Short answer: both. You pay a small deposit when you book, and the rest between loading day and delivery. How big that deposit is, who collects it, and what you owe at each door all depend on which type of company you hired. Here is how it works in 2026, what federal rules cap, and exactly how Eden’s does it.
Who you hire decides when you pay
Long-distance movers fall into three groups. Each one handles money differently, and the difference matters more than the price on the quote.
| Company type | Deposit at booking | Balance due | Who you actually pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| National van line (agent network) | Often none, or a small hold | In full at delivery, before unloading | The local agent or the van line |
| Independent carrier (like Eden’s) | Small, fixed deposit | Often split: a share at loading, the rest at delivery | The company whose trucks show up |
| Moving broker | Large, often 20% or more | Balance to a carrier you have never met | Two parties: the broker, then the carrier |
A broker does not own trucks. It sells your move to whichever carrier has room, and its deposit is its commission. That is why a broker deposit is usually large and rarely refundable. You can check whether a company is a carrier or a broker on the FMCSA Protect Your Move site by its USDOT number.
What is a reasonable deposit for a long-distance move?
Federal rules do not set a deposit limit, so this is a judgment call. Our guidance: a small flat deposit that reserves a specific pickup date and is applied to the final bill is normal. Eden’s charges $100. Anything in the low hundreds is in the same range. A deposit calculated as a percentage of the total, especially 20% or more, is a broker pattern. FMCSA lists “demands cash or a large deposit before the move” as a red flag of moving fraud.
Ask two questions before you pay anything. Is the deposit refundable, and until what date? And is it applied to the final bill? Get both answers in writing on the estimate, not by phone.
What you owe on loading day
It varies. Van lines usually collect nothing until delivery. Many independent carriers collect a share of the binding estimate once the truck is loaded, and the rest when it is unloaded. Eden’s collects 60% at loading. Either way, loading day is when the crew inventories and tags everything, wraps the furniture, and hands you a copy of the bill of lading. Do not pay a loading-day amount that is not written on the estimate you signed.
What the law says you pay at delivery
Interstate moves are governed by 49 CFR Part 375. Three rules protect you at the delivery door.
- Non-binding estimate: the mover can require at most 110% of the estimate before unloading. Anything above that is invoiced after delivery, and federal rules give you up to 30 days to pay it.
- Binding estimate: the mover can require exactly the estimated amount, plus only the services you added after signing.
- Payment form: the mover must state on the estimate, the order for service, and the bill of lading which forms of payment it accepts. If the paperwork says certified check and the driver demands cash, stop and call the office.
Movers and brokers must also give you the FMCSA booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move before you sign. If you never received it, that is another red flag.
Paying with a credit card
Many movers accept cards, and many add a processing fee of roughly 3% to 5% because that is what the card networks charge them. Confirm the fee in writing before booking. Paying by card has one real advantage: if the company disappears or the delivery goes wrong, you can dispute the charge through your card issuer. Call the issuer before a large charge so it isn’t flagged as fraud on delivery day.
How Eden’s handles payment (2026)
- Deposit at booking: $100, deducted from the total cost of the move
- Refund: the deposit is fully refundable up to 48 hours before your move date
- At loading: 60% of the binding estimate, once your goods are on the truck
- At delivery: the remaining 40%, before unloading. No surprises, because the estimate is binding
- Accepted: cash, certified or cashier’s check, and credit cards with a 3% to 5% processing fee
- Every customer gets a written, binding estimate after a video or in-home survey, along with the FMCSA rights booklet.
Eden’s is the carrier on every move under USDOT 1752778 and MC 641757. The people you pay are the people driving the truck. See our long-distance moving services or the route pages for Colorado to California and Colorado to Texas moves.
Red flags before you hand over money
- A quote over the phone with no video or in-home survey
- A deposit that is a percentage of the total, or a demand for cash
- No physical address, no USDOT number, or a phone answered as “Movers”
- Being asked to sign blank or incomplete paperwork
- No written estimate, or one that “will be finalized after loading”
Any one of these is enough to walk away. Two together probably means it’s a broker or a scam.
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay movers before or after the move?
Both. A small deposit reserves your date at booking ($100 at Eden’s, credited to your bill), some carriers collect a share at loading (60% at Eden’s), and the rest is due at delivery before the truck is unloaded. On a non-binding interstate estimate, the mover can collect up to 110% of the estimate at delivery, and the rest is invoiced afterward, with up to 30 days to pay.
Is a moving deposit refundable?
It depends on the contract, because federal rules do not regulate deposits. Ask for the refund deadline in writing before you pay. Carrier deposits are usually refundable up to a cutoff date. At Eden’s, the $100 deposit is refundable up to 48 hours before the move. Broker deposits are usually the broker’s commission and are rarely returned.
Can movers hold my belongings until I pay?
Yes, up to the legal limit. On a non-binding estimate, the mover can require 110% of the estimate before unloading. Holding goods for more than that amount, or for charges not on the bill of lading, is a violation you can report to the FMCSA.
Do I tip long-distance movers, and when?
Tipping is optional and separate from the bill. Customers who tip usually do it at delivery, in cash, split between the crew. It is never expected and never on the bill.
What happens if the final bill is higher than the estimate?
With a binding estimate, nothing changes unless you added services. With a non-binding estimate, you pay up to 110% at delivery, and the remainder is invoiced with up to 30 days to pay. If the mover claims you have more items than estimated, ask for a new written estimate before loading starts.
Get a binding estimate before you pay anyone
Tell us where you are going and when. We will do a video or in-home survey, send a written binding estimate, and put the deposit terms on it in plain language. Request a free estimate or call (720) 370-3455.