Full Value Protection vs Released Value: What Your Mover Owes If Something Breaks
Every interstate mover must offer two levels of liability for your belongings: full value protection and released value. If you do nothing, your shipment travels under full value protection. If you sign the waiver for released value, the mover owes you 60 cents per pound per item, which for most furniture and electronics is close to nothing.
The two options in one table
| Full value protection | Released value | |
|---|---|---|
| What the mover owes | Repair, replace with a similar item, or pay current replacement value | 60 cents per pound, per article |
| Cost to you | Varies by mover and deductible | No extra charge |
| Default? | Yes, unless you waive it in writing | Only if you sign the waiver |
| Items over $100 per pound | Must be listed in writing, or liability can be limited | Still 60 cents per pound |
Released value, worked through
Released value is calculated on weight, not on what something is worth. A 60 pound dresser that cost $900 is worth $36 under released value. A 25 pound television settles at $15, the example FMCSA uses itself. A laptop is worth a dollar or two.
To choose released value, you must sign a specific waiver on the estimate or bill of lading. Some movers present it as the standard option, because it adds nothing to the quote and makes their price look lower. It is not standard. It is the minimum.
Full value protection, and what it really costs
Under full value protection the mover must repair the damaged item, replace it with one of similar kind and quality, or pay you the cost of doing so at today’s prices, not depreciated value. It is the default under federal law because it is the only level that resembles what most people assume they are getting.
What it costs depends on two numbers. The first is the declared value of the whole shipment. Many carriers apply a minimum declared value calculated from the shipment’s weight, commonly a few dollars per pound, unless you declare a higher figure. The second is the deductible. Movers usually offer several deductible levels, and a higher deductible lowers the charge. Ask for the valuation charge at each deductible in writing and compare it to what your belongings would actually cost to replace.
The $100 per pound rule
Items worth more than $100 per pound, such as jewelry, fine china, silverware, artwork or collectibles, must be listed in writing before the move. If they are not, the mover can limit its liability on them to $100 per pound. A two pound piece of jewelry worth $5,000 would be worth $200. Either list those items or, better, carry them yourself.
Third-party insurance
If you choose released value, some movers will sell you, or arrange, separate insurance from an outside insurer. In that case the mover remains liable for 60 cents per pound and the insurer covers the rest, up to the amount you bought. Any such policy, and its premium, must be shown on your bill of lading. Your homeowner’s or renter’s policy may also cover goods in transit. Check before you buy twice.
How to choose
- If you could not comfortably replace your five most valuable items out of pocket, released value is not enough.
- Compare the full value protection charge at a higher deductible against your own insurance. Sometimes the combination is cheaper than the lowest-deductible plan.
- Photograph valuable items, and note existing damage on the inventory at pickup.
- Whatever you choose, make sure it appears on the estimate and the bill of lading exactly as you agreed.
If something does arrive damaged, the process and deadlines are in our guide to filing a moving damage claim.
Sources: FMCSA Liability and Protection guidance; 49 CFR 375.201 and 375.203; 49 CFR 375.505(b)(12) and (13); FMCSA required valuation clause. This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Last reviewed October 2026.