Moving companies face unique risks: damaged customer belongings, injured workers from heavy lifting and truck accidents on the road. Here's what coverage we recommend and how much you should carry.
What Insurance Do You Need For a Moving Business?
The types of insurance a moving business needs most include general liability, cargo insurance, commercial auto and workers' comp.
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Updated: November 25, 2025
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Moving Business Insurance Requirements: Key Takeaways
General liability tops the list for moving companies because damage to customer property and homes happens frequently during every move. (Read More)
State and federal law typically require moving businesses to carry workers' comp, commercial auto and cargo insurance. (Read More)
Optional but recommended protection for moving companies includes inland marine for equipment and commercial property for warehouse or storage facilities.
To stay compliant, request certificates of insurance from your insurer, verify limits match contract requirements and file FMCSA forms if you operate interstate. (Read More)
What Insurance Types Are Needed For a Moving Business?
Covers damage your crew causes to customer homes, including gouged hardwood floors, dented doorframes and broken banisters, plus third-party injuries at job sites. | $1 to $2 million per occurrence or $2 to $3 million aggregate. | A crew scraped a leather sofa against a doorframe, gouged oak flooring and cracked a ceiling fan while navigating a tight stairwell. Repairs totaled $6,800. The homeowner's child also tripped over a moving dolly, adding $4,200 in medical bills. General liability covered all $11,000 in damages. | |
Cargo Insurance (Motor Truck Cargo) | Pays for customer belongings damaged, lost or stolen during loading, transport and unloading, such as broken furniture, shattered TVs, water-damaged boxes and items missing between stops. | $50,000 to $100,000 per shipment for local moves. Long-distance or high-value residential jobs call for $250,000 or more. | A load shift during highway transit crushed a customer's antique china cabinet and cracked a 75-inch TV still in the box. The customer filed a $14,500 claim, and cargo insurance reimbursed the entire amount, saving the company from a significant cash flow hit. |
Handles collisions, third-party injuries and property damage involving your moving trucks. Personal auto policies don't cover commercial hauling, leaving uninsured movers exposed. | $1 million combined single limit with comprehensive and collision coverage. Multi-truck operations should consider umbrella coverage for added protection. | A 26-foot box truck clipped a parked car while backing into a residential driveway, then rolled into a fence. Vehicle repairs hit $18,000, fence replacement cost $5,500 and customer items inside shifted and broke, adding $8,200. Commercial auto handled the $31,700 claim with a $1,000 deductible. | |
Pays medical bills and lost wages when employees get hurt on the job. Moving crews face high injury rates from back strains, falls on stairs and crushed fingers between furniture and truck walls. | Minimum coverage is set by your state. Premiums depend on payroll and employee classification, so review annually as you add crew members. | A mover herniated two discs carrying a 350-pound sleeper sofa up three flights of stairs. Surgery, physical therapy and eight weeks off work totaled $58,000. Workers' comp paid medical costs and replaced lost wages, shielding both the employee and business from financial strain. | |
Protects your equipment when stolen from trucks or damaged on jobs, such as dollies, hand trucks, forearm straps, furniture pads, ramps and lift gates. Inland marine covers your gear, not customer belongings. | $10,000 to $25,000 for most moving companies. Those with stair-climbing dollies, piano boards or crating equipment may need higher limits. | Thieves broke into two trucks overnight and stole $5,400 in equipment, including an electric stair dolly, appliance dolly and 30 furniture pads. The next morning's jobs had to be rescheduled. Inland marine insurance reimbursed the loss within a week, getting crews back to work. | |
Covers your warehouse, storage facility, office and on-site contents, including packing supplies, forklifts, shelving and stored customer goods awaiting delivery. | $50,000 to $500,000 depending on facility size and inventory value. Moving companies offering storage need limits matching peak inventory levels. | A roof leak during a storm soaked 12 pallets of packing materials and damaged three customers' stored furniture sets awaiting delivery. Losses reached $19,000. Commercial property insurance covered replacement materials and customer reimbursements without straining cash reserves. | |
Moving Business Insurance Requirements
The table below summarizes business insurance requirements for moving companies by state law and contract. Requirements vary depending on your state, whether you operate locally or interstate and the types of clients you serve.
Workers' Compensation Insurance | Most states require this coverage once you hire your first employee. Operating without it can result in fines up to $100,000, criminal charges, license revocation and personal liability for all employee injury costs. | Your state sets minimum coverage amounts based on payroll size and employee job classifications. |
Commercial Auto Insurance | All 50 states require liability coverage for company-owned moving trucks. Personal auto policies exclude commercial hauling, meaning you're legally uninsured without a commercial policy. | State minimums range from 25/50/25 to 50/100/50 split liability limits. Interstate household goods carriers must carry $750,000 minimum per FMCSA regulations. |
Cargo Insurance (Motor Truck Cargo) | FMCSA mandates cargo liability coverage for interstate movers as a condition of operating authority. Commercial clients and corporate relocation contracts also require proof of cargo coverage before awarding jobs. | FMCSA sets minimums at $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence. Commercial contracts generally specify $50,000 to $100,000 per shipment, while corporate clients often demand $250,000 or higher. |
General Liability Insurance | Commercial clients, property managers and some municipalities require this coverage before allowing movers onto their properties or issuing business licenses. Warehouse landlords also commonly mandate general liability as a lease condition. | Industry standard is $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. Corporate relocation clients and luxury property managers may specify $2 to $5 million in total coverage. |
Commercial Property Insurance | Landlords leasing warehouse or storage space to moving companies require this coverage to protect their investment. Lenders financing commercial property also mandate it as a loan condition. | Amounts are based on replacement cost of the building and contents. Coverage ranges from $50,000 to $500,000 depending on facility size and stored inventory value. |
Large corporate clients, luxury residential accounts and property management companies require umbrella coverage before signing contracts. This extends your existing liability limits to meet higher thresholds. | Corporate relocation contracts generally require $1 to $3 million in total coverage. High-value moves involving fine art, antiques or executive relocations may require $5 million or more. | |
How To Ensure Moving Business Insurance Requirements Are Met
After purchasing coverage, you'll need to prove your insurance to clients, licensing boards and property managers on an ongoing basis. Here's how to stay compliant and avoid last-minute scrambles during busy moving season.
- 1Request Certificates of Insurance (COIs) from your provider
After purchasing your moving business insurance policies, request COIs immediately from each insurer. Most providers offer same-day digital delivery, but verify your insurer can handle rush requests since property managers often ask for proof 24 to 48 hours before a scheduled move.
- 2Verify your policy meets state, federal and contract requirements
Review each COI to confirm your limits meet FMCSA minimums for interstate moves ($750,000 liability, $5,000/$10,000 cargo), state licensing thresholds and commercial client contract specifications. Corporate relocation clients typically require $1 to $2 million in general liability, so flag any gaps before bidding on jobs.
- 3File required federal forms with FMCSA (interstate movers)
Interstate moving companies must file BMC-91 or BMC-91X for liability coverage and BMC-34 for cargo coverage directly with FMCSA to maintain operating authority. These filings are separate from COIs, and lapses can suspend your authority within days. Check with your insurer quarterly to confirm filing status stays current.
- 4Add property managers and clients as additional insured, then submit proof on their timelines
Many apartment complexes, office buildings and corporate clients require additional insured status before allowing movers on-site. Contact your insurer to add endorsements as contracts require, then submit COIs to licensing boards 30 to 60 days before renewal deadlines and to property managers at least 48 hours before move day.
- 5Track renewals and send updated COIs before clients ask
Set reminders 45 to 60 days before each policy renewal to request updated COIs. Send them to active commercial clients, property managers and your state licensing board before they follow up. Staying ahead of renewals during peak summer season prevents coverage gaps that could cost you jobs or suspend your operating authority.
Get Business Insurance You Need For Your Moving Business
You can get matched to the best moving business insurance company for your needs using our tool below. We still recommend comparing quotes from several insurers since costs vary based on fleet size, annual moves and whether you operate locally or interstate. Look closely at cargo limits, commercial auto coverage and workers' comp options to find the right fit.
Get Matched To The Best Moving Business Insurer For Your Needs
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.