Quick answer
To check whether a Colorado mover is licensed, search the company's exact business name in the Colorado PUC household goods mover permit search at puc.colorado.gov/movers. An active permit, a matching name, and a permit number printed on your contract are the three things to confirm. For an interstate move, also verify the company's USDOT number with the FMCSA. The whole check takes about two minutes.
We have moved more than 7,000 Colorado households since 2010, and the hardest calls we take are from people who already hired the wrong company. Almost every one of those situations could have been avoided with a two-minute license check. This guide shows you exactly how to run it, what Colorado law requires in your contract, and the warning signs that should end the conversation.
1. Why a Colorado Mover License Matters
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission regulates household goods movers under Title 40, Article 10.1 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. A mover must hold an active PUC permit before it moves a single box, and that permit is not transferable. A company also cannot operate under a name the permit does not list, which is why a matching name matters as much as the permit itself.
A permit is your leverage. It means the company has filed with the state, carries the insurance the PUC requires, and answers to a regulator if something goes wrong. Unpermitted operators, often found through marketplace ads or with nothing more than a phone number, give you none of that. If they damage your floors or hold your furniture for more money, your options shrink fast.
Our guide to avoiding moving scams in Colorado covers the common schemes in depth. This post focuses on the verification steps.
2. How to Look Up a Mover's PUC Permit, Step by Step
- Go to puc.colorado.gov/movers and open the household goods mover permit search.
- Type the exact business name from your quote or website. Try the legal name and the trade name if they differ.
- Confirm the permit status is active, not expired, suspended, or revoked.
- Compare the name and address on the permit with the name on your estimate, invoice, and truck.
- Write down the permit number and check that the same number appears on your contract.
- If you cannot find the company, ask for its permit number directly. A legitimate mover will give it immediately.
If anything does not match, call PUC Consumer Assistance at 303-894-2070 before you pay a deposit. The same page has a complaint form if a mover has already caused a problem.
3. Interstate Moves: The USDOT Number Check
A move that crosses state lines, for example Denver to Phoenix or Dallas to Denver, falls under federal rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Interstate household goods movers must be registered with FMCSA and display a USDOT number. You can look that number up on FMCSA's Protect Your Move site to see the company's registration and complaint history.
Interstate movers must also give you the federal booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. If you are planning a cross-country move, our long distance moving guide walks through estimates, timing, and delivery windows.
4. What Colorado Law Requires in Your Moving Contract
Colorado statute spells out what a household goods mover must put in writing. Use this table as a checklist when your contract arrives.
| Requirement | What to look for |
|---|---|
| PUC permit statement | A line stating the mover is permitted with the PUC, with the permit number filled in |
| Itemized costs | Each charge and service listed, not one unexplained lump sum |
| Location of goods | The address where your belongings will be held if they are not delivered the same day |
| Payment options | At least two accepted forms from cash, certified funds, personal check, and credit card |
| Consumer advisement | A written notice of your rights, provided by the mover |
| Dispute process | Binding arbitration offered for disputes over charges, loss, or damage |
Colorado also protects essentials during a payment dispute. A mover can never withhold prescription medicine, medical devices, or children's furniture, clothing, or toys. If goods are lawfully held, the mover must tell you where they are and what is owed within five days of your written request.
5. Red Flags That Should End the Conversation
- No PUC permit, or a permit under a different company name
- A large cash deposit demanded before any written estimate
- A quote given over the phone in seconds with no questions about stairs, inventory, or access
- No physical address, no reviews older than a few months, and a generic email address
- Cash only, which also conflicts with the two-payment-method rule
- A rented truck with no company name, or a crew that arrives in personal vehicles
- Pressure to sign a blank or incomplete contract on move day
Price is a red flag too. A quote far below every other bid is often the opening move in a bait-and-switch where the total jumps once your things are on the truck. For honest benchmarks, see our Denver moving cost guide and our published flat-rate pricing.
6. How We Handle Verification at Exquisite Logistics
We want you to check us. Ask for our PUC permit number when you book and look it up yourself. Our prices are published before you ever talk to us: $449 for a studio with two movers and two hours, $599 for one bedroom, $749 for two bedrooms, and $949 for three bedrooms, plus a flat $99 travel fee that covers the first 15 miles. A $50 deposit holds your date, and the balance is due on move day by card.
We also provide certificates of insurance for apartment and condo buildings at no charge. If you are comparing several companies, our guide to choosing a Denver moving company lists the questions worth asking every one of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a moving company is licensed in Colorado?
Use the household goods mover permit search on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) website at puc.colorado.gov/movers. Search the exact business name the mover uses on its quote, confirm the permit is active, and make sure the name matches. For a move that crosses state lines, also look up the company's USDOT number with the FMCSA.
Do movers in Colorado need a license?
Yes. Under Colorado law (Title 40, Article 10.1, C.R.S.), a household goods mover must hold a permit from the Colorado PUC before it can operate. The permit cannot be transferred, and the mover cannot operate under a business name that the permit does not list.
What must a Colorado moving contract include?
State law requires the contract to state that the mover is permitted with the PUC along with its permit number, an itemized breakdown of costs and services, and the address where your goods will be held. The mover must also give you a written consumer advisement and accept at least two forms of payment from a list that includes cash, certified funds, personal check, and credit card.
Can a Colorado mover hold my belongings hostage?
Colorado law limits it. A mover can never withhold prescription medicine, medical devices, or children's furniture, clothing, or toys. If a mover lawfully stores goods over a payment dispute, it must tell you where they are and what is owed within five days of a written request, and it must offer binding arbitration for disputes over charges or damage.
Who do I call to report a moving company in Colorado?
Call the Colorado PUC Consumer Assistance line at 303-894-2070 or use the complaint form on puc.colorado.gov/movers. For interstate moves, you can also file a complaint with FMCSA through its National Consumer Complaint Database.
Is Exquisite Logistics Moving licensed?
Yes. Exquisite Logistics Moving is a licensed and insured Colorado household goods mover, family-run since 2010. Ask for our PUC permit number when you book and verify it yourself on the PUC search before move day. We encourage every customer to do the same with any mover.
Sources
Fees, deadlines, and figures were checked against these sources when this guide was published on April 8, 2026. Agencies update their rules, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you rely on it.
Ready When You Are
Exquisite Logistics Moving is a family-run, licensed and insured Colorado mover with more than 7,000 completed moves since 2010 and a perfect 5.0 rating across 102 Google reviews. Flat-rate local moves start at $449, a $50 deposit holds your date, and we answer the phone 24/7 at (720) 241-3615. You can also get an instant quote and book online.
