Moving Insurance Explained: What Covers Your Stuff

Moving insurance explained, in plain terms: the free coverage every mover includes is not insurance at all. It is valuation, capped by federal law at 60 cents per pound. Genuine protection means choosing full value protection or buying a separate third-party policy. This guide breaks down each option, what it costs, and how to claim.

Most people assume their movers are responsible for anything that breaks or disappears during a move. The reality is more complicated — and the default protection offered by interstate movers covers about 60 cents per pound. That means a shattered 50-pound flat-screen TV worth $1,800 would generate a claim of exactly $30. Understanding how moving coverage works before you sign anything is the single most consequential step you can take to protect your belongings.

The first thing to understand is the language. Federal law, specifically 49 CFR Part 375 administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), requires interstate movers to offer customers two levels of liability. These are called **valuation options**, not insurance. The distinction matters because valuation is a legal limit on the mover's liability, not an insurance contract regulated by a state insurance commissioner.

There are exactly two federally mandated valuation options for interstate moves:

**Released Value Protection** is the baseline. It is included at no additional charge, and under it the mover's maximum liability is $0.60 per pound per article. If you ship 10,000 pounds of household goods, the mover's total exposure is $6,000 regardless of whether your belongings are worth $30,000. For most households, released value protection provides meaningful protection only for dense, low-value items like books or cast iron cookware. Electronics, art, jewelry, and antiques are effectively unprotected.

**Full Value Protection** requires the mover to repair a damaged item, replace it with one of like kind and quality, or pay the current market replacement cost. Movers set their own premiums for this option — industry rates typically run between $6 and $12 per $1,000 of declared value, with a minimum declared value of approximately $6 per pound of total shipment weight (a 10,000-pound move carries a minimum declared value of $60,000). Movers may also charge a deductible.

You must choose your valuation option in writing before the move. If you do not make a selection, federal regulations default you to released value protection.

Because valuation is not insurance, a separate market exists for actual moving insurance policies underwritten by licensed carriers. Companies such as Baker International, Safeguard and Move Safe sell policies designed specifically to fill the gaps in valuation coverage. These policies are regulated by state insurance commissioners, which means claims disputes go through a different — often more consumer-friendly — resolution process than valuation disputes, which go through arbitration programs.

Third-party policies typically cover:

• Items excluded from full value protection (high-value articles like jewelry, collectibles, and fine art often require separate riders even under full value protection)
• Losses the mover would not be liable for under valuation rules, including acts of nature, mechanical breakdown of climate-controlled vehicles, and certain items you pack yourself
• Storage-in-transit losses beyond the period covered by the mover's liability

Before purchasing a third-party policy, check your existing homeowner's or renter's insurance. Some policies extend coverage to household goods in transit, though deductibles often make small claims impractical. Call your insurer and ask specifically: "Does my policy cover belongings during a professional interstate move, and what is the deductible?"

Under FMCSA rules, you have **9 months from delivery** to submit a written claim to the mover. File in writing — email with confirmation of receipt is sufficient — even if you also call. The mover then has:

• 30 days to acknowledge receipt of your claim
• 120 days to settle, deny, or make a firm settlement offer (if the case is complex, they must provide a written status update every 30 days after that)

Document damage at delivery. Before you sign the Bill of Lading or any delivery receipt, walk through your belongings and note any visible damage on the paperwork. Photograph everything. If a box looks crushed, open it before the crew leaves. Signing a clean delivery receipt can complicate a claim even if damage is discovered afterward.

If the mover denies your claim or offers a settlement you believe is unfair, you have two paths: file a complaint with the FMCSA at ProtectYourMove.gov, or pursue arbitration. Under federal law, any mover that operates interstate must participate in a neutral arbitration program for household goods disputes up to $10,000.

Two categories generate the most claim disputes.

**High-value articles** are items worth more than $100 per pound. Jewelry, watches, artwork, antiques, silverware, and electronic equipment often fall into this category. If you declare these items on a separate High-Value Inventory form, the mover's liability under full value protection extends to them. If you do not declare them — and most people do not know to ask — the $100-per-pound cap applies under full value protection, and only $0.60 per pound under released value.

**Items you pack yourself** (PBOs — Packed By Owner) are another exception. If a box is packed by the customer and arrives with internal damage but no external damage, most movers will deny the claim on the grounds that the packing caused the damage. If you have fragile items, either let the movers pack them or document the packing process with video. See the MovingRated guide to packing fragile items for technique.

1. **Inventory everything of value.** Photograph and record serial numbers for electronics, take video of furniture from multiple angles, and note pre-existing scratches. Cloud-back this inventory before the move so you are not relying on a phone that could be lost in transit. A thorough inventory is the single most useful piece of evidence in any claim dispute, because it establishes both condition and ownership at the moment the crew took possession. 2. **Get the declared value in writing.** The Bill of Lading must show the valuation level you selected and the declared value. If it shows "released value" and you intended full value protection, do not sign until corrected. Verbal assurances from a salesperson carry no weight if the paperwork says otherwise — the document controls. 3. **Ask about exclusions.** Under full value protection, movers commonly exclude items in original manufacturer's cartons packed by the customer, items of extraordinary value not listed on a High-Value Inventory, and plants or perishables. Ask the mover for their written exclusions list and read it before signing. If you own a piano, a large aquarium, or fine art, ask specifically how each is covered. 4. **Consider the math.** For a typical 3-bedroom move with $40,000 in household goods, full value protection at $8 per $1,000 with a $500 deductible costs roughly $270. That is often less than the premium on a standalone third-party policy and covers the same goods. Run the numbers against your own inventory rather than defaulting to the free released-value tier, which would cap a total-loss claim on that same shipment at a few thousand dollars. 5. **Confirm the coverage matches the mover.** Coverage only protects you if the company on the Bill of Lading is the one that actually transported your goods. If a broker arranged the move, verify the carrier's registration separately and make sure the valuation election names that carrier.

Choosing the right coverage is only half the equation — the other half is choosing a mover who honors it. A reputable, properly registered carrier processes legitimate claims under FMCSA rules; a fly-by-night operator may simply ignore them. Before you weigh valuation tiers, start your move with a vetted estimate so you are comparing companies that stand behind their paperwork. For deeper vetting guidance, see our companion guides linked throughout this article.

**Is full value protection the same as insurance?** No. Full value protection is a valuation coverage level that limits the mover's liability. It is governed by FMCSA regulations, not state insurance law. Third-party moving insurance is actual insurance issued by a licensed carrier.

**Does my homeowner's policy cover my move?** Possibly. Some homeowner's and renter's policies extend coverage to household goods in transit for a limited period. Call your insurer before purchasing additional coverage — you may already be protected, or you may find coverage is excluded during a move.

**What is the deadline to file a claim with a mover?** Nine months from the date of delivery for written damage claims. Do not wait — document damage at delivery and submit your claim in writing as soon as possible.

**Can a mover refuse to let me use third-party insurance?** No. FMCSA regulations specifically allow customers to purchase supplemental coverage from third-party insurers. A mover cannot prohibit this or penalize you for doing so.

**What happens if my mover is unregistered?** Unlicensed movers operating interstate are not bound by FMCSA valuation rules, which means you may have no legal claim at all. Before booking, verify any mover's USDOT number and operating authority at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. For guidance on vetting movers, see our guide to how to find a reputable mover.

**What if my mover denies a valid claim?** File a complaint at ProtectYourMove.gov and request information about the mover's arbitration program. Under federal law, interstate movers must participate in neutral arbitration for disputes up to $10,000. The AMSA and other trade associations sponsor arbitration programs that handle these disputes at low cost.