Moving Insurance for Your Upcoming Move

YOUR TV MUST BE IN A TV BOX FOR IT TO BE COVERED UNDER THE DOT MANDATE. ANY TV NOT IN A BOX WILL NOT BE COVERED.

Understanding how the insurance for your move works doesn’t have to be complicated. You are known as the “shipper” and we are known as the “mover”.

Both parties accept some responsibility for the items that will be moved. You accept the fact that you are moving your items and that damage could occur. Of course, as professional movers, we will do everything we can to prevent damage to your items. However, sometimes things do inevitably get damaged. So the DOT has determined that movers are responsible for .60 per pound, per article.

Included in every move, free of charge is the mandated DOT coverage of .60 per pound, per article, and $100,000 of cargo coverage.

It means that your items are covered up to $100,000 while being transported in the truck. For instance, if the truck were involved in an accident on the way to the new location, you would be covered up to $100,000.

It also means that the Department of Transportation has determined that moving companies are only liable for .60 per pound, per article. You as the customer are left with considerable exposure to this standard coverage. The transportation industry uses this release to offset the huge amount of liability that a carrier faces while handling an entire household of goods.

This is IMPORTANT if your $3,000 TV only weighs 100 pounds, you will receive $60 for any damage to the TV. If you want the TV covered for full replacement value, you must purchase that coverage at least 3 days before your move.

Ultimately, it is up to the shipper (that’s you) to properly insure all items. Movers, moving normal household goods. So if you have anything out of the ordinary, you must ensure it or it will not be covered under the DOT mandate.

A common assumption is that full coverage is included when a moving company lists itself as licensed, bonded, and insured. These terms simply mean that we carry sufficient auto, general liability, and cargo coverage that the DOT requires.

If you are loading a rental truck, POD, or trailer and moving interstate and you want your items covered, you must purchase SIT (shipment in transit) coverage as items that are not in our care, custody, or control after loading is not covered by our valuation.

You are under no obligation to purchase full-value protection. Any damage claim will be settled at .60 per pound per article. All claims are handled by an independent processor. Dose Moving does not process claims. This is a fair, transparent, arms-length settlement that provides an ethical solution for both parties involved.

YOU MUST NOTE ALL DAMAGES DURING THE FINAL WALK-THRU WITH THE CREW LEADER. ONCE WE LEAVE THE PREMISES, ITEMS ARE OUT OF OUR CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL AND THERE IS NO COVERAGE. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO A FINAL WALK-THRU.

The following items are NOT covered under the DOT mandate. We will move the following items BUT they are NOT covered.

PBO (packed by owner) boxes, its contents, delicate or out-of-the-ordinary items like lamps, shades, glass tables/tops, marble tables/tops, slates, taxidermy, paintings, art, framed pictures, statues, chandeliers, glass display cases, grandfather clocks, pool tables (if disassembled and crated), installed wall units, hot tubs, upright pianos, any electronics, veneer or particle board furniture (Ikea), any outdoor items including pots that may have an inherent vice.

ALL OF THE ITEMS LISTED ABOVE, can be covered if backed by a certified third-party service and insured by Moving Insurance.com.

The following items are NEVER covered by the mover or Moving Insurance.com. Jewelry, money, gold, coins, furs, family photos, car keys, legal documents, legal documents, passports, alcohol, food, medications, computers, cell phones, files, clothing of any kind, art, statues, guns, ammo, Lego sets, children’s artwork, any missing items or any personal item you deem important or valuable. Please take these items yourself if worried about them in any way.

Homeowners’ and renters’ policies also offer coverage for the valuables listed above. So it’s a good idea to check with your insurance agent if you need inland marine coverage for these items.

We want to help you avoid the pitfalls of the transportation industry by educating you regarding insurance options for your move.

Please call our office if you have any questions regarding how the insurance for your move works or if you would like us to email you the list of hazardous items we are not permitted to move. We are happy to discuss all details of coverage so you’ll know exactly what type of agreement you’re entering into on moving day.