Know Your Rights When Moving

The moving industry is regulated in many ways. From understanding the details about your bill of lading to the responsibilities and legal liabilities of the movers, here are some basics to keep in mind:

Essential Information about Moving Rights and Responsibilities

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires all moving companies to provide you with the essential information about your rights and responsibilities during a move. You should receive a document published by the FMCSA regarding these rights and responsibilities. Take time to read it, and make sure that everything you negotiate with the mover is in writing on your contract. If you have questions, ask before signing the contract and ask for clarification if you don’t understand something.

Estimates

Moving can be expensive. You will need to review your moving company’s estimate policies during the initial process. Typically, you will receive one of two types of estimates: binding and non-binding.

Binding estimates guarantee that you pay only the initial estimate. You will have no other surprise charges on the final bill. However, a binding estimate covers only the items on your moving inventory. Any additions or subtractions will require a new estimate negotiation and agreement.

Non-binding estimates provide more flexibility in the final moving expense. Your mover should give you an accurate estimate of your shipping cost. However, this is not a guaranteed final cost. The final bill will be based on the final measured weight of your household items and other service provided during the move. You still have protections. A non-binding estimate cannot require you to pay more than the original estimate plus 10 percent of the estimate at delivery. In addition, you have an extra 30 days to pay the additional charges.

Liabilities

If any loss or damage occurs during a move, you moving company must compensate your for those losses by law. However, you will need to choose the level of liability you want before you sign the contract. Full value protection means that your damaged or lost items will be either replaced with an item of equal value, repaired, or you will receive a cash settlement.
Choosing minimal protection costs less up front. Still, depending on the value of your items, this option may or may not be appropriate. The coverage may not fully compensate you for losses on expensive items.

Consider both of these options carefully prior to making your final decision.

These are just several of your moving rights and responsibilities that you need to understand prior to engaging a moving company. You can always speak to your personal Global Van Lines Moving Concierge if you want to know more about the moving process as well as get answers to your questions about moving regulations.