Moving Insurance Guide
Whether you hire a professional moving company or decide to do the move yourself, you can never guarantee that all of your belongings will arrive undamaged. Damage can occur while the items are loaded or unloaded, in transit, or in the storage. Sometimes, items and boxes are lost.
It is extremely important to make sure that your belongings are adequately insured before you move. The following topics will help you choose the right way to insure your move: 
Basic carrier liability (released value)
Declared value protection
Full value protection
Extraordinary value items
How to file a claim
Basic carrier liability (released value)
Basic Carrier Liability is also often called Limited Liability and is the minimum coverage required by law. There is no extra charge for this type of protection.
It is the most economical option available. The level of coverage for interstate moves is 60 cents per pound per article. For local moves it is 30 cents per pound per article, but this may vary from state to state, so make sure to check it with your mover.
Loss or damage claims are settled based on the pound weight of the article multiplied by 60 cents (or 30 cents for local moves). 
Let’s see how it works:
Among the goods you moved to your new home in a different state was a TV that you bought a year ago for $1,000. The TV arrived in million pieces.
Under Basic carrier liability you can file for 60 cent per pound reimbursement from the moving company. The TV weighs 100 pounds, so you will receive 60 dollars. Not much.
This type of insurance coverage definitely wouldn’t be enough to replace your broken or lost item with a similar one. If you agree to this option you will be asked to sign a specific statement in agreement on the bill of lading.
Declared value protection
This coverage is based on depreciated value of an item regardless of current replacement cost. Your valuables are somewhat protected under this option, but you pay for it.
The whole shipment is covered at a value not to exceed the dollar amount declared by the customer on the day of the move. The mover assumes liability for the entire shipment at an amount equal to $1.25 times the weight of your shipment, and you will be charged $7 for each $1,000 of liability assumed.
Let’s see how it works:
Your shipment weighs 4,000 pounds. You purchased Declared Value Protection for $28, and under that plan the mover was liable for loss or damage of up to $5,000.
From the example in the previous chapter, assuming the depreciated value of your damaged TV is $800 you should receive the full amount, and still be liable for $4,200 in case some other items are damaged, lost, or destroyed.
If you haven’t chosen another option you will be automatically default to this plan, and the mover is entitled to charge you $7 for each $1,000 of liability assumed.
You can also define your own value for your shipment. This option is called Lump Sum Value. If your shipment weighs 4,000 pounds the Declared Value Protection is $5,000, but if you decide you want to be better protected you can declare that your shipment is worth $10,000. It only makes sense if your shipment is really worth $10,000 or more, and for that option you will pay $70 instead of $35.
To obtain this coverage please consult your mover for additional charges and rules.