The importance of proper insurance coverage when hiring movers

In many tips and articles, you’ll find that insurance is more than welcome when hiring movers. However, what most of these articles don’t explain is how insurance coverage actually works. At Master Moving Guide, we want to teach people about professional moving guidelines thoroughly. That’s why we’ll show you the importance of proper insurance coverage when hiring movers the best way we can. Dealing with moving insurance is not as simple as most people make it seem, yet it’s a crucial part of any move. Because of that, it’s important to know all the details concerning getting insurance when you hire movers.

The three different types of insurance all provide different coverage

You may or may not have heard of different types of coverage when getting insurance. It’s important to know what each type of insurance and valuation means, otherwise you might choose the wrong one. When you hire a mover, you want to make sure you can get compensation in case something goes wrong. With that in mind, here are the most common types of insurance and the things they cover:

• Released (basic) value protection comes free of charge in addition to the moving fee. Unfortunately, it only offers partial protection, no more than 60 cents per pound of cargo. In other words, if you want coverage for an expensive item, you’ll only get a small fraction of its value.
• Full-value protection (FVP) is when your mover is responsible for the replacement cost of the items in your cargo. If any of your personal belongings are misplaced, destroyed, or damaged while in the mover’s care, they will replace it, repair it, or pay you cash for the item’s replacement cost or current market value. Each mover charges a different amount for full value protection liability coverage, depending on the deductible you select. Keep in mind that full value liability is the default and is more expensive. 
• Third-party insurance is a special type of coverage. As movers can’t sell insurance directly, third-party insurance companies handle moving insurance for moving companies. You can still obtain complete coverage with third-party insurance, simply from a different company.

These are, however, just the elementary types of insurance coverage available. When looking for the best moving insurance possible, note that you also have homeowners’ or renters’ policies to cover you.

Decide which proper insurance coverage to get when hiring movers for the move

When it comes to getting the right insurance for your items, it’s best to consult a professional. There are many websites that can help you find insurance agents near you. Now, it’s crucial to know and understand the options you have for your coverage.

• Car insurance coverage can help if you’re shipping your vehicle. However, you’ll need to consult your auto shipping company for this and ask if the coverage is the same during transit.
• A floater will cover high value items such as jewelry, fine art, china, vases, and so on.
• Trip transit insurance covers your items in case of theft, fire, and other damage while in transit or storage. However, trip transit insurance does not cover breakage or storing at a storage facility.
• Special perils content coverage will cover everything BUT fragile items.
• Storage insurance is what you’re going to need if you want temporary or permanent storage for your items. You can find pretty cheap storage while also getting insurance for what you put inside your unit.

Keep in mind that you also want proper insurance coverage even when moving by yourself. No matter how you move, you want your items to be covered properly, and you want to be compensated in case something goes wrong. Don’t let your personal items suffer due to a lack of proper insurance coverage- do your research and prepare on time for the move.

How to make the best out of your insurance and how to put it to use properly

Your insurance coverage can greatly help you get money and means to repair any damage. If you learned to identify and avoid cheap movers, you’ll also learn how to use your insurance properly. Know what is the time limit for filing claims after your movers are done with the process. You need time to unpack and check your items for any damage, so make sure this time limit is a reasonable one. It’s also crucial to find out the maximum value of your movers’ insurance. To help yourself out, also do a full inventory of your belongings. Compare the value of the insurance with the value of your items, and see if it provides enough coverage.

Review contracts as many times as you need to, and see if there’s anything you disagree with. Also, make sure to check your movers’ policy about damage to your premises: does the insurance cover damage to the place you’re moving out from and your new home? Do the moving quotes and insurance costs fit into your budget? All of these are vital things to consider about insurance coverage.

Proper insurance coverage when hiring movers can save you, so don’t hold back

As you can see, there are many things and gimmicks concerning the importance of proper insurance coverage when hiring movers. At a glance, all of this may seem quite complex and overwhelming: the different types of insurance and the things they cover can intimidate anyone. However, there are many companies out there that can guide you through the process. More importantly, if there’s anything you’re unsure about or anything you want to know, feel free to reach out to us.