Protect Your Move: How 2025’s Enhanced Consumer Protection Databases Are Revolutionizing Moving Company Research
Moving to a new home is stressful enough without worrying about whether your chosen moving company will hold your belongings hostage or disappear with your life’s possessions. Fortunately, 2025 has ushered in a new era of transparency in the moving industry, with enhanced consumer protection databases and stricter reporting requirements that make researching a moving company’s track record easier and more comprehensive than ever before.
The New Landscape of Moving Company Transparency
On September 24, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the launch of the first phase of the modernized NCCDB, which includes the ability to lodge complaints against property brokers for the first time, along with a streamlined response process, expanded reporting categories, improved navigational features, and enhanced website functionality. This modernization represents the most significant upgrade to consumer protection tools in the moving industry in decades.
FMCSA’s Protect Your Move website provides a user-friendly database that allows visitors to look up interstate moving companies by state or by name and to review both the consumer complaint history as well as the company’s on-road safety performance records. This centralized resource has become the gold standard for vetting moving companies before making your selection.
Essential Databases Every Consumer Should Use
When researching moving companies in 2025, consumers now have access to multiple interconnected databases that provide unprecedented transparency:
- FMCSA’s Company Snapshot System: The Company Snapshot is a free service which provides a concise record of a company’s identification, size, cargo, inspection and out-of-service summary, crash data and safety rating, available via an ad-hoc query free of charge, with users able to search by DOT Number, MC/MX Number or Company Name.
- Better Business Bureau Database: In 2023, consumers accessed moving companies’ BBB Business Profiles more than 1.5 million times, while customers filed over 5,900 complaints about movers and moving companies with BBB, with complaints ranging from damaged or missing items to unexpected expenses and late deliveries.
- State Consumer Protection Agencies: The BBB and ICC urge consumers to thoroughly research moving companies, read reviews, and verify credentials before making a decision to ensure a smoother and safer moving experience.
How to Research a Moving Company’s Track Record
The process of researching a moving company has become more systematic with 2025’s enhanced databases. Companies that perform interstate moves are required to be licensed by the Department of Transportation, and that federal agency has a publicly available database which lets consumers look at the company’s driving safety record and complaints filed against it, found on the FMCSA’s Household Goods Program website, where you can search by the company’s name, DOT number, or MC number.
Start your research by gathering the company’s basic information. Legitimate companies like reliable movers will prominently display their licensing information, including their USDOT number and state licensing details. Dunbar Moving is a full-service, fully licensed and insured moving company located in Stony Brook, New York in Suffolk County, Long Island, with experienced team members who are seasoned professionals with a thirty-year track record of local Long Island moving.
Red Flags to Watch For During Your Research
The enhanced transparency tools of 2025 make it easier to spot problematic companies. When reviewing a company’s website, if there is no address or information about a mover’s registration or insurance, it is a sign that it may not possess the appropriate policies to protect a consumer’s belongings, and it may not be a legitimate business if the mover uses a rented truck or offers an estimate over the phone before conducting an on-site inspection.
The most prevalent moving company scams in 2025 include bait-and-switch pricing schemes, excessive deposit demands, phantom companies operating without proper licensing, and moving insurance scams, with fake moving companies using lowball estimates to attract customers, then dramatically increasing costs on moving day, often demanding large cash payments upfront and disappearing with customers’ money and belongings.
The Power of Cross-Referencing Multiple Sources
One of the biggest advantages of 2025’s consumer protection landscape is the ability to cross-reference information across multiple databases. Insurance validation requires requesting certificates directly from the moving company and contacting their insurance provider to confirm active coverage, while checking complaint histories through the Better Business Bureau and state consumer protection agencies, with online reputation research including Google reviews, social media presence, and industry association memberships, as legitimate companies maintain consistent positive reputations across multiple platforms.
Companies with strong track records demonstrate consistency across all platforms. For example, established companies maintain transparent operations with clear pricing structures and comprehensive insurance coverage, making their legitimacy easy to verify through multiple sources.
State-Level Protections and New 2025 Requirements
In 2025, eight new state privacy laws will go into effect, joining an existing patchwork of regulations that will raise the stakes for businesses handling consumer data, demanding greater transparency, accountability, and adaptability. These new requirements extend to moving companies, requiring them to maintain better records and provide more detailed information to consumers.
Before hiring a household goods mover, consumers should visit state websites to confirm whether companies hold proper licenses and check their complaint history, while for interstate moves, licensing should be checked with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Making Your Final Decision
After thoroughly researching potential moving companies using 2025’s enhanced databases, focus on companies that demonstrate:
- Clear licensing and insurance information readily available
- Consistent positive reviews across multiple platforms
- Transparent pricing with detailed written estimates
- Minimal complaints in government databases
- Professional communication and established business presence
Companies that stand out for their dedication to transparency, reliability, and customer satisfaction ensure clients are fully informed and comfortable with every aspect of their move, with a transparent approach that means no hidden fees or surprises, just straightforward, honest service.
The enhanced consumer protection databases of 2025 have fundamentally changed how consumers can research moving companies. By taking advantage of these tools and cross-referencing information across multiple sources, you can make an informed decision that protects both your belongings and your peace of mind. Remember, legitimate moving companies welcome scrutiny and will readily provide all necessary documentation to verify their credentials and track record.