What Is Full Value Protection in Moving?
Full Value Protection (FVP) is the more comprehensive of the two liability options interstate household-goods movers must offer. Under FVP, the mover is responsible for the replacement value of goods it loses or damages, subject to the governing rules, shipment valuation, and applicable conditions. The carrier may choose to repair the item, replace it with a comparable item, or make a cash settlement based on repair cost or current market replacement value.
The FMCSA liability guidance explains that Full Value Protection applies by default unless you specifically waive it in writing and select Released Value Protection. The Surface Transportation Board's household-goods guidance similarly distinguishes full-value liability from a private insurance policy.
How Does Full Value Protection Work?
Consider a table that was undamaged when the mover took custody but arrived with a broken leg. Under FVP, the mover may arrange a repair that restores the table, replace it with a similar table, or offer an appropriate monetary settlement. The customer does not automatically get to demand a brand-new, more expensive model or choose cash instead of repair. The available remedy depends on the facts and the mover's lawful obligations.
Repairing a damaged item
If a repair can return furniture to substantially the condition in which the carrier received it, the mover may choose that remedy. Ask whether the repair is performed by a qualified specialist and how any remaining loss in value will be addressed when relevant.
Replacing a lost or destroyed item
A replacement is generally an article of like kind and quality, not necessarily the newest version or a more premium upgrade. Keep receipts, photographs, model numbers, and a description of the original condition.
Paying a cash settlement
The mover may offer a cash amount reflecting a proper repair or current market replacement value. This is not automatically the item's original purchase price or its sentimental value. If the settlement seems inadequate, request the calculation and supporting basis.
Is Full Value Protection the Same as Moving Insurance?
No. Full Value Protection is the mover's contractual and regulatory liability for the household goods it transports. Separate third-party insurance is a policy issued by an insurer, usually subject to state insurance rules, coverage conditions, exclusions, and claims procedures. A customer can have carrier liability and also consider separate insurance, but the two should not be confused.
The difference is particularly important when a sales representative says a move is "fully insured." Ask whether the price includes FVP, a separate insurance policy, or merely the mover's business insurance for its vehicles and facilities. Our guide to third-party moving coverage explains the separate insurance route.
How Much Does Full Value Protection Cost?
There is no universal price. Interstate carriers must offer a rate that includes Full Value Protection, and the valuation charge can depend on the declared shipment value, carrier's tariff, and any permitted deductible option. The STB guidance says carriers must offer a full-value rate with no deductible and may also offer a deductible option that reduces the rate.
The value used for the shipment and the amount charged for protection are different numbers. A shipment declared at $45,000 is not automatically a $45,000 premium; it is a declared valuation figure relevant to the carrier's liability. Ask the mover to show the full-value charge and explain how its shipment valuation was determined. Some tariffs establish a minimum valuation basis under the STB released-rates order; because indexing may be permitted, confirm the current applicable tariff rather than relying on an old per-pound example.
Hypothetical price comparison
Suppose a mover offers a $3,800 transportation price including its required no-deductible FVP rate, and an alternative FVP arrangement with a $250 deductible for a lower total price. A third option might use the no-cost released-value waiver. The actual price difference and deductible terms must be obtained from the mover's tariff and estimate. These are illustrations, not industry-wide rates.
What Does Full Value Protection Cover?
FVP addresses loss or damage to household goods for which the mover is legally responsible during transportation and covered related services. It is not a promise that every breakage, delay, or pre-existing defect will be reimbursed regardless of cause. Your documentation and the circumstances of the damage matter.
For example, an antique chair that already had a cracked joint before loading presents a different claim from a chair that was sound at pickup and arrived with a newly broken leg. Photograph fragile and valuable items before packing and record pre-existing damage on the inventory.
Self-packed boxes
You may pack your own belongings, but proving that an item was properly packed and damaged while in the mover's custody can be harder when the mover did not see the contents or packing method. This does not automatically invalidate every self-packed-box claim. Preserve photographs, packing details, and evidence of external box damage.
Prohibited or undisclosed items
Hazardous, dangerous, or perishable items shipped without the carrier's knowledge can affect liability. Follow the mover's written restrictions and disclose anything that may require special handling.
The High-Value Item Rule: More Than $100 per Pound
An item worth more than $100 per pound is considered an article of extraordinary value for this federal liability purpose. Examples may include jewelry, rare collectibles, silverware, certain antiques, and small valuable electronics.
Under 49 CFR § 375.203, if the shipper chooses liability above the minimum released value but fails to give written notice of an article worth more than $100 per pound, the mover may limit liability for that article to $100 per pound. Proper written notice can preserve recovery up to the item's declared value, subject to the overall shipment declaration and other lawful limits.
Imagine a 5-pound collectible valued at $4,000. Its value per pound is $800. If it is not properly declared and the rule applies, the carrier may limit liability to 5 × $100 = $500. That example illustrates the risk of omission; it does not guarantee the amount of a particular claim. Use a high-value inventory declaration and keep a copy.
Full Value Protection vs. Released Value
| Question | Full Value Protection | Released Value |
|---|---|---|
| Default for interstate household-goods moves? | Yes, unless properly waived | Requires signed waiver |
| Carrier liability basis | Repair, comparable replacement, or proper cash settlement | Up to $0.60 per pound per article |
| Additional charge | Included in full-value rate; cost varies | No additional charge |
| High-value item declaration | Important for items over $100 per pound | Does not turn minimum liability into replacement-value coverage |
| Separate insurance policy? | No | No |
For a 30-pound television, Released Value limits the carrier's liability to 30 × $0.60 = $18, even if the television is worth hundreds of dollars. Under FVP, the applicable remedy can be substantially different if the mover is responsible for the loss. Read Released Value Protection before waiving the default.
How Do You Choose Full Value Protection?
Review the valuation section of the written estimate and bill of lading. Confirm that you understand the declared shipment value, the carrier's available deductible options, and any additional charge. Ask for the tariff language and the mover's written explanation of the extraordinary-value declaration process.
Do not sign a Released Value waiver merely because the salesperson describes it as standard paperwork. The waiver changes the carrier's maximum liability per article. Keep a copy of the signed selection with your other moving documents.
How Do Claims Work Under Full Value Protection?
If you discover damage, photograph the item and packaging, identify the item on the inventory, and notify the mover. Submit a written claim with a specified or determinable amount and supporting evidence. For regulated interstate household-goods shipments, the claim-filing period cannot be shorter than nine months after delivery; the mover generally has 30 days to acknowledge a proper claim and 120 days to pay, decline, or make a firm written settlement offer, with status-update rules if the claim remains pending. See the moving damage claims process for the steps and timelines.
If you disagree with the result, the carrier must offer an arbitration program for covered interstate household-goods disputes, although court remedies may also be available. The FMCSA claims guidance explains that the agency cannot order a mover to pay an individual civil claim.
Final Takeaway
Full Value Protection is the default, more comprehensive carrier liability option for interstate household-goods moves, but it is not a blanket insurance guarantee. Read the valuation terms, document valuable items, and keep the signed moving paperwork. Explore Relocation Standard's interstate moving services and residential moving services when planning your move.
