Moving Insurance 101: What's Actually Covered?

Most people assume their belongings are automatically insured the moment a mover picks them up. In reality, federal law only requires movers to offer a baseline level of liability that covers a fraction of what most items are actually worth. Understanding the difference before moving day can save you from a painful surprise if something gets damaged.

Released Value vs. Full Value Protection

Released Value Protection is the free, default coverage every mover has to offer, and it pays out based on weight, typically around 60 cents per pound per item, regardless of what the item actually cost. A 50-pound television damaged in transit during a move across North Charleston would be covered for about $30 under this option, nowhere near its replacement cost. Full Value Protection costs more but requires the mover to repair, replace, or reimburse an item at its current market value if it's lost or damaged.

What Your Homeowners or Renters Policy Might Cover

Some homeowners and renters insurance policies extend limited coverage to belongings in transit during a move, but this varies a lot by policy and insurer. It's worth calling your insurance agent before moving day to ask directly whether your policy covers a move, what the deductible would be, and whether hiring professional movers versus renting a truck yourself changes the answer.

When Third-Party Moving Insurance Is Worth It

If you own high-value items like art, a piano, or antique furniture, a long-distance move increases both the odds and the cost of anything that goes wrong along the way. Third-party moving insurance, purchased separately from the moving company, can fill gaps that neither Full Value Protection nor a homeowners policy fully covers, particularly for items with sentimental or appraised value that's hard to prove after the fact.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign Anything

Before you book a move, ask what level of coverage is included by default, what upgrading to full value protection actually costs, and how claims have historically been handled. A company that's upfront about these details, the same way it's upfront when vetting a company's licensing and insurance before you book them, is generally a good sign about how it will handle the rest of the job too. Businesses moving valuable equipment or inventory face similar coverage questions under a commercial move.

Filing a Claim: What Actually Happens

If something is damaged, document it with photos before it's even off the truck, note it on the inventory sheet the crew should provide, and file a claim in writing as soon as possible, ideally within a few days rather than weeks. Movers are required to acknowledge a claim within 30 days and resolve it within 120, though the process moves faster when your documentation is thorough from the start.

Insurance is just one part of the bigger picture. Once you know what's covered, the rest comes down to how the numbers break down for a local move and choosing a crew you trust with the parts that matter most.