Of the two liability options on a federal estimate, this is the one the rules assume. The mover's job, if a claim arises, is to repair the item, replace it or pay for it so that you are restored to where you were.
What the mover owes
FMCSA's booklet describes full value protection as processing your loss and damage claim by replacing or repairing the item to restore its original like, kind and quality. The regulation frames the limit as the declared value of the shipment, so the number you declare is the ceiling on the whole load.
The tariff and the claim rules decide how a settlement is made, so ask how repair and replacement are handled.
The declared value
Declaring a value is the step that makes the protection real. Add up what the household would cost to replace, not what you paid, and write the figure on the valuation statement. The mover's tariff sets rules and any charge for full value coverage, and the estimate states them.
A high figure can raise the coverage charge, and a low figure can leave a gap if the whole load were lost, so the number deserves some care.
Details that shape a claim
The mover's tariff controls those details, and the estimate points to the sections.
- Articles worth more than 100 dollars per pound should be listed in writing
- Notes made on the inventory at delivery preserve a damage record
- Claims for loss or damage go to the mover in writing
- A deductible may apply under some tariff options, so read the valuation statement
Choosing it with O'Brien's
O'Brien's estimators go through valuation at the in-home estimate and show the statement you will sign. Because the valuation level is recorded on the bill of lading, choosing it early keeps the day of the move calm.
The itemized inventory and condition report made before packing gives a clear starting record if a claim ever comes up. For a long-distance shipment carried by the Bekins network, the same federal rules apply. The visit is free. Call 775-359-6683.