How to Check a Brooklyn Mover's License (USDOT and NYSDOT)
Why it matters
Most moving horror stories involve companies that aren't who they say they are. Two free checks take about five minutes.
Step 1: Look up the USDOT number
- Ask the mover for its USDOT number. It should also be printed on the truck.
- Search it on FMCSA's SAFER Company Snapshot (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov).
- Check that the legal name and address match the company you're talking to.
- Check the status, the number of trucks, and any out-of-service record.
Step 2: Check New York State authority
A mover doing household moves that start and end in New York State needs household goods authority from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). Ask for the NYSDOT number and check it with NYSDOT.
Step 3: Interstate moves need more
If your move crosses a state line (Brooklyn to New Jersey counts), the mover also needs federal operating authority (an MC number) for household goods. A broker is not a mover. A broker arranges your move and hands it to a carrier.
Red flags
- No USDOT number, or a number that belongs to a different company
- A quote given only by phone, with no written estimate
- A large cash deposit
- A different company name on the truck
Every mover in our directory shows its USDOT number and what public records say about it.