Are your belongings covered for damage on a Georgia local move, and to what limit?
On this page
Yes. A licensed mover is liable for loss or damage on a move within Georgia, and the limit depends on the protection you pick in writing before the move: $0.60 per pound per article under released value, or replacement value up to the amount you declare under full value protection, though Georgia’s claim rule words the ceiling as actual cash value. If the mover never gets your signed choice, Georgia treats you as having full value protection with no deductible, at no charge.
The two levels Georgia allows
Under Rule 570-38-3-.10, a licensed carrier’s liability on an in-state move is limited to one of two levels:
| Level | What it pays | What it costs under Tariff No. 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Released value (Option 1) | $0.60 per pound per lost or damaged article | No charge |
| Full value, no deductible (Option 2(a)) | Current replacement value, up to the value you declare | Up to $15.73 per $1,000 declared |
| Full value, $300 deductible (Option 2(b)) | Current replacement value, up to the value you declare, minus $300 | Up to $5.17 per $1,000 declared |
The charges come from Section V of DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 7, effective January 13, 2026. A carrier may charge less, but not more. Under each option, the tariff gives the carrier the choice of repairing or restoring a damaged item to its original condition.
One wording difference is worth knowing. The valuation rule describes full value as coverage “based upon the current replacement value at the time of loss or damage” (Rule 570-38-3-.10), while the claim rule caps the carrier’s liability at repair or replacement “not exceeding the actual cash value of the property at the time and place of loss” (Rule 570-38-3-.17(7)). The two measures can differ for older items. If a carrier offers a depreciated figure on a full value claim, ask which rule it is applying, and ask DPS how the two fit together.
What happens if you sign nothing
The default on a Georgia move is full value, not released value. Under Rule 570-38-3-.10(6), a carrier that moves your goods without first getting your written choice “shall be deemed to have consented to full value protection of such customer’s articles … at no cost to the customer and without a deductible.” The tariff says the same: the shipper “will be considered to have chosen Option 2(a) at no charge to the shipper.”
That rule also tells you what the paperwork should look like. Your choice belongs on the “Addendum to Uniform Household Goods Bill of Lading,” signed and dated before the carrier takes your goods. Released value applies only if you choose it there in writing. A Georgia mover also may not ask you to sign a waiver or release of liability of any kind, under Rule 570-38-3-.13.
How far released value goes
Released value pays by weight, so light, valuable items recover almost nothing. For example, imagine three items lost on a move under Option 1:
- a 4-pound laptop worth $1,500: 4 x $0.60 = $2.40,
- a 60-pound dresser worth $800: 60 x $0.60 = $36,
- a 5-pound framed print worth $400: 5 x $0.60 = $3.
If those numbers would leave you short, released value is the wrong choice for your shipment.
What full value protection costs
Full value is priced on the value you declare, and the carrier may require a minimum of $5,000 per room, not counting halls, attics, garages, closets, and bathrooms. A self-storage unit of 10 by 10 feet counts as one room.
For example, imagine a home with five rooms that count: the minimum declaration a carrier could require is $25,000. At the tariff’s ceilings, Option 2(a) would cost up to $393.25 and Option 2(b) up to $129.25, with a $300 deductible on any claim. If your belongings would cost $40,000 to replace and you declare that amount, the ceilings are $629.20 and $206.80.
Declare what your goods would actually cost to replace. Recovery under full value is capped at the declared amount, so declaring less than your goods are worth caps a large loss.
What is not covered at any level
Some losses fall outside the mover’s liability whichever level you choose. Under Rule 570-38-3-.17(9), a carrier is not liable for:
- Articles of extraordinary value that are not listed on the bill of lading. The rule names “documents, currency, money, jewelry, watches, precious stones,” collectibles, precious metals, and “any article with a value in excess of $100.00 per pound”. Unlisted, these are not covered at all. Which items to list, and which to carry yourself, is covered in how high-value items like jewelry or art change your coverage.
- Damage caused by your own negligent packing, to the extent your packing caused it. How that works is explained in why a mover may not cover boxes you packed yourself.
- Loss after delivery or before the crew handles the item.
- The undamaged pieces of a matched set. If one chair of a set is damaged, the carrier answers for that chair, not the whole set.
Damage to the homes themselves is different. Walls, floors, doors, railings, driveways, and similar parts of either home can be claimed under Rule 570-38-3-.17(6), and they do not need to be listed on the valuation form.
Before the move
- Estimate what your shipment would cost to replace, and count the rooms that set the carrier’s minimum declaration.
- Pick Option 1, 2(a), or 2(b) on the addendum, write in the declared value, and sign and date it before loading.
- List any article of extraordinary value on the bill of lading, or carry it yourself.
- Keep your copy. If something is damaged, a written claim is due within 90 days after delivery, as set out in how to file a damage claim.
DPS’s own guide adds a reminder worth keeping: a carrier’s liability and insurance are not the same thing. Check what your homeowner’s or renter’s policy covers in transit before you decide.