Everything You Need To Know About A COI With Movers

A certificate of insurance, also known as a COI, is a document movers provide as proof of insurance. If your building management requires your local or long distance movers to provide proof of insurance (a COI), your movers must send the document by email as soon as possible.

This article explains everything you need to know about a COI with movers by answering the questions people ask most often about this topic.

What Is a Certificate of Insurance for a Moving Company?

Many apartment buildings on both the East and West Coasts require a certificate of insurance before they allow movers on the property. Even if you own the unit, building management has the right to see the moving company's COI.

A COI is a simple one-page document that proves your movers carry general liability, workers' compensation and auto liability insurance.

Here's what to know:

Proof of Insurance

• A COI is proof of insurance that verifies the movers' liability amount in case any damage happens in the building while the movers are relocating your belongings.

Liability Amount Requirements

• The most common general liability requirement for apartment buildings is $1 million. However, some buildings may require a local or interstate mover to carry umbrella coverage of up to $5 million.

Produce a COI or No Entry

• If your local or long distance moving company does not meet the certificate of insurance requirements, building management will not let the movers into the unit, even if you own it.

What Happens If You Move Without a COI?

The only way you can potentially move without a COI is by moving yourself. If you hire professional movers, you will not be able to relocate your household goods without a COI.

Why Might a Mover Not Have a COI?

• Many movers have insurance, but they don't carry the amount your building requires. That's because federal rules only require movers to offer basic coverage of 60 cents per pound per item, and they don't require the higher general liability, workers' compensation and property damage coverage that many buildings ask for.

What If Your Mover Fails to Provide the COI?

• If a moving company fails to provide proof of insurance for any reason, it will most likely not be allowed in the building. In some cases, the property may let the movers into the unit if the certificate of insurance is handed over in person. However, the COI must list every insurance requirement and every additional insured the property requires.

How to Get a Certificate of Insurance From Movers

If your long distance mover has the required workers' compensation and liability amounts, getting a COI is easy:

1. Email the moving company and let them know that your property at pickup or delivery requires a certificate of insurance.
2. Ask your building management to send a sample COI (sometimes called a voided COI). This lets your movers make sure every additional insured, workers' compensation and property damage requirement is listed correctly.
3. Have your long distance movers email the COI to you or your building management. This can take 1–5 business days, so request your COI well before moving day.

Moving a parent into a senior community? Our assisted living moving checklist explains the COI and building rules facilities usually have. To learn what else interstate movers are legally required to do, read our guide to the legal guidelines long distance movers must follow.

American National Movers Can Provide a COI Upon Request

If your condo, co-op or high-rise apartment requires insurance coverage from $1 million to $5 million, American National Movers can send a COI to your building management by email. All we need is a sample COI so we can include every requirement your building has for access to the property while we relocate your household goods. Call (800) 936-3086 for a quote today.