Binding vs. Non-Binding Moving Estimates

A moving estimate is not just a price.

For a covered U.S. interstate household-goods move, the written estimate should tell you whether it is:

binding, or
non-binding.

Those are the two federal estimate categories.

Words such as “guaranteed,” “fixed,” “firm,” “locked,” “guaranteed rate,” or “not-to-exceed” may appear in company marketing or contracts, but they do not create a separate federal estimate type.

What matters is what your written estimate actually says.

This page explains federal rules in general terms. It is not legal advice, and your paperwork, the mover’s tariff, and state law can affect your situation.

The short version

Binding estimate

A binding estimate fixes the price for the goods and services listed on it.

That price can change only in specific ways:

before loading, if you add items or need services that are not on the estimate and a new estimate is put in place;
for certain services added after the Bill of Lading is issued; and
for tariff-defined impracticable-operation charges, within the federal collection limits.

A mover may charge for preparing a binding estimate.

Non-binding estimate

A non-binding estimate is the mover’s reasonably accurate estimate of what the move will cost.

It is not a guaranteed final price.

Final charges are generally based on:

actual shipment weight;
services actually provided;
the mover’s applicable tariff.

A mover may not charge for providing a non-binding estimate.

The 110% rule

On a covered non-binding collect-on-delivery move, the mover generally cannot require more than 110% of the non-binding estimate that was in place when the goods were loaded before releasing the shipment.

That may be the original estimate or a new estimate you signed before loading.

The 110% rule limits certain collections at delivery.

It does not cap the final bill.

Get a written estimate

A price given over the phone, in a text, or in a quick email is not, by itself, the estimate federal rules require.

The required estimate is:

in writing;
signed by you and the mover;
dated;
labeled binding or non-binding;
descriptive of the shipment and included services.

You should receive a dated copy when you sign.

How to Read a Moving Estimate

The survey behind the estimate

For covered interstate moves, the mover generally must survey the goods before preparing the estimate.

The survey can be:

in person;
by live video;
by prerecorded video that clearly identifies the goods.

You can waive the survey, but the waiver must be in writing and signed by you before loading.

Waiving the survey does not waive your right to a written estimate.

When your shipment changes before loading

If you add items or need services that are not on your estimate, the mover does not have to honor the original estimate for those additions.

If you and the mover cannot agree on the price or services for the additions, the mover does not have to perform the move.

If the mover goes ahead, it must handle the estimate one of these ways before loading:

Binding estimate

The mover may:

reaffirm the original binding estimate;
prepare a new binding estimate listing the added items or services, which you sign; or
agree with you in writing to treat the original estimate as non-binding.

Non-binding estimate

The mover may:

reaffirm the original non-binding estimate; or
prepare a new non-binding estimate listing the additions, which you sign.

If loading starts without a new estimate, the original estimate stands.

On a binding move, the mover cannot collect more than the binding amount for the goods and services covered by that estimate, except for the specific post–Bill of Lading charges explained below.

On a non-binding move, the 110% delivery limit is based on the estimate in place when loading began.

An estimate cannot simply be amended after loading.

Non-binding estimates and actual weight

A non-binding estimate is an approximation, not a fixed final price.

It still must be reasonably accurate.

For a weight-based interstate household-goods move, final charges generally depend on:

actual shipment weight; and
the mover’s applicable tariff.

If your estimate is stated in cubic feet but your final charges will be based on weight, the mover must give you a written explanation of how it converts volume to weight.

Your final charges will still be based on your shipment’s actual weight, subject to the 110% delivery limit.

The 110% rule

On a non-binding, collect-on-delivery move, the mover generally cannot require more than 110% of your non-binding estimate before releasing your goods.

The estimate that counts is the one in place when your goods were loaded:

the original estimate; or
a new estimate you signed before loading.

Example

Non-binding estimate:

$5,000

110%:

$5,500

That $5,500 is the ordinary maximum the mover can require at delivery for the goods and services covered by that estimate.

It is not a cap on the final bill.

If actual lawful charges are higher, the remaining amount may be billed after delivery under the applicable rules.

If only part of the shipment is delivered, the amount that may be collected is reduced proportionally based on the portion delivered.

On a collect-on-delivery move, the Bill of Lading should state the maximum amount the mover expects to demand at delivery.

Additional charges and impracticable operations

Both binding and non-binding moves can involve certain charges beyond the original estimate.

Two important categories are:

additional services requested after the Bill of Lading is issued;
tariff-defined impracticable-operation charges.

Impracticable operations

What counts as an “impracticable operation” is defined in the mover’s tariff, not by one federal list.

Ask the mover what its tariff includes.

At delivery, the mover cannot require more than 15% of all other charges due at delivery for these charges.

Any amount above that is billed later under the applicable rules.

The 15% is a ceiling on what can be collected at delivery.

It is not a fee the mover may add automatically.

Additional services after the Bill of Lading

If the mover says an additional service is needed

The mover must tell you what the service is before performing it and give you at least one hour to decide.

If you agree to pay:

the agreement must be in writing;
it must be attached to the Bill of Lading;
you must sign it.

These charges are generally billed after delivery rather than collected as part of the ordinary delivery demand, except for qualifying impracticable-operation charges within the federal collection limit.

Ask:

What is the service?
Why is it needed?
What will it cost?

Get the answer in writing.

If you request an additional service

The mover must disclose the added charges.

On a binding move, a new binding estimate for the requested service must be prepared and signed.

Qualifying shipper-requested services may be collectible at delivery in addition to the binding amount or the 110% limit.

Neither process lets the mover simply re-price the goods already loaded under the original estimate.

“Guaranteed,” “fixed,” and “not-to-exceed”

Federal rules describe a binding estimate as guaranteeing the total cost of the goods and services listed in that estimate.

So a word such as “guaranteed” may be describing:

a binding estimate;
a guaranteed rate;
a pickup or delivery promise;
another narrower contract term.

Do not assume the word alone tells you which federal estimate rules apply.

Ask:

Is this estimate binding or non-binding?
What exactly is guaranteed?
Is it a rate or a total?
Which goods and services are covered?
What can still create additional charges?

The binding or non-binding label is what tells you which federal estimate rules apply.

The Bill of Lading matters

The Bill of Lading is the transportation contract.

For covered interstate household-goods moves, it generally must be:

provided to you;
signed by you;
dated;

at least three days before scheduled loading.

Federal rules also provide a three-day penalty-free rescission opportunity after signing.

If you add goods or services on moving day and a new estimate is prepared, the resulting changes to the Bill of Lading do not start a new three-day period.

Review the Bill of Lading together with:

the estimate;
any new estimate;
valuation election;
service attachments.

Federal rules no longer require a separate Order for Service. If your mover uses one, read it alongside the estimate and Bill of Lading.

Payment method

The estimate and Bill of Lading should identify the accepted payment method.

Do not wait until delivery to learn whether payment is expected by:

cash;
certified funds;
credit card;
another accepted method.

For covered non-binding moves, the mover generally must honor the agreed payment form unless you agree in writing to a change.

Access and additional charges

Federal law does not create one nationwide fee schedule for:

stairs;
elevators;
long carries;
shuttles;
parking restrictions;
storage;
waiting time;
redelivery.

Those charges depend on the mover’s tariff and the circumstances.

Before the estimate is prepared, describe both properties accurately.

Ask about:

stairs;
elevators;
long walks;
truck access;
narrow roads;
parking;
building rules.

The more accurate the access information, the easier it is to understand which tariff charges may apply.

Weight-based non-binding moves

For a covered weight-based non-binding move, federal rules provide important weighing rights.

The shipment generally must be weighed on a certified scale.

You have rights concerning:

notice of the weighing;
a reasonable opportunity to observe the weighing;
weight tickets;
reweighing in qualifying circumstances.

For a shipment weighed at origin, after you are told the billing weight and charges and before unloading begins, you may request a reweigh.

When a valid reweigh occurs, charges are based on the reweigh.

Copies of the weight tickets must accompany bills that depend on shipment weight.

On a collect-on-delivery move, you may also be able to request advance notice of the actual weight and charges before delivery, subject to the applicable timing rules and exceptions.

Broker estimates

A household-goods broker’s estimate is given on behalf of a specific motor carrier.

The estimate must be tied to:

that carrier’s survey, unless properly waived;
that carrier’s tariff;
a signed broker-carrier agreement under which the carrier adopts the estimate as its own.

That carrier is then responsible for honoring the estimate under the federal estimate rules, including the applicable 110% delivery limit on a non-binding move.

The broker-carrier agreement is public information and must be produced on reasonable request.

If the assigned carrier changes, do not assume:

the old estimate automatically transfers; or
the old estimate automatically becomes invalid.

Ask:

Which carrier is now responsible?
Which carrier’s tariff applies?
Which estimate applies?
Does the Bill of Lading match?

Get the answers in writing.

Deposits, cancellation, and rescission

Federal rules do not create one universal rule saying:

deposits must be a certain percentage;
every deposit is refundable;
every cancellation gets the same refund period.

Brokers have specific disclosure duties concerning:

cancellations;
deposits;
refunds.

Carrier terms may differ.

Separately, federal rules generally give you three days after signing the Bill of Lading to rescind it without penalty.

A company’s deposit or cancellation policy does not replace that right.

Before paying a deposit, ask in writing what happens to it if you rescind during that period.

Interstate scope

These rules generally apply to interstate household-goods moves by household-goods movers for individual shippers—people who own the goods and pay the mover themselves.

They generally do not cover:

moves entirely within one state, where state rules may apply;
moves where an employer, the military, or another government agency pays the mover directly;
container or trailer services where you, or labor you hire separately, do all the loading and unloading.

If your move falls into one of those categories, ask the mover which rules and contract terms apply.

What to check before you sign

Make sure you can answer:

Is my estimate binding or non-binding?
Was the shipment surveyed, or did I sign a written survey waiver?
Does the estimate include everything I am moving?
Which services are included?
What can create additional charges?
If the shipment changes, how will a new estimate be handled before loading?
If this is a collect-on-delivery move, what maximum amount does my Bill of Lading say I may have to pay at delivery?
What payment method is accepted?
Did I receive and sign the Bill of Lading at least three days before loading?
If the final price depends on weight, what weighing and reweigh rights apply?
Did I receive Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move with my estimate?

If you cannot answer one of those questions, ask before loading begins.

Already have an estimate?

HGM can help you research the company shown on your paperwork and understand the estimate type and terms you should review.

Use HGM Free Check to research the company shown on your documents.

For a deeper review of the estimate itself, HGM also offers Quote Review.

We don’t choose your mover. We give you better information to choose yours.

Related HGM resources:

Federal concepts referenced from 49 CFR Parts 371 and 375 and 49 U.S.C. §§ 13707 and 14104.
Last reviewed: October 6, 2026.