If you have fragile and/or high-value items, purchasing additional moving insurance is recommended.

Under Federal law, interstate movers must offer two different liability options referred to as valuation coverage:

OPTION A - RELEASED VALUE (DEFAULT COVERAGE WITH NO ADDITIONAL PAYMENT)

The protection is minimal. Under this option, the mover assumes liability for no more than 60 cents per pound per article. For example, if your mover lost or damaged a 10-pound stereo component valued at $1,000, you would only receive $6.00 in compensation (60 cents x 10 pounds).

OPTION B - FULL VALUE PROTECTION (ADDITIONAL PAYMENT)

Under Full Value Protection, your mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods in your entire shipment. If any article is lost, destroyed or damaged while in your mover's custody, your mover will, at its discretion, offer to do one of the following for each item:

  • Repair the item
  • Replace with a similar item
  • Make a cash settlement for the cost of the repair or the current market replacement value.

Under this option, movers are permitted to limit their liability for loss or damage to articles of extraordinary value, unless you specifically list these articles on the shipping documents. The exact cost of Full Value Protection varies by the mover and may be subject to various deductible levels of liability that may reduce your cost. Ask your mover for written details of their Full Value Protection plan. Movers are only liable for boxes they packed themselves, not for boxes packed by the owner.

THIRD-PARTY INSURANCE

The cost of this insurance is not included in the basic move and must be purchased separately by you. This is not valuation coverage governed by Federal law—it is optional insurance regulated by State law. You have the option of purchasing insurance from a third-party insurance company. Before purchasing insurance, check your homeowner's insurance policy to see if you're already covered.

We recommend purchasing additional coverage from your moving company or third party insurance company just in case the unexpected happens.

For more information about why moving insurance may be a good choice for your move, take a look at this blog post!