Moving Insurance Explained

Every interstate carrier is required by federal regulation to offer released-value protection at $0.60 per pound per article at no extra charge. That means if a 50-lb flat-screen TV is destroyed, the carrier owes you $30. Total. It's compliance, not coverage. Released-value applies automatically unless you affirmatively select another option in writing on the bill of lading — and many customers don't realize they made that choice until something breaks.

Full-value protection (FVP) obligates the carrier to repair the item, replace it with a comparable item, or pay the cash value to replace it. You declare a total value for your shipment (most carriers require at least $6,000 per 1,000 lb), pick a deductible, and pay roughly 1–2% of the declared value as a one-time premium. On a $40,000 declared shipment that's typically $400–$800 — usually money well spent for a household move. Read the carrier's tariff for the depreciation language and the "extraordinary value" exclusions before you sign.

Carriers don't have to pay full value for high-value items unless those items are listed in writing on a High-Value Inventory (HVI) form before pickup. The IRS-ish rule of thumb is anything worth more than $100 per pound: jewelry, watches, art, coin collections, designer handbags, fur. Photograph each item, list it on the HVI, have the driver sign, and consider scheduling separate transit insurance for the highest-value pieces.

Carrier valuation pays per the tariff, with depreciation, exclusions, and a claims process owned by the carrier. Third-party transit insurance is a true insurance contract from a licensed underwriter (Baker International, Movinginsurance.com, MovingInsurance, Relocation Insurance Group, etc.). Policies are usually 1.5–3% of declared value, may include replacement cost without depreciation, and are typically the right call for cross-country moves, high-value households, antiques, electronics-heavy moves, or any shipment going into long-term storage.

Most homeowner's HO-3 policies cover personal property at the old address until you take possession of the new one, with limited coverage during transit — usually only against fire, theft, vandalism, or specified perils, not the most common moving losses (drops, scratches, water damage from rain at the truck). Coverage is also typically capped at 10% of total contents and may charge a separate deductible. Call your agent before the move and get any coverage promise in writing.

Document everything before the truck leaves: walk the house with the driver, note every existing scratch on furniture, photograph the inventory tags as they're applied, and refuse to sign the inventory if exceptions aren't noted. After delivery, you have 9 months under federal law to file a written claim; the carrier has 30 days to acknowledge and 120 days to pay, deny, or make a firm offer. Keep damaged items until the claim closes — carriers can refuse claims on items already discarded.

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