Colorado mover checks
How to verify a Colorado mover before you book
For a move inside Colorado, look up the mover in the Colorado PUC permit search. Its permit number starts with HHG and has to match the name and number on its ads, its written estimate and its contract. For a move to another state, check the mover's USDOT number and household goods authority with FMCSA instead. Each check takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
We are a publisher, not a mover. We have not signed a partner mover yet. Before we pass on any request, we will run these same checks on that mover.
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Who needs a Colorado mover permit
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission regulates household goods movers under title 40, article 10.1, C.R.S. A mover may not operate, offer to operate or advertise in Colorado without a PUC permit, renewed every year. (Colorado PUC, read 2026-10-20.)
The law ties the permit to transportation. Colorado defines a "mover" as a motor carrier that provides the transportation or shipment of household goods, and a motor carrier as a person operating a motor vehicle that provides intrastate transportation. (C.R.S. 40-10.1-101, read 2026-10-20.) So any company that brings a truck and carries your household goods between two Colorado addresses needs the permit. A crew that only loads or unloads a truck you rented is a different question. See moving labor help for what we could and could not confirm about that.
Step 1: search the PUC permit
- Get the exact nameAsk for the legal business name and the PUC permit number, in writing.
- Open the searchUse the PUC permit search.
- Search by numberThen search again by name, so you can tell if the number belongs to a different company.
- Read the statusIs the permit active? Is the name the same one on your paperwork?
- Keep a recordScreenshot the result with the date.
The permit is renewed every year, so check it close to your move date, not months earlier. If you can't find the mover, or the search shows a different name, call the PUC before you pay a deposit. 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, read 2026-10-20.)
Step 2: check the ads and the name
Every mover advertisement must include the phrase "CO PUC permit no." with the number, and the mover's physical address. Ads may only use the name the permit is held in. (C.R.S. 40-10.1-504, read 2026-09-29.)
In practice, look at the website footer, the listing on any booking site, and the truck. You are checking three things:
- The phrase "CO PUC permit no." followed by a number that starts with HHG.
- A physical address, not just a phone number or a P.O. box.
- The same business name everywhere: the ad, the permit search, the estimate and the contract.
A mismatch is not always fraud. A company can trade under a short name. But the law says ads may only use the name the permit is held in, so ask the mover to explain any difference in writing.
Step 3: check the written estimate
A Colorado mover must give a written estimate of the total cost, and the basis for it, at least 24 hours before a scheduled move, unless the move is booked less than 24 hours ahead. The mover cannot charge more than 110 percent of the estimate. (4 CCR 723-6-6608, read 2026-09-29.)
A phone quote or a text message with one number is not that estimate. A useful estimate shows how the total was built: the crew size, the hourly rate or flat price, the expected hours, and the extra services.
Colorado law lists packing, unpacking, storage, long carries, stair and elevator carries, hoisting, waiting time, disassembly and reassembly, and packing materials as "accessorial services" that a mover must itemize. (C.R.S. 40-10.1-501, read 2026-10-20.) If you expect any of those, they should be on the estimate. The PUC also recommends an in-person inspection of your belongings before the estimate, so it reflects what you actually own. To compare several estimates line by line, use the quote worksheet.
Step 4: check the contract before work starts
Before work starts the mover must leave a contract that states its PUC permit number, itemizes costs and names at least two accepted forms of payment, and must have you sign a consumer advisement. (C.R.S. 40-10.1-505, read 2026-09-29.)
| Item | Why it matters | If it is missing |
|---|---|---|
| PUC permit number (HHG) | Ties the contract to a permitted mover you can complain about | Don't sign. Ask for a corrected contract. |
| Itemized costs and services | Extras not listed are hard to dispute later | Ask for each extra to be listed with its rate. |
| Two or more forms of payment | A Colorado mover must accept at least two of: cash, cashier's check, a valid personal check, or a credit card, and must list the forms it accepts in the contract. | A cash-only demand is a red flag. |
| Valuation choice | The contract must offer two cargo valuation options: released value, at the lesser of sixty cents per pound per lost or damaged article, or full replacement cost, where you declare the value of the shipment. | Ask which option applies; see valuation. |
| Signed consumer advisement | Explains your rights and the arbitration process | Ask for it before the crew starts. |
Payment rule: PUC consumer page, read 2026-10-20. Valuation: 4 CCR 723-6-6608, read 2026-09-29.
You can also ask about insurance. Colorado movers must carry general liability insurance or a surety bond of at least $500,000, and cargo coverage of at least $10,000 per vehicle or sixty cents per pound per article, whichever is greater. (4 CCR 723-6-6008, read 2026-09-29.) Those minimums protect the public; they are not the same as what the mover pays you for a broken item, which is set by the valuation option.
Moving out of Colorado: check USDOT authority
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 Protect Your Move; company snapshot, read 2026-09-29.)
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.) The long-distance guide covers interstate estimates, brokers and delivery windows in detail.
Inside Colorado
- Regulator: Colorado PUC
- Check: HHG permit in the PUC search
- Estimate: written, 24 hours ahead, charge capped at 110%
- Disputes: binding arbitration; PUC complaint
Colorado to another state
- Regulator: FMCSA
- Check: USDOT number with household goods authority
- Estimate: binding or non-binding after a survey
- Paperwork: "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move"
Printable checklist
Tick each line as you check it. The boxes are for your own use and are not saved or sent anywhere. Print the page if you want a paper copy.
If something does not match
Pause before you pay. Ask the mover to fix the paperwork, then check again. If it can't or won't, choose another mover. If you've already moved and there's a problem:
- Goods held 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, read 2026-09-29.)
- Overcharges, damage or an unpermitted mover. Contact the PUC at 303-894-2070 or file a complaint online.
- Interstate moves. Contact FMCSA, which regulates those movers.
The moving scams guide covers the warning signs and what to do in more detail.
Common questions about checking a mover
How do I check if a mover is licensed in Colorado?
Search the Colorado PUC permit search by the permit number and the business name. A valid Colorado household goods permit number starts with HHG, and the name should match the one on the mover's ads and contract.
Is a USDOT number enough for a move inside Colorado?
No. The PUC regulates moves inside Colorado, and those movers need a PUC household goods permit. A USDOT number with household goods authority is what matters for a move to another state.
Can a mover give me a quote over the phone?
It can, but the rules require a written estimate of the total and its basis at least 24 hours before the move, unless you book less than 24 hours ahead. The charge cannot exceed 110% of that written estimate.
Where do I complain about a Colorado mover?
For a move inside Colorado, the PUC takes complaints at 303-894-2070 or online. Refund disputes go to binding arbitration under state law. For interstate moves, contact FMCSA.
Does this site check movers?
We have not signed a partner mover yet. Before we pass on any request, we will check that mover's PUC permit, and USDOT authority for interstate work. Until then, use the steps on this page yourself.
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