How Do I File Claim Against a Moving Company?

Down below you can download a free PDF moving claim form. Please fill this out with as much information as possible regarding the claim, broken items or reason for the claim. Afterward, email it or mail it directly to the moving company’s address and request for them to send a claim acknowledgment form.

1. What If I Don't File a Claim With a Mover?
2. My Mover Hired a Third Party Claim Service
3. What is the Law with a Moving Claim?
4. Cost of Coverage

1. What if I Don't File a Claim With a Mover?

Many customers don’t want to go through the hassle of filing a claim and rather choose to call the moving company numerous times each day wanting their situation handled for them. Legally, the moving company cannot offer you any compensation if you do not file a claim in writing. So while you may feel as though the company is giving you the “run around” in all actuality, they are simply following the law. So the fastest way to have your moving claim handled is to File A Claim in writing and allow the carrier the opportunity to provide you with a settlement offer.

2. My Mover Hired a Third Party Claim Service

Some moving companies hire third-party claims companies to process their claims. There is nothing illegal about this and many moving companies use claims services like this to keep up to date in their claims procedure. To find out what claims process your moving company uses, contact them directly. It will be easier if you have a list already prepared so that while they may require you to file a claim on their own forms, you will at least have the information readily available.

3. What is the Law with a Moving Claim?

It is against the law for any moving company to deny liability for anything on the shipment without a proper investigation of the loss or damage. It is your right as a consumer to file a claim with the moving company or their third party claims company. Limitation of liability or no liability for the shipment from the moving company is illegal and is a myth that some moving companies believe. They will try to make you sign a piece of paper stating that they have no liability thinking that it will make that legal, however, this is an illegal practice, and filing the claim is the legal and best thing for you to do.

4. Cost of Coverage

There are several coverage options available to you as a consumer and choosing the right one is imperative. However, this selection must be done at the pickup location and cannot be changed once it has been signed for. The most common and only free option is the basic coverage which protects your items for $0.60 per pound per article.


Meaning that if your $2,000.00 flat screen T.V. weighing 65 pounds is completely damaged and no longer works, you will receive a settlement offer of $39.00. If you have an older model T.V. and it’s a complete loss, you may be required to show proof of the item’s weight by providing the manufacturer’s guide, a similar item’s weight specifications, model number, etc.


Once you have filed your claim, it typically takes 30 to 60 days or less for an intrastate (move within the same state) claim to be processed. For a long-distance, it could take up to 120 days for the claim to be completed. If you do not file a claim within 9 months from the date that your shipment was delivered, the moving company is not required to accept or honor your claim. In some situations, the moving company may offer you a good faith settlement offer instead. Here at Moving Authority we wish you the best of luck with filing your claim or go to the link above and you can do it for free on our site but you should confirm that your mover has received it once completed!