What Insurance May (and May Not) Cover for Emergency Moving
Consider yourself lucky if you’re unfamiliar with emergency moving. An emergency move involves relocation because of a fire, storm, burst pipe or any other sudden event that forces you from your home or business. Often, but not in all cases, your insurance might help to cover the cost of this move. However, coverage will depend on the type of policy you have. Let’s consider what insurance may and may not cover for emergency moving.
What Moving Insurance Covers
When your home becomes uninhabitable because of an issue that is covered by your insurance (flooding, fire, etc.), your policy will activate loss-of-use coverage. This is also listed as “additional living expenses.” This coverage is specifically designed to help pay for temporary housing, hotel stays, costs for extra meals, transportation and even other issues that may arise during your relocation such as laundry and pet boarding.
Moving insurance coverage may also provide protection for personal belongings. This might include items damaged by theft, vandalism and even certain weather events while possessions are being moved or temporarily stored. If you hire a professional moving company, you may also have access to carrier liability protections, but that is a question that can only be answered by carrier companies as you inquire.
What Moving Insurance May Not Cover
Moving insurance coverage will not include voluntary moves, lease changes or relocation caused by issues that are excluded under your policy. As an example, floods and earthquakes are typically not covered unless you purchase a separate policy for those events. Gulf Coast residents are readily familiar with these moving insurance limitations and you should be too for many reasons beyond emergency moving coverage.
Most policies will also not cover you if your possessions are damaged due to poor or rushed packing, dropping items or scratching items during a move. It’s also worth noting that if you rent a moving truck on your own, your personal auto policy is not likely to fully cover that vehicle, especially if it is oversized.
Standard policies might also exclude moving labor, setup fees and the full cost of replacing high-value items unless, of course, they are specifically or separately insured. If you have any questions about what might be covered and under what circumstances, it’s best to call your insurance provider and simply ask. You might wish to discuss covered perils, additional living expenses, off-premises personal property and storage limits as they apply. This way, you will know what to expect when/if the sudden need arises.
In short, your standard homeowners insurance will likely help when it comes to emergency moving. However, it might not serve as blanket coverage for every cost, cause or damaged item. If you’re dealing with an emergency move of your own, be sure to consult your insurance company and then reach out to IMS Relocation. Our moving and storage experts will know exactly how to work with you in order to quickly secure your possessions as you plan your emergency move. Your free quote is just a click or call away.
