Colorado consumer protection
Moving scams in Colorado: the red flags and what to do
Most moving scams start with a low price from a company with no Colorado PUC permit and end with a bigger bill once your things are on the truck. Colorado law blocks most of this: movers need a permit starting with HHG, a written estimate 24 hours ahead, a charge capped at 110% of it, and a contract before work starts. Check the permit first. If a mover holds your goods, call the PUC at 303-894-2070.
Rules from the Colorado PUC and Colorado statutes, read 2026-10-20. We are a publisher, not a mover or a law firm.
We are an independent publisher, not a moving company. Facts last checked . How we source.
How moving scams work
The pattern is usually the same. A company quotes well below everyone else, often by phone, and asks for a deposit. On moving day the crew loads the truck, then the price goes up: extra fees for stairs, packing material or "extra weight". The goods are held until you pay.
The PUC warns that using a mover without a permit "can potentially lead to the theft and/or insured damage to your property", and takes permit questions and complaints at 303-894-2070 or puc.colorado.gov/movers. (PUC fraud alert, 6 May 2025, read 2026-10-20.)
The Colorado Attorney General's office reported more than 110 complaints about moves and moving companies in 2022, ranging from lost items to goods held hostage for a surprise payment. Verify (Colorado Attorney General; figure read from a search summary, read 2026-10-20.)
Red flags, and the Colorado rule each one breaks
Each warning sign below maps to a specific rule. That matters, because a rule gives you something to point to when you push back or complain.
| Red flag | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| No PUC permit number, or one that does not start with HHG | Movers may not operate or advertise in Colorado without a PUC permit; the number starts with HHG | Colorado PUC |
| Ads with no "CO PUC permit no." or no physical address | Every ad must show the permit number and a physical address | C.R.S. 40-10.1-504 |
| A price by phone or text, with no written estimate | A written estimate of the total and its basis is required at least 24 hours before the move | Colorado PUC Mover Rules |
| A final bill far above the estimate | The charge cannot exceed 110% of the written estimate | Colorado PUC Mover Rules |
| A blank or partly blank contract, or no contract until the truck is loaded | The contract, with permit number and itemized costs, comes before work starts, with a signed consumer advisement | C.R.S. 40-10.1-505 |
| Cash only | The mover must accept at least two of cash, cashier's check, personal check or credit card | Colorado PUC |
| "Pay more or you won't see your things" | Goods must be delivered once you pay the contract amount; medicines, medical equipment and children's items can never be held | C.R.S. 40-10.1-506 |
| A name that changes between the ad, the estimate and the truck | Ads may only use the name the permit is held in | C.R.S. 40-10.1-504 |
All sources read 2026-09-29 or 2026-10-20.
Some other signs are not rule breaches but are still worth a pause: no in-person or video look at your belongings before the estimate, a large deposit, pressure to book today, or a rental truck with no company name.
Before you book: four checks
- Search the permitUse the PUC permit search, by number and by name.
- Ask for an inspectionThe PUC recommends an in-person inspection before the estimate.
- Get the estimate in writingTotal, basis and extras, at least 24 hours ahead.
- Read the contractPermit number, itemized costs, payment forms, valuation.
The verification guide walks through each check, with a printable checklist.
On moving day
- Don't sign a blank contract. Make sure the rates match the estimate before the crew starts.
- Know your cap. If the written estimate was $1,000, the most you can be charged is $1,100 (110%). Work out your own number before the crew arrives. The mover cannot charge more than 110 percent of the estimate. (4 CCR 723-6-6608, read 2026-09-29.)
- Keep essentials with you. Medicines, documents, laptops and children's things.
- Take photos of the loaded truck, the paperwork and any damage.
- Pay by a traceable method where you can. The mover must accept at least two forms of payment.
If a mover holds your goods for more money
A mover must deliver your goods inside the home once you pay the contract amount, and may never hold back prescription medicines, medical equipment, or children's furniture, clothing or toys. Refund disputes with a mover go to binding arbitration. (C.R.S. 40-10.1-506; PUC consumer page, read 2026-09-29.)
- Stay calm, keep recordsWrite down names, times, the truck plate and what was demanded.
- Point to the contractYou owe the contract amount, within 110% of the estimate.
- Call the PUC303-894-2070, or file a complaint online.
- Call the police if neededIf there's a threat or the mover drives off with your goods.
Interstate moves and brokers
The PUC regulates only moves inside Colorado. A move out of Colorado falls under federal rules. The mover must survey your goods on site or by video unless you waive it in writing, and give a written binding or non-binding estimate with the booklet "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move". On a non-binding estimate, paying 110 percent at delivery gets your goods unloaded. (49 CFR Part 375, read 2026-09-29.)
An interstate mover needs a USDOT number with household goods authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; look it up in FMCSA's company snapshot before you sign. Verify (FMCSA, read 2026-09-29.)
On long moves, the company that sells you the move is sometimes a broker that hands the job to another carrier. Ask directly: "Are you the carrier that will move my goods? What is the USDOT number of the truck that will come?" The long-distance guide explains brokers and carriers.
Where to report a moving problem
| Problem | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Move inside Colorado: overcharge, damage, unpermitted mover, held goods | Colorado PUC, 303-894-2070 or online complaint; refunds go to binding arbitration |
| Move to or from another state | FMCSA (see Protect Your Move) |
| Threats, or goods taken | Local police |
| Wider consumer fraud | Colorado Attorney General's consumer protection office |
Common questions about moving scams
How do I know if a Colorado mover is legitimate?
Search its permit in the Colorado PUC permit search. A Colorado household goods mover's permit number starts with HHG and must appear on its ads and contract with the same business name.
Can a mover hold my belongings until I pay more?
Not beyond the contract amount. Colorado law requires a mover to deliver your goods once you pay the contract amount, and it can never hold back medicines, medical equipment or children's items. Call the PUC at 303-894-2070.
How much more than the estimate can a mover charge?
In Colorado, no more than 110% of the written estimate. A $1,000 estimate means a bill of $1,100 at most, unless both of you sign changes to the contract.
Is a very cheap quote a scam?
Not always. It's a warning sign when it comes without a written basis, from a company you can't find in the PUC permit search, or with pressure to pay a deposit now.
Who handles complaints about interstate movers?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The Colorado PUC regulates only moves that start and end in Colorado.
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