At Allied, we facilitate hundreds of moves every single day! Even as experienced and highly trained movers, we know that the unexpected can still occur and recommend moving insurance. That raises the matter of what exactly is moving insurance, and is it worth the cost?
What is moving insurance and how does it work?
Moving insurance commonly refers to the coverage of goods and furniture during transit for a relocation. While this is the major type of moving insurance, there are also a range of different moving related insurance policies. Moving insurance can cover everything from motor vehicles being transported, mould and mildew on stored items, household damage, and mechanical electrical derangement insurance.
The type of insurance and what your policy covers will depend on your insurer and what you are moving. Pet transportation insurance won’t be relevant to you if you aren’t moving a pet, but general packing and transit insurance will be if you are moving belongings and furniture.
Some circumstances may already be covered by your existing home and contents insurance or the moving company, but you should never assume and always double check. If your mover stipulates that the goods are moved at ‘owner’s risk’ or something similar, your belongings won’t be covered throughout the move and you will require insurance.
To know exactly what your moving company will cover, check the terms and conditions of your contract or contact them to discuss the specifics.
Why you need moving insurance
As mentioned above, you never realise how much you need insurance until you wish you had it. Deciding to sign on the dotted line may not seem worth the hassle or the price, but the benefits of having moving insurance outweigh the negatives. Here are some of the reasons why you need moving insurance:
Unpredictability of moving
Even the most meticulously planned moves are not immune from the occasional accident or unlucky set of circumstances. Whether it's a truck union strike, severe storm or global health pandemic, unfortunate situations can and do occur throughout a move. These inconveniences can result in delays, items being broken, damaged or lost, and other issues during your move which are out of your moving company’s control. As these occurrences tend not to be the fault of the movers, they likely won’t cover these incidents, so it’s best to get additional insurance just in case.
Cheaper in the long term
If you are trying to move on a budget, it can be tempting to not get insurance in order to save a few dollars. But, choosing not to get insurance can end up costing you significantly more. Without insurance, you may have to pay for any damage or losses out of pocket which can be incredibly expensive.
Contact with third parties
Although Allied can handle every aspect of your move regardless of whether it’s local, inter-island or international, your belongings and furniture can still come into contact with third parties. This can include all the people who are required to make your move possible, including customs agents, staff of rail and trucking companies, and the like. Due to this, your moving company won’t have complete control over your belongings every second throughout your move. In the case of something unfortunate occurring, such as damage or theft, insurance can make a significant difference.
Furniture isn’t meant to be moved
A lot of furniture and other items are not made to be taken apart, moved and put together again. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for things to be damaged or broken throughout a move or during the packing and unpacking process. Insure against these items so you are covered regardless of whether they survive the move intact.
Protect items in storage
Putting your belongings and furniture in storage is an easy way to provide you with much needed flexibility during a move. While most storage facilities are monitored with high security, there can still be issues with damage from water, vermin and dust, and some items may also not be suitable for storage and naturally show more wear and tear. An unfortunate fire or other accident could ruin all your items in storage and the facility may not cover the replacement. Choosing to opt for insurance storage coverage for your items can give you additional peace of mind that your things will be protected and covered in the worst case scenario.
Reduce stress
Regardless of the size or destination of your move, it can be incredibly stressful relocating. Insurance is an easy way to reduce some of the stress created by moving as it takes out some of the uncertainty. You can rest assured that your things will be covered throughout the move or when in storage.
Choose a comprehensive insurance policy
The best way to get the most out of your moving insurance is to choose a policy which is comprehensive but able to be flexible to your moving solution.
Allied offers one of the most comprehensive policies on the market which has the flexibility to offer coverage for all effects to their full replacement value (new for old) regardless of age. You can choose the level of insurance cover that best suits your individual circumstances thanks to our range of different coverage options.
Allied Transit Insurance offers a range of flexible options including:
- Pairs and sets insurance
- Mechanical and electrical derangement insurance
- Packing and moving insurance
- Mould and mildew insurance
- Motor vehicle insurance
- Packed by owner insurance
- Storage Insurance
In the unlikely event that you do need to lodge an insurance claim, we have an efficient in-house claims management service. Allied will assign a dedicated claims manager and aim to settle any claim as quickly as possible, ensuring you only deal with one company throughout.
Find out more about our insurance policies and receive a free quote specific to your needs by visiting our insurance services page or get in contact with us.