers working from call centers, so confirm that the address is verifiable.
A company moving goods between points within Georgia must hold a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Search the DPS roster at gamccd.net by company name or certificate number. DPS advises against hiring a mover absent from the roster.
Step 4: confirm the payment amount and terms
Identify who is collecting the payment. A carrier may take a booking fee to reserve the date. A broker may call its payment a “binder fee.” The agreement should state whether that fee is commission or credit toward the carrier’s charges.
Get the amount due before pickup in writing, together with the refund terms. Keep that payment separate from the moving estimate so its treatment on the final bill is clear.
| Payment method | Risk level | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | Low | Chargeback rights, fraud protection |
| Check | Medium | Traceable, but funds clear quickly |
| Zelle | Critical | Immediate transfer. Confirm whether the payment can be recovered. |
| Venmo | Critical | Instant, difficult to reverse |
| Cash App | Critical | Confirm applicable purchase protection before paying |
| Wire transfer | Critical | Funds gone immediately, almost impossible to recover |
Peer-to-peer apps are intended for payments to people you trust. Check the provider’s fraud-reporting and recovery rules before paying. If the mover insists on Zelle or Venmo, don’t proceed. Treat demands for Cash App or a wire transfer the same way.
What to do if you already paid a deposit to a scammer
Act promptly if you suspect fraud after paying. The first 24 to 48 hours matter most.
- Contact your bank or payment provider. For a credit card payment, request a chargeback for services not provided. For Zelle or Venmo, report suspected fraud in the app and call your bank. Recovery is unlikely, but the report creates a record.
- File a complaint with the FMCSA. File a report at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov (the National Consumer Complaint Database). You can also call 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238). Keep your estimate and bill of lading ready. You’ll also need the inventory pages for the upload.
- File a complaint with the Georgia Department of Public Safety. DPS handles moves within Georgia; FMCSA has jurisdiction over interstate moves. File with both if the company operated in both categories.
- Report to the BBB Scam Tracker and the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. These reports create a record that can help other customers and trigger enforcement. They don’t recover the payment for you.
- If your belongings are being held hostage, contact law enforcement immediately. Holding a shipment hostage is illegal. Seek legal advice before paying extra money under pressure.
Pros and cons
Strengths of this verification approach
- Uses free government databases that anyone can access.
- Can be completed online in 15 minutes.
- Keeps records that can support a complaint.
- Covers local Georgia moves and interstate shipments.
Limitations you should know about
- FMCSA records aren’t updated in real time; authority can change after your check.
- Registration confirms legal authority. A clean record doesn’t guarantee service quality.
- Some brokers work legally and transparently. Identifying the entity type won’t tell you whether its offer is fair.
- The DPS database covers Georgia intrastate movers. It won’t list a company holding only interstate federal authority.