Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Moving? The Truth About Coverage Gaps

Think your homeowners or renters insurance has you covered during your move? Think again. Many people are shocked to learn that their policies have major gaps when it comes to protecting their belongings in transit or temporary storage. Here’s what you need to know to avoid costly surprises.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Items in a Storage Unit?

Most are surprised to hear that the answer is usually "not completely." While your homeowners insurance covers your personal belongings when they are inside your house, that protection typically shrinks the moment your items leave your property. This is a limitation you should know about before you tape up that first box.

The "10% Rule": Your Home Insurance Off-Premises Coverage Limit

Many standard homeowners and renters insurance policies include something called an "off-premises coverage limit." Essentially, this caps the protection for your personal property at just 10% of your total coverage amount when those items aren't at your main residence.

If your policy provides $15,000 of personal property coverage, you might only have $1,500 of protection for all the items you place in a moving container or storage unit. For most of us, that amount won't come close to covering a whole house full of furniture, electronics, and clothes. The contents of just your living room could easily top that limit, leaving you on the hook for any loss or damage beyond that small amount.

Content Protection vs. Homeowners Insurance: The In-Transit Gap

Another big gap in standard policies is coverage for your items while they are actually on the move. Homeowners insurance often provides little to no protection for personal property "in transit." This means that if something happens while the container is on the road, your policy might not help.

What if the truck carrying your container hits a pothole, and your expensive TV screen cracks? Or maybe there’s an accident on the highway that damages your antique furniture. In situations like these, your homeowners policy likely won't cover the broken items during the move. The "in-transit" black hole leaves your belongings vulnerable on their way to your new home or storage facility.

Is My Furniture Covered in Transit? Understanding the Financial Risks

Relying solely on your home or renters insurance for a move can be a bit of a gamble, even if your policy does offer that 10% off-premises coverage.

• High Deductibles: Most homeowners policies come with a deductible, which is the amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in. A typical deductible sits around $500 or $1,000. So, if a sofa worth $1,200 gets damaged, you could be stuck paying the first $1,000 to fix or replace it.
• Premium Increases: Filing a claim on your homeowners or renters insurance goes on your insurance record, known as a CLUE report. Making a claim for moving damage could cause your annual premium to increase for several years. You might end up paying way more in rate hikes than the claim was even worth.

The Smart Solution: Go Mini's MiniGuard™ Protection

If your existing policy has holes in it, what’s the best fix? The smartest way to secure your belongings is with a plan designed specifically for the risks of moving and storage.

Go Mini's MiniGuard™ Protection Plan is built to fill those gaps left by traditional insurance. It provides dedicated content protection for contents stored in a Go Mini’s container and while they are in transit, giving you some much-needed peace of mind.

How MiniGuard™ Fills the Gaps

Go Mini’s containers are built tough to withstand the elements, but MiniGuard™ offers extra protection for the unexpected. It covers your stored items against events like fire, smoke damage, burglary and looting, sinkholes, and windstorms.

Here is why it’s a great option:

• No Deductible: Unlike your homeowners policy, MiniGuard™ content protection has zero deductible. If a covered event happens, you don't have to pay anything out-of-pocket to file a claim.
• Protects Your Premiums: Since you're not filing a claim against your home or renters insurance, your rates won't go up. You can handle any issues directly through Go Mini’s with support from experienced claims specialists without impacting your long-term insurance costs.
• Comprehensive Protection: MiniGuard™ provides coverage for a wide range of potential headaches, from natural disasters to accidents. It is specifically designed to protect your goods while they are in a Go Mini's container, whether it's parked in your driveway, moving down the highway, or sitting at a secure storage facility. Choose a limit of $2,500 or $5,000 per unit.

MiniGuard™ makes it easy to add an extra layer of protection. It keeps your belongings safe from the unexpected, from the moment you pack the container to when you unload it at your new home.

Move with Confidence with Go Mini's MiniGuard™

Your belongings deserve the best protection, no matter where life takes you. With Go Mini’s MiniGuard™, you can fill the gaps left behind by insurance and avoid unnecessary risks.

Don’t let moving day catch you off guard. Get a free quote on a portable storage container from Go Mini's and learn how our MiniGuard™ Protection Plan can give you the peace of mind you deserve.