What Is a DOT Number? Why It Matters When Hiring a Mover
A DOT number is the single most important thing to check before hiring a moving company. It is your gateway to the company's entire federal safety record — crashes, insurance, complaints, and more. Here is everything you need to know.
What a DOT Number Is
A US DOT (Department of Transportation) number is a unique identifier assigned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to every company that operates commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. This includes all moving companies that transport household goods across state lines.
The DOT number is used to track a carrier's safety record, compliance reviews, crash investigations, and inspections. It is not optional — operating without one is a federal violation.
DOT Number vs. MC Number
You may also see "MC number" (Motor Carrier number). While the DOT number identifies the company for safety purposes, the MC number is specifically for operating authority — the legal permission to transport goods for compensation. A legitimate interstate mover needs both.
- DOT number: Required for all commercial motor carriers. Used for safety monitoring.
- MC number: Required for carriers transporting regulated commodities (including household goods) for hire in interstate commerce.
How to Verify a Moving Company's DOT Number
Every moving company should be willing to provide their DOT number. If they are reluctant or cannot provide one, that is a major red flag. Once you have the number, you can look it up instantly.
- Ask the moving company for their DOT number
- Enter it into MoveSafe's search tool
- Review their safety rating, insurance status, and crash history
- Check that the company name matches what you were given
- Verify their operating authority is active (not revoked or inactive)
What a DOT Number Lookup Reveals
When you search a DOT number on MoveSafe, you get access to:
- Safety rating: Satisfactory, Conditional, or Unsatisfactory
- Insurance status: Whether the company has active cargo and liability insurance
- Crash history: Total, fatal, and injury crashes in the past 24 months
- Operating status: Whether the company is currently authorized to operate
- Complaint history: Number of consumer complaints filed with the FMCSA
Red Flags in a DOT Number Lookup
When reviewing a company's DOT record, watch for these warning signs:
- Safety rating is Conditional or Unsatisfactory
- No insurance on file
- Out-of-service order (the company has been ordered to stop operating)
- Multiple crashes in the past two years
- Company name on the DOT record doesn't match the name they gave you
- Very new DOT registration with no safety data
For a broader overview of moving fraud tactics, see our guide on how to spot a moving scam.
What If a Mover Has No DOT Number?
If a moving company cannot provide a DOT number, they are either operating illegally or only licensed for local (intrastate) moves. For any move crossing state lines, a DOT number is required by federal law. Do not hire an interstate mover without one.
Local-only movers may not need a DOT number but should still be licensed at the state level. Check your state's public utility commission or department of transportation for local mover verification.