The federal moving rules, in plain English
Your mover is at the curb asking for more than the quote. Here is what the federal rules actually say.
On an interstate move, a mover may require, before releasing your household goods at delivery, 100% of the charges on a binding estimate, or not more than 110% of the charges on a non-binding estimate.[1]
What people mean by a "hostage load"
A common pattern on long-distance moves: you get a quote, you sign, your belongings get loaded. Then, at delivery, the price has jumped — sometimes far past the estimate — and the driver won’t unload until you pay the new number in cash or by certified check.
That pressure is the point. But the amount a mover can require at delivery, before releasing your goods, is set by federal rules — not by whatever the driver says at the curb. Knowing the threshold, and what your paperwork shows, changes the conversation.
Three quick tools
All free, all run in your browser, and none of them store what you type.
Overcharge Checker
Enter your estimate and the amount now demanded. See the federal 100% / 110% release threshold and how far the demand sits above it.
Open the checker →Coverage Checker
Answer a few questions to see whether the federal interstate rules are the ones that apply to your move, or whether it’s a state matter.
Open the checker →Claim Deadline Checker
Enter your delivery date to see the federal claim deadlines — at least 9 months to file, the mover’s 30/120-day duties, 2 years to sue.
Open the checker →Start with the basics
Plain-English explainers, each pointing to the official source.
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Movers scammed me — what to do
The step-by-step map for after a moving scam: secure your paperwork, check the charge, report it, and pursue your money.
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How to get your money back
A federal complaint will not refund you. The routes that can — a card dispute, the claim process, small claims — and where each fits.
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Your rights when you move
The federal rights you have on an interstate move — estimates, the 110% rule, weighing, valuation, claims, and arbitration.
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How to not get scammed by movers
What protects a move before you book: verify the company, get real estimates, read the paperwork, and skip the big cash deposit.
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The 100% / 110% rule
How much a mover can require at delivery before releasing your goods — and where the number comes from.
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Binding vs. non-binding estimate
Which kind of estimate you have decides whether the cap is 100% or 110%. Here is how to tell.
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The "additional services" loophole
How a bill can balloon with stairs, long carries, and shuttle fees — and what the paperwork has to show.
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How to file an FMCSA complaint
Step by step through the National Consumer Complaint Database, with what to have ready.
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Moving-scam red flags
The warning signs that show up before move day — and what a legitimate mover does instead.
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Is this moving company legit?
The free five-minute SAFER check — verify a mover’s USDOT number, authority, and insurance before you pay.
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Moving broker scams
Many “movers” online are brokers. The federal rules they must follow — and where they get broken.
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What FMCSA can and can’t do
A realistic picture of the federal complaint process — what it changes, and what it doesn’t.