Federal rules spell out what an interstate mover owes you when items are lost or damaged. Know your valuation options and the claim deadlines before the truck arrives.
Licensing, permit, lien and tax rules vary by state and city and change over time. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice; check with your local building department, state licensing board or a professional for your situation.
Checklist
- Interstate movers must offer two valuation options: Full Value Protection and Released Value, disclosed in writing before the move.
- Released Value pays no more than 60 cents per pound per article, so a 25-pound TV pays only $15 no matter what it cost.
- Full Value Protection requires the mover to repair, replace, or pay current market value, for an extra charge based on declared value.
- You have 9 months from delivery to file a written claim. The mover must acknowledge within 30 days and settle within 120 days.
- Intrastate moves are governed by state rules that vary, so check with your state agency before moving day.
Boxes get dropped, sofas arrive gouged, and flat screens sometimes come off the truck cracked. Federal law does not leave you guessing about what an interstate mover owes you when that happens, but the rules reward people who understand them before signing anything. Here is how mover liability works, how to file a claim, and what to do when the mover lowballs you or goes quiet.
Released Value vs. Full Value Protection: What Movers Must Offer
Under federal regulations administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, every interstate mover must offer two levels of valuation coverage and disclose them in writing before the move. The first thing to understand is that valuation is not insurance. It sets the ceiling on what the mover owes you. Actual insurance is a separate product sold by third-party providers.
| Released Value | Full Value Protection | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Extra charge, often a percentage of declared value |
| Payout | 60 cents per pound per article | Repair, replacement, or current market value |
| Based on | Weight of each item | Value of the whole shipment |
| Paperwork | You sign a statement on the bill of lading choosing it | Mover provides written details of the plan and deductibles |
Full Value Protection is the more complete option. If an item is lost, destroyed, or damaged, the mover must offer to repair it, replace it, or make a cash settlement for the repair cost or its current market value. The minimum declared value is $6 per pound times the weight of your shipment, and deductibles can reduce what you pay.
Released Value costs nothing, but it caps the mover’s liability at 60 cents per pound per article, and choosing it requires signing a specific statement on the bill of lading. If you are not sure which option applies to your shipment, ask the mover to confirm your valuation selection in writing before moving day.
Why the 60 Cents per Pound Rule Leaves You Underinsured
Released Value pays by weight, not by what the item is worth. A 25-pound TV damaged in transit pays $15. A 50-pound flat screen worth $1,500 pays $30. A 10-pound laptop worth $2,000 pays $6. Those numbers surprise most people, which is exactly why movers are required to explain the difference before you sign.
Tip
Movers may limit their responsibility for items of “extraordinary value,” meaning items worth more than $100 per pound, such as jewelry, china, or furs. If you list these items on the shipping documents, the mover remains responsible for their safe delivery, so ask for a written explanation of the limitation before the move.
Writing Down Damage Before the Truck Leaves
Your paperwork matters as much as the coverage. Movers are required by federal regulations to give you the booklet “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” for interstate moves. Read the valuation section before moving day, not after.
On moving day:
- Inventory high-value items and photograph their condition before packing.
- Keep the valuation choice you made in writing with your estimate and bill of lading.
- At delivery, inspect items before the crew leaves, and note any damage or missing items on the delivery receipt before you sign.
- Keep the boxes and packing materials until the claim is resolved.
Signing a clean delivery receipt with damage left unnoted makes every later conversation harder.
How to File a Claim With a Moving Company
Federal law gives you 9 months from the delivery date to submit a written claim. Do not wait that long. Filing promptly keeps receipts, photos, and memories of the damage fresh, and it starts the clock on the mover’s obligations.
Send the claim in writing, keep a copy, and include the shipment details, a list of damaged or missing items, a description of the damage, and the amount you are seeking. Once the mover receives your written claim, federal rules require the carrier to acknowledge it within 30 days and settle or deny it within 120 days.
Deadlines, Written Responses and Escalating a Dispute
If the settlement offer is too low or the mover stalls past the deadlines, respond in writing and keep records of every exchange. Under Full Value Protection, the mover owes repair cost, replacement cost, or current market value, so anchor your counteroffer to one of those figures rather than the mover’s first number.
If that goes nowhere, the Surface Transportation Board oversees interstate household goods movers and provides information on handling loss and damage claims. Your state attorney general or consumer protection office can also be a next step. If you want coverage beyond what the mover’s valuation provides, third-party moving insurance is available as a supplement or alternative.
When Intrastate Moves Follow Different State Rules
Everything above applies to interstate moves, meaning moves that cross one or more state lines. Moves that stay within one state are governed by that state’s rules, which vary on the coverage movers must offer and the claims process they must follow. Before an in-state move, check with your state consumer or transportation agency so you know what protection your mover is required to provide.
If you are still planning the move itself, start with how to hire movers for an interstate move. And if a dispute turns into a standoff, the steps in when a contractor job goes wrong apply to any hiring disagreement: document everything, put demands in writing, and escalate to the right agency.
Homeowners ask
Is moving valuation the same as moving insurance?
No. Valuation is a federally regulated standard that sets the mover’s maximum liability for loss or damage. Actual insurance is a separate product you can buy from third-party providers.
How long do I have to file a damage claim with an interstate mover?
Federal law gives you 9 months from the delivery date to submit a written claim. The mover then has 30 days to acknowledge it and 120 days to settle.
Do I have to pay for Full Value Protection?
Yes, it costs extra, typically a percentage of the declared value of your shipment, and deductibles can lower the price. Released Value is free but pays only 60 cents per pound per article.
What if the mover’s rules don’t apply to my move?
Federal rules cover interstate moves that cross state lines. Intrastate moves follow state regulations, which vary, so check with your state consumer or transportation agency.