Last updated: April 25, 2026
TL;DR
- On interstate moves, Released Value pays $0.60 per pound per article under federal FMCSA rules. 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 terms that vary by carrier.
- Released Value is included free on every interstate move under federal FMCSA rules. Full Value is an additional option the carrier offers.
- For long-distance interstate moves with multiple high-value items, Full Value tends to be the right call.
- Neither is true insurance. Third-party moving insurance is a separate product sold by licensed insurance carriers.
On interstate moves, Released Value pays $0.60 per pound per article and is included free under federal FMCSA rules. Full Value Protection pays the cost to repair or replace damaged items at current market value and is offered as an additional option by the interstate carrier.
The licensed interstate movers that Master Movers San Diego can match you with offer both Released Value (default, free) and Full Value Protection on long-distance moves. Two data points up front: federal rules require interstate carriers to offer both options, 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. For a move entirely within California, valuation rules come from the mover’s BHGS tariff and documents rather than FMCSA.
What does Released Value actually pay out?
On interstate moves, Released Value is liability coverage at $0.60 per pound per article under FMCSA rules. 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. Under FMCSA rules for interstate moves, the minimum declared value is $6 per pound times the shipment weight (so a 5,000-pound shipment must be declared at $30,000 or more). The actual cost and deductible structure varies by carrier, so ask the mover you book for the written terms before signing.
If the carrier damages your $1,200 TV on an interstate move, FVP pays you $1,200 (or repairs it). If the carrier loses an entire box of items declared at $400, FVP pays $400 minus any applicable deductible.
What are “items of extraordinary value” and the 9-point inventory?
FVP on interstate moves has a fine-print rule that catches a lot of customers. Under FMCSA rules, 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. Without that written listing, the carrier’s interstate liability caps at $0.60 per pound for the item.
If your $8,000 Rolex disappears from a box and was not on the high-value inventory, the carrier’s interstate 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?
FVP on interstate moves tends to make sense when:
- Your shipment has multiple high-value items (TVs, appliances, electronics, art)
- You are booking long-distance movers for a haul over 1,000 miles where transit handling risk is higher
- You cannot afford to absorb a loss of any single item
- You are arranging a military PCS move and the government shipment uses the assigned carrier’s coverage
Released Value on interstate moves may be adequate when:
- Your shipment is genuinely low-value in total replacement terms
- You have separate homeowners or renters insurance with off-premises coverage that includes goods in transit (rare but possible)
- You are booking labor-only movers for a small truck job 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 separate product sold by licensed insurance carriers, not by the mover. It may cover items that carrier liability programs exclude, such as packed-by-owner boxes or mysterious disappearance. The mover you book can tell you what third-party options are available and what each one covers in writing.
For long-distance moves to Phoenix, Las Vegas, or the Bay Area where transit time is short, interstate FVP is usually adequate. For cross-country moves with extended transit and possible warehouse storage, third-party insurance may be worth comparing.
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 later weakens the claim significantly.
File the written claim within 9 months of delivery. Under federal rules for interstate moves (49 CFR 375), 9 months is the legal outer bound. Most carriers want it sooner for fastest resolution.
Provide proof of value. Receipts, appraisals, manuals, model numbers. The carrier will not pay $1,200 for a TV if you cannot show what you paid for it. Keep your own photos and inventory list from before the move as supporting evidence.
For city-specific support after delivery, see the San Diego moving page for local resources.
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 per pound on an interstate move?
Yes, you must if your shipment is worth more. The $6 per pound floor is a federal minimum for interstate moves, 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
Master Movers San Diego. A referral marketplace covering San Diego County, matching customers with permitted local movers for local, long-distance, and military PCS relocations. (858) 400-4069.