It is important to understand exactly how much the mover is responsible for in the unfortunate event that your goods are lost or damaged. This is governed by the contract that you have with your mover or valuation statement on the bill of lading (usually for long distance moves). Valuation coverage/insurance is very detailed so please read through the following information carefully to avoid any simple misunderstandings.

Insurance and Limited Liability

Is the minimum coverage required by law. If an item is lost or damaged you would be reimbursed at $0.60 per pound/per article up to a cap maximum of $2,000; this is usually an amount which is far less than the actual value of the item. For example, if the mover damaged a photocopier that you bought for $7,500 and it weighed 150 pounds you would be compensated $90. This coverage protects the movers liability more than the customers items.

We recommend that our clients purchase optional business moving, or home moving,  insurance coverage called added-valuation. In the event of loss or damage this type of coverage enables you to collect damages based on the actual value of the item at the current replacement cost, minus any depreciation up to the limit of coverage. There would also be a deductible of $1,000 on eligible claims to be paid by The Customer. 

The aforementioned optional insurance coverage is available from Pro Moves for $200, which covers your items valued up to $10,000; this the maximum amount available as per our insurance provider. In our previous example, if the mover damaged that same $7,500 photocopier and the current market value was $5,500, the claim would be settled for $5,500 minus the deductible of $1,000.

Insurance

Two Insurance Alternatives

  • Your business/home insurance policy may cover your property in transit. This has been the most popular choice for our clients.
  • Consider arranging your own insurance rider for the move with your business/home owners insurance provider, if your items are very expensive.

Insurance Valuation Coverage

  • Unlike property insurance, valuation does not automatically pay for damages.
  • Items in boxes not packed by the mover are not covered unless there is clear evidence that the box was dropped or mishandled during the move.
  • The mover is not responsible for any electronic item that does not function after the move. 
  • Even if you see damages to items at the time of the move you are legally responsible to pay the full amount owed for the move. Following completion of the move you must go through the claims process.
  • The mover is legally obliged to acknowledge your claim within 30 days, then attempt to resolve the claim before within 120 days from the day of the move. It is Pro Moves policy to resolve all damage claims within 30 days.