What Happens When My Items Are Damaged When Using a Moving Company?
When asked if moving companies are responsible for damages, you are asking if they cover your things if something happens. Well, not really in the state of Arizona. While our reputation is important to us, and we want to provide a great service, we are only liable by the Arizona DOT for $0.60/lb. That doesn’t cover much. While we are moving your household, we do have business insurance to cover any liability to our movers. But, our liability coverage is what the state of Arizona tells us to carry, $0.60/lb.
Because of this, we always recommend that our clients get their moving insurance. Moving insurance allows you to cover your things as you would want them to be covered. You want to include anything rare, valuable, or breakable as a part of that coverage. Also, note that the DOT insurance only covers what was packed by a certified packer and doesn’t include items the owner packed. There is an extensive list of items that cannot be covered with the regular DOT liability. Be sure that you research that to make an informed decision.
Are Movers Responsible for Damages in a Move?
When asking if moving companies are responsible for damages, you are asking if they have full coverage for your items. However, that is never the case here in Arizona. Many moving companies advertise that they are fully licensed and insured. But what they are saying is the DOT standards of Arizona cover them.
Furthermore, if you are moving and only have us help pack and load a rental truck, you need to get what they call shipment in transit coverage. This coverage will ensure that your items are covered should anything happen. These items are not under the $.60/lb liability. This is because the truck is not ours, and after we load it, we have no other responsibility.
The bottom line is if you are not sure what coverage you need, you should ask your insurance agent. Explain the situation and who has what role in your move. You should never attempt to move without some coverage things happen all the time out on the open road. We take pride in training all of our crew members on the proper way to pack various fragile items.
Know Your Moving Coverage Limits
We are bringing this up because some moving companies don’t take the time to explain this to their clients. Many people that are not in our moving industry don’t know this sort of thing. While other moving companies assume you will do your due diligence in finding this information out, we feel it is our responsibility to explain the terms a little better. We want all of our clients to have a fun and safe move without any hassles or disruptions. However, things happen, and when they do, it is nice to have insurance to cover it.
As professional movers, our responsibility and liability end at $0.60/lb. Be sure when you are looking for professional movers. You also do your due diligence in determining who is right for you. You want someone that has a good reputation and that will go that extra mile. Call today, and let’s take a look at your up-and-coming move.