Moving Estimates: Binding, Non-Binding and the 110% Rule
The type of estimate you sign decides what you can be charged on delivery day. It is the most important line on the paperwork and the one almost nobody reads.
The three types
| Type | What it means | Risk to you |
|---|---|---|
| Binding | Fixed price for the inventory listed | Low, unless you add items |
| Non-binding | Estimate based on expected weight, final price on actual weight | Price can rise |
| Binding not-to-exceed | You pay the lower of estimate or actual weight | Lowest, and the best of the three |
Binding not-to-exceed is the one to ask for by name. Many companies offer it and few volunteer it.
The 110 percent rule
With a non-binding estimate, a mover cannot demand more than 110 percent of the estimated charges before releasing your goods. Anything above that is billed after delivery, on normal payment terms. If a driver tells you the full inflated total must be paid before the truck opens, that is not how the rule works.
What a proper estimate contains
- The estimate type, stated explicitly.
- The inventory it is based on.
- Estimated weight and mileage.
- Every accessorial charge: long carry, stairs, shuttle, storage, bulky items.
- What valuation coverage is included, and what full value protection would cost.
- The delivery window, not a single date unless guaranteed.
- The USDOT number and the legal name of the company performing the move.
An estimate missing the accessorial charges is not cheaper, it is incomplete. Those fees are where a reasonable-looking quote becomes an unreasonable invoice.
The fees that surprise people
| Fee | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Long carry | Truck cannot park within a set distance of the door |
| Shuttle | A full trailer cannot access the street, so a smaller truck ferries the load |
| Stair or elevator | Flights above the ground floor, or elevator-only access |
| Storage in transit | Your dates do not line up with the delivery window |
| Bulky article | Pianos, safes, treadmills, large appliances |
| Expedited or guaranteed delivery | A firm date rather than a window |
Ask which of these apply at both addresses. The origin is usually surveyed. The destination often is not, and that is where they appear as a surprise.
Making three quotes comparable
- Ask all three for the same estimate type, ideally binding not-to-exceed.
- Give all three the same inventory. Adding items later is the legitimate reason a binding price changes.
- Insist on a survey, in person or by video. Refuse phone-only numbers.
- Compare the accessorial lines, not the totals.
- Run each company through the checks on our mover verification page before you compare on price at all.
Check your number against the range
Check a quote
General information about federal estimate rules, not legal advice. Last reviewed August 2026.