Your moving company's quote includes "basic liability coverage at no extra charge." Great. What does that actually mean? When your grandmother's antique mirror breaks during the move, does insurance cover the $2,500 replacement cost or the $75 that moving companies think broken mirrors are worth?
Moving insurance confuses everyone. Companies use terms like "Released Value Protection" and "Full Value Protection" without explaining that one costs nothing and covers almost nothing, while the other costs extra and actually protects your belongings. The difference matters enormously when something expensive breaks.
About 5-8% of all moves involve some level of damage or loss. For NYC moves specifically, that number climbs to 8-12% because of tight stairwells, narrow building hallways, and rushed timelines during peak moving season. Something will probably break during your move - maybe something minor like a dish, maybe something major like furniture. The question is whether you're financially covered when that happens.
This guide explains what moving insurance actually protects, what the different coverage types cost, and when buying extra protection makes financial sense versus when you're better off accepting the risk.
What "Basic" Moving Insurance Actually Covers (Hint: Not Much)
Every moving company in the United States provides basic liability coverage by federal law. They call it "Released Value Protection" or "Basic Carrier Liability." It's free because it covers almost nothing.
The 60 Cents Per Pound Rule: Released Value Protection pays movers $0.60 per pound for damaged items, regardless of actual value. Your 5-pound laptop worth $2,000 breaks during the move? The moving company owes you $3 (5 pounds x $0.60). Your 200-pound antique dresser worth $5,000 gets destroyed? You receive $120 (200 pounds x $0.60).
This coverage is completely inadequate for anything valuable, which is basically everything you own. Your TV, your laptop, your furniture, your glassware - all worth far more per pound than 60 cents. But this is what you get automatically with every move unless you buy additional coverage.
The reason this coverage exists is historical. Federal moving regulations established this minimum back when weight-based coverage vaguely correlated with value. In 2025, weight has almost no relationship to value. Your electronics weigh nothing but cost thousands. Your furniture weighs hundreds of pounds but might only be worth a few hundred dollars.
Why Companies Offer This: Moving companies love when customers accept basic coverage because it limits the company's liability dramatically. If your entire apartment gets destroyed in a moving truck accident, the company might owe you $3,000-$6,000 in weight-based coverage for belongings worth $50,000. The company is risking almost nothing.
This is legal and standard across the industry. It's not a scam - it's the federal minimum coverage required. But it's also designed to protect moving companies, not your belongings. Treating basic coverage as actual insurance is a mistake most people make exactly once, after something valuable breaks and they discover how little they're receiving in compensation.
What Happens When You File a Claim: Let's say your 70-inch TV breaks during your move. The TV cost $1,400 and weighs about 60 pounds. Under basic coverage, the moving company owes you $36 (60 pounds x $0.60). You're out $1,364 and there's nothing you can do about it because you accepted basic coverage.
The moving company will ask for proof of the item's weight and may dispute your estimate. They'll pay out the minimum they can justify based on weight. The claims process takes weeks or months. And you're still out most of your TV's value.
Full Value Protection: What It Actually Protects
Full Value Protection (sometimes called "Full Replacement Value Protection") is the upgrade that provides actual insurance coverage. Moving companies must offer this option by federal law, but you pay extra for it.
How Full Value Protection Works: If the moving company damages or loses an item, they must either repair it, replace it with a comparable item, or reimburse you for its current fair market value. This is actual protection that reflects real-world item value, not arbitrary per-pound calculations.
Your $1,400 TV breaks under Full Value Protection? The moving company replaces it with a comparable TV or pays you $1,400. Your antique furniture gets scratched? They pay for professional repair or compensate you for the diminished value. This is how normal people think insurance should work.
What Full Value Protection Costs: Moving companies typically charge 1-2% of your total shipment value for Full Value Protection. If you declare your belongings are worth $50,000, you'll pay $500-$1,000 for full protection. For higher-value shipments ($100,000+), rates can go higher (2-4% of declared value).
Some companies charge based on the shipment weight instead. You might pay $7-$15 per $1,000 of declared value. A $50,000 shipment would cost $350-$750 for full coverage under this model. The exact pricing varies by moving company and market conditions.
For local NYC moves, expect to add $200-$600 for Full Value Protection on a typical 1-2 bedroom apartment. For long-distance moves, add $500-$2,000 depending on distance and shipment value.
Deductibles and Limitations: Full Value Protection often comes with a deductible - typically $250-$500 per incident. If your $1,400 TV breaks and you have a $250 deductible, you receive $1,150. The deductible applies per claim, not per item, so if multiple items break in the same incident, you pay one deductible.
Some moving companies cap their liability at a maximum amount per shipment, typically $50,000-$100,000. If you're moving items worth more than that, you need to purchase additional coverage or use your homeowner's/renter's insurance.
What's Still Not Covered: Even with Full Value Protection, certain damage isn't covered. Normal wear and tear doesn't count. Damage you caused through improper packing (if you packed items yourself) isn't covered. Damage to items the moving company specifically noted as being already damaged isn't covered. Acts of God (earthquakes, floods) typically aren't covered unless you buy special disaster coverage.
High-value items like jewelry, cash, important documents, and collectibles often have coverage limits even under Full Value Protection. If you're moving a $50,000 painting, tell your moving company specifically and ask about additional coverage options. Standard Full Value Protection might only cover $5,000 for any single item.
📋 Coverage Comparison: Basic (Released Value): Free, covers $0.60/lb, protects movers more than your belongings Full Value Protection: $200-$2,000 depending on shipment value, covers repair/replacement/reimbursement Third-Party Insurance: $100-$500, covers what moving companies don't, requires separate policy Homeowner's/Renter's Insurance: Varies by policy, may cover moves but check your specific policy
When Full Value Protection Is Worth It
Full Value Protection costs money. Is it worth paying $400 extra for coverage on a $40,000 shipment? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Here's how to decide:
Calculate Your Actual Risk: Walk through your apartment and identify items worth more than $500. TVs, computers, furniture, artwork, musical instruments, sports equipment - add up everything valuable. If you're moving $30,000+ worth of belongings, Full Value Protection makes financial sense. You're paying $300-$600 to protect $30,000+ of stuff.
If you're moving a studio apartment full of IKEA furniture and basic belongings worth maybe $10,000 total, Full Value Protection matters less. Paying $200 to protect $10,000 of inexpensive, easily replaceable items might not be worth it for you.
Consider Your Moving Circumstances: Complex moves have higher risk. Moving from a 5th floor Brooklyn walkup through narrow stairwells to a high-rise Manhattan building? Things are more likely to get damaged in that scenario. Full Value Protection makes sense.
Simple moves have lower risk. Moving a 1-bedroom apartment from one building to another in the same neighborhood, both with elevators and wide hallways? Lower risk of damage. You might skip Full Value Protection and accept the risk.
White glove moving services and fine art moving specifically involve higher-value items where Full Value Protection is basically mandatory. If you're moving fine art, antiques, or luxury furniture, don't skip insurance.
Think About Replacement Costs: If your $3,000 couch gets destroyed and you have to replace it, can you afford that out of pocket? If yes, maybe you skip Full Value Protection and self-insure. If no, paying $400 for protection is smart.
Many people can't easily absorb $5,000-$10,000 in unexpected replacement costs. If losing and replacing a few major items would create financial hardship, buy the protection. If you have emergency savings covering potential losses, you might skip it.
Factor in Stress and Time: Even if you can afford to replace items, do you want to spend weeks or months fighting with moving companies over damage claims? Full Value Protection simplifies claims because coverage is clear and dispute-free. You're paying partly for peace of mind and streamlined claims processes.
When to Definitely Buy Full Value Protection:
- Moving high-value items (art, antiques, expensive furniture)
- Long-distance moves (higher damage risk than local moves)
- Moving in/out of challenging buildings (walkups, tight staircases)
- Moving during peak season when movers are rushed
- You can't easily afford to replace damaged items
When You Might Skip It:
- Moving minimal, low-value belongings
- Short, simple local move with low damage risk
- You have emergency savings covering potential losses
- You're moving mostly already-damaged or end-of-life furniture
Your Homeowner's or Renter's Insurance Might Cover Moves
Many people don't realize their existing insurance policies might cover moving-related damage. Before buying Full Value Protection from your moving company, check your current coverage.
How Homeowner's/Renter's Insurance Works for Moves: Some policies include coverage for belongings while in transit during a move. This coverage varies dramatically by insurance company and policy type. Your policy might cover the full value of items damaged during moves, or it might exclude moving-related damage entirely.
Call your insurance company and ask specifically: "Does my policy cover belongings damaged during a professional move? What are the coverage limits and deductibles?" Don't assume - insurance policies have countless variations and exclusions. Get confirmation in writing about whether moving damage is covered.
If your policy does cover moves, understand the deductible. If you have a $1,000 deductible and a $1,400 TV breaks, you only receive $400 from insurance. That might not be worth filing a claim, especially if filing increases your premiums.
Typical Homeowner's Policy Coverage: Standard homeowner's insurance often covers belongings during moves up to your policy's personal property limit (typically 50-70% of your dwelling coverage). If your home is insured for $400,000, your personal property coverage is around $200,000-$280,000, which would cover your belongings during a move.
But homeowner's policies have deductibles ($500-$2,000 typically) and filing claims can increase your premiums. Using homeowner's insurance for small moving damages often isn't worth it because the deductible plus potential premium increases cost more than the damaged item's value.
Renter's Insurance for Moves: Renter's insurance typically covers $20,000-$50,000 in personal property, which includes coverage during moves in many policies. Like homeowner's insurance, you'll have a deductible ($500-$1,000 usually) and need to weigh whether filing a claim makes sense.
Many people have renter's insurance but don't realize it covers moving damage. Check your policy before paying for Full Value Protection from your moving company. You might already be covered.
Third-Party Moving Insurance: Companies like MoveInsure and InsureMyMove sell standalone moving insurance policies. These cost $100-$500 for typical moves and provide coverage independent of your moving company's valuation protection.
Third-party insurance can be cheaper than Full Value Protection from moving companies and often provides better coverage with fewer exclusions. The downside is you're dealing with two separate companies if something breaks - your moving company and your insurance provider - which complicates claims.
When to Use Homeowner's/Renter's vs Buying Separate Coverage: If you're moving high-value items and your existing insurance has a low deductible ($500 or less), using your existing coverage might make sense. If your deductible is high ($2,000+), buying Full Value Protection from your moving company is probably better.
For most people, having both coverages (existing homeowner's/renter's insurance plus Full Value Protection) provides redundant protection. Choose one approach, don't pay for both unless you're moving extremely high-value items where redundancy makes sense.
💡 Insurance Decision Flowchart:
- Check if homeowner's/renter's insurance covers moves → If yes with low deductible, you might be covered
- If no home insurance coverage, calculate your shipment's value → If $20,000+, consider Full Value Protection
- Evaluate your financial cushion → If you can't replace $5,000+ in items easily, buy protection
- Consider move complexity → Difficult moves (walkups, long-distance, tight spaces) warrant protection
- When in doubt → Buy protection. The peace of mind is worth $300-$600.
What Actually Breaks During Moves (And How to Prevent It)
Understanding what typically gets damaged during moves helps you decide whether insurance matters for your specific situation and how to pack to minimize damage.
Most Commonly Damaged Items: Glassware and dishes top the damage list. Mirrors and glass-top furniture come next. Electronics get damaged frequently, especially TVs and monitors. Wooden furniture gets scratched and dented. Upholstered furniture tears when carried through tight spaces. Lamps break. Artwork gets damaged when packing materials fail.
Most damage happens during loading and unloading, not during transport. Items get dropped on stairs. Furniture bumps against doorframes. Movers lose grip in tight stairwells. The actual driving portion of moves rarely causes damage - it's the carrying through buildings that creates problems.
Prevention Strategies: Professional packing dramatically reduces damage. Packing services cost $300-$800 for typical apartments but they know how to protect items properly. Professional packers use more protective materials, pack boxes tighter to prevent shifting, and know techniques that prevent breakage.
If you pack yourself, use proper materials. Buy new, sturdy boxes - don't use old, weakened boxes that might collapse. Wrap every fragile item individually. Pack glasses and dishes standing on edge, not stacked flat. Fill empty spaces in boxes so items can't shift during transport.
Disassemble furniture when possible. Bed frames, tables, and shelving that come apart reduce the risk of damage during tight hallway navigation. Movers can carry individual pieces through narrow spaces much easier than fully assembled furniture.
Label fragile boxes on all sides, not just the top. Movers need to see fragile labels regardless of how boxes are stacked. Use bright labels that stand out - not tiny handwritten notes movers might miss.
What You Can't Really Prevent: Some damage happens despite perfect packing. A mover slips on stairs. A doorframe is narrower than measured. A truck gets in an accident. These aren't packing failures, they're moving risks. This is why insurance exists - to cover unpredictable accidents, not just poor packing.
Building Damage: NYC buildings sometimes suffer damage during moves - scratched walls, dented elevators, damaged door frames. Your moving company should have liability insurance covering building damage. Your apartment lease probably makes you responsible for damage your movers cause, so confirm your moving company has proper insurance before hiring them.
Certificate of Insurance (COI) requirements in NYC buildings exist partly for this reason - buildings want proof that movers carry insurance covering damage they might cause to building property.
Filing Claims When Damage Happens
Despite careful packing and experienced movers, damage sometimes occurs. Here's how the claims process works and how to maximize your chances of successful resolution:
Document Everything Before the Move: Before movers arrive, photograph high-value items from multiple angles. Make a video walkthrough of your apartment showing item condition. This provides proof that items were undamaged before the move. Without this documentation, moving companies can claim items were already broken.
Create an inventory list of valuable items with descriptions, photos, and estimated replacement values. This doesn't need to be exhaustive - focus on items worth more than $300. Store this inventory and photos in cloud storage, not in boxes that might get lost during the move.
Note Damage Immediately on Delivery: When movers deliver your belongings, inspect items before signing delivery paperwork. If you see damage, note it specifically on the delivery receipt. Don't just write "some damage" - write "42-inch Samsung TV has cracked screen" or "antique dresser has 6-inch scratch on left side."
Moving companies use delivery receipt signatures to claim you accepted delivery without complaints. Signing without noting damage gives them grounds to deny claims later. Take time to inspect, even if movers pressure you to sign quickly.
File Claims Promptly: Most moving companies require written damage claims within 9 months of delivery for interstate moves, but many require notice within days or weeks for local moves. Read your moving contract's claims procedures and follow them exactly. Missing deadlines gives companies reasons to deny valid claims.
Take photos of damaged items immediately. Include photos showing the damage clearly and photos showing the entire item for context. Keep damaged items in the condition they were delivered - don't throw away broken pieces or attempt repairs until the claim is resolved.
Be Prepared for Disputes: Moving companies often initially deny claims or offer settlements far below actual value. They might claim items were improperly packed (if you packed yourself), claim damage was pre-existing, or dispute the item's value. This is normal claims procedure, not fraud - companies try to minimize payouts.
Respond to denials with additional documentation. Provide purchase receipts proving item value. Get repair estimates from professionals. Reference your pre-move photos showing items were undamaged. Persistence matters - many people give up after initial denials, which is exactly what companies hope happens.
When to Get Help: For claims over $2,000, consider hiring a public adjuster who specializes in moving damage claims. They charge 10-15% of settlements but have expertise negotiating with moving companies. For smaller claims, this cost isn't worth it - handle it yourself.
For unresolved disputes, file complaints with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for interstate moves or your state consumer protection office for local moves. These agencies can't force settlements but they investigate patterns of companies denying legitimate claims.
Small Claims Court: For local moves under $5,000, small claims court provides recourse when companies refuse to pay valid claims. NYC small claims handles cases up to $10,000. This is time-consuming but sometimes necessary when companies ignore legitimate damage claims.
Special Situations: High-Value Items
Standard moving insurance, even Full Value Protection, often caps coverage per item at $5,000-$10,000. If you're moving items worth more than that, you need special arrangements.
Fine Art and Antiques: Fine art moving requires specialized coverage beyond standard moving insurance. Tell your moving company specifically about valuable art and antiques. They should recommend additional coverage options or specialized policies.
Some moving companies partner with art insurance providers. Others require you to arrange third-party insurance. Either way, standard Full Value Protection won't adequately cover a $50,000 painting - you need specialized art coverage.
Document art and antiques with professional appraisals before moving. Insurance companies require proof of value for items worth $10,000+. Your own valuation won't be accepted - you need professional appraisal documentation.
Jewelry and Valuables: Moving companies explicitly exclude liability for cash, jewelry, precious stones, and valuable papers regardless of coverage type. Pack these items yourself and transport them in your personal vehicle or checked luggage if flying.
For jewelry worth $10,000+, some homeowner's policies require separate riders specifically listing high-value items. Check your existing insurance before moving and update policies if needed.
Electronics and Computers: High-end electronics (professional audio equipment, high-performance computers, commercial electronics) often exceed standard per-item coverage limits. List these items specifically with your moving company and ask about additional coverage.
Back up all computer data before moving. Insurance covers replacement cost but can't recover lost data if hard drives fail during moves. Cloud backups prevent data loss regardless of physical damage.
Musical Instruments: Professional-grade instruments (pianos, violins, cellos) require specialized handling and coverage. Our piano moving services include appropriate insurance for piano value, but other instruments need specific attention.
Tell your moving company about valuable instruments in advance. Standard coverage might only provide $1,000-$5,000 per item. A professional violin worth $50,000 needs separate specialized coverage.
The Bottom Line: Making Your Insurance Decision
Here's how to decide what coverage makes sense for your specific move:
For Low-Value Moves (under $15,000 in belongings): Basic coverage is probably fine. If you're moving a studio apartment full of IKEA furniture, basic electronics, and no valuable items, the risk of catastrophic loss is minimal. Save the $200-$400 insurance cost.
For Medium-Value Moves ($15,000-$50,000 in belongings): Consider Full Value Protection, especially if you're moving valuable electronics, decent furniture, or items that would be expensive to replace. The $300-$800 cost provides meaningful protection for this value range.
For High-Value Moves ($50,000+ in belongings): Full Value Protection is mandatory. Add third-party insurance for items worth more than the per-item caps. Document everything professionally. Budget for comprehensive coverage as part of your moving costs.
For Difficult Moves: Manhattan walkups, long-distance moves, moves during peak season - these higher-risk situations warrant protection regardless of shipment value. The complexity increases damage probability enough that insurance makes sense.
When You're Unsure: Buy the protection. $400-$600 for peace of mind is worth it if you'll spend your entire move stressed about potential damage. Insurance eliminates that stress.
The people who regret buying Full Value Protection are rare. The people who regret not buying it when their TV breaks number in the thousands annually. When in doubt, buy the coverage. You're protecting months or years of accumulated belongings with hundreds of dollars of insurance. The math favors protection.
Ready to move with proper protection? At Avant-Garde Moving, we explain all coverage options clearly before your move so you can make informed decisions. We offer Full Value Protection with transparent pricing and handle all claims fairly and promptly. Our professional teams minimize damage through proper packing and handling, but when accidents happen, you're protected. Get a quote and ask about our comprehensive insurance options. We'll help you choose the coverage level that matches your specific needs and budget - no pressure, just honest guidance.
