You’ve found a moving company with a good price and availability on your preferred date. Its website looks professional, and the reviews seem promising. But how do you know whether you can trust it with your belongings?
To check whether a moving company is legitimate in Canada, verify its business identity, request insurance documents, read recent reviews and get a detailed written estimate. Before paying a deposit, confirm the booking conditions and which company will carry out your move.
No single rating, document or badge guarantees a trouble-free experience. The six checks below will help you assess the business behind the offer and recognize warning signs before you book.
Moving scam warning signs to check first
Pause before paying or signing if a mover:
- Will not provide a written estimate or agreement.
- Uses different business names on documents or payment instructions without explaining why.
- Pressures you to pay before you can review the booking terms.
- Offers a very low price but will not explain what it includes.
- Introduces unexpected fees or different terms on moving day.
The Competition Bureau describes scams in which movers attract customers with a low quote, then introduce extra charges or withhold belongings while demanding more money. Its warning about rogue movers explains how this can happen.
A low price alone does not establish fraud. What matters is whether the company’s identity, documents and explanations are consistent.
1. Verify the moving company’s identity
Look for the company’s legal business name, phone number, email and address. Compare these details across its website, estimate and contract.
If the company uses a trade name, ask how it connects to the legal name on your paperwork. Payment instructions should also clearly connect to the business you are hiring.
You can check business information through official provincial resources. For example:
- Quebec: Search the Registraire des entreprises’ enterprise register.
- Ontario: Use the Ontario Business Registry, which offers free searches for basic business information.
- British Columbia: Look up the organization in OrgBook BC.
Registration helps confirm a business’s identity. It does not establish the quality of its moving services.
If you book through a platform or intermediary, confirm which moving company will perform the work and whose name will appear on your agreement. Make sure you know whom to contact before, during and after the move.
Ask before booking: “What is the legal name of the company performing my move, and will that name appear on my contract and receipt?”
2. Request insurance documents and check your protection
“Fully insured” does not explain what happens if your furniture is damaged.
Ask for current insurance documentation and the written terms of the protection available for your belongings. The Government of Canada recommends requesting the mover’s Certificate of Insurance and checking protection for your goods separately. See its moving advice.
Before booking, ask:
- What protection is included in the estimate?
- How is compensation calculated for a damaged item?
- Is additional protection available, and what does it cost?
- What exclusions, limits or deductibles apply?
- How and when must damage be reported?
Use a specific item to make the explanation clearer.
Ask before booking: “If my television were damaged beyond repair, how would you calculate the compensation?”
Do not assume the payment would cover the cost of buying a new item. If you also plan to rely on your home or tenant insurance, confirm the applicable coverage with your insurer.
3. Read recent reviews for recurring patterns
Star ratings can help you build a shortlist, but individual reviews provide more useful context.
Read recent feedback across more than one source. Look for experiences involving moves similar to yours, whether that is a local apartment move, a larger household or a long-distance relocation.
Pay attention to repeated comments about:
- Communication and arrival times.
- Care when handling belongings and protecting the property.
- Differences between estimates and final bills.
- How complaints or damage claims were resolved.
Read the company’s responses, too. Does it address the specific concern and explain what it will do next?
One negative review does not establish a pattern. Similarly, a new company with few reviews is not automatically untrustworthy. However, limited feedback means you have less public evidence of its track record.
Ask before booking: “Some reviews mention unexpected travel charges. Can you explain how those charges would apply to my move?”
Clear answers are more useful than a general promise that everything will go smoothly.
4. Get a detailed written moving estimate
A written estimate should explain what you are booking, how the price is calculated and what could change the final bill.
Start by giving each mover the same information: your inventory, addresses, requested services and access details. Mention stairs, elevator reservations, parking restrictions, long walking distances and heavy or oversized items.
Ask whether photos, a video walkthrough or an in-person assessment would help clarify the work involved.
Check that the estimate addresses the following:
| Item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Crew and vehicle | Number of movers and trucks |
| Pricing method | Hourly rate, flat rate or another calculation |
| Minimum charges | Minimum billable hours or service fees |
| Travel | Travel time, truck fees and related charges |
| Materials | Whether wrapping and packing supplies are included |
| Access | How stairs, parking, elevators and long carries affect the price |
| Additional services | Packing, disassembly, storage and specialty items |
| Total | Taxes, exclusions and possible additional charges |
A lower hourly rate does not necessarily mean a lower total. One estimate may include travel and protective wrapping, while another charges for them separately.
Ask before booking: “What could increase the final bill, and how would additional work or charges be approved?”
Keep the written answer with your estimate. For a breakdown of hourly rates, travel charges and additional fees, read our guide to understanding your moving quote.
Photo: Artem Podrez/Pexels
5. Review deposits, payment and cancellation terms
Before paying a deposit, confirm the amount required to reserve your date, when the balance is due and which payment methods the company accepts. Make sure you will receive a receipt.
Review the conditions that apply if your plans change:
- Is the deposit refundable, and under what circumstances?
- What is the deadline for cancelling or rescheduling?
- Are there cancellation or date-change fees?
- What happens if the mover cannot fulfil the booking?
A deposit request or a particular payment method is not enough, by itself, to determine whether a company is legitimate. Assess the request alongside the written agreement, the payment recipient’s identity and the other checks in this article.
Be cautious if someone pressures you to transfer money before providing clear booking details.
Ask before booking: “If my possession date changes, what happens to my deposit and reservation?”
6. Verify membership and screening claims
A company may display an association logo or describe its movers as “trusted” or “verified.” Check what supports that claim.
Look for the business in the organization’s own directory, or contact the organization to confirm its status. Make sure the listing refers to the same company you are hiring.
If you use a booking platform or referral service, read its screening process. Look for specific information about business identity, insurance, experience and customer feedback.
Also distinguish between the platform’s credentials and those of the individual mover. A membership held by a platform should not be assumed to apply to every moving company it lists.
Ask before booking: “Who verified this company, what did they check, and where can I confirm that information?”
Use these findings alongside your review of the mover’s documents and booking terms.
Your checklist before paying a deposit
Before confirming your move, make sure you have:
- Identified the business performing the move and saved its contact details.
- Requested insurance documents and reviewed protection for your belongings.
- Checked recent reviews and asked about recurring concerns.
- Received an estimate reflecting your inventory, access details and services.
- Reviewed extra charges, payment dates and cancellation conditions.
- Checked any membership or screening claims you are relying on.
Photo: Mikhail Nilov/Pexels
Save the estimate, agreement, receipts and important messages together.
On moving day, compare any new paperwork with the terms you accepted. Ask for an explanation of changes before signing.
What to do if you suspect a moving scam
- Save evidence: Keep your estimate, contract, receipts and messages. Record names, dates and changes to the agreed terms.
- Address a billing or service dispute: Contact the company in writing. Explain the problem and the resolution you are requesting. If it remains unresolved, contact your provincial or territorial consumer protection office for help identifying the appropriate complaint process.
- Report suspected fraud: Contact local police and follow the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s reporting instructions. Notify the financial institution or payment provider involved and ask what options are available.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if a mover refuses to provide a written estimate?
Ask for a written estimate that lists the services, pricing method and possible extra charges before you book or pay a deposit. If the mover still refuses, choose another company willing to document those terms. Keep any messages about the quote so you have a record of what was offered.
Does business registration mean a mover is trustworthy?
Registration helps you identify the business. It does not prove service quality or guarantee that the move will go smoothly. Check insurance documents, reviews and written booking terms as well.
Does “fully insured” mean my belongings will be replaced if damaged?
Do not assume it does. Ask how compensation is calculated and review the applicable limits, exclusions and optional protection before booking.
Can I trust a moving company with few reviews?
Few reviews leave less public evidence to assess. Ask for references, check the business documents and insurance, and discuss the team’s experience with moves similar to yours.
Does a professional website mean a moving company is legitimate?
A professional website can make information easier to find, but appearance alone does not verify a business. Check that its identity and contact details match its documents, and request clear written terms.
Compare movers with a clear understanding of what you’re booking
MovingWaldo’s Waldo Verified process includes interviews with company leadership, checks of business registration and experience, insurance documentation, and reviews of customer feedback.
See how MovingWaldo verifies moving companies, including business registration, insurance and customer feedback. Then review your selected mover’s estimate and booking conditions so you know what applies to your move.
Ready to explore your options? Compare moving quotes with MovingWaldo.
