How Much Does Moving Insurance Cost? [2025 Data]
Moving insurance can cost anywhere from $35 to $10,000. The total cost comes down to the type of insurance you choose, the amount of stuff you have, and the distance of your move.
Moving insurance protects your belongings from loss and damage during the moving process. With a policy, you’ll guarantee some amount of reimbursement headed your way if there’s a problem.
Moving insurance costs range widely depending on the insurance type and the total value of your goods. Always check with your provider about the cost breakdowns, including the insurance quotes and reimbursement details.
Moving insurance protects your belongings from loss and damage during the moving process. With a policy, you’ll guarantee some amount of reimbursement headed your way if there’s a problem.
Moving insurance costs range widely depending on the insurance type and the total value of your goods. Always check with your provider about the cost breakdowns, including the insurance quotes and reimbursement details.
Moving companies cannot legally sell “moving insurance.” Even though most people refer to it as moving insurance when they purchase it, its technical name is “moving coverage.” Only third-party insurance companies (like the national brands you see on TV) can sell moving insurance.
Moving Insurance Cost by Type
When you hire a professional company for a move out of state, the company is responsible for transporting your belongings safely under federal law. These companies must follow certain moving rules and regulations that protect you and your haul.
Moving companies take care of this mandate by offering two types of coverage: Full value protection and released value protection. Your reimbursement is directly affected by which coverage you choose.
| Type of Insurance | Cost | Protection Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Full value protection | 1% of the total estimated value of your goods | Total value of your belongings |
| Released value protection | Free | $0.60 per pound per item |
| Third-party policies | 1% to 5% of the estimated value of your items | Covers belongings other policies may not cover |
1. Full Value Protection
As it sounds, full value protection puts your moving company on the hook for the total replacement cost of your broken or lost items. In the event of lost or damaged items, your mover has three options to fix the problem:
Repair the item
Replace the item
Offer money for the cost of the repair or current replacement value
Full value protection insurance sounds expensive because it is expensive. The costs and the deductibles vary by moving companies, so it's a good idea to comparison shop when interviewing potential moving companies.
Full value protection usually costs 1% of the total estimated value of your household goods.
Let’s say the official weight of your haul is 10,000 pounds. The moving company will designate a value per pound, usually $6, meaning the value of your goods would total $60,000. At 1% cost, you’ll pay $600 for full value protection.
2. Released Value Protection
If your moving budget is tight, you might consider released value protection. This type of insurance is free and the moving company’s default coverage if you don’t choose another option.
With released value protection, the company is responsible for no more than $0.60 per pound per item. In other words, if your 50-pound coffee table worth $1,000 is damaged, the mover only has to pay $30 ($0.60 x 50). If you choose released value protection, you have to sign a waiver on your bill of lading before moving day starts.
3. Third Party or Separate Liability Coverage
You can also choose a completely separate third-party moving insurance. Call your current home insurance provider if you think you can get better coverage according to the type of moving service. Some companies include separate coverage for moves, while others will add it to your existing policy for a fee. If your current provider doesn't offer moving insurance, many reputable national companies provide third-party coverage.
Most people use third-party insurance as a gap filler. Full value protection from your moving company will cover the majority of your shipment, but some high-value items, like your family’s heirloom jewelry, will need more protection. Consider third-party coverage for situations your full value protection doesn’t cover, like:
Natural disasters
Mechanical and electrical accidents
Mold and mildew
Moths and insects
Your costs for third-party insurance usually range from 1% to 5% of the shipment’s total value. For example, an insurance policy for $25,000 worth of goods would cost $1,250 at 5% valuation.
Types of Third-Party Insurance
| Type of Insurance | Type of Protection |
|---|---|
| Specialized-item coverage | This type of insurance is applied to high-value items, including antiques, fine art, pianos, large electronics, and furniture. If these items incur damage, you’ll receive a payout from the insurance company. |
| Self-storage insurance coverage | If you have to temporarily store your items in a storage facility, third-party companies can protect your belongings in the event of damage while in storage. |
| Trip-transit insurance | Trip-transit insurance covers the cost of your belongings if they’re stolen or damaged while you’re transporting them in a moving truck or other vehicle. |
Additional Moving Insurance Costs
While moving insurance typically covers the belongings being moved, if you use a rental truck, most rental companies offer insurance in case there is any damage done to the truck. Additionally, third-party companies offer their own moving insurance for highly-valuable items.
Rental Truck Coverage
Rental truck insurance is affordable (about $20 per day), and the extra coverage insures you against expensive repairs and medical costs you may incur driving a truck that’s larger than usual.
When you reserve your rental moving truck, you’ll have the chance to buy insurance, either piece by piece or in a bundle. Adding liability insurance would be wise, but you probably don't need extra medical coverage if you have health insurance. If the company doesn’t offer you the chance to separate, know that bundled prices cost slightly more and are worth the extra money. Rental truck coverage typically offers:
Collision damage waiver
Supplemental liability insurance
Medical coverage
Cargo protection
Moving Pod Coverage
Most reputable moving pod companies will offer their own comprehensive insurance policies, often separate from your moving insurance. This cost can range anywhere from $35 to $470 per month, depending on the kind of coverage you’re after and the declared value of what you’re storing in your pod.
How to Calculate Moving Insurance
Because full value moving insurance is based on a percentage of the value of your belongings, take stock of some of the more valuable items in your home your movers will handle, like your appliances, and do a rough calculation based on that. If you opt for release value protection moving insurance, you can estimate your coverage based on the total weight of your items.
Is Moving Insurance Worth the Cost?
For most people, yes, moving insurance is worth the cost, especially when considering how much it’d cost to replace a truck full of items destroyed in a flood. But, if you're moving locally, just a few miles away, or you don’t have many high-value items, a released value protection policy could suit your needs.
If all goes well with your move, you’ll have paid for peace of mind. However, if you discover missing or broken items, keep all your documentation from your local moving company and third-party insurance companies. Contact each of these companies to start the claims process.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, moving insurance is designed to cover some or all of the replacement cost in the event your items are damaged during transit. You can get coverage directly from moving companies or use a third-party moving insurance provider. Plus, you can get coverage from third-party insurers for yourself if you’re moving your belongings.
No, homeowners insurance does not typically cover moving expenses. Homeowners insurance provides coverage and pay-outs if you experience damage to the home you currently live in. You’ll need to save separately for moving expenses like hiring movers, renting a tow truck, or shipping your belongings.
It depends on your policy, but you may be covered for any damages to your personal property. How much you receive will depend on the circumstances under which property was damaged and if you can prove it was damaged during the incident on the road. Your insurance company may also only cover the cost to repair any items, and not outright replace them. Checking in with your insurance provider will help you get a clearer picture of your overall coverage.
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