Rogue movers are a documented, ongoing problem in the moving industry. These are companies — or individuals posing as companies — that take your money, hold your belongings hostage for inflated ransoms, damage goods with no recourse, or simply disappear. They often advertise online with low prices and convincing websites. Protecting yourself starts with verification, not assumptions.
Start With the License
In Georgia, any company legally moving household goods for hire must hold a Georgia HHG license issued by the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Ask every company you're considering for their HHG license number and verify it directly with Georgia DPS. If they can't provide a number, or if the number doesn't check out, stop there.
For interstate moves — anything crossing state lines — the mover must also be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can verify interstate movers at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov using their USDOT number. Confirm their registration is active and that their operating authority is in good standing.
Look Them Up on the BBB and Review Platforms
The Better Business Bureau is a useful tool — not because BBB accreditation is required, but because the complaint history tells you a lot. Search the company's full legal name (not just the brand name) and look at both their rating and any open or closed complaints. A pattern of unresolved complaints about missing items, surprise charges, or held goods is a serious warning sign.
Google Reviews, Yelp, and Nextdoor are also worth reviewing. Look at the volume and recency of reviews, and read the negative ones carefully. Single bad reviews from disgruntled customers are inevitable for any business — but repeated complaints about the same issues suggest a systemic problem, not an isolated incident.
Verify Georgia HHG license number with Georgia DPS · For interstate moves, confirm USDOT number and MC authority at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov · Check BBB for complaint history — not just the rating · Read recent Google and Yelp reviews, with specific attention to patterns in negative feedback · Confirm the company has a physical address — not just a website and a phone number
Red Flags That Should Stop You Cold
There are several behaviors that, on their own, should make you walk away. A company that refuses to give you a written estimate, demands a large cash deposit before any work is done, shows up with an unmarked truck, or can't provide a license number is not a company you should trust with your belongings.
Bears Moving Co. has BBB A+ accreditation and holds Georgia HHG license #9320. We provide written estimates, show up in marked trucks with uniformed crews, and don't require large cash deposits upfront. We believe verification should be easy — because a legitimate company has nothing to hide.
Call us: (404) 514-4814 · Mon–Sat, 8am–6pm · Licensed GA HHG #9320 · BBB A+