How to Choose a Moving Company in NYC (2026): 10 Questions to Ask Before You Book

Choosing a moving company in New York City is different from choosing one almost anywhere else. Walk-ups and freight-elevator reservations, Certificates of Insurance, alternate-side parking, and narrow prewar stairwells all turn an ordinary move into a logistics problem. The mover you pick has to know how to solve it — and unfortunately, the industry also attracts a share of unlicensed operators and lowball quotes that balloon on move day.

This is a straightforward checklist you can use to vet any NYC mover before you book. Work through these ten questions and you'll separate the professionals from the risks quickly.

1. Are they licensed — and can you verify it yourself?

Every legitimate mover carries government registration numbers, and you can check them independently:

• Interstate / long-distance moves are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Any mover crossing state lines must have a US DOT number and an MC (motor carrier) number, which you can look up for free on the FMCSA's SAFER database (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov) to confirm the company is active and authorized.
• Local moves within New York are regulated by the NY State Department of Transportation, which issues a NYSDOT number to household-goods carriers.

Ask for these numbers up front. A company that won't give them, or whose numbers don't check out, is an immediate no. (For reference, Scanio operates under NY DOT T11495, ICC MC93512, and US DOT 537054 — all publicly verifiable.)

2. Do they carry real insurance and offer valuation coverage?

There are two different things here, and good movers explain both:

• Liability / valuation coverage for your belongings. Federal law entitles you to Released Value Protection (about $0.60 per pound per item) at no extra cost, plus the option to buy Full Value Protection. A mover should walk you through the difference rather than gloss over it.
• General liability and workers' compensation insurance that protects your home — and you — if something is damaged or someone is injured on the job.

3. Can they provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for your building?

This is the NYC-specific one. Most co-ops, condos, and commercial buildings require the moving company to submit a Certificate of Insurance naming the building as additionally insured before move day — often with specific coverage limits. A mover who handles COIs every week will ask for your building's requirements early and file the paperwork for you. One who seems confused by the request has probably never worked your kind of building.

4. Will they do a proper survey and give you a written estimate?

Accurate quotes come from actually seeing what you're moving — either an in-home walkthrough or a video survey. Be wary of a firm price quoted sight-unseen over the phone. Ask which kind of estimate you're getting:

• Non-binding estimate — an educated projection; the final bill is based on actual hours or weight.
• Binding estimate — a guaranteed price for the scope described.
• Binding not-to-exceed — you pay the actual cost or the estimate, whichever is lower. This is the most customer-friendly option.

Get it in writing either way. If you want the mechanics of NYC pricing, see our breakdown of what actually drives the cost of a NYC move.

5. How do they handle deposits and payment?

Reputable movers ask for little or no deposit and never demand a large amount of cash up front. A request for a big cash-only deposit before any work is a classic red flag. Confirm accepted payment methods and when payment is due.

6. Are the crews employees or day laborers?

Ask whether the people showing up are trained, background-checked, in-house employees or subcontracted day labor hired per job. Established companies with their own crews tend to be more careful, more accountable, and better at the building-specific choreography a NYC move demands.

7. What's their experience with your type of move?

A studio walk-up in the East Village and a full-floor office relocation are entirely different jobs. Ask specifically about your situation — a fourth-floor walk-up, a piano, a long-distance or international move, a commercial/office relocation, or fine art and designer pieces. If you're moving a piano in particular, we wrote a dedicated guide.

8. What do independent reviews actually say?

Look past the testimonials on the company's own site. Check Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau, and read the recent reviews and how the company responds to complaints. Patterns matter more than any single review — consistent mentions of on-time arrival, careful handling, and no surprise charges are what you want to see.

9. Do they put everything in writing?

Before move day you should have a written estimate, the order for service, and a clear inventory or scope. The federal Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet should be provided for interstate moves. Verbal-only arrangements are where disputes come from.

10. Red flags to walk away from

Any one of these is reason enough to keep looking:

• No verifiable DOT/MC or NYSDOT number.
• No in-home or video survey, just a suspiciously cheap phone quote.
• A large cash deposit demanded up front.
• No written estimate, or a blank/incomplete document to sign.
• No physical business address, or a name that recently changed.
• Vague, evasive answers about insurance, COIs, or valuation coverage.

The short version

The best NYC movers make this easy: they hand over their license numbers without being pushed, survey your move, put the price in writing, file your building's COI, and carry real insurance. Scanio Moving & Storage has done exactly that for New York families and businesses since 1941 — fully licensed and insured, with in-house crews who know NYC buildings.

If you're ready to compare, request a free estimate or call 212.722.6850. And whoever you ultimately hire, run them through the ten questions above first.