Released value protection is the basic liability coverage a mover must offer at no extra charge. It pays no more than 60 cents per pound per article. A 25-pound television settles at 15 dollars under it, regardless of what the set cost.
We walk households through that math before anyone signs, because professional movers are required to put the choice in writing. Most people read that line once and move on. Federal rules set both options, and you can read them in the Rights and Responsibilities booklet we provide for interstate moves.
What Released Value Actually Pays if Something Breaks
The calculation is weight-based, and that is the part that catches people off guard. Liability is capped at 60 cents multiplied by the weight of the damaged article. Replacement cost, age, and sentimental value play no part in it. Heavy, inexpensive items are covered reasonably well under that formula. Light, expensive items are barely covered at all.
Run the numbers against a real room and the gap becomes obvious. A solid oak dresser weighing 150 pounds settles at 90 dollars. A laptop weighing four pounds settles at two dollars and forty cents. Neither figure comes from us. This is a federal minimum, and it applies the same way to every licensed mover in Roseville, MN.
How Released Value Differs From Full Value Protection
| Released value | Full value protection | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | None | Varies by mover and deductible |
| Basis of settlement | 60 cents per pound per article | Repair, replacement, or cash value |
| Status | Chosen in writing | Applies by default |
| Best suited to | Low value, heavy goods | Households with furniture and electronics |
Not sure which coverage option fits your household? Give us a call at (651) 955-1283, and we’ll walk through both with you and put the comparison in your written estimate.
Which Items Need to Be Declared Before the Truck Loads
Federal rules define an article of extraordinary value as anything worth more than 100 dollars per pound. Jewelry, furs, china, silverware, and collectibles clear that line easily, and so do some small electronics. How we track items on a move explains how those entries reach the inventory. These need to be listed in writing before the move, or a mover is permitted to limit liability on them entirely.
Writing them down takes a few minutes and protects you under either coverage option. Our crews build an inventory as they load. That record is the same one you would reference in a claim later. The inventory and the valuation choice work together rather than separately, since a settlement depends on proving the item was on the truck in the first place. Keep your copy somewhere other than a moving box.
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When Released Value Makes Sense and When It Does Not
Released value is a reasonable choice in a narrow set of situations, though long-distance moving is seldom one of them. A student move of mostly inexpensive furniture fits it. So does a short relocation of garage and basement contents. If losing any single item would be an annoyance rather than a financial problem, the free option is doing its job.
Most household moves do not look like that. A furnished home contains a television, a laptop, a mattress, and several pieces of furniture. Replacement cost on all of them sits far above their weight. Households relocating out of state usually find the gap widest. That is why we raise it early rather than at signing. Checking your homeowner or renter policy first is also worth doing, since some already extend to goods in transit.
How a Claim Works Under Each Option
A claim starts with documentation, and documentation starts before the truck leaves. Photograph the high-value pieces. Note any existing damage, and keep your copy of the inventory. The bill of lading is the contract that governs the move, and the valuation you selected appears on it.
Filing follows the same general shape under either option, though the settlement differs sharply. Under released value, you receive the weight calculation. Under full value protection, the mover repairs, replaces, or pays current value, subject to the terms of that plan. Reading the bill of lading before you sign is the best protection available to you, and it costs nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Released value is a liability limit written into the moving contract, not an insurance policy. Insurance is a separate product sold by a licensed insurance company. Some movers offer to arrange third-party coverage alongside released value. That coverage pays the balance of a loss above the 60 cents per pound figure.
No. It is offered at no additional charge, which is why federal materials call it the most economical option. The tradeoff is the settlement amount rather than the price. Full value protection carries a cost instead, and that cost varies by mover and by the deductible chosen.
Your shipment moves under full value protection by default. Released value only applies when you select it in writing. If paperwork ever suggests otherwise, question it before you sign. The default is set by federal rule, not by company preference.
Coverage on owner-packed boxes is limited in practice. A mover cannot verify how the contents were wrapped, so damage inside a carton you sealed is hard to attribute to handling. Having fragile items professionally packed removes that ambiguity entirely.
The 60 cents per pound structure comes from federal rules governing interstate moves. Intrastate moves follow Minnesota requirements, and the coverage offered can differ. We state in writing which terms apply to your specific move. Assuming you already know would not be fair to you.
Contact Us
Choosing coverage is easier with the written estimate in front of you. Having someone walk through the numbers helps more than reading the booklet alone. Call our Roseville office at (651) 955-1283 or email Daymakersmoving@gmail.com to arrange a walkthrough. We are available Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 8 am to noon, and Sunday by appointment.
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