Moving and Storage Unit Insurance (2024)

Homeowners, renters, and condo policies generally cover theft, vandalism, and weather-related damage to your belongings while you're moving. The same coverage typically applies to personal property that you keep in a storage unit. However, whether you hire movers or move on your own, your policy normally won't cover damage to items from other mishaps while packing or in transit, such as dropping a lamp or damaging a television while carrying it down a stairwell. Your moving company will offer some liability protection at no cost and additional coverage for an added cost in certain states.

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Moving and Storage Unit Insurance (2)

How does insurance work when moving yourself?

While you can save money on moving expenses by taking on the heavy lifting by yourself or with friends, your policy won't cover damage from the process of moving items. You won't receive the basic liability protection that moving companies guarantee, but your home, renters, or condo policy may cover damage, up to your policy's limits, to items caused by theft, vandalism, or if the moving truck is involved in an auto accident.

How does insurance cover vehicle damage while moving?

If you're renting a moving truck or van, consider purchasing the optional collision damage waiver coverage from the rental company which can cover you if you're liable for damages to the truck/van. You don't want to be financially responsible for damages you cause to the moving truck, since your auto policy's comprehensive and collision coverages may not cover large or oversized moving trucks and vehicles.

Moving and Storage Unit Insurance (3)

How does insurance work with movers?

While most homeowners, renters and condo policies cover your personal property during a move, you usually won't be covered for any damage caused by movers — including packing and transporting your belongings. Your moving company will often offer the following insurance options to provide coverage:

  • Basic carrier liability: Federal law requires moving companies to provide basic liability protection at no additional cost. Your moving company will cover 60 cents per pound for each item. While basic liability protection offers some coverage, it won't pay to repair or replace most items, especially furniture or appliances.

Example:If movers damage your 20- lb. dining room chair, you'd be eligible to receive $12 (.60 x 20) in compensation.

  • Full replacement value protection: If your item is damaged, destroyed, or lost, full replacement value protection requires your moving company to repair or replace it at the current market value. Full replacement protection is the default insurance coverage at all moving companies and costs about 1% of your belongings' estimated total value. If your belongings are valued at $100,000, you would pay $1,000 for full value protection.

Example:If movers damage your 20- lb. dining room chair, and the current market value of the chair is $50, you'd be eligible to receive $50.

  • Separate liability insurance: : For an additional cost, some moving companies offer insurance that covers the difference between the required liability protection and the item's full replacement value. However, certain states don't allow moving companies to sell insurance to their customers, so they use third-party providers. Ask your movers for documentation of this policy.

Example:Your 20- lb. dining room chair has a full replacement value of $50. You're eligible to receive $12 from the required liability protection. Separate liability insurance can cover the remaining $38.

Does insurance cover moving expenses?

Your homeowners, condo or renters policy won't cover moving expenses. However, if you're unable to live in your current residence due to a covered loss, your loss of use coverage may pay for certain costs related to moving into a temporary residence while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.

How does insurance cover storage units?

Standard homeowners, renters and condo insurance policies generally cover a percentage of your possessions while in a storage unit—no matter the unit type or where it's located. You're generally covered for theft, vandalism, and weather-related damage, but you probably won't be covered for mold and mildew. The coverage limit for your items in storage is usually set at some percentage – for instance, 10% – of your policy's personal property coverage limit or $1,000, whichever is greater.

Example:If the personal property coverage amount on your home, renters or condo policy is $75,000, you may be covered up to $7,500 for your belongings in a storage unit if your coverage limit for storage is 10%.

Do you need insurance to use a storage unit?

Some storage facilities require that you provide proof of insurance before taking over a unit, while others may offer their own insurance for your belongings.

What if you're storing a vehicle?

Home, condo, and renters insurance won't cover damage to a vehicle in storage. However, comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy may pay to repair or replace a vehicle damaged or stolen while in storage.

Protect your belongings with home, condo, or renters insurance

Moving and Storage Unit Insurance (4)

Online

Customize coverage to your new home, condo or apartment.

Get a home insurance quote

Moving and Storage Unit Insurance (5)

Call a rep

Speak with a licensed representative for your state.

Call 1-866-749-7436

Moving and Storage Unit Insurance (6)

Through an agent

Connect with an independent agent in your neighborhood.

Find an agent online

Moving and Storage Unit Insurance (7)

Quote homeowners insurance online or call for advice

  • Or, call 1-866-749-7436

Learn more about home insurance policies.

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Moving and Storage Unit Insurance (2024)

FAQs

Does storage locations require insurance? ›

Storage unit companies almost always require insurance, but coverage options can vary from one company to another. The most common ways to gain coverage are to: Purchase insurance from the storage facility. Use your own coverage.

Is storage insurance the same as renters insurance? ›

A storage company insurance policy usually provides the exact same protection as your renters policy. The difference is that it may have a larger amount of coverage, while your renters policy is restricted by a cap, which you can assume will be 10%.

Do storage containers have insurance? ›

Do I need Container Storage Insurance? It depends on the company but most Storage Facilities will require you to insure the possessions contained within their unit. Please bear in mind that if your facility provides exterior storage units, this could be considered a higher risk and may need more consideration.

Does renters insurance cover moving losses? ›

Renters insurance may cover your personal property if you move by yourself, but it won't cover anything that's damaged while in the care of professional movers. While it's highly recommended to have renters insurance with comprehensive coverage, even that may not cover belongings a policyholder moves on their own.

What does storage mean in insurance? ›

It's just a term often used to describe minimum coverage for a vehicle in storage. Since you won't be driving your vehicle when it's stored or parked for a long time, you can usually drop or reduce coverages that protect against events that can occur while driving.

How much is USAA renters insurance? ›

The average monthly insurance cost of a USAA renters policy is $14.33, or $172 a year. That's lower than the national average costs of $180 a year and $15 per month. According to USAA, some members can get renters insurance coverage for as little as $10 per month.

Can you call State Farm customer service? ›

Who pays for container damage? ›

Generally, either the owner of the container or the user of the container will need to pay for the damages, after the necessary evidence has been collected.

What is container insurance? ›

Container insurance also referred to as cargo insurance, is a type of insurance that protects goods in transit. Specifically, container insurance aims to protect the policyholder against the risks that come with shipping goods, such as loss, damage, or theft subject to the policies terms and conditions.

Is pod insurance worth it? ›

Even if your homeowners insurance covers your belongings when you're using a moving container, you might want to consider PODS contents protection because the deductible is only $100, and you don't have to file a claim against your homeowners insurance if your belongings are lost or stolen.

Does renters insurance cover relocation due to mold? ›

Your insurer may also pay for mold remediation in that scenario, as well as lodging if you need to live elsewhere while the mold is removed. However, if the mold resulted from your negligence, then you typically won't be covered.

Does insurance cover moving expenses? ›

While most homeowners, renters and condo policies cover your personal property during a move, you usually won't be covered for any damage caused by movers — including packing and transporting your belongings.

What will renters insurance cover the loss of? ›

Renters insurance protects tenants from the costs of unexpected personal property damage, theft and legal liability. This coverage can be bought by anyone renting an apartment, condo, home or other living space, and is much cheaper than homeowners insurance.

How much does it cost to insure a shipping container? ›

Q: How much does marine cargo insurance cost? In most cases, the insurance cost is around 0.5% of the total value of the cargo. This cost will vary based on the type of goods, the origin and destination, and whether it's being shipped in a closed or open container.

What is container protection coverage? ›

DESCRIPTION. CPC provides an ongoing monitoring and management service that includes. the verification of the condition of containers at every interchange between relevant parties to monitor the wellbeing of each and every container, particularly for visible damages.

What is the bring your own container policy? ›

The BYO movement encourages customers to bring their own containers to be safely filled on-site at various food and retail locations. Customers can opt to use their own travel mugs, foodware, jars, and many other container types to avoid the disposable packaging we so often encounter as consumers.

Is storage containers a good investment? ›

Tangible assets: Shipping containers are hard assets with functional and material value. This means that you'll always be able to lease them out or sell them, provided they're in decent condition. Potential for steady income: Buying, selling, and leasing out containers means a regular stream of income.

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