Learn how to vet and verify that your potential Edmonton moving company is fully licensed and legitimate, not a scam, with tips on researching credentials.
When planning an upcoming move in Edmonton, ensuring you choose a legal, licensed, and legitimate moving company is crucial to avoid lost belongings, damaged items, unchecked movers in your home, and potential moving scams.
With so many seemingly professional Edmonton moving company to select from online and in ads, distinguishing the great ones from potential scams takes research and asking the right questions.
This guide will cover tips like:
- Researching moving companies’ licenses and credentials
- Spotting red flag indicators of an illegitimate mover
- Questions to ask Edmonton moving companies to evaluate legitimacy
- Expectations for professional, ethical moving standards
Follow these suggestions when vetting Edmonton moving companies to avoid moving horror stories and ensure your belongings arrive securely.
Validating Licenses and Credentials
Confirm that any potential Edmonton moving company under consideration holds all required provincial and federal operating licenses by:
- Searching for the company on the Alberta Motor Transport Association AMTA public registry to validate their membership and operating authority.
- Cross-checking for necessary operating licenses on the Service Alberta website depending on the types of moves completed (in-province, out-of-province, US, international).
- Calling listed insurance providers to confirm active commercial cargo and liability insurance.
Red Flag: Missing memberships
If an Edmonton moving company is not registered with AMTA or lacks active insurance, consider this a red flag warning sign of a potential scam mover.
| License Type | Required For | Granted By |
| AMTA Membership | Professional in/out of province moves | Alberta Motor Transport Association |
| Operating Authority | Long-distance transport | Alberta Transportation |
| General Freight Carrier License | Transporting household goods | Service Alberta |
| Commercial Insurance | Protecting your property | Third party insurance provider |
Green Flag: Properly Insured
Ensure movers carry a minimum of $1 million in commercial cargo insurance and $2 million in commercial general liability insurance. This protects your items in case of accidents, damage, or loss.
Check online reviews across multiple sites like Google, Facebook, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau and be wary of:
- No online presence or mentions
- Reviews only on the company’s own website
Watching for Red Flags
Be cautious of questionable business practices that may indicate shady dealings or straight-up scams.
Red flag behaviors include:
- Pushy sales tactics urging immediate down payments
- Vague about company details, physical location, licensing
- Sites with multiple company names or info mismatches
- Requests you pay in full before the move
- Asks for prepaid debit/gift cards instead of business cheques
Document all interactions and walk away from high-pressure movers focused solely on payments over building trust.
Ask These Key Vetting Questions
When evaluating potential Edmonton moving companies, inquire about:
- Staff screening: Do movers undergo criminal background checks?
- Employee training: Is ongoing training provided for safe appliance transport, packing protocols, handling valuables, etc.?
- Packing/unpacking services: What prep/packing help do they offer? What about on the unloading end?
- Responsibility for damages: Who pays for repairs if items are broken? Is there claims paperwork?
- Storage capabilities: Can they temporarily store items if needed between properties?
- Scheduled move timeline: When will packing/loading begin and end? How long is transit?
- Proof of insurance: Can they provide documentation of up-to-date commercial insurance certificates?
⚠ Warning Signs in Responses ⚠
If movers dodge questions, provide vague answers without specifics, respond with annoyance or aggression, or try to flip questions back onto you – consider these possible red flags.
Standards of a Reputable Mover
Beyond verifying licenses and watching for shady practices, legitimate Edmonton moving companies should:
- Provide courteous, patient service without aggressive sales tactics
- Maintain an official commercial business location you can visit
- Clearly explain offered services, responsbilities, timeline and all associated costs/fees in a binding contract
- Conduct a full in-home assessment to develop an accurate quote
- Offer solutions for potential issues like parking permits
Key Takeaway
Professional movers focus more on customer service and care than payments. They will take time to understand the details of your move, provide proposals, answer all questions thoroughly, and put agreements protecting you in writing.
