Every box, every mile, every move.
Coverage for household goods movers, local and long-distance moving companies, and storage operations.
Quick answer A moving company needs cargo coverage for customers' goods in transit, commercial auto for its trucks, general liability for damage at the home, and workers' comp for its crews, plus warehouse legal liability if it stores goods.
- Cargo coverage protects customers' goods in a mover's care, while general liability covers damage to the home or building and injuries to others.
- Goods stored in a moving company's warehouse need warehouse legal liability or storage coverage, not just cargo coverage.
- Many condo, apartment and office buildings require a mover's certificate of insurance naming the building before a move.
- State permits for household goods movers come with insurance requirements.
- Underwriters rate moving company insurance on fleet, move types, payroll, storage and claims history.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched
You're responsible for their belongings
Movers carry customers' belongings, work inside their homes and drive loaded trucks, so the core coverages are cargo for goods in transit, commercial auto, general liability for damage at the home, and workers' comp for a physical job. Storage adds warehouse legal liability.
State permits for household movers come with insurance requirements, and many buildings require certificates before a move. I package mover coverage with transportation specialty markets.
- CargoCustomers' goods in your trucks.
- Commercial autoMoving trucks and vans.
- General liabilityDamage to homes and buildings during a move.
- Workers' compMovers and packers.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Permits: state household goods permit and USDOT number.
- Fleet: trucks, years and values.
- Operations: local, long-distance, commercial, storage.
- Payroll: movers, drivers and office staff.
- Storage: warehouse square footage and values stored.
- History: current policies and claims.
Moving company insurance, answered
What's the difference between cargo and general liability for movers?
Cargo covers customers' goods in your care. General liability covers damage to the home or building and injuries to others.
Do buildings require certificates?
Many condo, apartment and office buildings require a certificate of insurance naming them before a move.
Is storage covered?
Goods in your warehouse need warehouse legal liability or storage coverage, not just cargo.
What do underwriters rate on?
Fleet, move types, payroll, storage and claims history.
Do you offer moving company insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. California policies are placed directly; outside California the request is handled together with a partner agency in your state, and the shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see truck insurance by state or insurance requirements by state.
Tell me about your company. I'll shop it.
Your permits, fleet and move types are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued. Some policies may be placed with nonadmitted (surplus lines) insurers, which are not members of the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA).
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. I review every request personally and call you back, usually the same day.
(424) 552-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.