A small deposit provided for in a mover’s published tariff is not unusual. A large deposit, especially demanded in cash or by a payment app, is one of FMCSA’s listed warning signs of a fraudulent mover. Reputable interstate carriers generally collect the bulk of payment on delivery, because that is when the service has actually been performed.
Deposits are where a lot of moving scams begin, and also where a lot of legitimate bookings begin. Here is how to tell the difference.
What FMCSA actually says
Among the agency’s listed indicators of a fraudulent mover is a company that demands cash or a large deposit before the move.
Note both halves. The method matters as much as the amount. FMCSA also advises that if a broker or mover requires cash, you should keep all receipts and supporting documents.
There is no federal rule setting a maximum deposit. What exists instead is the requirement that charges be based on the mover’s published tariff, which you have the right to examine.
The three questions that settle it
1. How much?
There is no legal ceiling, but proportion tells you a lot. A modest booking deposit is ordinary. A demand for a large share of the total before anyone has lifted anything transfers your leverage to them before they have done anything.
Ask what the deposit is for. Holding a date is a real answer. “That’s just how it works” is not.
2. Paid how?
This matters more than the amount.
| Method | Can you get it back? |
|---|---|
| Credit card | Yes. Chargeback under the Fair Credit Billing Act, generally within 60 days of the statement |
| Debit card | Sometimes. Weaker protection, shorter windows |
| Check | Only if uncashed. Stop payment through your bank |
| Zelle, Venmo, Cash App | Effectively no. Treated like cash |
| Cash or money order | No |
An operator who will only accept cash or a payment app has removed your recovery route before the move begins. That is not an accident.
3. What are the cancellation terms?
Get this in writing before you pay anything:
- Is the deposit refundable, and under what conditions?
- How much notice must you give to cancel?
- What happens to the deposit if the company fails to perform?
That last question is the important one. A company that has a clear answer about what happens when they fail is a company that expects to perform.
You can also ask to see the tariff provision covering deposits and cancellations. You have the right to examine the applicable sections, and a legitimate carrier can produce it.
The deposit-and-disappear pattern
The sequence is consistent. A quote comes in noticeably below the others. A deposit is requested to hold the date, often in cash or by app. The salesperson is responsive right up until the money clears. Then the move date arrives and nobody comes, or a different company shows up with a different price.
Two things make this work: the deposit is paid by a method with no reversal, and the customer has already cancelled their other options.
Both are avoidable. Pay by card, and do not stop getting other quotes until the paperwork is complete.
If you paid a deposit and they never showed up
- Request the refund in writing, referencing the cancellation terms in their paperwork or tariff, with a specific deadline
- Dispute the charge if you paid by card. Grounds: services not rendered. Generally within 60 days of the statement containing the charge
- File at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov, against the broker as well if one was involved. Each is a separately registered entity with its own complaint record
- File with your state Attorney General. Taking a deposit and not performing is a deceptive trade practice, and AG offices act on these
- Small claims court for the amount, if the company can be located
If you cannot find them, the USDOT record and your state’s corporate registry will usually turn up a registered agent who is legally required to accept documents.
What to do instead of a large deposit
- Offer a small deposit by credit card only. If they refuse card, that is your answer
- Ask for the cancellation and non-performance terms in writing first
- Verify the USDOT number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before paying anything
- Ask directly whether they are a broker or a carrier
- Keep every receipt, especially if cash is involved anywhere
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay a moving deposit?
A small deposit provided for in the mover’s tariff is not unusual. A large deposit, particularly in cash, is one of FMCSA’s listed indicators of a fraudulent mover. Pay by credit card if you pay at all, since that preserves a chargeback route.
Is there a legal limit on moving deposits?
There is no federal maximum. Charges must be based on the mover’s published tariff, and you have the right to examine the applicable sections, including provisions covering deposits and cancellations.
Why do movers want cash deposits?
Cash cannot be reversed. FMCSA lists demands for cash or a large deposit among the warning signs of a fraudulent mover, and advises keeping all receipts if cash is required.
How do I get a fraudulent deposit refunded?
Request it in writing with a deadline, dispute the charge with your card issuer on the grounds of services not rendered, file at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov against both the carrier and any broker, file with your state Attorney General, and consider small claims court.
When should interstate movers collect payment?
Reputable carriers generally collect the bulk of payment at delivery. Federal rules cap what can be required at delivery at 110% of a weight-based non-binding estimate, or 100% of a binding estimate.
Related reading
- Red flags in a moving quote
- How to dispute the charges and get your money back
- How to check if a moving company is licensed and insured
- How to track down a mover that stopped answering
- Moving broker or carrier: how to tell the difference
Get the full playbook
Moving Scam Secrets is the complete field guide, written from twenty years inside the industry. It covers the verification steps that stop a bad move before it starts, the paperwork that protects you, and the pressure points that get moving companies to settle.