Moving insurance and valuation coverage explained
Valuation is not insurance, and the free option pays by the pound. Here is what the choices actually mean before you sign the paperwork.
By Elijah Canfield, Founder, Hire Best Pros · Updated September 9, 2026
Elijah Canfield is the founder of Hire Best Pros. He writes and edits the site's consumer guides, with a focus on how home service and moving projects are priced, scoped and compared.
What a mover offers is valuation, which is the limit of their liability for your belongings, not an insurance policy. Released value protection is included at no extra cost and pays a small amount per pound. Full value protection costs more and requires the mover to repair, replace or pay the current value of an item. Separate moving insurance is a third option bought from an insurer.
Key points
- Released value pays by weight, so a heavy cheap item and a light expensive one are treated very differently.
- Full value protection is the option that reflects what an item is actually worth.
- Declare high value items in writing before the truck is loaded.
- Check whether your home or renters policy covers belongings in transit before buying anything extra.
Released value protection
This is the basic option, included at no additional charge on interstate moves. Liability is calculated by weight rather than value, which is why a damaged television can be settled for a figure far below what it cost.
It is a reasonable choice when you are moving durable, replaceable goods and nothing fragile or expensive is in the load.
Full value protection
Under full value protection, the mover is responsible for repairing a damaged item, replacing it with something of comparable value, or paying the cost to do so. It costs more, and the specific terms, deductibles and exclusions vary by mover.
Read how the mover handles items of extraordinary value. Most require you to list them separately in writing, and coverage may be limited if you do not.
Comparing written estimates from movers?
Read how moving estimates workThird party moving insurance
You can also buy coverage from an insurance company rather than the mover. That is a true insurance product regulated by your state, and it sits alongside the mover's valuation rather than replacing it.
Before you buy, check your existing home or renters policy. Some cover personal property in transit, though often with limits and exclusions that matter for a full household move.
What is usually excluded
Coverage is not unconditional, and the exclusions are where most disputes start.
- Boxes you packed yourself, where damage cannot be traced to handling
- Items left in drawers, or furniture that was already damaged
- Perishables, plants and hazardous materials movers are not permitted to carry
- Cash, documents, jewelry and other high value items not declared in advance
- Damage from delays or from storage arranged separately
Protect yourself on paper
Photograph valuable items before they are wrapped, keep the inventory sheet the crew produces, and note any exceptions at delivery before you sign. Signing a clean delivery receipt makes a later claim much harder.
File promptly. Movers set claim windows, and waiting past them can end the conversation regardless of what happened.
Want the full rundown of what a mover owes you?
Read your rights and responsibilities when you hire moversCommon questions
- Is valuation the same as insurance?
- No. Valuation is the limit of the mover's liability under transportation rules. Insurance is a separate product bought from an insurance company.
- Does released value protection cost anything?
- No, it is included, which is also why it pays so little. Settlement is based on the weight of the item rather than its value.
- Should I buy extra coverage for a local move?
- It depends on what you own and what your home or renters policy already covers. If the load includes fragile or high value items, the extra protection is usually worth pricing.