Why won’t a mover cover boxes you packed yourself?
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A mover can refuse to pay for damage inside a box you packed when your packing caused the damage, not simply because you packed it. Georgia’s rule excuses the carrier only “to the extent the damage was caused by the negligence of the customer” in packing. The practical problem is proof: with a sealed box the mover never saw packed, it is harder to show that rough handling, not loose packing, broke what was inside.
What the rules actually say
On a move within Georgia, Rule 570-38-3-.17(9)(d) says a carrier is not liable for “Damage or loss to articles that were packed and/or prepared by the customer or the customer’s agent to the extent the damage was caused by the negligence of the customer or the customer’s agent in packing and/or preparing such articles for transportation”. The exclusion follows the cause of the damage, not who sealed the box.
DPS’s own consumer guide describes the same boundary in plainer words. It says a moving company “will generally not accept liability for items you pack yourself (unless the mover is negligent in handling the items)”, and, at delivery, that “If you have packed your own cartons, the mover may not be liable for loss or damage to its contents unless there is visible damage to the carton.”
On an interstate move, the federal consumer booklet in Appendix A to 49 CFR Part 375 lists among the ways your own actions can reduce the mover’s liability: “Your acts or omissions cause the loss or damage to occur. For example, improper packing of containers you pack yourself do not provide sufficient protection”.
Why self-packed claims are harder
The rule is narrow, but the evidence can run against you. When a crew packs a box, the mover cannot blame the packing. When you pack it, a broken plate inside an undamaged carton points toward the packing, and a crushed or torn carton points toward handling. That is why DPS’s guide ties the mover’s liability to “visible damage to the carton.”
| What you find at delivery | Which way the evidence points |
|---|---|
| Carton crushed, punctured, wet, or torn; contents broken | Toward handling; a strong basis for a claim under the protection level you chose |
| Carton intact; contents loose and broken inside | Toward packing; the mover can argue the exclusion |
| Carton packed by the crew; contents broken | Toward the mover, since the packing exclusion covers only packing by you or your agent |
The table shows where the evidence leans, not a final ruling; the claim still turns on what caused the damage and on the rest of the record.
How to pack so a claim can still hold
Georgia’s rules also set the basic standard for your boxes. Under Rule 570-38-3-.05(1), items you pack must be “securely enclosed” in a container “so that no ends or other parts protrude and in a manner that will provide reasonable protection from damage”, and boxes must be marked with their general contents when those are not obvious. A carrier is not required to take boxes that are not packed to that standard.
To keep a self-packed claim defensible:
- Use sturdy cartons in good condition, filled so the contents cannot shift, and sealed on top and bottom.
- Mark each box with its contents and room, and mark fragile boxes clearly.
- Photograph the contents of fragile boxes before you seal them.
- Ask the crew to note on the inventory which boxes you packed, and check the carton’s condition at delivery before you sign.
- If a carton is damaged, write it on the delivery paperwork, keep the box and packing material, and photograph both.
When to let the mover pack
For dishes, glass, electronics, and art, the claim risk shifts the math. If the crew packs those boxes, the packing defense is gone, and the boxes are priced under the tariff’s container and packing rates on a Georgia move. Which items are worth paying for, and which you can safely pack yourself, is weighed in full-service packing or packing yourself. If damage does appear, the deadlines and steps are in how to file a damage claim.