Short answer: your mover's default coverage is $0.60 per pound, per item — not what your stuff is actually worth. Here's what that means for your move, and when it's worth paying for more.
The Coverage You Already Have (Whether You Asked For It or Not)
Every mover licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities is required to include released value protection at no extra cost. It sounds like real insurance. It isn't, not in any way that matches what people expect.
Released value protection pays out based on weight, not value. A 50-pound flatscreen TV that cost $1,800 gets reimbursed at $30 if it's damaged in transit. A box of hardcover books weighing the same amount gets the identical payout, even though the books are worth a fraction of the TV. The rate has nothing to do with what's actually inside the box.
This is the coverage every mover starts with because Massachusetts law requires movers regulated by the DPU to carry it as a baseline. It's not a scam or a loophole. It's just far less protective than the word "insurance" implies, and most people don't find that out until something's already broken.
Is Full Value Protection Worth the Extra Cost?
Full value protection is the optional tier that actually functions like insurance. Instead of a per-pound formula, the mover is on the hook for the item's repair cost, replacement cost, or current market value if it's lost or damaged.
It costs more, usually as a percentage of your total shipment value, but the math is straightforward: if you're moving anything where $0.60/lb wouldn't cover a fraction of the actual loss, upgrading is worth it. That's most electronics, real furniture, and anything fragile or high-value.
| Coverage Type | How Payout Is Calculated | Included Free? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released Value Protection | $0.60 per pound, per item | Yes, always included | Low-value, high-weight items (books, basic furniture) |
| Full Value Protection | Repair, replace, or market value | No, paid upgrade | Electronics, furniture, anything fragile or valuable |
Ask for the upgrade cost as a flat number before move day, not a vague percentage. A budget locked in upfront should include this, not surprise you as an add-on at the door.
Does Coverage Work Differently for Long-Distance Moves?
Local moves and long-distance moves both start from the same released value baseline, but the practical stakes are different. A local move means your things are on the truck for a few hours. An out-of-state move means days, sometimes with an overnight stop, and more handling at each end.
That longer window is exactly why full value protection matters more the farther you're moving. More time in transit means more opportunities for something to shift, get dropped during a second loading, or take damage that never would have happened on a three-mile trip across town. If you're moving out of state from Boston, treat the valuation conversation as a bigger deal than you would for a same-day local job, not an afterthought you handle the morning of.
Local Movers vs. Interstate Carriers: Who Regulates What
One more distinction worth knowing: a move that starts and ends inside Massachusetts falls under the DPU's authority, while a move crossing state lines falls under federal rules enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration instead. The $0.60/lb released value concept exists in both systems, but the agency you'd file a regulatory complaint with is different depending on which kind of move you booked. Most people never need this information, but it matters if a dispute with a mover ever escalates past a normal claims conversation.
Will Your Renters or Homeowners Policy Cover This?
People assume their own renters or homeowners insurance has them covered during a move. It usually doesn't, and the gap catches people off guard.
Policygenius breaks this down clearly: renters and homeowners policies are built around named perils — fire, theft, vandalism, and similar events — not damage caused by a third party's negligence. If a mover drops your dresser on the stairs, that's the mover's liability to cover, not something your own policy is designed to pick up. The one exception is if something is stolen out of the truck or damaged by a listed peril like a fire; that's when your own policy might actually respond.
Don't assume your renters policy is a backstop. If the coverage matters to you, it needs to come from the mover's valuation options, not an assumption about a policy you already pay for.
Does Your Boston Building Require a Certificate of Insurance?
This is the part that catches people by surprise, especially in the Seaport, Back Bay, and other Boston neighborhoods full of newer high-rises. Most buildings with a doorman, freight elevator, or loading dock require a certificate of insurance (COI) from your moving company before they'll let the crew in.
A COI is a document from the mover's insurance carrier confirming they actually carry general liability coverage, commonly $1 million per occurrence, sometimes more for luxury buildings with stricter property management requirements. It's not about your coverage — it protects the building by shifting responsibility for move-day damage (a scraped hallway wall, a dinged elevator door) onto the mover's policy instead of the building's own insurance.
Buildings can and do turn crews away over a missing or incorrect COI. If your building requires one:
- Ask your mover for it as soon as you book, not the week of your move.
- Give your building management's exact insurance-language requirements to your mover directly — buildings are often picky about specific wording.
- Confirm the building has actually received and approved it before move day, not just that your mover sent it.
A rejected COI on move day means a crew standing in your lobby unable to start, which is the worst possible time to be sorting out paperwork.
If Something Gets Damaged, Here's the Claims Process
Most people never think about how to file a claim until they need to, which makes an already frustrating moment worse. The general process looks like this:
- Document the damage immediately, with photos, before anything gets moved further or thrown away.
- Note the damage in writing on the mover's paperwork at the time of delivery, not days later from memory.
- Submit a written claim to the mover within the timeframe stated in your contract. Federal rules require interstate movers to allow at least 9 months from delivery to file a claim, though local moves may specify a shorter window in the contract.
- Expect a response and settlement offer based on whichever valuation tier you chose: released value or full value protection.
The single biggest mistake people make is signing off on delivery paperwork as "all items received in good condition" without actually checking first. Once that's signed, disputing damage later gets much harder. Take the extra ten minutes to look before you sign, especially for anything fragile or expensive.
What to Actually Ask Before You Book
Skip the generic "are you insured" question — every legal mover will say yes, and it doesn't tell you much. Ask these instead:
- What's included in released value protection, and what would my specific items be worth under that rate?
- What does full value protection cost for this move, as a flat dollar number?
- Can you provide a COI, and how fast can you turn one around if my building needs it?
A mover who answers all three clearly and immediately is a good sign. Vague answers or pushback on the COI question is worth taking seriously before you commit.
NoTimeMover is fully insured and can turn around a certificate of insurance fast when your building needs one — just tell us the requirements when you book so there's no scramble on move day.