Every interstate move includes a level of carrier liability called valuation, it sets how much the mover owes you if something is lost or damaged. Valuation is not the same as insurance, and understanding the difference protects you.
Here is how the two federal valuation options work, what each covers, and how AmeriSafe Van Lines protects high-value items.
Valuation is not insurance
Valuation is the mover's level of liability for your shipment, set by federal regulation. Insurance is a separate product sold by a licensed insurance company. Your interstate move comes with valuation by law; you can also buy third-party moving insurance on top of it for broader coverage.
Released Value Protection, included at no charge
This is the basic, federally required coverage, included free on every move. It pays 60 cents per pound, per article, based on weight, not value.
That means a 25-pound flat-screen TV is covered for about $15, regardless of what it cost. Released Value is economical, but it does not reflect the real value of most belongings. You must sign to accept it.
Full Value Protection
With Full Value Protection, if an article is lost, damaged, or destroyed, AmeriSafe will, at our option, repair it, replace it with a like item, or pay you the cost of repair or replacement at current value. This is the most comprehensive protection and the option we recommend for most households.
The cost depends on the valuation you declare and any deductible you choose. Your coordinator quotes it as a line item in your written estimate, so there are no surprises.
What valuation does not cover
Both options have limits. Coverage generally does not apply to:
- Boxes you packed yourself, unless there is visible external damage to the carton
- Items on the prohibited or non-allowable list
- Ordinary wear, and damage from events outside the mover's control
- Loss of items that were never listed on the inventory
- Mechanical or electrical malfunction with no external damage
High-value & extraordinary items
Federal rules define items of extraordinary value as anything worth more than $100 per pound, jewelry, fine art, antiques, collections, furs. To be fully protected, these must be listed specifically on a high-value inventory form before the move.
Always disclose them to your coordinator. AmeriSafe handles fine art, antiques, and other high-value pieces with custom crating and a specialty crew, but they have to be declared to be covered.
If you need to file a claim
Note any damage on the delivery paperwork before the crew leaves, then contact your coordinator. Under federal rules you have up to 9 months to file a written claim, and the carrier must acknowledge it within 30 days and resolve it within 120 days. Our goal is to make it right faster than that, a single coordinator owns your claim from start to finish.
Want a recommendation for your specific shipment? Your AmeriSafe coordinator walks through your inventory and helps you choose the right level of protection before anything is loaded.