Reference guide
Piano moving insurance, without the sales pitch.
Carrier liability is not insurance. The cover that appears as standard can pay a few hundred dollars for an instrument worth tens of thousands, so the valuation box in a mover’s quote matters.
The sentence that matters
Liability is not insurance.
Full value protection
For an interstate household-goods move, the mover is liable for replacement value up to the declared shipment value. It costs money and is the protection to ask about for a piano.
Released value — $0.60/lb
This is the free option. It pays 60 cents for every pound the article weighs, whatever it was worth. You can waive full-value protection in writing.
Federal source: 49 CFR Part 375, Subpart B.
What $0.60 a pound really pays.
These are manufacturer-published weights from our database multiplied by $0.60 — not illustrations.
| Piano | Published weight | Released-value payout | Weight source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha b1 | 384 lb | $230.40 | Yamaha Corporation of America |
| Yamaha U1 | 502 lb | $301.20 | Yamaha Corporation of America |
| Kawai GX-2 | 714 lb | $428.40 | Kawai America |
| Steinway & Sons B | 802 lb | $481.20 | Steinway & Sons |
| Steinway & Sons D | 1,064 lb | $638.40 | Steinway & Sons |
| Bösendorfer 290 Imperial | 1,217 lb | $730.20 | Bösendorfer |
The waiver is a box on the estimate
On most quotes, valuation is two lines with a signature or initial beside each. If you initial released value, the choice is made. Ask the mover to show you the valuation section before you sign and keep a copy of the page.
The third-party insurance trap
Do not assume an instrument policy fills the gap after you choose released value. Many policies exclude damage while an instrument is in a commercial carrier’s care, require professional crating for transit cover, or limit payment if you contractually limited the mover’s liability.
- Care, custody and control: search the policy for carrier and transit exclusions.
- Packing conditions: transit cover can require professional crating, which itself has a cost.
- Released-value recovery: an insurer that pays may only recover the amount you agreed the mover owed.
Ask your insurer in writing whether it covers commercial-carrier transit and whether accepting released value changes the answer.
Certificates of insurance
A certificate of insurance (COI) comes from the mover’s insurer and confirms active policies, limits and dates. Buildings often require it before a crew may use an elevator or loading dock. Ask for it a week before the move; it is not the same as the carrier’s federal filings, and it confirms current cover rather than guaranteeing a payout.
Common questions
- Do piano movers include insurance?
- No. The standard protection is carrier liability, not insurance. Interstate household-goods moves default to full value protection, but you can waive it in writing for released value at $0.60 per pound per article.
- How much does released value pay for a piano?
- The published weight multiplied by $0.60, regardless of the piano’s market value. A 502 lb Yamaha U1 pays $301.20; a 1,064 lb Steinway Model D pays $638.40.
- What is full value protection?
- For interstate household-goods moves, it makes the mover liable for replacement value up to the shipment value you declare. It costs money and is the protection worth discussing for a piano.
- What is a certificate of insurance?
- A COI is a document from the mover’s insurer confirming active policies, limits and dates. Buildings commonly need one before permitting elevator or loading-dock access.
- Will my own instrument policy cover the move?
- Do not assume it will. Policies can exclude loss while a commercial carrier has the piano, require professional crating, or limit a claim after you accept released value. Ask the insurer in writing.
- How long do I have to make a claim?
- The bill of lading sets the deadline, but federal law prevents interstate carriers from using less than nine months. Keep the quote, delivery paperwork and photographs.
Before you sign anything
- Ask which valuation level the quote assumes and what full value protection costs.
- Declare a value that matches an appraisal or invoice.
- Ask for a COI if either building requires one.
- Photograph the piano, including legs, lyre and pedals, before the crew arrives.
- Note damage on delivery paperwork before you sign, then file a written claim.