Moving Insurance - Why do movers limit their liability?

Movers publish a tariff for their services. This usually takes the form of a rate per hundred pounds which is determined by the distance of the move and the weight bracket that your move falls under. For example, the rate to move 100 pounds a distance of 1000 miles may be $80.

The problem is that one person's 100 pounds of books may be worth $100 and the next person's 100 pounds of computer equipment may be worth $1000. It would be difficult for the mover to be liable for both of these valuations when he is charging $80 to both customers.

So movers limit their liability usually to 60 cents per pound per article based on their tariff rates. This is known as Minimum Released Value Liability. The specific programs may vary by mover and the programs are also different for interstate versus intrastate moves.