Welcome to the Bell Air Movers Insurance Options page. Everyone’s belongings have value, whether monetary or sentimental, no one wants anything to be damaged during the course of a move. We take great measures to ensure our movers handle your household furnishings with care, while protecting the properties where work is occurring. Unfortunately, damages or “cargo claims” are a part of the transportation industry, thus we’ve created this page to address coverage options and exposures consumers face when hiring a moving company.

The common assumption is that full coverage is included when a moving company lists itself as a licensed and insured carrier. The reality is, that is only a statement indicating the company has the sufficient auto, general liability, and cargo coverage that the DOT requires.  Most companies offer a 60¢ per lb. limits of liability waiver for their standard rates packages. This is not full coverage or replacement insurance; however is the most standard coverage in the moving industry because no additional fees, descriptive inventory or value needs to be assigned to the shipment. Movers use these contracts to offset the huge amount of liability a company has when handling household items.

Movers generally provide three types of protection for your goods in case they are lost or damaged: limited liability, added valuation and full value.

Hourly rated shipments are not usually weighed, so a lump sum value must be declared if you wish to purchase depreciated value or replacement cost protection.Be sure the bill of lading indicates the option you have chosen before you sign it.

If NO option is chosen, and you sign the bill of lading, the mover will assign released value protection (Option 1, above).

EXCLUSIONS

The following items are subject to exclusion from claims under all options:

Items of extraordinary value not listed on the High Value Inventory form

Lamps, lampshades, artwork, pictures, mirrors, antiques and statues.

Live or artificial plants.

Any marble, granite, natural stone or glass.

Any damaged item found in boxes not packed by Bell Air Moving Co.

Missing hardware for items not disassembled by Bell Air Moving Co.

Pressboard, particleboard, or ready-to-assemble furniture.

Previously damaged or repaired items.

Mechanical or electrical derangement or breakdown of any mechanical, electrical or electromechanical equipment or devices unless there is physical evidence of external damage to such property

Inevitable loss(es) caused by inherent defect or vices including but not limited to wear and tear, loose veneer, dried glue, gold leaf plaster frames.