Last updated: April 25, 2026
TL;DR
- Released Value pays $0.60 per pound per article. A 50-pound TV would pay out $30, regardless of what the TV cost.
- Full Value Protection pays the cost to repair or replace damaged items at current value, with deductibles ranging from $0 to $500.
- Released Value is included free on every interstate move under federal law. Full Value costs roughly 1 to 1.5 percent of the declared value.
- For most long-distance moves over $30,000 in household goods, Full Value is the right call.
- Neither is true insurance. Real moving insurance is a separate third-party product sold by carriers like MovingInsurance.com or Baker International.
Released Value pays $0.60 per pound per article and is included free on every interstate move under federal law. Full Value Protection pays the cost to repair or replace damaged items at current market value and is sold as an add-on at roughly 1 to 1.5 percent of the declared total value of your shipment.
Swift Move SD is Cal-T licensed and USDOT registered, offering both Released Value (default, free) and Full Value Protection on every long-distance move. Two data points up front: federal law has required carriers to offer both options on interstate moves since 2007, and the FMCSA “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” pamphlet at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move walks through the math on every booking.
What does Released Value actually pay out?
Released Value is liability coverage at $0.60 per pound per article. The math is brutal in the customer’s direction.
Your 60-inch flat-screen TV weighs 50 pounds and cost $1,200 new. Released Value pays $30 if the mover damages it.
A 200-pound antique dresser worth $4,500 pays $120.
A 12-pound box of dishes from your grandmother pays $7.20.
Released Value is not designed to make you whole. It is the federal-minimum baseline that carriers must offer at no charge under FMCSA rules. It exists so the mover has some skin in the game on damage claims, and so the customer who chooses not to pay for upgraded coverage still has a claim mechanism.
You take Released Value when your shipment is genuinely low-value (college kid moving a futon, a bed, and three boxes), or when you are willing to self-insure the high-value items separately and just want the mover off the hook for the rest.
What does Full Value Protection actually pay out?
Full Value Protection (FVP) makes the carrier liable for the lesser of:
- Repairing the damaged item to its condition before the move
- Replacing the item with a like item of similar age and condition
- Paying a cash settlement for the current market value
You declare the total value of your shipment when you book. Federal rules set a minimum declared value of $6 per pound times the shipment weight (so a 5,000-pound shipment must be declared at $30,000 or more). Most customers declare $50,000 to $150,000 depending on the home.
The cost is roughly $1.00 to $1.50 per $100 of declared value. A $60,000 declaration runs $600 to $900. Deductibles range from $0 (most expensive) to $500 (least expensive).
If the carrier damages your $1,200 TV, FVP pays you $1,200 (or repairs it). If the carrier loses an entire box of items declared at $400, FVP pays $400 minus the deductible.
What are “items of extraordinary value” and the 9-point inventory?
FVP has a fine-print rule that catches a lot of customers. Items individually worth more than $100 per pound (jewelry, art, designer handbags, gold coins, fine china) are considered “items of extraordinary value” and are excluded from FVP coverage unless they are listed in writing on a separate “high value inventory form” (sometimes called the 9-point inventory) before the move.
If your $8,000 Rolex disappears from a box and was not on the high-value inventory, the carrier’s liability is $0.60 per pound, period.
Always list anything jewelry-grade, art over $1,000, designer pieces, fine china, gold or silver, and rare collectibles on the high-value form. Most carriers will tell you to carry these items yourself rather than declare them, and that is generally good advice.
When should I take Full Value Protection?
Take FVP when:
- Your declared shipment value exceeds about $30,000
- You have multiple high-value items (TVs, appliances, electronics, art)
- You are doing a long-distance move over 1,000 miles where transit handling risk is higher
- You cannot afford to absorb a loss of any single item
- You are doing a military PCS and the government is reimbursing only at FMCSA Released Value
Take Released Value when:
- Your shipment is genuinely under $10,000 in total replacement value
- You have separate homeowners or renters insurance with off-premises coverage that includes goods in transit (rare but possible)
- You are doing a small labor-only move with a U-Haul where the carrier is not transporting the goods anyway
Is third-party moving insurance better?
Sometimes. Released Value and Full Value Protection are not insurance products in the regulatory sense. They are carrier liability programs governed by FMCSA rules. They have specific exclusions (acts of God, items packed by owner without visible damage at delivery, items of extraordinary value not declared, etc.).
Third-party moving insurance is a real insurance product sold by companies like MovingInsurance.com, Baker International, or Relocation Insurance Group. It typically covers:
- All-risk transit damage including PBO (packed by owner) boxes
- Mysterious disappearance (items missing with no evidence of negligence)
- Catastrophic loss (truck fire, flood, theft of entire shipment)
Cost runs $1.50 to $3.00 per $100 of declared value, more expensive than carrier FVP but with broader coverage. For long-distance moves to Phoenix, Las Vegas, or the Bay Area where transit time is short, FVP is usually adequate. For cross-country moves with 14 to 21 days in transit and possible warehouse storage, third-party insurance is worth the extra premium.
How do I file a claim if something gets damaged?
Three rules:
Note damage on the bill of lading at delivery. Drivers will hand you the inventory and ask you to sign. If a box is crushed or a piece of furniture is gouged, write “damaged” next to the inventory number before signing. Signing a clean bill of lading and then claiming damage 48 hours later weakens the claim significantly.
File the written claim within 9 months of delivery. Federal rule. Most carriers want it within 30 to 60 days for fastest resolution, but 9 months is the legal outer bound.
Provide proof of value. Photos, receipts, appraisals, manuals, model numbers. The carrier will not pay $1,200 for a TV if you cannot show what you paid for it.
For city-specific support after delivery, see our San Diego moving page for local repair partners.
Frequently asked questions
Is Released Value really included for free?
Yes. Federal law (49 CFR 375) requires every interstate carrier to offer Released Value at no charge as the default coverage. You only pay if you upgrade to FVP or buy third-party insurance.
Can I declare a higher value than 6 dollars per pound?
Yes, you must if your shipment is worth more. The $6 per pound floor is a minimum, not a ceiling. Declare the full replacement cost of everything in the shipment.
Does my homeowners insurance cover a moving claim?
Usually not. Most homeowners policies exclude goods in transit or limit off-premises coverage to a small percentage of the dwelling coverage. Call your agent before assuming coverage.
What about packed-by-owner boxes?
Carrier liability on PBO boxes is limited. If the box is delivered with no visible damage and you find broken items inside, the standard FVP claim is harder to prove. Third-party insurance covers PBO better.
About the author
The Swift Move SD team — Cal-T licensed San Diego movers serving all 47 cities in San Diego County. Combined 50+ years of moving experience across local, long-distance, and military PCS relocations. (858) 808-6055.