Moving Insurance: What It Covers and What It Actually Costs
Reviewed by Joey Padgett · Last reviewed September 2026
Every licensed moving company offers two levels of protection: one that's free and covers almost nothing useful, and one that actually works but costs extra. Understanding the difference before your move takes about ten minutes and can save you significant money if something goes wrong.
The Two Required Options
Federal law requires interstate movers to offer two valuation options. These are technically called "valuation" rather than "insurance," but the effect is similar.
Released Value Protection
Cost: Free. Included in every move automatically unless you opt up.
Coverage: 60 cents per pound per article.
What that means in practice: A 30-pound item damaged or lost is covered for $18. A laptop weighing 5 pounds: $3. A 50-pound flat-screen TV: $30. For most household goods, this coverage is nearly worthless.
Despite being the default, released value protection protects the mover more than the customer. If you're moving anything of meaningful value, it's worth understanding what else is available.
Full-Value Protection
Cost: Varies by company and declared value, but roughly 0.5% to 1% of the declared total value of your shipment. A move with $30,000 in declared goods might cost $150 to $300 for full-value protection.
Coverage: If an item is damaged, lost, or destroyed, the mover must repair it, replace it with an item of like kind and quality, or pay the current market value. The mover determines which form of settlement to use.
What that means in practice: A $1,200 laptop that's lost during a move would be replaced or paid out at current market value, not at $3 per pound.
Full-value protection is the only option that makes financial sense for most moves. The additional cost is typically modest relative to the total moving bill.
Source: FMCSA
What Full-Value Protection Doesn't Cover
Even with full-value protection, there are common exclusions:
Items you pack yourself. If you pack your own boxes and something inside is damaged, many movers will attribute it to improper packing and deny the claim. Items packed by the mover are generally covered.
High-value items not declared. Jewelry, art, collectibles, and other high-value items may have per-item or category limits. Declare these separately and ask about specific coverage.
Pre-existing damage. Document the condition of furniture and valuables before loading. Photos taken on moving day with a timestamp are useful if a claim arises.
Items excluded by the mover's policy. Some movers exclude certain categories. Ask for the full exclusions list before signing.
Third-Party Moving Insurance
Companies like MovingInsurance.com, Baker International, and others offer standalone moving insurance as an alternative or supplement to the mover's full-value protection.
Why you might want third-party coverage:
- More comprehensive than most mover-provided full-value protection
- Covers items you pack yourself in many cases
- Claims are handled by the insurer, not the mover who caused the damage
- May cover items the mover excludes
Typical cost: 1% to 2% of the declared value of your goods. More expensive than mover-provided full-value protection but often more comprehensive.
Does Your Existing Insurance Cover Your Move?
Possibly. Check both of these before buying additional coverage.
Homeowners insurance: Some homeowners policies include off-premises coverage that applies during a move. Check your declarations page for "off-premises personal property" coverage. Coverage during transit is not universal, and the deductible may make small claims not worth filing.
Renters insurance: Similar to homeowners. Some policies cover your belongings during a move; many don't extend to transit damage. Call your insurer to ask directly.
Credit card coverage: Some premium travel or moving credit cards include limited coverage for moving-related losses. Read the terms carefully since coverage is usually limited and has significant exclusions.
If your existing coverage is sufficient, you may not need to purchase additional protection. If it's not, full-value protection from the mover or a third-party policy fills the gap.
How to File a Claim
If something is damaged, the process matters.
Document before you sign. On delivery, note any visible damage on the delivery receipt before signing. Signing without noting damage makes claims harder to support.
Photograph everything. Items with damage should be photographed immediately, before anything is moved or cleaned up.
File promptly. For interstate moves, you must file a claim within 9 months of delivery. Movers have 30 days to acknowledge the claim and 120 days to make a settlement offer. If the claim remains unresolved after 120 days, the carrier must send you status updates every 60 days until it is settled.
Keep records. Receipts, photos, written communications, and the original inventory list all support a claim.
If a mover denies a valid claim or fails to respond within the required timeline, you can file a complaint with the FMCSA at protectyourmove.gov.
Quick Decision Guide
| Situation | Recommended Coverage |
|---|---|
| Moving cheap or low-value items | Released value (free) is fine |
| Moving furniture, electronics, standard household goods | Full-value protection from your mover |
| Moving valuables, art, collectibles | Third-party insurance or declared-value supplement |
| Already have strong homeowners policy | Check your policy first, then gap-fill |
| Packing your own boxes | Ask if full-value covers self-packed items, consider third-party |
For more on the estimate types that affect how claims are calculated, see How to Get and Compare Moving Quotes. For the full hiring process, see How to Hire a Moving Company.