The short version
Every Gorilla Movers job carries cargo and liability coverage, we're a licensed California carrier (CAL T-192729, USDOT 3801918), and that licensing requires it. On top of that, every move includes basic valuation coverage at no charge. That word 'valuation' is doing a lot of work, and it's where most movers get vague. We'd rather you understand it before you book than discover it after something breaks.
Basic valuation: what it really means
California's standard included coverage, the kind built into every licensed mover's rates, including ours, is released-value protection at 60 cents per pound, per article. It's weight-based, not value-based. That's the honest, uncomfortable part.
Here's the math in practice: if a 20-pound item is damaged, released-value coverage pays $12, 60 cents times 20 pounds, no matter whether that item was a toaster or a flat-screen TV. A 100-pound dresser pays out $60. It costs you nothing and it covers every item on the truck, but it protects weight, not worth.
Why does the industry work this way? Because the alternative is pricing every move like an insurance policy. Released value keeps hourly rates low for the large majority of moves where nothing goes wrong, and our crews pad, wrap, and load specifically so nothing does. But if your belongings include things whose value has nothing to do with their weight, you should know your options.
When to consider added protection
California law lets you declare a value for your shipment and buy a higher level of protection. Actual cash value coverage pays the depreciated market value of a damaged item, up to your declared total. Full value protection goes further, it covers replacement cost, and the mover may repair, replace, or reimburse. Both cost more than the included coverage, because they cover more.
Think about added protection if you're moving artwork, instruments, high-end electronics, antiques, or anything where '60 cents a pound' would be an insult. And check your homeowner's or renter's policy first, some already cover goods in transit, and there's no reason to pay twice. Items of extraordinary value should be declared and listed in writing before the move; if we don't know the 200-year-old clock is a 200-year-old clock, no coverage level can treat it correctly.
One thing no coverage replaces: jewelry, cash, passports, hard drives, and vital documents should ride with you, not on the truck. We'll tell you the same thing at booking.
COIs: coverage for your building
If you're moving into or out of a managed building, the property manager will likely require a certificate of insurance, a COI, before we're allowed past the lobby. It's a document from our insurer proving our coverage and, usually, naming the building as additionally insured for the day. This is routine for us: tell us the building's requirements when you book and we send the COI the same day, typically alongside the elevator reservation. If your building has specific language or coverage minimums, forward us the requirements email and we'll match it.
How a claim actually works
Nobody plans to file a claim, so here's the process while you're calm instead of after something's cracked:
- At booking, tell us about high-value or fragile items so they're documented and prepped correctly from the start.
- Before loading, photograph anything you're worried about. Our crews note pre-existing condition; your photos make everything faster if there's ever a dispute.
- At delivery, walk the house with the crew lead. If something's damaged, note it on the paperwork before the crew leaves, it's not required to preserve your claim, but it strengthens it.
- Report the damage to our office in writing, with photos, item descriptions, and the amount claimed. Under California rules you have up to nine months to file, but sooner is always cleaner.
- Keep the box, contents, and packing materials for any packed item you're claiming, especially if you packed it yourself.
- We respond in writing and work toward repair, replacement, or payment. California requires carriers to acknowledge claims within 30 days and resolve or formally respond within 60.
Why we publish this page
Because coverage confusion is where moving horror stories come from, and most of them start with a customer who assumed 'insured' meant 'replacement value.' We'd rather explain the system plainly and let you choose your protection level with open eyes. After 25,120+ moves since 2008, our best claims strategy is still the same one: wrap everything, load it right, and make claims rare. Questions about your specific move? Call 619-600-5000, a human who knows this material picks up.