🏡 Renters Insurance & Moving: What You Need to Know Before Your Move
Local Movings Tips & Advice
When you’re planning a move, you’re thinking about boxes, movers, timing, and making sure everything goes smoothly. But there’s one thing most renters forget: protecting their belongings with renters insurance.
Your landlord’s insurance only covers the building — not your stuff. Movers can only provide limited liability coverage (by law). So renters insurance becomes your strongest protection before, during, and after your move.
Let’s break this down in simple terms.
📦 Why Renters Insurance Matters When You’re Moving
1. It protects your belongings during the entire moving process.
Renters insurance helps cover your furniture, clothing, electronics, and valuables whether they’re:
in your old apartment,
in the moving truck,
sitting in a hallway, or
being moved into your new place.
If something gets stolen or damaged by a covered cause, renters insurance helps you recover the value — not pennies per pound.
2. It fills the gap movers can’t legally cover.
By law, moving companies can only offer valuation, not full insurance. Valuation is usually based on weight, for example $0.60 per lb, per item. That means a $1,000 TV might only be covered for a few dollars.
Renters insurance can cover the actual replacement value, depending on your policy. This is why renters insurance plus professional movers is the ideal combo.
🏠What Renters Insurance Typically Covers (Especially During a Move)
Personal Property
Covers your belongings if they’re damaged, lost, or stolen — whether inside your home or in transit on moving day.
Loss of Use
If your new place becomes unlivable due to a covered incident, this can help pay for:
hotel stays,
temporary housing,
extra food or transportation costs.
It’s especially helpful for renters transitioning between homes.
Additional Coverages
Depending on your policy, you may also get help with:
debris removal after a covered loss,
spoiled food after a power outage,
replacing locks after a break-in,
landscaping or outdoor damage,
temporary repairs and other unexpected costs.
⚖️ Liability Coverage During Moving Day
Moving day is chaotic — boxes everywhere, tight corners, stairs, dollies, helpers, and friends coming and going. Here’s where renters insurance has your back.
Personal Liability
This helps protect you if you’re held responsible for:
injuries that happen inside your home,
accidental damage you cause to someone else’s property,
damage inside a rental you’re moving out of.
It may even cover a portion of pet-related damage beyond your security deposit, depending on your policy.
Medical Payments to Others
If a guest, neighbor, or helping hand gets injured during your move, this part of your policy may help cover their medical bills — even if you’re not at fault.
đź’ˇ Real-Life Example
You’re moving out, and while loading the truck, your TV or laptop disappears. The movers’ basic liability only covers a small amount based on weight.
Your renters insurance, however, may cover the actual value of the TV or laptop, minus your deductible. That’s why it’s smart protection for moving day.
🚫 What Renters Insurance Doesn’t Cover
There are still some things renters insurance doesn’t cover, including:
damage to the building or structure (that’s your landlord’s responsibility),
floods, earthquakes, or mudslides (these usually require separate policies),
normal wear and tear or damage from pests.
If you’re moving into a flood-prone area, ask your insurance provider about flood coverage or the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
🪶 Final Takeaway
Renters insurance is one of the most affordable and powerful tools you can have during a move. It fills the gaps left by landlords and moving companies and gives you real peace of mind during one of the most stressful times of life.
When planning your next move, remember:
trusted movers + renters insurance = total protection.
Local Movings Tip
Before moving day, call your insurance provider and ask if your belongings are covered “in transit.” If not, consider adding that coverage temporarily — it’s usually inexpensive and can save you thousands later. Book Your Move at LocalMovings.com
