Before hiring a moving company, check the business, the quote and the information that can actually be verified. This guide describes a general process for any Quebec moving company; it does not replace careful reading of an agreement or a discussion about your particular move.
Why verify a moving company before booking?
A move often involves a fixed date, important belongings, building constraints and payment arrangements. A basic verification helps you identify the business you are dealing with and compare the information you receive with independent sources.
The goal is not to find a perfect promise. It is to gather consistent information: legal business name, contact details, registration status, a detailed quote, payment terms and clear answers about the specific project.
Quebec’s Office de la protection du consommateur recommends comparing offers, checking relevant information and obtaining a clear agreement before hiring a mover. Verification cannot guarantee the outcome of a project, but it can support a better-informed decision.
1. Check the company’s legal identity
Start by asking for the name under which the company does business, its address, telephone number and email address. Compare those details with the quote, contract, invoice and website.
The Quebec enterprise number, commonly called an NEQ, is a ten-digit identifier assigned when an enterprise is registered. It can help you search for a specific business in Quebec’s Enterprise Register.
An NEQ is generally required for a business operating in Quebec, but exceptions exist. The absence of an NEQ alone is therefore not proof that a company is fraudulent. Ask for clarification and assess all available information.
2. Search the Quebec Enterprise Register
The official search service can be used with an NEQ, an enterprise name or related words. It may display information such as the business name, registration status, names used and certain declared addresses.
Search the exact name shown on the quote. If the company provides an NEQ, search with that as well. Then compare the result with the name, contact details and activities described by the company.
A status such as Registered describes the enterprise’s registration status. Check the result when you conduct your search: an old screenshot or an advertising statement is not a substitute for the current official record.
3. Ask about insurance
Discuss insurance before booking, particularly if your building, property manager or project owner requires a specific document. The OPC recommends checking whether a moving company has basic insurance for moved property and civil liability insurance.
Ask what the company can confirm and what document it can provide when your situation requires it. Do not assume that a stated coverage amount automatically describes every protection, exclusion or condition that may apply to your assignment.
There is no need to request or publish unnecessary sensitive details such as a complete policy number. Request suitable proof directly from the company when it is relevant to your building, contract or project.
4. Read the quote and terms carefully
A useful quote should help you understand what is planned: the type of move, addresses, date, access, stairs, elevator, volume, special items and requested services. Ask how the cost is calculated and what may change it.
For a contract made by phone or online, the OPC states that certain information must be clearly provided before the agreement is made. This includes the merchant’s identity and contact details, service description, total cost, payment terms, date and time, cancellation conditions and applicable restrictions.
Give accurate information about floors, parking, hallways, elevator access, heavy items and the distance between the truck and each entrance. Incomplete information can prevent an estimate from reflecting the actual project.
5. Deposit, payment and distance contracts
Payment practices vary from one company to another. Where possible, the OPC advises consumers not to pay a deposit before the move, or to keep it very small. This advice is intended to reduce the risk of losing a significant amount if a business closes or does not show up.
That does not mean every deposit is prohibited. Read the terms, ask questions and keep written confirmation of what was agreed. If the agreement is made at a distance, keep the contract, emails and confirmations of the assignment details.
Do not sign a document if you do not understand the price, conditions or restrictions. Ask for clarification before confirming; the most useful record is one that describes the specific assignment you are considering.
6. Check reputation without relying only on reviews
Reviews can be useful starting points, but they are not complete proof. Read them with care and look for information you can verify: company responses, consistent contact details, a clear quote and documents supplied before booking.
Quebec’s Find out about a merchant tool can be searched by business name, address or NEQ. It may show certain OPC interventions, consumer formal notices or permits.
The tool does not necessarily list every merchant. No result is therefore not an endorsement, just as a positive review does not replace reading an agreement.
7. Notice warning signs
One issue does not prove a scam. Several inconsistencies should, however, be a reason to pause and request written information. Use caution if a company gives only a phone number, refuses to provide a consistent name or address, or avoids describing its services.
Compare the advertised price, number of movers, truck size, travel charges and conditions with the terms provided before moving day. The OPC notes that a mover must provide the service agreed upon.
Pressure to make a substantial payment quickly without clear documents is a reason to ask for an explanation and keep a record of the exchange. These are signals to verify further, not automatic proof against a company.
8. Special case: heavy vehicles and commercial assignments
Quebec’s Commission des transports states that people operating or putting certain heavy vehicles on the road generally must register in the Register of Heavy Vehicle Owners and Operators, subject to exceptions. This depends on the vehicle and activity; it should not be presented as a requirement that applies automatically to every moving company.
For a commercial move, add an administrative review before discussing execution: legal identity, contact details, insurance, service scope and requirements specific to the building or contract. Describe loading docks, working hours, equipment, responsibilities and documents your organization requires.
An Enterprise Register search does not replace the requirements of your own procurement process. It can be a useful first point of comparison before discussing a quote or assignment.
How to verify DTHV
This guide explains how to verify any moving company in Quebec. To verify DTHV specifically, visit the Trust and compliance page: it presents the company’s legal name, Quebec enterprise number, stated registration status and insurance information communicated by DTHV.
When you are ready, describe your project in a quote request or contact DTHV with a question. You may also review the website’s terms of use before submitting a request.
