Things to Check Before Signing a Moving Contract in Colorado

When you’re preparing to move to a new home in Colorado, one of the most important steps is choosing a reliable moving company like Spyder Moving and Storage CO and understanding the details of the contract before you sign. The rules that protect you depend on where you are going: a move that starts and ends inside Colorado falls under the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), while a move across state lines falls under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This guide, updated for 2026, walks through what to check before signing a moving contract in Colorado under both sets of rules, from permits and estimates to liability coverage, cancellation terms and payment.

What should you check before signing a moving contract in Colorado?

Start by deciding which regulator covers your move, because the paperwork, the estimate rules and the dispute process all follow from that. A move from Denver to Colorado Springs or from Greeley to Lakewood is an intrastate move regulated by the Colorado PUC under Title 40, Article 10.1 of the Colorado Revised Statutes and the PUC transportation rules in 4 CCR 723-6. A move from Denver to Texas, Arizona or anywhere else outside Colorado is an interstate move regulated by the FMCSA under 49 CFR Part 375. The table below compares the main contract items side by side.

Which types of moving services are available?

Before you choose a moving company, it’s important to understand the different types of services available, because each one leads to a different contract. There are three main options:

• Full-service moving: the company handles packing, loading, transport and unloading. It is the most convenient option and usually the most expensive one;
• Labor-only or partial service: you rent a truck and hire movers just for loading and unloading, or for packing. You save money but still do part of the work;
• DIY move: you rent a truck, pack, load and drive it yourself. It gives you the most control and requires the most time and effort, and there is no mover’s contract at all, only a rental agreement.

How do you verify a Colorado mover’s license and insurance?

Licensing is the first item to confirm, and it takes only a few minutes online. Ask for the numbers in writing and look them up yourself instead of relying on a logo on a website.

Moves within Colorado: the PUC permit

Every legal intrastate mover in Colorado must hold a PUC permit, and the permit number, which starts with “HHG”, has to appear on the mover’s advertisements and on every contract. The contract must also state that the mover is permitted with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. If a company cannot give you an HHG number, do not sign. Whether you are comparing moving companies in Greeley CO or anywhere else in the state, look the number up in the PUC permit search and ask for proof of insurance. Colorado law also says that a mover that is not permitted may not hold your belongings to force payment, which is one more reason to check.

Moves out of state: USDOT and MC numbers

For a move from Colorado to another state, the company needs a USDOT number and interstate operating authority, shown as an MC number. Spyder Moving and Storage, for example, operates under USDOT 3187084 and MC-132217. Also ask whether you are talking to the actual carrier or to a broker that will hand your move to another company, because the carrier named on your bill of lading is the one responsible for your goods.

Review the moving company’s reputation

Reviews show how a company behaves when something goes wrong. Read recent reviews on Google, Yelp and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and look at how the company answers complaints, not only at the star rating. A pattern of unresolved damage claims or surprise charges is a warning sign. You can also ask the company for references from recent customers. Experienced movers from Lafayette CO and other Boulder County towns will usually share them, and a good company is happy to point you to its reviews.

What should the moving contract and estimate include?

Read the whole contract before you sign it, including the fine print on the back or in attachments. It should clearly state the date and time of your move, the pickup and delivery addresses, the estimated cost and every service the company will provide.

Terms the contract must spell out

For a move within Colorado, state law and PUC rules set a minimum list of items. Check that your contract includes:

• the mover’s name, physical address, phone number and HHG permit number;
• the move date, the pickup and delivery addresses and a phone number where you can be reached;
• an itemized breakdown of costs, rates and services, including extras such as packing, disassembly and storage;
• the address where your goods will be stored, if they will be held before delivery;
• the cargo liability options, with your initials showing which one you accepted;
• the forms of payment the mover accepts.

The contract should also say who packs what. If you pack your own boxes, the mover may limit its liability for their contents. Experts who work for moving companies in Meridian CO and the rest of the Denver metro area advise asking about any clause you don’t understand before the crew arrives, not on moving day.

Which type of estimate are you getting?

There are three common types of moving estimates. A binding estimate fixes the price for the services listed. A non-binding estimate is an approximation, so the final price can go up with the actual weight or time. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price at the quoted amount, and you pay less if the move costs less. Our guide to the different kinds of moving estimates explains each type in more detail.

For an in-state Colorado move, the PUC requires a written estimate listing the total costs and how they were calculated at least 24 hours before the move, and its guidance warns that phone estimates cause many disputes. An in-home walk-through is the most accurate option. For an interstate move, federal rules require an estimate based on a physical survey, done in person or by video, unless you waive it in writing. Movers from Manitou Springs CO and the Pikes Peak region suggest getting every estimate in writing so you can compare them line by line.

Which extra fees and charges can be added?

In addition to the basic estimate, ask for a written list of possible extra charges. Common ones include long carries when the truck cannot park near your door, stairs or elevators, packing materials such as boxes and tape, and handling of heavy items like pianos or gun safes. Colorado’s required consumer advisement lists the main reasons a final price can change: services you add on moving day, items that were not in the original estimate, changes in building access at either end, and a change to the agreed pickup or delivery date. If none of those apply, the price should match what you signed.

Inclusions and exclusions in your moving contract

Make sure the contract clearly says what is included in the price and what is not. Most companies include loading, transport and unloading, while packing, crating and special handling are often billed separately. If you need help with heavy furniture or fragile items, ask the company to list these services in your contract. Anything that was promised by phone but is missing from the paper is not part of the deal.

How does mover liability work in Colorado?

Liability coverage decides how much you get back if something is lost or damaged, so it is worth reading this part of the contract twice.

Released value vs. full value coverage

The basic option is released value protection, which is included at no extra cost but pays very little. For a move within Colorado, the PUC’s sample contract limits the mover’s liability under this option to the lesser of 60 cents per pound per lost or damaged article or the article’s actual value after depreciation. For an interstate move, federal rules set released value at 60 cents per pound per article. In both cases, a 10-pound lamp worth hundreds of dollars would be reimbursed at no more than $6.

The higher option is full value or full replacement cost protection. On an in-state move, you declare the value of your shipment and may choose a deductible; if you declare less than the shipment is worth, the mover’s payment for each item is reduced in proportion. On an interstate move, Full Value Protection makes the mover liable for repair, replacement or a cash settlement up to the declared value, and it costs extra. Colorado contracts require your initials next to each option you accept or decline, so don’t sign a blank liability section.

Valuation coverage vs. buying moving insurance

The two options above are valuation coverage, not insurance: they set the amount the mover agrees to pay if something is damaged or lost. The numbers are close for in-state and interstate moves, but the wording and the dispute process differ, so read the exact text in your own contract.

Buying moving insurance from a third-party insurer is the step beyond valuation. It can cover accidental breakage, natural disasters and items while they sit in storage, which valuation typically does not. It’s worth pricing if you’re moving antiques, instruments or a houseful of electronics, or if your belongings will spend time in a warehouse between homes. Check first whether your homeowners or renters policy already covers goods in transit; some do, many don’t. Whichever route you take, photograph valuable items before packing and keep the inventory list, since every claim starts with proof of condition.

What happens if items are damaged or lost?

Accidents can happen, so know the claims process before you sign. Moving companies in Commerce City CO and everywhere else in the state have to offer the liability options described above, and the amount you recover depends on the option you chose. Note any damage on the delivery paperwork before the crew leaves, then file a written claim with the moving company.

For an in-state move, Colorado law sends refund disputes to binding arbitration, and you can report fraud, overcharging, damaged goods or a mover that refuses to return your property through the PUC’s consumer page for household goods movers, which also links to the permit search. For an interstate move, you have 9 months from delivery to file a written claim; the mover must acknowledge it within 30 days and give you a decision within 120 days. The FMCSA’s Protect Your Move program explains these rights in plain language.

When will your belongings arrive, and what if plans change?

Dates matter as much as prices. Get the pickup date, the delivery date or window, and the rules for changing them in writing.

Understanding the delivery window

On a long-distance or interstate move, your belongings may share a truck with other shipments, so movers often give a range of dates instead of a single day. Ask how the window is calculated, how you will be notified, and what compensation or help the company offers if it misses the window. Knowing this helps you plan your move-in day and any short-term housing.

Cancellation and rescheduling policies

Plans change, so read the cancellation and rescheduling terms before you sign. Many moving companies in Thornton and the rest of Adams County charge a fee or keep the deposit if you cancel close to the move date. Also ask what happens if you need to change the date: some companies reschedule for free, others add a fee. Remember that a change to the agreed pickup or delivery date is one of the factors that can change your final price.

How long will the move take?

The timeline depends on the distance, the size of your home, access at both addresses and road conditions. Ask the moving company for a written estimate of the hours or days, and remember that on an hourly local move, extra time means a higher bill. Delays caused by weather or traffic should be addressed in the contract.

Colorado weather and mountain roads

Colorado’s geography adds its own risks. The Colorado Department of Transportation can activate traction and chain laws on any state highway during storms, and on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero these rules apply from September 1 to May 31 when conditions require. If you’re moving to or from a mountain town, ask the company how it handles winter closures and steep driveways, and what the contract says about weather delays. Our guide to planning an interstate move out of Colorado in winter covers this in more detail.

Who will actually handle your move?

The experience of the crew affects how your furniture and fragile items are handled. Ask whether the company uses its own employees and trucks or hires day laborers and subcontractors, and whether the staff gets safety training or background checks. Ask who will be the crew lead on moving day and how you can reach them. Lots of moving companies in Westminster CO train their crews in padding, wrapping and loading techniques, and a company that invests in training will be happy to explain how.

Why should you get everything in writing?

Once you’ve agreed on the details, make sure everything is on paper: the estimate, the contract, the liability option and any extra services. Written terms protect both you and the moving company if there are problems later. Keep copies of the signed contract, the consumer advisement or federal booklets you received, the inventory list and the final receipt. If a salesperson promises something by phone or text, ask for it to be added to the contract before you sign.

Final inspection and payment terms

Before you make the final payment, inspect your items and note any damage on the paperwork right away. Then check the payment terms: whether a deposit is required, when the balance is due and how you can pay. For moves within Colorado, the mover must accept at least two of these payment forms: cash, a cashier’s check or money order, a personal check, or a credit card, and the accepted forms must be listed in the contract. Avoid any company that demands a large cash deposit before it has seen your home.

Ready to sign your Colorado moving contract?

A careful review takes an hour and can save you from surprise fees, weak liability coverage and delivery disputes. Confirm the permit or USDOT number, get a written estimate after a walk-through, choose your liability option, and make sure the date, payment and cancellation terms are on paper. Spyder Moving and Storage has offices in Denver and Colorado Springs, with its own crews and trucks for local, long-distance and interstate moves. Talk to our Denver movers or our Colorado Springs movers, and request a free estimate so you can review a written moving contract in Colorado before you commit.