Full Value Protection

You select Full Value Protection at booking and declare a total value for your shipment — typically calculated by the mover at $6 to $10 per pound of total weight, or by the value you declare. You pay a premium based on that declared value. If something is damaged, you submit a claim with the BOL exception note, photos, and documentation; the mover has three options: repair the item, replace it with a comparable one, or pay the current cash value. Most movers will deductible-adjust the premium based on your selection.

Full Value Protection is what makes claims actually work for valuable items. The difference can be enormous: under Released Value, a damaged $5,000 sectional sofa weighing 200 lbs pays $120; under Full Value, you get repair, replacement, or $5,000 cash value. For specialty items — pianos, fine art, antiques, gun safes, aquariums — Full Value Protection is essential. It's also typically required by white-glove and high-value clients before the move even starts.

Muscleman Elite offers Full Value Protection on every move. We help you calculate a realistic declared value, walk through what's covered and what isn't, and explain the deductible options. For specialty and high-value moves, we recommend Full Value as standard and document any high-value items separately on a High-Value Articles inventory.

How much does Full Value Protection cost?

Premiums vary by carrier and declared value. Expect to pay roughly 1% of declared value for the move, with deductible options that reduce the premium. A $50,000 declared shipment with a $500 deductible typically costs a few hundred dollars in valuation.

Is Full Value Protection insurance?

No — it's valuation, not insurance. It's a contractual liability arrangement with the mover, regulated separately from insurance products. For true insurance coverage, you'd buy a separate policy through a third-party moving insurance provider.

What about items I packed myself?

Items packed by the owner (PBO) are typically excluded from Full Value Protection unless the carton itself was damaged — boxes packed by the customer aren't covered for breakage of contents that weren't visible to the crew.