One of the most important parts of the moving process is making sure that the moving company you choose is properly insured and has the right amount of liability coverage. Your belongings are important to you, and so you are going to want that peace of mind in knowing that your possessions will be shipped safely and will be fully insured and covered by the movers who will be transporting them.
Moving is already a stressful enough experience without having to worry about your precious belongings possibly being damaged and lost in the transition.
There are a number of different ways to find out about a moving company’s level of insurance and liability coverage, and there are several measures put in place by organizations such as the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and the US DOT (United States Department of Transportation) to ensure that a moving company is operating under the necessary regulations and requirements.
Find Out Your Mover’s US DOT Number
One of the ways in which you can find out about the level of insurance your moving company has is by checking out the mover’s federal identification number, or its US DOT number. This number is required in 28 states across the country and allows the government to identify each moving company in order to collect pertinent information such as compliance reviews and inspection data. It is also used to consistently enforce and monitor safety regulations as well.
You can find your mover’s US DOT number by doing one the following:
- Check out the FMCSA’s SAFER system on their official website at www.fmcsa.dot.gov to check if the company has a US DOT number.
- You can also look for the US DOT number on the side of the door of the trucks in the company’s fleet.
Is Your Mover Registered with the FMCSA?
In conjunction with the US DOT, moving companies must also be registered with the FMCSA, which sets a precise standard for the type of moves, cargo and region in which a company can safely operate.
This database is a good way to check on the moving company’s insurance and liability coverage, and it’s always a good idea to check and see if the company is registered with the FMCSA when you are getting quotes from movers and inquiring about insurance and liability coverage, as this organization is responsible for dictating the level of insurance that a mover must carry.
Moving Overseas
When it comes to international moves, your insurance and liability coverage requirements become a little bit murkier because each and every country has its own individual moving insurance regulations and standards.
If you are moving overseas, you can check on your international mover’s insurance and liability coverage through a few different sources.
For one, if your international moving company has a Federal Maritime Commission number or is a part of the FIDI Global Alliance, these are sure signs that they comply with strict international moving regulations and adhere to all insurance and liability requirements.
Furthermore, if the company is a Registered International Mover with the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), they are consistently monitored and this is likely to ensure that your belongings and your shipment will be fully covered and insured under AMSA regulations.
Guest Author
Robert Moreschi is the content writer for Movers.com, an online moving resource dedicated to providing its customers with free moving quotes from some of the top moving companies in the business including long distance movers, local movers, and international movers, as well as helpful moving guides and videos. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and currently resides in North Brunswick, NJ where he enjoys spending his free time writing and playing basketball.
