Your Moving Broker Has a $75,000 Bond. It Is Written to Pay You. Almost Nobody Files a Claim.

Every household goods broker registered with FMCSA is required to carry a $75,000 surety bond (Form BMC-84) or trust fund (Form BMC-85). This is not optional. Without it, the broker cannot legally operate.

Most consumers who are scammed by a moving broker never learn this bond exists. Of those who do, most are told it only covers claims by carriers for unpaid freight charges. This is wrong.

The actual bond language, printed on Form BMC-84 filed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, says 'motor carriers or shippers' three times. The 2023 final rule (49 CFR 387.307(a)) confirms the bond provides for 'payments to shippers or motor carriers.' You are a shipper. The bond covers you.

Form BMC-84, revised June 9, 2015, is the official FMCSA broker surety bond form. Three provisions explicitly include shippers:

1. The bond is written to ensure 'the rules and regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration relating to insurance or other security for the protection of motor carriers and shippers.'

2. The bond 'shall inure to the benefit of any and all motor carriers or shippers to whom the Principal may be legally liable for any of the damages herein described.'

3. The bond's condition is triggered 'if the Principal shall pay or cause to be paid to motor carriers or shippers by motor vehicle any sum or sums for which the Principal may be held legally liable by reason of the Principal's failure faithfully to perform, fulfill, and carry out all contracts, agreements, and arrangements.'

The bond does not say 'freight charges only.' It says 'contracts, agreements, and arrangements.' If your broker contracted to arrange your move and failed to do so, or collected a deposit and did not deliver the services promised, the bond covers your claim.

FMCSA's consumer-facing website (Protect Your Move) does not mention the BMC-84 bond as a consumer remedy. The agency's complaint process (NCCDB) does not inform consumers that they can file a claim against the bond. Consumer guides published by FMCSA and industry groups do not explain the bond claim process for shippers.

Some legal analysis, including analysis by respected transportation attorneys, has stated that the broker bond 'may not be used to pay consumer claims' and covers only 'freight charges.' This interpretation is contradicted by the plain language of Form BMC-84 and the 2023 final rule regulatory text, both of which explicitly include shippers.

The result: a $75,000 funded remedy exists for every broker-arranged move, and almost nobody uses it.

On November 16, 2023, FMCSA published a final rule (88 FR 78656, Docket FMCSA-2016-0102) strengthening the broker financial responsibility framework. Key provisions effective January 16, 2025:

If a broker does not respond to a claim within 7 business days, the surety provider can determine the claim is valid and pay it directly from the bond.

If the bond falls below $75,000 from accumulated claims, the surety must notify FMCSA within 2 business days. FMCSA then gives the broker 7 business days to restore the bond. If the broker fails, FMCSA suspends the broker's operating authority.

If the broker experiences financial failure or insolvency, the surety must accept claims for 60 calendar days after FMCSA publishes notice.

The bond must contain assets that can be liquidated to cash within 7 calendar days: cash, irrevocable letters of credit from FDIC-insured institutions, or Treasury bonds.

These provisions create a faster, more enforceable claim process than existed before 2025.

1. Find your broker's bond provider: Look up the broker at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. The Insurance/Authority section shows the surety company name, policy number, and contact information.

2. Write a claim letter to the surety company: Include your name, the broker's name and USDOT/MC numbers, the bond policy number, a description of how the broker failed to perform, the dollar amount you are claiming, and copies of the estimate, BOL, proof of payment, and all communications.

3. Send by certified mail and email.

4. Wait for response: The surety will notify the broker and give 7 business days to respond. If the broker does not respond, the surety can pay your claim directly.

A complete template letter is available at trunk.lorea.ai/insights/template-surety-bond-claim.

The $75,000 bond is shared among ALL claimants, both carriers and shippers. If multiple consumers and carriers file claims against the same broker and the total exceeds $75,000, payments may be pro rata. File your claim as early as possible.

The bond covers the broker's failure to perform contracts and arrangements. It is strongest when the broker collected money and did not deliver. It may be less clear for claims involving property damage during transit, which are typically Carmack Amendment claims (49 USC 14706) against the carrier, not the broker.

Filing a bond claim does not prevent you from also filing an FMCSA complaint, a credit card chargeback, a state AG complaint, or a court action. These are separate remedies that can be pursued simultaneously.