A legitimate Swedish moving company has four things in place: approved F-skatt, registration with Bolagsverket, a valid goods transport permit, and proper insurance. Checking takes ten minutes, and it is the difference between a safe move and having no recourse when something is broken.
Four checks before you book
1. Approved F-skatt
The RUT deduction requires the company to hold approved F-skatt. Without it you get no deduction, effectively doubling the labour cost you budgeted for. You also risk being treated as an employer, responsible for tax and social contributions.
Verify with Skatteverket.
2. Registration with Bolagsverket
Look up the organisation number (organisationsnummer) with Bolagsverket and check the company exists, the name matches, and who is authorised to sign for it. A company with no organisation number on its website is a clear warning sign.
3. Goods transport permit
This one is almost always overlooked, and it is specific to Sweden. Commercial transport of goods for payment requires a permit (yrkestrafiktillstånd) from Transportstyrelsen. Without it the operation is not legal, and the company's insurance cover can be challenged when something happens.
Ask directly whether they hold one. A serious company answers without hesitating.
4. Insurance
The company should carry liability insurance covering damage to your belongings during loading, transport and unloading, plus vehicle insurance.
Ask:
- What amount does the liability insurance cover?
- What is the excess, and who pays it?
- How and within what time do I report damage?
- Does it cover items I packed myself?
Your home insurance normally provides limited cover during the move itself, so the company's insurance is what applies.
Bohag 2010
Bohag 2010 is the Swedish moving industry's standard terms for household moves, agreed with the consumer side. They govern liability, compensation levels, and how long you have to report damage.
Ask whether the company applies Bohag 2010 and request the terms in writing. Guidance on your rights is available from Hallå Konsument, run by the Swedish Consumer Agency.
If no standard terms apply at all, the burden of proving everything falls on you when something goes wrong.
Warning signs
- A price far below market. Usually a sign that taxes and contributions are not being reported, and you inherit the problem afterwards.
- No written quote, just a verbal estimate
- Demands for cash payment upfront, especially the full amount
- No registered address or organisation number on the website
- Reluctance to answer questions about insurance or permits
- Frequent company name changes, which can bury earlier complaints
- A quote that does not specify what is included
Comparing quotes fairly
- Get at least three quotes on exactly the same brief
- Describe the home honestly: square metres, floor, elevator, carrying distance, heavy items
- Compare what is included, not just the bottom line
- Check the labour cost is itemised separately, or the RUT deduction cannot be verified
- Ask which surcharges can be added
A company that costs more but includes the call-out fee, packing materials and furniture assembly may be cheaper overall. See what moving costs.
The written contract
Always get it in writing before booking, covering:
- Dates and times
- Exactly which services are included
- The price, and whether it is fixed or hourly
- Which surcharges can be added
- Payment terms
- Insurance and the terms that apply
- That the RUT deduction is applied directly on the invoice
Heavy and fragile items
If you have a piano, a safe, an aquarium, art or antiques, ask specifically:
- Do you have experience with this particular type of item?
- What equipment is used, such as a piano trolley, straps and blankets?
- Is the item insured for its full value, or is there a cap?
Piano moves are almost always priced separately. A company that says it "will be fine" without asking follow-up questions has probably not done it before.
How to read reviews
Reco.se and Google are the most used. Read critically:
- Look at how the company responds to criticism, not just the average score
- Be wary of many similar five-star reviews posted close together
- Read the two and three-star reviews, that is where the specifics are
- Ask for references from customers with a similar move
If something is damaged
- Document immediately with photos, ideally before anything is moved further
- Report to the company within the deadline stated in the contract or Bohag 2010
- Keep the quote, contract and invoice
- If you cannot agree, Hallå Konsument offers guidance
Photograph valuable furniture before loading. It is the simplest way to show that damage happened during the move.
Checklist
- Approved F-skatt verified
- Organisation number checked with Bolagsverket
- Transport permit confirmed
- Liability insurance, amount and excess known
- Bohag 2010 or equivalent terms in writing
- Three quotes on the same brief
- Labour cost itemised separately
- Written contract before booking
Two ways to lose the deduction
Paying cash. Since 2020, ROT and RUT require electronic payment: card, Swish, BankID or a bank transfer. Cash means the deduction is lost entirely, however properly the work was done.
Hiring a relative. The person doing the work must not be related to you. That covers a spouse, cohabiting partner, parents, children, siblings and their families. More in the RUT deduction.
Common questions
How do I know a moving company is legitimate?
Check approved F-skatt, registration with Bolagsverket, a transport permit from Transportstyrelsen, and insurance.
Why does the transport permit matter?
Commercial goods transport for payment requires one. Without it the operation is not legal and insurance can be challenged.
What is Bohag 2010?
The industry's standard terms for household moves, governing liability, compensation and reporting deadlines.
What insurance should the company have?
Liability insurance for your belongings and vehicle insurance. Ask about the amount and excess.
What are the warning signs?
A price far below market, no written quote, cash demanded upfront, and reluctance to discuss insurance.
How do I compare quotes fairly?
Three quotes on the same brief, compare what is included, and check the labour cost is itemised.
Related guides: what moving costs, moving checklist for Sweden and move-out cleaning. Back to moving in Stockholm.