Bethany, who has Round Rock, TX renters insurance, just moved and took her Texas renters insurance policy with her, which led to this question.
Does renters insurance cover moving damage? My movers managed to mangle some of my furniture pretty badly and I wondered if I could file a claim on my renters insurance.
That’s a great question Bethany, and you’re not the only one who’s wondered that. Let’s find out more.
Does Renters Insurance Cover Moving?
Does renters insurance cover moving? That depends on what kind of coverage you’re looking for. If it’s damage, you might be better served by the liability policy of the moving company. On the other hand, there are situations where your renters insurance policy could provide coverage.
To find out if renters insurance covers moving damage, let’s take a look at what renters insurance covers in regard to personal property. You’ll find that renters insurance covers named perils on personal property. This means that, for personal property like your furniture, your renters insurance covers you against risks named specifically in the policy yet is subject to the usual exclusions and limitations that come with the policy language.
Renters insurance personal property coverage protects you against perils like fire, theft, vandalism, smoke, water, and the weight of ice and snow. It sounds like you’re talking about a situation where the movers themselves damaged your furniture. In this instance, movers are most assuredly not a covered peril, so the answer is likely no. But, you’re not out of luck yet.
Does Renters Insurance Cover Moving Damage? You Have Options!
Does Renters Insurance Cover Moving Damage?
Just because your renters insurance policy doesn’t cover moving damage from the movers themselves doesn’t mean you’re responsible to replace the property they damaged. You have options. Let’s assume that you used an actual moving company, rather than just getting a few buddies together. While the regulations may vary based on location, type of company, and other factors, generally your movers should be insured and bonded. Without getting into bonding, those two terms mean that they’re covered for damaging or stealing your stuff. The latter doesn’t seem to be the instant issue here, so we’ll set that aside for the moment.
If your movers are insured as they should be, their policy likely contains some provisions for what happens in the event that they damage your property. This might vary based on whether the property was actively in transit, held in storage they owned or rented from the owners, or being carried and moved into place. The specific coverage’s and types of liability covered are a discussion of commercial insurance, but it’s worth calling the moving company and looking into it.
Does My Movers’ Renters Insurance Cover Damage To My Property While Moving If They’re Not Professionals?
Renters insurance liability generally excludes work done for hire. The definition of “for hire” can vary based on policy language, but let’s assume for the moment that you paid your friends in lunch, instead of cash in exchange for helping you move. In some very specific instances, it’s possible that the friends helping you move might be able to use their liability coverage if the damage is significant. This would depend on them not being on the clock in professional work, as well as their particular policy language which might be another angle to look into as well.
Does Renters Insurance Cover Damage From Moving? Read Your Policy…
As always, we’re giving generalized opinions based on common interpretations of standard policy forms. As we all know by now, it’s important to read your policy. Did you know that there are two types of Texas renters insurance, and they’d both treat this scenario differently? Generally, the HO-4 is the one you’d want in this situation because the HO-BT is a somewhat more limited policy form in many aspects. Although it is your responsibility to read the policy, it is also important to work with a Texas insurance provider who understands the forms, market, and needs of renters. Effective Coverage has years of experience in meeting the insurance needs of renters, call (800)892-4308 today or click above for a free quote or review of your current renters insurance policy.