Moving companies usually need commercial auto, cargo or motor truck cargo, general liability, workers’ compensation and often umbrella coverage. Buildings and property managers ask for certificates naming them as additional insured before each move. In California, household goods carriers also need a CPUC permit with proof of liability, cargo and workers’ compensation on file. SF Coverage checks building certificate requests the same business day when they arrive by 3 pm Pacific with the policies, and names any missing endorsement.
Who sets your insurance requirements
- Apartment and condo buildings
- A certificate before move day naming the building owner, the management company and sometimes the HOA as additional insured, with specific limits.
- Commercial landlords and office managers
- Higher general liability and umbrella limits, waiver of subrogation and primary and noncontributory wording for office moves.
- Corporate relocation clients
- Master service agreements with cargo limits, auto limits, workers’ compensation and indemnity terms.
- The CPUC
- Proof of public liability and property damage, cargo and workers’ compensation coverage on file to hold a household goods carrier permit.
Coverage moving companies usually carry
Exposures to get right
Building damage
Scuffed elevators, cracked tile and broken door frames lead to claims from building owners, often after a certificate named them.
Goods in transit
Damage or loss to customer belongings during loading, driving and storage, measured against what you promised in the order.
Vehicles and drivers
Box trucks in city traffic with hired crews. Driver records and vehicle schedules drive auto premium and eligibility.
Lifting injuries
Back, knee and shoulder injuries are common, which makes payroll classification and the workers’ comp audit important.
In California
- Movers of household goods within California need a household goods carrier permit from the California Public Utilities Commission, which requires proof of public liability and property damage, cargo and workers’ compensation insurance on file.
- Interstate moves fall under federal rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which has its own registration and insurance filing requirements.
- Cal/OSHA requires every employer to keep a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program, and lifting and loading tasks are a core part of it for movers.
How SF Coverage works for moving companies
Have these ready
- CPUC permit number and USDOT number if you have one
- Vehicle schedule with year, make, value and garaging address
- Driver list with license numbers and dates of birth
- Payroll split by movers, drivers, office staff and storage
- Sample building certificate requests and your standard service agreement
- Current policies and five years of loss runs
Insurance for moving companies, answered
Why do buildings ask for a certificate before every move?
Property managers want proof that your liability insurance will respond if the crew damages the elevator, lobby or a neighbor’s unit, and they want the owner and manager named as additional insured. SF Coverage checks the building’s request against the policy in force the same business day when it arrives by 3 pm Pacific, and compliant certificates go out that day when the policy supports the wording.
What if the building asks for wording my policy does not have?
Then the certificate cannot honestly claim it. SF Coverage names the missing endorsement, requests it from the insurer the same business day and follows up every two business days until it is issued. A certificate should never list additional insured, waiver or primary wording that the policy does not actually support.
Does cargo insurance cover everything we move?
Not always. Cargo forms often exclude or limit items such as jewelry, cash, artwork and fragile goods packed by the customer, and some cover only while goods are on your truck. Valuation terms in your order also matter. We compare your cargo form with your customer paperwork and show where the gaps are before a claim arrives.
Why is commercial auto so expensive for movers?
Commercial auto has been an unprofitable line for many insurers, and moving trucks spend long hours in dense traffic with crews that change often. Driver records, vehicle size, radius and loss history all affect price and eligibility. SF Coverage starts renewals 90 days out so there is time to present your drivers and safety practices properly to suitable markets.
Can you check my workers’ comp audit?
Yes. Moving payroll is often split between moving labor, drivers, warehouse and office, and each class carries a very different rate. Errors in that split or missing certificates from subcontracted crews can add premium at audit. We review the audit worksheet against your payroll records for free and help you prepare a dispute when the numbers do not match.
General information. Coverage depends on the policy an insurer issues.