Do You Need Moving Insurance? Coverage Types, Costs, & Claims
Here’s the quick answer: You need moving insurance if you’re moving anything you couldn’t afford to replace at a loss. Every interstate mover must include free released value coverage, but it pays only $0.60 per pound per item. For most moves, we recommend full value coverage from your mover. Third-party policies are often limited in scope, so use them to fill gaps.
Even the best moving companies break things sometimes. What you get back depends on the coverage you chose before the truck was loaded. moveBuddha has reviewed 9,000+ moving companies, and this guide explains each type of moving insurance, what it covers, and how real movers’ customers decided whether to buy it.
Why moveBuddha:
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get up to $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
Jump to the moving insurance topic you need:
rating
4.9 / 5
- Best overall value
- Veteran owned
- Portion to charity
rating
4.9 / 5
- Certified crews
- Flat-rate pricing
- Family-owned
What is moving insurance?
Moving insurance is financial protection for belongings that are lost, damaged, or destroyed during a move. Technically, what movers offer is “valuation,” not insurance: it sets how much the mover is liable for if something goes wrong. Released value coverage and full value coverage are carrier liability protections, not insurance. Moving insurance is a separate policy you buy from a third-party insurer, and those policies are often limited in scope, so read the exclusions closely.
- Usually covered: Loss, theft, fire, and accidental damage while your things are with the mover, depending on the plan.
- Usually not covered: Damage from poor packing you did yourself, pre-existing damage, and high-value items you didn’t declare in writing.
Know your coverage options before you choose a mover. Compare movers and their valuation plans.
What are the types of moving insurance coverage?
The main types of moving coverage are released value coverage, full value coverage, and third-party moving insurance. Released value is free and minimal. Full value coverage costs extra and makes the mover responsible for an item’s repair, replacement, or current value. We recommend working with your mover to get full value coverage, rather than relying on third-party insurance, which is often limited in scope. Third-party policies and some homeowners or renters policies can still help with gaps like storage or DIY moves.
| Type | Offered by | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released value | Moving company | $0.60 per pound per item, at no extra cost | Low-value moves |
| Full value coverage | Moving company | Repair, replacement, or current market value | Most household moves |
| Third-party insurance | Licensed insurer | Broader perils, depending on the policy | Gaps, like storage or DIY moves |
| Homeowners or renters policy | Your insurer | Named perils like fire or theft, varies by policy | Filling gaps in other coverage |
If you’re moving items worth more than $100 per pound, such as jewelry or art, list them on the mover’s extraordinary value inventory. Otherwise, full value coverage may limit what you can recover for them.
See how each coverage level changes your total. Get quotes with coverage options.
How much does moving insurance cost?
Released value coverage costs nothing extra, while full value coverage and third-party insurance are priced based on your shipment’s declared value, your deductible, and the distance of the move. Ask each mover to price full value coverage in writing, since the cost varies by company and is easy to compare side by side.
- Declared value: The more your belongings are worth, the more coverage costs.
- Distance: Long-distance and international moves carry more risk.
- Deductible: A lower deductible means a higher price.
- Specialty items: Art, antiques, and fragile collectibles may need separate coverage.
For one Better Moves Project customer, the difference was modest. Jennifer, who moved her mother’s belongings from Centennial, Colorado, to Spring, Texas, in August 2022, was quoted $2,531 with insurance or $2,296 without it, a $235 difference.
Know your full moving budget before you choose coverage. moveBuddha’s calculator uses 1,000+ live price points collected every month. Estimate your moving cost.
Do you need moving insurance?
You need more than basic coverage if you’re moving long-distance, using storage, moving high-value or fragile items, or if your homeowners or renters policy excludes moving damage. Run the math on released value before you decide: multiply your shipment’s weight by $0.60 to see the most you’d get back if everything were lost.
- Long-distance or international move: More handling and more time on the road mean more risk.
- High-value or irreplaceable items: Electronics, furniture, and art are worth far more than $0.60 per pound.
- Storage in transit: Ask whether your coverage continues while your things are in storage.
- Your policy excludes moves: Many homeowners and renters policies don’t cover mishandling.
How Better Moves customers decided on moving insurance
Customers in moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project made different calls, and the results show where basic coverage falls short.
- Priscilla moved from Brooklyn to Miami in July 2022 and skipped extra insurance “because it was already a costly move.” Her two most expensive items, an IKEA PAX wardrobe and a storage bed frame, arrived damaged, and her basic coverage paid only $0.60 per pound. Her advice now: “If your moving quote only includes liability insurance, 100% get additional insurance on top of that!!”
- Jennifer skipped insurance on purpose. Most of what she moved was sentimental, like afghans made by her grandmother and family photos, and she said “insurance won’t help us out” with items that can’t be replaced.
- Another Better Moves customer’s interstate shipment weighed 3,319 pounds under released value coverage. At $0.60 per pound, the most she could recover for the entire load was about $1,991.
Why it matters: insurance pays off on expensive, replaceable items, not heirlooms. Move irreplaceable things yourself, and get full value coverage for the rest. Compare movers with full value coverage.
Does homeowners or renters insurance cover moving?
Sometimes. Many homeowners and renters insurance policies cover your belongings against named perils, such as fire, theft, or certain weather damage, while they’re in transit. Most don’t cover damage from dropping or mishandling, which is how most moving damage happens. Call your insurer and ask before your move.
- Named perils only: Coverage usually applies to specific events, not breakage.
- Deductibles apply: A small claim may not be worth filing.
- Riders may help: Ask whether your insurer offers a moving endorsement or scheduled coverage for valuables.
- Coverage at the new home: Start your new policy on move-in day so there’s no gap.
Compare moving quotes before you call your insurer.
Does insurance cover DIY moves & storage units?
For a DIY move, your homeowners or renters policy may cover your belongings against named perils, but it usually won’t cover the rental truck itself. Rental companies sell damage waivers and cargo coverage separately, and your auto policy may not extend to a large moving truck. For storage units, check whether your home policy covers off-site property and whether the facility requires its own protection plan.
- Rental trucks: Ask your auto insurer whether it covers the truck size you’re renting before you decline the rental company’s coverage.
- Cargo: Belongings you load yourself usually aren’t covered for breakage.
- Storage units: Many home policies limit off-site coverage to a percentage of your personal property limit.
Weighing DIY against hiring movers? See what professional movers would cost.
rating
4.9 / 5
- Best overall value
- Veteran owned
- Portion to charity
rating
4.9 / 5
- Certified crews
- Flat-rate pricing
- Family-owned
How do you get the right moving coverage?
To get the right coverage, make an inventory with estimated values, then ask each mover to price full value coverage in writing and compare it across quotes. Full value coverage from your mover is the best fit for most moves. Consider third-party moving insurance only for gaps your mover won’t cover, and read its exclusions closely. Set up coverage before move day, since you can’t add it once your belongings are damaged.
- Make an inventory list with estimated values and photos.
- Ask each mover to price released value and full value coverage in writing.
- Compare full value coverage costs and deductibles across quotes.
- Declare high-value items on the mover’s extraordinary value inventory.
- Check your homeowners or renters policy for gaps, like storage.
- If you still have a gap, compare third-party policies, such as UNIRISC or Baker International, and confirm the insurer is licensed in your state.
- Save digital copies of your policy and inventory.
Compare mover quotes and coverage.
What doesn’t moving insurance cover?
Moving insurance usually doesn’t cover damage to items you packed yourself, pre-existing damage, high-value items you didn’t declare, or cash, jewelry, and personal documents. Packed-by-owner boxes are the most common gap, since a mover can argue the damage came from poor packing rather than handling.
- Owner-packed items: Damage blamed on poor packing is often excluded.
- Undeclared valuables: Items worth more than $100 per pound need to be listed in writing.
- Pre-existing damage: Note existing scratches and dents on the inventory.
- Cash, jewelry, and documents: Move these yourself.
- Mechanical problems: Electronics that stop working without visible damage are often excluded.
Expert tip: moveBuddha founder Ryan Carrigan recommends having your mover pack and prep fragile and high-value items like TVs, art, and antiques. When the mover packs an item itself, it’s typically more willing to cover it at a higher level of liability than something you wrapped yourself.
Learn how to pack breakables if you’re packing fragile items yourself. Get quotes that include professional packing.
“If your moving quote only includes liability insurance, 100% get additional insurance on top of that!!” Priscilla, Better Moves Project, Brooklyn to Miami
How do you file a moving insurance claim?
To file a moving claim, note any damage on the delivery inventory before you sign, take photos, gather your receipts and policy, and submit the claim in writing. For interstate moves, federal rules give you nine months after delivery to file, and the mover must acknowledge your claim within 30 days and resolve it within 120 days. Local movers may set shorter deadlines, so ask for the claim window in writing.
- Inspect items at delivery and note damage on the inventory sheet.
- Photograph the damage and the packaging.
- Gather receipts, your bill of lading, inventory, and policy.
- File in writing with the mover or insurer before the deadline.
- Keep copies of all communication.
Deadlines vary. Priscilla’s mover gave her 90 days to start a claim, and after that she had 48 hours to add anything else, so she waited until she’d unpacked every box before filing. If a mover won’t respond, you can file a complaint through the FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database.
Choose a mover with a clear claims process.
FAQ
Is moving insurance required?
No. Interstate movers must offer released value coverage at no extra cost, but you don’t have to buy more. Some apartment buildings require movers to carry their own liability insurance.
What does $0.60 per pound coverage mean?
It means the mover pays up to $0.60 for each pound of a lost or damaged item. A 50-pound TV would be worth $30, regardless of what you paid for it.
Is full value coverage worth it?
For most household moves, yes. We recommend it over third-party insurance, which is often limited in scope. Get the price in writing from each mover.
Does moving insurance cover items in storage?
Sometimes. Ask whether your mover’s valuation or third-party policy continues during storage in transit, and how long coverage lasts.
How long do I have to file a moving claim?
For interstate moves, you have nine months after delivery. Local movers may set shorter deadlines, so check your contract.
Is moving insurance worth it?
Moving insurance is worth it when you’re moving things you’d have to pay to replace. Basic coverage pays so little that a single broken TV or dresser can cost you hundreds. Move heirlooms and valuables yourself, get full value coverage from your mover for the rest, and put every coverage detail in writing. See what your move should cost and compare movers’ coverage options.
How we chose the best moving companies
The moveBuddha team has spent nearly 10 years evaluating moving companies using a rigorous review system to identify the best moving companies. Our thorough methodology evaluates each moving company's services, cost, customer service, and reputation:
Moving services (35%):
We verify operating authority, insurance, and service scope against FMCSA/SAFER and state databases. We confirm availability via standardized mystery-shopping calls (packing tiers, storage type, specialty handling, delivery windows, valuation), and then review contracts alongside complaint and claims patterns over time.
Customer feedback (28%):
We run structured post-move surveys through our Better Moves Project with verifiable documentation. We emphasize on-time performance, care of goods, and estimates’ accuracy, and we investigate outliers before they influence scores.
Online reviews (7%):
We aggregate ratings across multiple third-party sites to reduce platform bias, analyze overall trends and company response behavior, and discount obvious spam/fake signals such as sudden bursts, duplicate language, and low-history profiles.
State availability (12%):
We confirm USDOT numbers, broker vs. carrier status, and any required state permits, then score a state-by-state service matrix that accounts for coverage gaps, seasonal limits, and lane strength. We award additional credit for documented cross-border or specialty lanes.
Additional services (12%):
We verify whether add-ons are performed in-house or subcontracted, look for crew training/certifications for high-value or oversized items, count only documented offerings (tariffs, photos, written service descriptions) confirmed via mystery shopping, and reward robust pre-move planning (virtual surveys, itemized crating).
Quotes/Payment options (6%):
We test standardized move profiles to assess estimate type (binding, not-to-exceed, non-binding), line-item transparency, and disclosed surcharges, require clear written policies for deposits, refunds, and cancellations, and award points for secure, flexible payment methods and customer portals.
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