Does Renters Insurance Cover Moving?
Renters insurance can cover your personal things if you move yourself, but if you get professional movers, it won’t. If you’re paying someone to move, you can usually get insurance through the movers.
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When does renters insurance cover my move?
When moving insurance is included in your renter’s policy and you move yourself, your stuff is protected. For example renters insurance would cover your stuff if:
- Some of your things get stolen when you’re packing a UHaul
- Your things are damaged in a car accident on the way to your new place
- You accidentally drop your TV
Renters insurance won’t pay if you hire movers, but the company should offer you different insurance options.
Does renters insurance cover relocation?
Renters insurance can pay for temporary relocation if your current place was badly damaged. This is called “loss of use” coverage because it pays when you can't use your current home.
Renters insurance won’t pay for a voluntary relocation, such as when you move for a new job or to be closer to family.
When doesn't renters insurance cover my move?
Renters insurance won’t cover your stuff when you move if you don’t specifically have a moving policy or if you get professional movers.
There is no hard-and-fast rule on whether renters insurance includes moving insurance. It really depends. If you plan to move yourself, check your policy or call your agent to find out. If it doesn’t, you may be able to add it.
But there are limits to having moving coverage on your renter’s policy. Renters insurance won’t cover professional movers — they will cover your property to a degree while it’s in their possession, though.
Your policy also won’t cover anything above the total coverage amount you pick when you choose your renters insurance. If you have only $7,000 in coverage and find out after a move your things are damaged and will cost $10,000 to repair or replace, you’re out of luck. You'll only get, at most, $7,000.
Does renters insurance cover property damage?
Renters insurance covers your personal things, not the apartment itself. If a cooking fire starts and your laptop on the counter gets burnt, renters insurance would pay to replace your laptop. It would not pay to fix any fire damage done to the kitchen.
If a wall gets dented or a window breaks, those are usually covered by the landlord’s insurance or a personal liability policy.
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What insurance is offered by moving companies?
A moving company is responsible for your stuff from the moment the movers begin packing or handling belongings until those items arrive at their final destination. The amount the company covers depends on where you live and where you’re moving to.
Federal law requires movers to offer two levels of protection if you move between states. Your moving company may automatically include one or the other. It’s best to ask what its policy is.
Released value protection
This is the most basic type of coverage, and it must be included in all moves across state lines. With released value protection, the moving company pays 60 cents per pound for damaged or stolen things.
For example, if a moving company ruins your couch, it would pay you 60 cents for every pound the couch weighed. If you got the couch secondhand, this is probably in line with what you paid for it.
But, imagine your brand-new $5,000 TV weighs only 15 pounds and the moving company breaks it. It would only give you $9, not the $5,000 you paid.
Full value protection
With full value protection, a moving company should pay the full cost to repair or replace lost, damaged or stolen property. You may have to pay more for this coverage.
Imagine your movers cracked your iPad. Full value protection could pay you the cash to replace it with a comparable model.
There are limits — some items are explicitly not covered. Typically, any item worth more than $100 per pound, such as jewelry, fine china, furs and antiques.
What are some other insurance options?
If you don’t like the regular options from the moving company or you want extra coverage on a few things, you could get a moving insurance policy from another company. It’s called third-party insurance. You can ask your movers for a recommendation or call an insurance company directly.
Covering high-value items
Extra protection for high-value, and especially fragile, belongings can be useful whether you’re moving yourself or hiring professionals. You could get extra coverage add-ons for a range of specific items.
-
Electronics
- Musical instruments
- Jewelry
- Fine china
- Firearms
- Designer clothing
Another option is to transport your valuable stuff yourself. You might have a moving company transport your furniture and clothes but keep your jewelry with you while you move. This won't always be possible, though. Moving an expensive piano likely requires a specialty company with its own liability insurance.
Typically, if anything is broken or damaged, the moving company must pay up to the policy’s limit, and the third-party company covers the rest.
How much is moving insurance?
The cost of moving insurance depends on a number of factors, including what you’re moving, how much your things cost, the distance of the move and how big or small of a deductible you want.
Estimated price | Deductible |
|---|---|
| $675 | $1,000 |
| $875 | $500 |
| $1,250 | $0 |
Estimated price | Deductible |
|---|---|
| $255 | $500 |
| $300 | $250 |
| $350 | $0 |
Frequently asked questions
How does moving insurance work?
Moving insurance pays if your personal items are damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen while you are moving. If you hire a moving company, you can probably buy coverage from them. If you move yourself, you can check your renters insurance to see if your items are covered in transit.
How much does moving insurance cost?
Lower-end insurance, called released value coverage, often doesn't cost anything and comes with what you pay your movers. Better protection, called full value coverage can cost around 1% to 2% of the total value of your items. The exact cost depends on a few factors, including the moving company, the type of coverage and how much your items are worth.
Should I get insurance on a long-distance move?
It's a good idea to consider moving insurance. You can get the comprehensive coverage with what's called full value protection if you hire a mover. If you’re moving long-distance, talk to your insurance company to see what your options are.
Sources and methodology
Information about moving insurance is from several moving companies, insurance companies, government departments and state industries, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, New York State Movers & Warehousemen’s Association, All My Sons Moving, Allied Van Lines, North American Moving Services, Mayflower, Geico, Progressive and State Farm.
The price quotes in the examples are from Moving Insurance LLC. The ZIP codes used for the distance calculations are 20001 for Washington, D.C., 94102 for San Francisco and 28277 to 28205 for Charlotte, N.C. Quotes were valid as of June 16, 2025.
Senior Writer
Jenn Jones is a Senior Writer at LendingTree where she covers auto, home, renters and motorcycle insurance topics.
Previously an editor for USA TODAY Blueprint and a finance manager at World Car dealerships, she has more than a decade of experience in the world of personal finance and a deep interest in sharing knowledge that empowers others. She’s also served as a freelance translator, copy editor, writer and researcher. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in commerce and a B.A. in Chinese language and literature.
How insurance helped Jenn
Jenn first came to appreciate pet insurance when annual checkups for her cat and dog totaled more than $700.
Expertise
- Auto insurance
- Renters insurance
- Condo insurance
- Home insurance
Referenced by
- USA TODAY
- MSN
- F&I Magazine
- Automotive News
Education
- BS, Commerce, University of Virginia
- BA, Chinese Language and Literature, University of Virginia
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
