A moving service contract covers the estimate type (binding versus non-binding — federal rules cap non-binding overruns at 110% collectible at delivery for interstate moves), valuation coverage (free released value at $0.60/lb versus full-value protection at ~1% of declared value), the inventory and condition report, delivery windows and delay terms, prohibited items, payment terms (final payment before unloading is standard — federal rules limit demanding more than the binding estimate), the 9-month interstate claims window, and licensing (USDOT/MC numbers for interstate; state authority for local).
Moving Service Contract Template
Reviewed by the Agiled editorial teamUpdated June 2026
Moving is the consumer transaction with the steepest information asymmetry on contract day: by the time disputes surface, the mover holds everything the...
Part of our free contract template library — 75+ agreements in Word and PDF, ready to customize and sign.
Full template text
MOVING SERVICE CONTRACT
This Moving Service Contract ("Agreement") is entered into as of [Date] by and between:
Moving Company: [Business Name], USDOT No.: [Number], MC No.: [Number], located at [Address], Phone: [Phone], Email: [Email] ("Mover")
Customer: [Full Name], residing at [Address], Phone: [Phone], Email: [Email] ("Customer")
1. Origin and Destination
a) Origin Address: [Full Address], Floor/Unit: [Details], Elevator Available: [Yes / No], Parking Permit Required: [Yes / No].
b) Destination Address: [Full Address], Floor/Unit: [Details], Elevator Available: [Yes / No], Parking Permit Required: [Yes / No].
c) Additional Stops: [List any intermediate pickup or delivery stops and addresses, or "None"].
2. Inventory
A detailed inventory of all items to be moved is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement. The Customer has reviewed the inventory and confirmed its accuracy by initialing each page. The condition of items at the time of pickup shall be noted on the inventory.
3. Services
The Mover shall provide the following services:
a) Packing: [Full packing / Partial packing (specify items) / Customer self-packs].
b) Packing Materials: [Included in estimate / Charged separately at cost].
c) Loading and Unloading: Included.
d) Transportation: From origin to destination via [method].
e) Furniture Disassembly and Reassembly: [Included for the following items: ___ / Not included].
f) Special Handling: [e.g., piano, antiques, artwork, safes — specify items and additional charges].
g) Storage: [Not required / Required for an estimated [Number] days at $[Amount] per day, stored at [Facility Address]].
h) Unpacking: [Included / Not included / Available upon request at $[Amount] per hour].
4. Estimate and Pricing
a) Estimate Type: [Binding / Non-Binding].
b) Pricing Method: [Flat Rate: $[Amount] / Hourly Rate: $[Amount] per hour with [Number] movers, estimated [Number] hours / Weight-Based: $[Amount] per pound, estimated weight [Number] lbs].
c) Total Estimated Cost: $[Amount].
d) If this is a binding estimate, the total cost shall not exceed the amount stated above, provided the Customer has accurately represented the scope of the move and does not request additional services.
e) If this is a non-binding estimate, the actual cost will be determined by [actual weight / actual hours]. At delivery, the Customer shall not be required to pay more than 110% of the estimated cost. Any amount exceeding 110% shall be due within 30 days of delivery.
5. Valuation Coverage
The Customer has selected the following valuation option:
[ ] Released Value Protection — At no additional cost. The Mover's liability is limited to $0.60 per pound per article.
[ ] Full Value Protection — At an additional cost of $[Amount]. The Mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged items, subject to a deductible of $[Amount].
Customer Initials: _______________
6. Pickup and Delivery Schedule
a) Pickup Date: [Date], between [Time] and [Time].
b) Estimated Delivery Date: [Date] (for local moves) / Delivery Window: [Start Date] to [End Date] (for long-distance moves).
c) If delivery is delayed beyond the agreed window, the Mover shall notify the Customer immediately and shall be liable for reasonable additional expenses incurred by the Customer as a result of the delay, up to $[Amount] per day.
7. Payment Terms
a) Deposit: $[Amount], due upon signing this Agreement. The deposit is [refundable / non-refundable] subject to the cancellation policy.
b) Balance Due: The remaining balance is due upon delivery, before unloading begins.
c) Accepted Payment Methods: [Cash / Certified Check / Credit Card / Money Order]. Personal checks are [accepted / not accepted].
d) The Mover shall not hold the Customer's shipment hostage for charges exceeding 110% of a non-binding estimate at the time of delivery.
8. Customer Responsibilities
a) The Customer shall ensure clear pathways and adequate parking at both origin and destination.
b) The Customer shall secure any necessary elevator reservations, building permits, and parking permits.
c) The Customer shall disconnect and prepare appliances for transport (unless appliance servicing is included in Services).
d) The Customer shall remove items from drawers and shelves prior to the move.
e) The Customer shall be present or designate an authorized representative at both pickup and delivery.
9. Prohibited Items
The Mover shall not transport the following items: hazardous materials, flammable liquids, explosives, ammunition, perishable food, live plants, pets, controlled substances, cash, jewelry exceeding $[Amount] in value, and irreplaceable documents. The Customer shall remove all prohibited items from the shipment prior to loading. If prohibited items are found during loading, the Mover may refuse to transport them.
10. Loss, Damage, and Claims
a) The Customer shall inspect the shipment upon delivery and note any damage or missing items on the delivery receipt.
b) Claims for loss or damage must be filed in writing within [90 / 270] days of delivery.
c) The Mover shall acknowledge receipt of the claim within [30] days and resolve the claim within [120] days of receipt.
d) The Mover's liability shall not exceed the valuation coverage selected by the Customer in Section 5.
e) The Mover shall not be liable for damage to items packed by the Customer (PBO — Packed By Owner) unless the outer carton shows visible damage.
11. Cancellation Policy
a) Cancellation more than [7] days before the pickup date: Full refund of deposit.
b) Cancellation [3-7] days before: [50]% of deposit refunded.
c) Cancellation less than [3] days before: No refund.
d) The Mover may cancel if the Customer has provided materially inaccurate information about the scope of the move.
12. Insurance
a) The Mover maintains commercial general liability insurance with coverage of $[Amount] per occurrence.
b) The Mover maintains cargo insurance as required by law.
c) The Customer may purchase additional third-party moving insurance at their own expense.
13. Force Majeure
Neither party shall be liable for delays caused by severe weather, natural disasters, government orders, strikes, road closures, or other events beyond reasonable control. The Mover shall make reasonable efforts to reschedule service as soon as conditions permit.
14. Dispute Resolution
Disputes shall be resolved through negotiation, followed by mediation if necessary. If mediation fails, disputes shall be submitted to binding arbitration in [City, State] under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of [State] and applicable federal regulations.
15. Entire Agreement
This Agreement, including Exhibit A (Inventory), constitutes the entire understanding between the parties. Amendments must be in writing and signed by both parties.
SIGNATURES
Mover Representative: ___________________________ Date: _______________
Print Name / Title: ___________________________
Customer Signature: ___________________________ Date: _______________
Print Name: ___________________________
- Estimate types
- Binding or non-binding (110% cap)
- Free valuation
- $0.60 / lb — read that twice
- Full-value protection
- ~1% of declared value
- Interstate claims
- 9-month filing window
What your moving service contract should cover
Estimate type, stated
Binding (the price, period), binding-not-to-exceed (the ceiling, with actuals below it honored — the consumer-best structure), or non-binding (actuals govern, but interstate rules cap collection at delivery to 110% of the estimate, balance billed later). In-home or video surveys make estimates real; phone guesses make them fiction.
Valuation coverage, explained honestly
Released value (free, $0.60/lb — a 50-lb television recovers $30) versus full-value protection (~1% of declared value, with the mover repairing, replacing, or paying current value). High-value items (over $100/lb) declared on the inventory or excluded from FVP. This clause is where customers most need the contract to be honest.
Inventory and condition report
The bingo-sheet inventory with condition codes at loading, the customer's right to note disagreements before signing, and the delivery check-off — the document the entire claims process runs on. Photos of high-value items before packing, recommended in the contract itself.
Pickup and delivery windows
Dates or windows for both ends (long-haul interstate moves quote spread windows), delay terms (per-day inconvenience payments where offered, lodging where promised), and storage-in-transit pricing if the destination isn't ready.
Services and packing
What's included: packing (full, partial, owner-packed), materials, disassembly/reassembly, appliance servicing, stairs/long-carry/shuttle fees stated in advance — the accessorial schedule attached so delivery-day surprises aren't possible.
Prohibited and excluded items
Hazardous materials (propane, paint, aerosols), perishables, plants across state lines, and the carry-it-yourself list: cash, jewelry, documents, medications, and anything irreplaceable rides with the customer, not the truck.
Payment terms
Deposit (modest — large cash deposits are the rogue-mover flag), balance due at delivery before unloading (the industry standard), accepted methods stated, and the federal rule for interstate non-binding estimates: no more than 110% collectible at delivery.
Owner-packed boxes (PBO)
The liability honesty clause: cartons packed by owner are covered for external damage to the carton, not for damage inside undamaged boxes — the mover can't warrant packing they didn't do. Full-pack service shifts that liability to the mover.
Claims procedure
Written claims with the inventory as evidence: interstate moves carry a 9-month filing window and a 30-day mover acknowledgment/120-day resolution rhythm; arbitration programs are mandatory offerings for interstate carriers. Local moves follow state rules — stated in the contract.
Licensing and subcontracting
USDOT and MC numbers for interstate movers (verifiable on the FMCSA database), state authority for intrastate, and the broker-versus-carrier disclosure: if the entity selling the move won't be the one driving the truck, the contract says who will.
Typical moving costs and terms (U.S., 2026)
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local move (2 – 3 BR) | $800 – $2,500 | Hourly crews, $120 – $250/hr |
| Interstate (2 – 3 BR) | $4,000 – $12,000+ | Distance and weight |
| Released value coverage | $0.60 / lb | Free — and nearly worthless |
| Full-value protection | ~1% of declared value | Deductible options |
| Non-binding overrun cap | 110% at delivery | Interstate federal rule |
| Claims window (interstate) | 9 months | Written, inventory-based |
| Delivery spread | 1 – 21 days | Long-haul windows |
Interstate moves are federally regulated (FMCSA); local moves follow state rules that vary widely. Verify USDOT numbers and complaint history before signing — the database is public.
How moving service contracts work in practice
The interstate relocation
A cross-country household move: the contract stack matters — the order for service, the bill of lading (the actual contract of carriage, signed at pickup), and the inventory. The decisions that determine the experience: estimate type (binding-not-to-exceed after a video survey beats everything else), valuation (FVP on a $75k household costs ~$750 and is the difference between replacement and $0.60/lb arithmetic), and the delivery spread (a 10-day window means planning for it, and per-diem delay terms beyond it). The pre-signing diligence the contract can't replace: the USDOT number checked against FMCSA's complaint database.
The hostage-load scenario
The rogue-mover pattern the rules exist to prevent: a lowball phone estimate, everything on the truck, then a tripled price with delivery conditioned on cash payment. The protections that interrupt it: interstate law caps delivery-day collection at 110% of a non-binding estimate (the mover must deliver at that payment, billing the balance later), binding estimates can't inflate at all, and holding goods hostage for amounts beyond these violates federal rules with real enforcement. The customer's leverage points: never sign a blank or revised inventory under pressure, photograph the bill of lading, and know the 110% number before the truck arrives.
The damage claim
Delivery day: the dresser is gouged and box 47 rattles. The claims machinery the contract pre-built: exceptions noted on the inventory at delivery (before signing the check-off — notations made at the door outweigh photos taken a week later), the written claim filed inside the window (9 months interstate) with the inventory and photos attached, and the resolution path: FVP means repair, replace, or current-value payment at the mover's option; released value means the pound math. The PBO clause does its honest work here — the shattered glassware inside an undamaged owner-packed box was a packing problem, not a carriage one.
Mistakes that weaken a moving service contract
Taking the free valuation without reading it
$0.60 per pound values furniture by weight, not worth — a $2,000 sofa at 80 lbs recovers $48. Full-value protection at ~1% of declared value is the actual insurance; decline it knowingly or not at all.
Phone estimates for full households
An estimate nobody surveyed is a number nobody owes. In-home or video surveys produce binding or not-to-exceed quotes; phone guesses produce delivery-day renegotiations.
Signing the inventory unread
The condition codes scribbled at loading are the evidence base for every future claim. Read them, dispute wrong ones in writing at the door, and photograph high-value items before they're wrapped.
Large cash deposits
Legitimate movers take modest deposits by card; large cash up-fronts are the rogue-operator signature. The FMCSA complaint database is public — two minutes of search beats nine months of claims.
Packing valuables onto the truck
Cash, jewelry, passports, medications, and the irreplaceable ride with you — both because contracts exclude them and because no claims process un-loses a grandmother's ring.
How to use this template
- 01
Verify the mover's USDOT/MC number and complaint history on the FMCSA database.
- 02
Get a video or in-home survey and a binding or not-to-exceed estimate in writing.
- 03
Choose valuation deliberately — full-value protection for any household that matters.
- 04
Review the accessorial fee schedule: stairs, long-carry, shuttle, storage.
- 05
Read and annotate the inventory at loading; photograph high-value items first.
- 06
Note exceptions at delivery before signing, and file any claim within the window.
Skip this template if…
- Freight or commercial logistics — business shipments run on freight contracts with different liability regimes (carrier tariffs, NMFC classes).
- Labor-only loading help — hourly helper services for a truck you rented use a simple labor agreement without carriage liability.
FAQs
How much does a moving company cost?
Local moves for a 2–3 bedroom home run $800–$2,500 (crews at $120–$250/hour); interstate moves $4,000–$12,000+ by distance and weight. Watch the accessorial schedule — stairs, long carries, and shuttle trucks add real money and should be priced in the estimate, not discovered at delivery.
What's the difference between a binding and non-binding estimate?
Binding: the quoted price is the price, regardless of actual weight. Binding-not-to-exceed: the quote is a ceiling, actuals below it are honored — the best consumer structure. Non-binding: actual weight governs, but for interstate moves federal rules cap delivery-day collection at 110% of the estimate, with the balance billed later. Always ask which type is on the paper.
What is moving valuation coverage?
The mover's liability level for your goods: released value is free and pays $0.60 per pound per item — weight math that values a laptop at single digits — while full-value protection (~1% of declared value) obligates the mover to repair, replace, or pay current value. Items worth over $100/lb must be declared. FVP is the choice for any household with real contents.
Can a mover hold my belongings until I pay more?
For interstate moves, federal rules constrain it: with a binding estimate, delivery is owed at the agreed price; with a non-binding one, payment of 110% of the estimate compels delivery, with any balance billed afterward. Demands beyond these — the 'hostage load' — violate FMCSA regulations and ground complaints with real enforcement teeth. Know the 110% figure before delivery day.
How do moving damage claims work?
On documentation: note damage as exceptions on the inventory at delivery, file a written claim within the window (9 months for interstate moves), and the mover acknowledges within 30 days and resolves within 120. Recovery follows your valuation election — full-value protection or the $0.60/lb arithmetic. Owner-packed boxes are covered for carton damage, not for contents inside intact boxes.
How do I avoid moving scams?
Verify the USDOT/MC number and complaint record on the FMCSA's public database, insist on a video or in-home survey with a written binding or not-to-exceed estimate, refuse large cash deposits, confirm whether you're dealing with a carrier or a broker (and who actually drives the truck), and never sign blank or 'revised' paperwork under delivery-day pressure.
Pair it with the moving company invoice template
The contract sets the terms — the invoice collects on them. Free download with the right line items pre-filled.
Need more than a template?
Create, send, and e-sign contracts with Agiled — alongside your CRM, invoicing, and projects.
Start free with Agiled