Moving Insurance Cost
Researched and written by Matthew Collins · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks · Last reviewed August 2026
Released value protection costs nothing and pays $0.60 per pound per article under 49 CFR 375.701. Full value protection is a separate priced product, and Bestmovers.info holds no measured figure for what carriers charge for it.
The arithmetic below is the part most households never do, and it is the reason the free option is rarely the right one.
What each level of moving valuation pays
Estimated price ranges only — your actual quote depends on move size, distance, service level, date, and availability.
| Move type | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Released value protection | $0.60 per pound | Free federal default, 49 CFR 375.701 |
| Payout on a two-bedroom shipment | $3,300 | Whole shipment at about 5,500 lb |
| Payout on a three-bedroom shipment | $5,100 | Whole shipment at about 8,500 lb |
| Full value protection | No measured figure held | Priced by the carrier against declared value and deductible |
The released value figure is statutory (49 CFR 375.701), not an estimate. Bestmovers.info holds no measured figure for this cost, so none is published here.
How much does moving insurance cost?
Released value protection costs nothing extra and is the federal default on an interstate household-goods move, paying $0.60 per pound per article (49 CFR 375.701). Full value protection is sold separately by the carrier and priced against the value you declare and the deductible you accept. Bestmovers.info holds no measured figure for full value pricing, so none is published here.
What does released value protection actually pay?
Released value pays by weight, so the arithmetic is fixed: a two-bedroom shipment modelled at about 5,500 lb is covered for $3,300 in total, and a three-bedroom shipment at about 8,500 lb for $5,100. Per item it is starker: a television weighing forty pounds is covered for $24 whatever it cost.
What is full value protection?
Full value protection obliges the carrier to repair, replace or pay the current market value of a damaged article rather than pay by the pound. It is priced by the carrier from the value you declare, and the declaration goes on the bill of lading before loading. Deductibles lower the premium, and carriers may limit liability on articles of extraordinary value unless those are listed by name in advance.
Do you need third-party moving insurance?
Carrier valuation is not insurance, it is the carrier's liability level, and third-party moving insurance is a separate policy from a licensed insurer. Households buy it when the declared value ceiling, the deductible or the exclusions on full value protection do not fit the shipment. Check first whether a homeowner or renter policy already covers goods in transit, because many do in part.
How does valuation interact with the bill on delivery day?
Valuation charges are part of the estimated charges, so they count toward what the carrier may collect at delivery: on a non-binding estimate no more than 110% of the estimate may be required then, with the balance billed afterwards (49 CFR 375.407). Electing full value at the door, after the estimate is written, is the common way a bill exceeds what the household planned for.
Where to read next
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Frequently asked questions
How much does moving insurance cost?
What does 60 cents per pound actually pay out?
Is full value protection worth it?
Is carrier valuation the same as insurance?
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