Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of questions, arranged by topic, frequently asked by our customers.
If you have a question that does not appear on the list, please contact us and one of our MoveInsure Customer Service Representatives will be more than happy to assist you.
Insurance is a transaction whereby one party, known as the insured or assured, pays a specified amount of money, known as a premium, to another party, known as the insurer, insurance company, carrier, or underwriter, as consideration to protect against possible future damage or loss specified in a contract, also known as a policy. Should damage or loss specified in and covered by the policy materialize, the insured would be entitled to compensation from the insurer in accordance with the policy terms and conditions.
An insurer, also known as the insurance company, carrier, or underwriter, is the party to an insurance contract that receives payment in consideration for compensating an insured against possible future damage or loss specified in and covered by an insurance policy.
An insurance policy is a contract that binds the insured and insurer to an agreement whereby an insured is obligated to pay a premium as consideration for protection against possible future damage or loss specified in and covered by the policy, and the insurer is obligated to compensate the insured for such damage or loss should it materialize.
A deductible is the amount of money stipulated in the insurance policy an insured is obligated to pay before being compensated for any damage or loss by the insurer should such damage or loss materialize. A deductible protects the insurer from Moral Hazard, reducing the likelihood for frivolous claims by requiring the insured to participate in a portion of the expense incurred before compensation is disbursed to cover the damage or loss specified in and covered by the insurance policy.
An insurance certificate is a negotiable document that contains the insured’s relevant information, an outline of terms and conditions of coverage, deductible to be paid in the event of claim, claim filing procedures, and the contact information of the insurer. An insurance certificate acts as proof of coverage in the event of a claim.
Gold coverage is the most comprehensive form of insurance coverage for your Household Goods, Personal Effects, Motor Vehicles, and Watercraft in transit and storage. Gold coverage covers against numerous perils, including breakage, theft, vandalism and malicious mischief, fire, smoke, water, windstorm, and other acts of god. This type of coverage is best suited for Full-Service Moving Providers, where the moving provider does all or most of the packing and loading as well as the driving. For more information, please click here.
Silver coverage is a limited form of coverage that, like Gold coverage, covers against various acts of god perils such as fire, smoke, water, and windstorm but unlike Gold coverage, does not cover against breakage and theft. This type of coverage is best suited for Half-Service Moving Providers, where the customer does all of his packing and loading, and the moving provider does the driving. For more information, please click here.
Pairs and Sets covers items that only come in pairs and sets, such as dishes, a dining table and corresponding chairs, and combined furniture – a commode with an attached mirror, for instance. In the event damage or loss occurs to one or more items in the set, compensation will be based upon the entire value of the set, and not upon the proportional value of the damaged item(s) in relation to the set, as is standard in a Gold coverage policy. For more information, please click here.
Storage extension allows you to extend insurance coverage for your belongings at a moving provider’s warehouse and/or storage facility beyond the 90 days allotted in a standard MoveInsure policy. To extend your insurance coverage in storage, simply go to the Manage My Policy menu on MoveInsure’s homepage, click on Extend Storage Coverage, and follow the instructions.
Insurance coverage begins at the time your belongings are placed in the care, custody, and control of your moving provider. Insurance coverage ends at the final destination you reflect in your MoveInsure policy. For more information, please click here. (Link Warehouse to Warehouse clause, Marine Extension clause and South America clause)
No. An item with sentimental value – an item that on an emotional level you may feel is irreplaceable and/or priceless due to its personal significance to you – can only be insured for its full replacement cost dictated by the market value of the item. Otherwise, such an item would be impossible to insure because its value would be subject to opinion rather than a factual market price.
Boxes packed by you and not by a professional moving company will be restricted to Silver coverage. Depending on the nature of the damage or loss your belongings incur, they may or may not be covered. For example if the truck transporting your goods were involved in a collision accident, any damage directly resulting from the accident to your belongings would be covered. However, damage to your belongings as a result of improper packing or handling by you would not be covered under Silver coverage as Silver coverage excludes breakage as a result of improper packing or handling.
Certain items such as coins, currency, checks, money orders, traveler’s checks, stamps, bank notes, flammables and hazardous materials cannot be insured. For a complete list of items you cannot insure, click here. (Link to list of excluded goods in MoveInsure policy.)
Yes. You can opt to insure only specific items in your shipment by including them in the inventory list. Keep in mind, however, that any item you include in the inventory list must be insured for 100% of its replacement value at destination. Otherwise, that item will be subject to a co-insurance clause in the event of a claim.
Co-insurance is a joint assumption of risk between an insured and insurer. A co-insurance clause is applied when an insured undervalues the shipment being insured. Under such a clause, a certain percentage of the actual value of a shipment is required to be insured so that the insurance carrier receives acceptable premium for the financial exposure risk associated with that shipment. Failure to insure the required co-insurance percentage will result in the insured bearing a portion of the financial risk should a claim arise. Example: An insured elects to insure 50% of a shipment that is worth $10,000 for $5,000. 100% co-insurance clause applies in the policy. Since the insurance carrier receives only 50% of the premium for a shipment that reflects $10,000 in financial risk exposure, the insured will only be paid 50% of any claim that arises in this case.
There is no minimum amount of coverage that you must purchase in order to be insured. Please keep in mind, however, that MoveInsure charges a minimum insurance cost of $25 per shipment even if the value of your belongings falls short of that corresponding insurance cost amount. The maximum amount of coverage you can insure your Household Goods and Personal Effects is $500,000 unless you receive special approval from MoveInsure. The maximum amount of coverage for any one Motor Vehicle (Automobile or Motorcycle) is $100,000 unless you obtain special approval from MoveInsure. The maximum amount of coverage for any one Watercraft (Boat or Jet Ski) or Snowmobile is $50,000 unless you obtain special approval from MoveInsure.
An Inventory List allows you to itemize and assign a replacement value to your Household Goods, Personal Effects, Motor Vehicles, and Watercraft in order to properly insure them in the event of damage or loss. Should damage or loss materialize, the insurance company will either ask you to show proof of purchase for the item (s), or verify the replacement value at destination you assigned to the item (s) in the Inventory List before processing your claim.
Fine arts objects such as paintings, sculptures, prints, photos, antiques, furs, rugs, carpet, runners and all other similar valuables in excess of $2,000 of replacement value each will be accepted for insurance coverage ONLY IF accompanied by either: 1. A proof of purchase or current receipt no older than 6 months. 2. A current appraisal report by a qualified surveyor/adjustor/appraiser.
A Lump Sum Value is a total value you assign to your entire belongings or shipment. It should be based on a minimum of $6 per pound times the weight of your shipment. For example, if you estimate the weight of your entire shipment at 3,000 lbs, you should assign a lump sum value of no less than $18,000 for your entire shipment. For more information, please click here.
Assigning a value to your Household Goods and Personal Effects can be done in several ways. If you recently purchased an item and still have a record of the purchase receipt, simply use the value indicated on the receipt as the value for the item. If you no longer have a receipt for the item you wish to insure, there are many websites you can browse that list prices for all types of items ranging from furniture to electronics, kitchenware to garden tools, and everything in between.
Below is a partial list of websites for your convenience:
Comparison Shopping Sites:
Search Engines:
Retailers:
As a rule of thumb, there are also a few ways to double check that the value you declare for your belongings in your inventory list is logical and that your shipment does not risk being under-insured.
1. $6 per Pound Rule
If you are using a Full-Service or Half-Service Moving Provider, use the estimated weight (in pounds/lb) and/or volume (in cubic feet/cf) given to you in your moving estimate as a valuation yardstick.
If you were given a weight estimate for your shipment, simply multiply it by $6.
For example, if your Moving Provider estimated your shipment at 8,000 pounds, multiply by $6 to arrive at an approximation of a $48,000 shipment value.
2. Multiply by 7 per Cubic Foot Rule
If you were given a cubic feet estimate for your shipment, simply multiple it by 7 and then multiply the result by $6 as in the $6 per Pound Rule.
For example, if your Moving Provider estimated your shipment at 500 cubic feet, multiply by 7 to arrive at 3,500 and then multiply by $6 to arrive at an approximation of a $21,000 shipment value.
3. Average Value per Room Rule
Walk through each room in your house and scan all items you think should be insured in that particular room, such as a bed, a stereo system, a TV, a couch, toys, etc. Then tally up a rough estimate value of the items in each room. Finally, add the value of all the rooms together to arrive at a rough average total value of your shipment. This figure should help guide you as a reference point as you tally up the final value you assign to your inventory list.
For example, if you live in a 4 bedroom home and think that each room has roughly $6,000 worth of insurable items, you would arrive at an average value of 4 x $6,000 or $24,000. Do not forget to tally the living room, which is usually the largest room in the home that contains the most number of items. In the example above, if you estimate your living room has roughly $15,000 worth of insurable items, you would add that to the four bedrooms and arrive at a final average tally of $39,000.
4. Total Loss Rule
Consider what would happen if your entire shipment were completely damaged or lost. Think of a value that you feel would adequately reflect a reasonable figure that would compensate you for such a loss. This figure should help guide you as a reference point as you tally up the final value you assign to your inventory list.
If you plan to ship and insure a Motor Vehicle and/or a Watercraft, you should refer to The Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) or Nada Guides (www.nadaguides.com) to best determine their current market and replacement values.
You can purchase an insurance policy for your Household Move so long as your belongings have not been placed in the care, custody, and control of a moving provider. However, we recommend that you purchase your insurance policy no later than 72 hours prior to your move, for the simple reason that itemizing your Household Goods, Personal Effects, Motor Vehicles, and/or Watercraft may require more time than expected, and if left to the last minute, may not be completed before your belongings have already been placed in the care, custody, and control of a moving provider.
The cost of insurance that you pay for insurance coverage is dependant on several factors relating to your Household Move, including the valuation of your shipment, its points of origin and destination, its conveyance, and the type of insurance coverage and deductible you choose. The cost of insurance you pay is inclusive of net premiums as well as administrative, processing, and marketing fees charged by MoveInsure to administer and issue your insurance policy.
After purchasing an insurance policy with MoveInsure, you will receive an email to your inbox containing four (4) important attachments. These attachments include your Insurance Certificate, Terms and Conditions of Coverage, Itemized Inventory List, and Receipt. These attachments act as your proof of purchase of insurance. Please keep the email you receive in an easily accessible folder for future reference. If you insure a Motor Vehicle/Watercraft, you will receive a fifth attachment of a Motor Vehicle/Watercraft Condition Form, which you will need to print, fill out, and have your Moving Provider sign at both point of origin and destination.
Yes, you can have the cost of your insurance policy billed to your employer in one of two ways: 1. When you are asked to provide credit card information under Payment in the Quote Wizard, simply provide your employer’s credit card and billing details. 2. Ask your employer to set up a MoveInsure Corporate Account. A MoveInsure Corporate Account is particularly beneficial for employers with a large number of employees who relocate each year. A MoveInsure Corporate Account allows an employer to issue and track all insurance policies of its employees under one centralized interface. For more information about a MoveInsure Corporate Account, click here.
Yes. If you do not have internet access or would simply rather purchase an insurance policy by phone, simply call us at 1-800-411-0913 and a MoveInsure Customer Service Representative will be more than happy to assist you in issuing an insurance policy for your Household Move. Please keep in mind, however, that purchasing an insurance policy over the phone will require you to complete certain forms by hand and fax them back to us before your insurance policy can be issued.
Yes. Your MoveInsure policy includes 90 days of free insurance coverage at a moving provider’s warehouse and/or storage facility. Storage coverage commences from the moment your belonging are in the care, custody, and control of your moving provider and up to 90 days thereafter, whether prior to transit commencing or after your shipment arrives at its destination but prior to delivery to your residence.
No. At this time, MoveInsure provides insurance coverage for your belongings only at a moving provider’s warehouse and/or storage facility. Belongings stored at a mini or self-storage facility are excluded from insurance coverage.
Yes. You can extend storage coverage for your belongings beyond the 90 days allotted in a standard MoveInsure insurance policy. Simply go to the Manage My Policy menu on MoveInsure’s homepage, click on Extend Storage Coverage, and follow the instructions.
Yes you can, but under such a scenario, those belongings will be subject to Silver coverage only. Click here for details of Silver coverage. If you wish to purchase Gold coverage for your belongings under such a scenario, you would first be required to have your belongings inspected and repacked by a professional moving company. Click here for details of Gold coverage.
After receiving your shipment, do the best job you can to inspect it. Confirm the number of cartons received and make any notation of damage or loss on the delivery receipt. If it is apparent that your shipment sustained damage or loss during transit, immediately go to the Manage My Policy menu on MoveInsure’s hompage, click on File a Claim and follow the instructions.
You should immediately file a claim as soon as you are aware your shipment has sustained damaged or loss. This will support your claim that your belongings sustained damage or loss during transit and not after being delivered to their final destination named on your insurance certificate. In any event, you must file a claim within 30 days of your shipment’s delivery to its final destination.
When you file a claim online, you will be asked to describe the nature of any damage or loss sustained to your belongings. You will also have the opportunity to upload digital photos of any damage or loss to your belongings. After submitting the information, you will be contacted by a MoveInsure Claims Representative to confirm the balance of documentation required to complete your claim adjustment. In any event, please refer to your insurance certificate to review claim procedures.
Rapid and fair claims settlement is the cornerstone of MoveInsure’s mission. We strive to settle all claims fairly and accurately for all of our customers within 30 days of receiving all required information for processing a claim. The sooner you provide us with all necessary information pertaining to your claim, the sooner we can adjust and settle it.
Although it is not mandatory, MoveInsure highly recommends that you take digital photos of any damage or loss to your belongings and upload them to our File a Claim section on our site. Submitting photos helps our claims adjustors assess the severity of damage and loss to your belongings and may expedite the settlement process.
Fine art objects, paintings, prints, antiques, sculptures, furs, rugs, carpets, and runners valued at more than $2,000 each (replacement value) will be accepted for insurance only if accompanied by a commercial invoice supporting the purchase price or a qualified expert’s appraisal with the corresponding sum insured. For the balance of items involved in your shipment, a receipt is not required. However, if you have receipts in hand, they will support the adjustment of your claim.
Yes. So long as your belongings have not yet been placed in the care, custody, and control of a moving provider, you can opt to make changes to your insurance policy. Simply go to the Manage My Policy menu, click on Update Policy, and follow the relevant steps.
Yes. So long as your belongings have not yet been placed in the care, custody, and control of a moving provider, you can opt to cancel your insurance policy. Simply go to the Manage My Policy menu, click on Cancel Policy, and follow the instructions. Please be aware that canceling your insurance policy will incur a cancellation fee of $50 or your total insurance charges, whichever is less, which is required to cover the administrative and processing costs associated with canceling your insurance coverage. If your total insurance cost exceeds $50, a credit will be applied to your credit card for the cost of insurance less the $50 cancellation fee.
