Your crew just finished a smooth move, but the customer’s fixated on a chipped lamp. They’re stressed, you’re stuck making it right, and no one’s happy. Sound familiar?

Here’s what most movers miss: 72% of customers expect moving companies to offer coverage for their belongings, and if you don’t, you’re leaving money and trust on the table. (Source: The Moving Experience Consumer Survey, 2024–2025)

Valuation coverage is your opportunity to:

• Increase revenue with a simple, predictable additional charge
• Set clear expectations so your team isn’t blamed for every scratch
• Deliver peace of mind during one of the most stressful events in someone’s life

Here’s how to offer valuation coverage the right way and turn it into a real revenue stream.

What is valuation coverage?

Valuation coverage is a safety net moving companies offer to protect the value of customers' household goods in case something gets lost or damaged.. While it is not an insurance policy, it works similarly.. You’re reimbursed based on a declared value.

Released Value Protection (RVP) is mandated by federal law in the U.S. and covers $0.60 per pound of belongings for free, while Full Value Protection (FVP) covers the full replacement value or actual cash value for a fee, typically around 1% of the declared value.

What does valuation coverage actually do for your customers?

Valuation coverage makes you financially responsible when customer belongings get lost or damaged. 

RVP offers minimal coverage based on item weight, which often doesn’t match the item’s actual value, especially for damaged items that cost a lot to replace (like art).

In contrast, FVP lets your customer declare the value of their goods and, for an additional cost, covers repair, replacement, or a cash payout if anything’s damaged.” Some movers also include a deductible, which reduces how much the customer gets paid.

This helps customers choose the level of protection they want and lets you offer a more tailored service.

Here’s an example of how one item can be protected:

iPad Pro | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Retail Price: $1,099

Basic Value Protection: Compensation would be less than $1, which is much lower than the actual cost of replacing it.

RVP: $0.60 X Pound

Calculate for iPad Pro: $0.60 x 1.5 = $0.90

That means you’d only get $0.90 for the iPad Pro under Basic Value Protection.

Full Value Protection: If something’s damaged, the moving company will either fix it, replace it, or offer reimbursement, depending on the value you declared. For example:

Customer’s Declared Value of iPad Pro: $1000

So with Full Value Protection, the payout would be $1000.

Actual Value Protection: It pays what it would cost to replace the item with a similar used model.

 Replacement Value of a used iPad Pro: $899

Therefore, the compensation under Actual Value Protection is $899‍.

Compare Your Options

What isn't covered by valuation coverage?

Valuation coverage won't cover losses or damages in the following scenarios:

• If the customer packed their Items or boxes
• If the movers weren’t informed about perishable or dangerous items
• If unexpected weather causes damage
• If the customer doesn’t declare high-value items 
• If the customer reports damaged goods long after the move

These can catch customers off-guard, especially if they’re moving excluded items or facing higher risks. That’s why they should clearly list all exclusions in the bill of lading upfront.

The difference between valuation coverage and insurance

Valuation coverage is not insurance. Insurance is a contract where you pay premiums in exchange for coverage from an insurance company. This often protects you even against natural disasters (up to a set policy limit). 

Most importantly, moving companies can’t sell insurance. Only insurance companies and licensed agents can.

Read more about moving insurance coverage in this article.

Can you add moving insurance to valuation coverage?

No. Customers can buy moving insurance separately.

You should tell your customers that if they want additional coverage beyond valuation options (especially for things like natural disasters), they should buy insurance.

What you can do:

• Explain what valuation does and doesn’t cover
• Clearly outline those limits in your paperwork
• Refer a licensed moving insurance provider if customers ask for more protection

Why valuation coverage matters on the job

Most movers see valuation coverage as a legal formality. But in day-to-day life, it helps you avoid conflict and makes you look more professional. For example, valuation coverage can:

• Stop blame games before they start. When something gets scratched your crew doesn’t have to argue. Just point to the coverage your customer picked.
• Clarify what's not your fault. If the customer packed the box so it didn’t get covered, that’s on them.
• Protect your crew and your brand. Valuation coverage takes pressure off your team. They can focus on doing the job right instead of worrying about being blamed for every scuff or chip. It also makes you look more professional because you’re transparently running your business with clear policies.
• Reduce customer anxiety. Many customers ask the same question: "What happens if something breaks?" With valuation coverage, you have a clear answer.
• Streamline claims and protect margins. When issues do come up, valuation coverage gives you a clear way to solve them, instead of issuing random discounts to appease angry customers.

How can valuation coverage grow your moving company's revenue?

Now that you understand valuation coverage, let's calculate the extra revenue you can bring in every month by upselling it.

Calculate the revenue growth from selling valuation coverage

Here is a very conservative model of how selling valuation coverage can earn you extra revenue every month. We made some assumptions in order to calculate this.

Conservative Assumptions:

• Only half of your booked customers buy valuation coverage
• The average declared value of their items is $3000

How to start selling valuation coverage today

1. Train your team to explain valuation coverage clearly.

Everyone from your sales reps to your on-site crews should understand the valuation options and be able to explain them without legal jargon. Create cheat sheets or FAQs they can use on customer calls and in person.

2. Offer valuation coverage while you’re preparing a quote or booking a move.

Clearly present the tiers (like Released Value vs. Full Value Protection), costs, and benefits, so customers can choose early on.

3. Price in a way that reflects your market and margins.

Your valuation coverage pricing should account for your area, the risk of claims, and what competitors are offering. Make it profitable but fair, with clear brackets for declared value tiers that are easy for customers to understand.

4. Use visuals and examples.

Show customers what they’d be reimbursed for in different scenarios. A simple visual comparing coverage for damaged items (like a flat-screen TV or a high-value item) under each protection level is powerful.

5. Make it easy for customers to pick and sign their valuation coverage.

Use digital forms and software (like Supermove) to help customers calculate and choose their coverage level.

As customers sign, move confirmation documents in Supermove, you can let them pick a valuation option and upsell themselves.

6. Standardize and automate where possible.

Use your CRM to prompt reps, generate quotes with coverage included, and track who’s opted in. Automation saves time and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Use this example template to start selling valuation coverage.

1. Please start by Making a Copy of this Valuation Coverage Template
2. Once completed, please review the Example and Common Questions below
3. Fill out the Inputs tab on your copied sheet
4. Define your valuation coverage options (declared value tiers, cost brackets, and protection levels)
5. Use this template to build out a form on your website or provide to your office team to use in calculating valuation coverage for every customer

Turn every move into a revenue opportunity

Valuation coverage is one of the easiest ways to do that. And your customers want it.

Set it up once, automate where you can, and use the template to standardize the offer across your team.

Need help getting started?

If you're a Supermove customer, email your completed template to help@supermove.com. We’ll help generate your custom Coverage Table and get it live, fast.

You’re already doing the hard part. Let this be the simple upgrade that pays off every month.

Commonly asked questions about valuation coverage template: