10 Questions to Ask Packers and Movers Before You Book

Before booking any mover, ask these ten questions. A professional will answer all of them in writing without hesitation; evasive answers on even two or three are your cue to keep looking.

The 10 questions

1. Will you do a pre-move survey? In person or on video — without one, any quote is a guess, as our charges guide explains.
2. Is the quote itemized on letterhead? Packing material, labour, transport, insurance, and taxes as separate lines.
3. What is your GSTIN? Verify the trade name on the GST portal.
4. Will my goods travel in a dedicated vehicle or shared load? Shared saves money on small moves but adds days and handling; dedicated is safer for full homes.
5. What insurance do you offer, and what does it exclude? Transit-only or comprehensive; ask how claims work and what the claim documentation process is.
6. Will I get a Lorry Receipt? Non-negotiable — it's your legal title to the shipment.
7. Who is accountable at delivery? A named coordinator with a phone number, not a call centre.
8. What charges could be added on moving day? Get the complete list — floor charges, waiting charges, toll, unpacking — in writing beforehand.
9. What happens if delivery is delayed? Ask about storage and per-day terms; for planned gaps, ask about warehousing options.
10. Can you share references from my locality? Local references from your own area — say, Pune or Hyderabad — are far harder to fake than star ratings.

Why do these questions work?

Because fraud thrives on ambiguity. Every question forces a specific, checkable commitment — and operators who intend to inflate prices on moving day simply won't put things in writing. For the fuller vetting process, see how to find the best packers and movers and the red flags of moving fraud.

Ask us these ten questions too — request a quote and you'll get every answer in writing, standard.