Moving Companies Operating Without Active Insurance (2026)
FMCSA requires movers to maintain insurance. These companies have lapsed or missing coverage. Hiring them puts your belongings at risk.
What Insurance Movers Must Carry
FMCSA mandates two types of financial responsibility for interstate moving companies.
Carriers (companies that own trucks and physically transport goods) must maintain bodily injury and property damage (BIPD) liability insurance with a minimum of $750,000 for vehicles under 10,001 lbs and $1,000,000 for heavier vehicles. They must also carry cargo insurance covering the goods they transport.
Brokers (companies that arrange moves but do not own trucks) must maintain a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund agreement. This bond exists to protect consumers if the broker fails to pay the carrier or engages in fraud.
Both requirements must be active and on file with FMCSA at all times the company operates.
How Many Companies Have Lapsed Coverage
FMCSA's SAFER database tracks insurance filing status for every registered mover. At any given time, a significant number of registered carriers and brokers show insurance filings that are expired, pending cancellation, or marked as 'none on file.'
Among the approximately 23,000 movers profiled in the Trunk database, insurance lapses are more common among smaller operators with fewer than 5 trucks. However, some mid-size carriers with 10 or more trucks also show periods of lapsed coverage.
An insurance lapse does not always mean the company is currently uninsured. Filing delays and administrative errors can create temporary gaps in the FMCSA record. But it does mean the company cannot prove compliance, and consumers have no way to verify coverage independently.
How to Verify Insurance on SAFER
Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and search for the company by name or USDOT number. On the company snapshot page, look for the 'Insurance' section. It will show each insurance filing, the type of coverage, the underwriter, and the status (active, expired, or pending).
If the status says 'Active,' the company has current insurance on file. If it says 'None on File' or shows an expired date, the company may be operating without required coverage. Do not book a move with a company that cannot demonstrate active insurance.
What Happens If Your Mover Has No Insurance
If a carrier without insurance damages or loses your belongings, your options are severely limited. Without cargo insurance, there is no insurer to file a claim against. You can sue the company directly, but many uninsured movers are small operations with few recoverable assets.
If a carrier without BIPD insurance causes a traffic accident during your move, injured parties (including you, if riding along) may have no insurance to cover medical bills or vehicle damage.
If a broker's surety bond has lapsed and the broker collects your deposit but fails to arrange the move, the bond that would otherwise provide recourse is unavailable.
Red Flags for Insurance Problems
Several warning signs suggest a mover may have insurance issues.
The company refuses to provide its USDOT number. Every legitimate interstate mover has one and should share it readily.
The quoted price is dramatically lower than competitors. Companies cutting corners on insurance can undercut competitors who maintain proper coverage.
The company's FMCSA SAFER page shows 'Not Authorized' or 'Out of Service' under operating status. This means FMCSA has revoked the company's authority, often due to insurance or safety failures.
The company cannot provide a certificate of insurance when asked. Legitimate movers can produce this document quickly.
Data
Insurance Requirements for Interstate Movers
| Insurance Type | Who Needs It | Minimum Amount | Where to Verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIPD Liability (under 10,001 lbs) | Carriers | $750,000 | FMCSA SAFER |
| BIPD Liability (10,001+ lbs) | Carriers | $1,000,000 | FMCSA SAFER |
| Cargo Insurance | Carriers | Varies by carrier | FMCSA SAFER |
| Surety Bond / Trust Fund | Brokers | $75,000 | FMCSA SAFER |
| Workers Compensation | All employers | Varies by state | State insurance dept. |
Source:
What Happens When Insurance Lapses
| Scenario | Consumer Risk | Legal Recourse |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier has no cargo insurance, goods damaged | Full financial loss on damaged items | Civil lawsuit against carrier (recovery unlikely if carrier has no assets) |
| Carrier has no BIPD, accident during move | No insurance coverage for injuries or vehicle damage | Personal injury lawsuit, but carrier may be judgment-proof |
| Broker bond lapsed, deposit collected, no move performed | Lost deposit with no bond to claim against | Small claims court, credit card chargeback if paid by card |
| Carrier operating without authority, goods held hostage | No FMCSA enforcement leverage, no insurance backstop | Police report, state AG complaint, civil lawsuit |
| Carrier insurance expired mid-move | Coverage gap during transit | Claim against carrier directly, may need to prove lapse timing |
Source:
Sources: FMCSA SAFER system, FMCSA regulations (49 CFR Part 387), Trunk research database.