If you’ve ever hired a mover and skimmed past the “valuation coverage” section of the paperwork, you’re not alone — and you’re also not fully covered the way you probably assume. Every mover licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is required to offer two very different levels of protection, and the difference between them can mean the gap between a fair settlement and a check for pennies on the dollar if a dresser gets dropped on the stairs. Here’s what a homeowner searching for a trustworthy mover in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero, or Bonita Springs needs to know before moving day.

How Much Does Moving Insurance Cost, and What Does It Actually Cover?

Technically, what movers offer isn’t “insurance” at all — it’s valuation coverage, a liability standard regulated under 49 CFR Part 375. The distinction matters because it determines exactly how much a mover owes you if something is lost, broken, or damaged in transit. There are two tiers every licensed carrier must present:

Released Value Protection is the free, default option included with every move unless you opt out in writing. It sounds appealing because there’s no added cost, but the coverage is minimal: the mover is only liable for $0.60 per pound, per item. That 60-inch flat-screen TV weighing 25 pounds? If it’s destroyed, you’re entitled to about $15, regardless of what you paid for it.

Full Value Protection is the tier most homeowners actually want. Under this option, the mover must repair the item, replace it with a similar item, or reimburse you for its current market value — not its weight. Full Value Protection typically costs 1% to 2% of your shipment’s declared value and often comes with a deductible option, similar to auto insurance, where a higher deductible lowers your premium.

For an authoritative breakdown of these federal requirements straight from the regulator, the FMCSA’s consumer protection guide is the most reliable source available — it’s the same standard every mover operating in Florida is legally bound to follow.

Read the FMCSA’s official moving valuation guide

Three Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Is Full Value Protection automatically included, or do I have to request it? By law, movers must offer it, but you typically have to select it and sign for it separately — it is never the silent default.

What’s excluded even under Full Value Protection? High-value items like jewelry, cash, and important documents (an “Inventory of Extraordinary Value” or ‘high-value inventory’ form) usually need to be declared separately, or they may not be covered at all.

Does professional packing affect my claim? Almost always, yes. If a mover packs a box themselves (PBO, or “packed by owner,” is the exception), damage claims for the contents are typically honored. If you packed the box yourself, some carriers will deny the claim unless there’s exterior damage to the carton.

This is exactly why working with a crew that handles the packing matters just as much as the valuation paperwork itself. A tight, professionally wrapped box is far less likely to generate a claim in the first place. Two Chicks Moving’s professional packing services use white-glove wrapping and custom crating for fragile and high-value pieces, which is one of the simplest ways to keep your Full Value Protection claim history at zero.

Local Area Guide: Midtown at Bonita Brings New Energy to Bonita Springs

Households relocating to Bonita Springs this year have an increasingly lively downtown to look forward to. Midtown at Bonita, a 68-acre mixed-use development going up along Bonita Beach Road just off I-75, has signed five new retail and restaurant tenants in recent weeks, including Airport Donuts, the Naples-based craft donut shop known for frying in 100% pure non-GMO beef tallow, along with Prime IV Hydration & Wellness and smoothie concept Fresh Monkee. Combined with earlier signed anchors like TJ Maxx and Ulta, the project is shaping up to be one of the biggest additions to Bonita Springs’ retail and dining scene in years, with the first storefronts expected to open by the end of 2026.

Downtown, the momentum continues along Old 41 Road, where Project Telephone has broken ground and local favorite Sugar Shack is expanding with a new concept, HoneyHole Downtown. For anyone weighing a move to Bonita Springs, it’s a good sign: new restaurants, wellness spots, and retail typically follow rooftops, and rooftops are exactly what this stretch of southern Lee County has been adding.

Source: Business Observer, “68-acre Lee County project adds tenants, including popular donut shop”

Planning a Move to Southwest Florida?

Whether you’re relocating to a new build in Bonita Springs or downsizing closer to the beach, choosing a mover that offers real Full Value Protection — not just the federal minimum — protects your belongings and your peace of mind. Two Chicks Moving is a locally owned Mover in Fort Myers serving households and businesses across Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero, and Bonita Springs, with transparent valuation options explained up front — no surprises on move day.