As you plan your long distance move out of California, do not forget to think about how to insure your move as well. Moving insurance is designed to shield you against losses that could arise during the handling or transportation of your household goods.
Have you secured your moving insurance? Or have you talked about insurance with your long distance movers in San Diego? You should.
Read on to learn more about insuring your goods during a long distance move, the different insurance options you have, how much it will cost you, why you should do it, and more.
What is moving insurance?
Is there such a thing as moving insurance? Yes, moving insurance is a real thing. In the same way you can purchase insurance for your vehicle, house, or travel, you can get moving insurance too.
Moving insurance is tailored to see you compensated for losses that may arise during the course of your relocation process. There are different insurance products out there and different providers too.
Did you know that your moving company can offer you moving insurance (protection)? Yes, your mover can provide you with some insurance options that will cover damage or loss of your items. Make sure to ask your San Diego movers about this.
Do you need insurance?
Yes, anyone that is planning to carry out a move needs insurance against the myriad of risks that could happen. Even if nothing happens and your goods remain safe, at least you will have enjoyed peace of mind by knowing that you were protected from potential financial losses. It will have been worth it.
If you do not seek moving insurance, you will relocate while in a financially vulnerable position. Any loss or damage of your items will be on you without any sure means of compensation.
Some of the risks that should get you to consider moving insurance include:
- Natural disasters, e.g. storms and hurricanes.
- Fire.
- Theft.
- Moving vehicle accident.
- Damage during packing, loading or unloading.
- Damage during transit.
- Water damage.
What insurance options are there?
There are a number of insurance options you can choose ahead of your move. Check them out below.
- Basic Coverage:
What insurance should movers have?
This moving insurance package is available from all moving companies. However, you should note that this moving coverage only compensates you 60 cents for every pound of items. It is, therefore, not a full measure by any means.
- Full Value Protection
What is Full Value Protection Moving insurance?
This type of moving insurance is offered by movers – but not all of them. However, all interstate moving companies like out of state movers near you should have it. As the name indicates, this coverage option compensates you fully for all insured goods up to the agreed-upon value.
- Third-party moving insurance
What is third party moving insurance?
The final option is third party insurance. It is so named because it is not offered by movers; you have to seek it from third parties – insurance providers. This moving coverage compensates your goods even better than the full value protection package because you get compensated up to the full market value of the items in question – not upon any other assumed value.
How much will my moving insurance cost?
So how much does it cost to enjoy peace of mind when moving? Well, it’s not a lot. You’ll be surprised to see how affordable it can be.
- Basic coverage moving insurance is free. You are entitled to it when you sign a moving contract and pay the moving company for services. You do not have to pay any extra for it in addition to your moving costs.
- Full Value protection coverage costs about 1% of the total value of your goods. So if your furniture and personal belongings are estimated to cost about $100,000, you will need to pay $1,000 for this coverage.
- Third-party moving insurance costs between 1% and 5%. It is offered by different commercial insurance providers and each has their own rates that fall in between this bracket.
What about my renters or homeowners insurance?
You may have Homeowners insurance or Renters Insurance. You therefore might be wondering - Does renters insurance cover damage during a move?
For the most part, both of these residential insurance packages are meant to protect your belongings against risks that come up when your household items are under your roof. For example, if burglars break into your home. So when you pack up during a move and put your belongings in a mover’s truck, a lot changes as far as these two insurance covers are concerned.
However, all hope is not lost. Some renters and homeowners insurance packages will provide transit insurance of some sort. The best way to find out for sure is to ask your specific insurer what coverage you can get during your relocation.
What happens when goods get damaged or lost after a move?
It is possible that some of your goods could get misplaced or lost during a move. If this happens there is a course of action you could take.
For lost items, you could contact the mover immediately and have them check if the item got forgotten somewhere or if it got transferred to another truck/storage unit by mistake.
For damaged goods, the best course of action to take is to file a claim. Do you know how to file a claim after a move? Check it out below:
How to file an insurance claim after a move
How do moving insurance claims work? Here’s how:
- You have 90 days after the move to file your claim.
- You will need to file your claim in writing.
- Take a few days after the move to analyze all your belongings and check for damage.
- Read the moving contract again and see what the mover’s liability is. For example, did they pack the kitchen utensils that got broken or did you pack them yourself?
- The moving company will have 30 days after receipt of your claim to either accept or reject it.
- If the mover accepts liability, they will have six months to compensate you based on the type of coverage you have.
- If the moving company doesn’t accept liability, you can pursue the matter in a small claims court or report to the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Conclusion:
GPS Moving & Storage is one of the trusted long distance movers San Diego homeowners and businesses enjoy. Talk to us today about how to safely transport your goods from California to any state in the USA.
