Certificate of insurance

When it comes to moving companies, all high-rise buildings in Boston or New York require a certificate of insurance. Not only apartment complexes, but moving companies in the Boston area provide a certificate of insurance to prove that their clients’ belongings are protected from any damage or loss during transportation. Born To Move is no exception. This moving company delivers a certificate of insurance for moving either on the same day or on the next day, depending on your preference. Hence, if you need a certificate of insurance on the same day as you move, we can easily accommodate you.

How to get a certificate of insurance from a moving company?

1. Ask for a sample with the requirements from your management or concierge.
2. Send the sample to the moving company via email. (Make sure they receive your sample with their requirements.)
3. The moving company will send you back the certificate of insurance from the insurance company, and then you will resend it to the building management.
4. All good!

Entire process of getting a certificate of insurance

All you have to do is just get the requirements from the building management. You can get these requirements from a manager or concierge. They can send you an email with the information that your moving company requested. Usually, it includes specific requirements and language that a moving company is required to put on a certificate of insurance (COI). When you get the requirements via email, please include your apartment number, full name, mobile date, and the certificate of insurance. Once you do that, you can submit the certificate of insurance to the moving company of your choice via email. They will get back to you within a day or on the next day, depending on how fast the insurance company can produce the certificate of insurance. Usually, they can do it within an hour, but in some cases, it can take up to two days, depending on your insurance requirements. However, some buildings are tricky with the certificate insurance requirements that they ask from a moving company.

Once your moving company sends back the certificate of insurance, we can send it directly to the customer, or we can send it to the concierge. So, they can check if the certificate of insurance matches the particular building language. If that’s the match, we will be good to go, and we can schedule your moving date. If it’s not, they will send them an adjustment they would like to make on the certificate of insurance. Then, after the adjustment, we can put your move on the schedule.

What insurance policies should a moving company carry?

In general, it is workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile insurance, and cargo insurance. If your moving company doesn’t have any of these types of insurance, the building management can refuse you to use this particular moving company. So, you’d better make sure that they have all these types of insurance before hiring a moving company.

How does the limit of an insurance policy apply to you as a customer?

It’s very important when an insurance company compensates up to the maximum amount if something happens during the move. That’s why a moving company has general liability of $1 million and $10,000 or $20,000 for car insurance. So, if something happens with your stuff, a moving company will compensate up to that amount. However, you have to prove that the damage has happened. It is actually the damage that they will pay for. Also, they will send an appraisal if something happens. In these situations, when you get a full loss of your items or extreme damage to the property, they will pay up your claim in full.

How long does it usually take to get a certificate of insurance from a moving company?

A COI, or a certificate of insurance, can be ready within a few hours, unless you’re required to get it on the weekend. Weekends are non-working days for insurance companies. So, it’s impossible to get a certificate of insurance on the weekend.

Is $1 million a general limit for all moving companies?

Yes, $1 million is a general requirement for all moving companies, and $10,000 is the minimum requirement for a cargo insurance policy.

What if my moving company does not meet the limit that the building management requires?

There are a few cases that could happen in this situation. Most of the time, the building management rejects the moving company of your choice. You will have to find another moving company that can meet the limit and policy. If there is one that is missing, contact the building management and tell them that they don’t require this particular insurance, which has almost happened. Honestly speaking, movers cannot get anywhere near $5 million in coverage for their job as there’s no way the damage can happen while moving boxes in the elevator. They have additional insurance, which is general liability.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us via email or give us a call at 617-903-2609 to check for other requirements for a certificate of insurance for moving companies.