Illinois Move Over the Estimate: Pay 110 Percent, Then 30 Days

By James Brazil

James Brazil lives in Mérida, Mexico. He founded Swift Agent Sites and studied Classics at the University of Mississippi.

Published 12 November 2026 · Updated 12 November 2026

An estimate from an Illinois household-goods mover is not binding. The Illinois Commerce Commission's 2026 consumer guide says it is a general idea of the cost under normal conditions, and the bill follows the service actually performed: what moved, the weight, the distance, the workers, and the hours.

If the final charges exceed the estimate, ICC staff say you pay 110 percent of the estimated charges at the end of the move and have 30 days to pay the rest. The 110 percent figure changes what is due at the truck. It does not cap the tariff. You still owe the filed rates for the work that was done.

What has to be on the estimate?

A licensed mover must give you a free written estimate of the probable cost. Get it before the move starts. The guide says the estimate should state what you decided to move, the other services, including how many employees and what size vehicle the job needs, and the mover's liability for loss or damage. You get a signed copy. The estimator should see everything, including the basement, attic, and garage, and should hear about stairs or an elevator at the destination.

The estimate is based on what you told the mover or on an in-home look by the company's staff. If the inventory changes, the hours and the price can change. A box you added in the driveway is part of that sentence. Show the whole house the first time so the 110 percent conversation is about the tariff, not about a room nobody walked through.

How do I check the rate?

All rates are in the tariff filed with the ICC. You may see that page at the mover's office or at the Commission. Call 217-782-6448 and a staff member can verify the rates on file. The same office is the one that explains the 110 percent collection at delivery and the 30 days for the balance. Final charges still depend on the actual time. A verified hourly rate does not freeze the number of hours.

Local jobs and long jobs use different math. Under 50 miles, or entirely inside Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will, the price may be workers and hours. Farther out, it is weight and distance. See which calculation applies. The license check is in how to confirm the ICC license.

What should I do at delivery?

Bring the signed estimate. If the bill is higher, pay 110 percent of the estimate and ask for the balance in writing with the 30-day date. Get a receipt for what you paid that day. Do not sign a blank paper that says the shipment arrived in perfect condition if you have not looked. Damage claims use the valuation on the bill of lading, often 60 cents per pound per article unless you bought more. See that valuation.

A move that leaves Illinois does not use this state page as its release rule. Federal rules have their own 110 percent tender for a non-binding interstate estimate. Ask which paper the driver is holding before you quote the Illinois 30 days to a crew headed out of state.

What if the number still looks wrong?

Write the company and keep the estimate, the bill, and the tariff page. Then file with the ICC. The transportation complaint form has a box for household goods. Mail goes to ICC Police, 9511 Harrison Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016, with copies of the papers. See how to file that complaint. An insurance complaint with the Department of Insurance is the wrong desk unless a policy, not the mover's tariff, is the dispute.

How do I write down the 110 percent math?

On the back of your estimate copy, write the estimate total, 110 percent of that total, the amount you handed over, the time, and the name of the person who took it. If the bill is $2,000 and the estimate was $1,500, 110 percent of the estimate is $1,650 due at delivery, and the other $350 is the balance the ICC describes as payable within 30 days. Use your own numbers. The example is arithmetic, not a rate. Ask for the balance on a company invoice that cites the tariff, not a cash figure with no paper. If the crew wants more than 110 percent before they will finish unloading, pay the 110 percent you can document and put the refusal in the complaint. Do not sign away the damage notes to get the door open.

FAQ

Is the written estimate a cap? No. The 2026 guide says an estimate is not binding and you pay the tariff for the service performed.

What do I have to pay before they finish unloading? ICC staff say 110 percent of the estimated charges. The rest is due within 30 days if the bill is higher.

Can the ICC check the hourly rate? Yes. Call 217-782-6448. Staff can verify the rates on file. They cannot turn an estimate into a guaranteed price.

Does adding boxes on moving day change the bill? Yes. The Commission says changes to the inventory can change the estimated hours and the actual time.

Does this 30-day balance apply to a move to Wisconsin? Use the federal rule for a move that crosses the state line. This page is the ICC's description of an Illinois household-goods job.

Next step

Get the signed estimate while the estimator is still in the house. On delivery, pay 110 percent if the bill is higher, take a receipt, and calendar the 30 days for the balance. Call 217-782-6448 if the rate on the invoice is not the rate in the tariff.

Sources: ICC 2026 consumer guide, ICC Police: household goods questions.