Moving scams and shady operations are more common than most people think — and they're not always obvious until it's too late. The two biggest red flags when hiring movers: a quote that promises your 3-bedroom house in 3 hours (impossible), and a price so far below everyone else that you wonder how they stay in business. We wrote this guide because we get calls from customers who've already been burned. Use it before you book.
The Biggest Red Flags
Most moving problems are avoidable if you know what to look for before move day. Here are the most important red flags when hiring movers — and what each one means in practice.
A 3-bedroom house takes a minimum of 6–8 hours to move properly — often longer. If a company quotes your 3-bedroom move at 3 hours, they're either planning to rush and damage your belongings, or they'll clock in extra hours on the day and you'll pay for the real time anyway. A legitimate company gives an honest estimate, not the number they think you want to hear.
If a quote is significantly lower than every other company you called, ask why. Bait-and-switch movers advertise low rates and then add fees on move day — sometimes holding your belongings hostage until you pay more. A legitimate company can explain exactly where their price comes from. If they can't, that's your answer.
Reputable movers always provide a written estimate before the job. If a company gives you a verbal quote only and won't put it in writing, they're leaving themselves room to charge whatever they want on move day. Never book a mover without a written, itemized quote you can reference if there's a dispute.
In Louisiana, movers must be licensed by the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Ask for their license number and verify it. Ask for proof of cargo and liability insurance. If they hesitate or can't provide either, do not use them — you have no protection if they damage your belongings or injure someone.
More Warning Signs
Beyond the big four above, these additional warning signs can save you from a bad experience. Take each one seriously.
What Our Customers Say
These customers learned from a previous experience — and found what a legitimate moving company actually looks like.
"My last movers quoted a 3-bedroom house in 4 hours for an impossibly low price. Move day: 9 hours, double the quote, and they damaged my sectional. With AD Movers, the estimate was honest upfront — they said it would take 6–7 hours and it took 6.5. No damage, no surprise charges. Night and day difference."
"I asked AD Movers every question on the red flag checklist before I booked — license number, insurance, whether they use their own crew. They answered every single one without hesitation. That told me everything I needed to know. The move itself was flawless. I finally found movers I can actually trust."
"Another company I called refused to give me a written estimate. AD Movers gave me an instant online quote with a clear breakdown. The crew was in uniform, showed up with ID, handled everything carefully, and the final bill matched the quote exactly. This is what a legitimate moving company looks like."
The Checklist
Use this checklist on every moving company you consider — including us. A legitimate mover will pass every item without hesitation.
Ask for their Louisiana Public Service Commission license number and look it up at the LPSC website. Operating without a license is illegal — and if they're unlicensed, you have no legal protection if something goes wrong. AD Movers is fully licensed and can provide our number on request.
Before you commit, get your quote in writing — including what's included, what (if anything) costs extra, and the cancellation policy. If a company won't put it in writing, don't book. Our instant online quote tool gives you a written price in 60 seconds that becomes your invoice.
Look at their Google Business profile. Read both positive and negative reviews. Look at how the company responds to complaints — that tells you more than the 5-star reviews. A company with 98 reviews and a 4.8★ rating has a track record you can evaluate. A company with 12 reviews from last month does not.
What a Legitimate Mover Looks Like
AD Movers crews show up in uniform with ID. They are our employees — not subcontractors, not day laborers from an app. We carry full cargo and liability insurance on every job, and our Louisiana moving license is current and verifiable. We give written quotes, charge what we quote, and have done so on over 1,000+ jobs in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Mandeville, Chalmette, and surrounding areas.
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No Red Flags Here
Our trucks are licensed and maintained. Our crews are trained and insured. Our quotes are written and honored. When you book AD Movers, you're booking a moving company in New Orleans with a verifiable track record — not a phone number on Craigslist, not a broker farming your job out, and not a company that gives you a 3-hour estimate for a 3-bedroom house. We're honest about what it takes because that's the only way to build trust.
Call 504-237-0855 →Why New Orleans Trusts AD Movers
Areas We Serve
We serve the entire Greater New Orleans area with licensed, insured crews and written quotes that become your invoice — no red flags, no exceptions.
Common Questions
The two biggest red flags: (1) A quote that promises an impossible time — a 3-bedroom house takes 6–8 hours minimum; anyone promising 3 hours is either going to rush and damage your things, or charge you for the real time anyway. (2) A price that's dramatically lower than every other quote you received — that gap gets made up in hidden fees on move day, sometimes while your belongings are on the truck.
Ask for their Louisiana Public Service Commission license number and verify it. Ask for proof of cargo and liability insurance. Get a written quote. Check their Google Business profile for real reviews with company responses. Ask if they use their own employees or subcontractors. A legitimate company answers all of these without hesitation.
Yes. A small deposit to hold your date is normal. A large cash deposit — 50% or more upfront — is a red flag. Cash deposits give you little recourse if the company fails to show up or underdelivers. Pay with a card whenever possible so you have dispute rights. Never wire money or pay via apps like Zelle to an unknown moving company.
A realistic quote for a 3-bedroom house move should estimate 6–8 hours for an average home, possibly more for larger homes or homes with lots of furniture, stairs, or long carries. Anyone quoting you 3 hours for a full 3-bedroom house is giving you a number designed to win the booking — not an honest estimate of what the job takes.
Louisiana movers must be licensed by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC). You can verify a mover's license at the LPSC website at lpsc.louisiana.gov/transportation. Ask the company for their license number before you book and cross-check it. AD Movers is fully licensed — we provide our number on request.
This does happen — a mover loads your belongings and then demands more money than quoted before unloading. If this occurs, document everything (photos, messages, calls) and contact local law enforcement and the Louisiana Public Service Commission immediately. This is why working with a licensed, insured company with a verifiable track record matters — it's the best protection before move day.
We give you a written quote before your move. We show up in uniform with licensed, insured equipment. We use our own trained employees — not subcontractors. We give honest time estimates even when they're longer than you hoped. And we charge exactly what we quoted. No red flags. No surprises. No exceptions. That's how AD Movers has operated since 2013.
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Licensed, insured, and operating since 2013 — with 98 Google reviews to prove it. Get your written quote in 60 seconds. No red flags. No hidden fees. No games.
AD Movers is a licensed & insured New Orleans moving company providing local and long-distance moving across every area above.
