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VALUATION

Here you will find an in-depth explanation of Valuation and a High Value Inventory.  Please read both sections carefully.  Also be sure to read the United pamphlet on PROTECTING YOUR BELONGINGS.

 

 

 

 

VALUATION

Here's what you need to know about placing a value on your household goods shipment before you move.  This explains what you must do and what it will cost to place a value on your interstate household goods shipment. 

 

PLACING A VALUE ON YOUR SHIPMENT

The contract that you will sign with your mover provides two (2) options for placing a value on your shipment.  The value that you select sets the limit of your mover's maximum liability for loss or damage to your goods.  These optional levels of liability are not insurance agreements that are governed by state insurance laws, but instead are authorized under Released Rates Orders of the Surface Transportation Board of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

 

Before you sign the contract (bill of lading) with your mover, you must decide how much your articles are worth and declare a value for your shipment.

 

Option 1 - Full (Replacement) Value Protection is the most comprehensive plan available for protection of your goods.  When you select this option, articles that are lost, damaged or destroyed will, at the mover's option, be either repaired, replaced with articles of like kind and quality, or a cash settlement will be made for he repairs or for replacement of the articles at their current market value, regardless of the age of the lost or damaged articles.

Under this option, you have two choices for establishing your mover's maximum liability on your shipment:

  1. You can declare a value based on the weight of your shipment times an amount of not less than $5.00 per pound, or

  2. You can declare a higher lump sum amount (for example, $30,000).

The cost for Option 1 is shown in the following table.  The value you declare on your shipment must be at least equal to the weight of your shipment multiplied by $5.00 per pound, subject to a minimum declaration of $5,000.  For example, if your shipment weighs 5,000 pounds, the minimum value that you must declare is $25,000 (5,000 pounds multiplied by $5.00 per pound).  You can also choose a higher lump sum amount based on your estimate of what it would cost to replace all of your shipment.

 

Option 2 - Released Value of 60 Cents Per Pound Per Article is the most economical option available.  This level of protection is provided at no additional cost; however, it only provides minimal protection.  Under this option, the mover assumes liability for no more than 60 cents per pound per article for loss or damage.  This means that claims are settled based on the weight of the individual article(s) multiplied by 60 cents.  For example, if a 10-pound stereo component valued at $1,000 were lost or destroyed, your mover would be liable for no more than $6.00 (10 pounds multiplied by 60 cents).

Obviously, you should think carefully before agreeing to such an arrangement.  This value option is considerably less than the typical value of household goods.  There is no additional cost for this minimal protection and you must make a specific statement on the bill of lading agreeing to it.

NOTES:

  1. Under Option 1, your mover is also permitted to limit its liability for loss or damage to articles that have an extraordinary value, unless you specifically list these articles on the Inventory of Items Valued in Excess of $100 Per Pound Per Article form (also called "High Value Inventory" form).  An article of extraordinary value is any item whose value exceeds $100 per pound.  Ask your mover for a complete explanation of this limitation of liability before you move.  It is your responsibility to study these provisions carefully and to make the necessary declaration.  (Not all movers use these special provisions for articles of extraordinary value.)

  2. When you select Option 2, you may wish to obtain separate liability insurance from a third-party insurance company.  This is not valuation coverage governed by Federal law, but optional insurance that is regulated under State law.  If you elect to purchase this separate coverage, in the event of loss or damage, the mover is liable only for an amount not exceeding 60 cents per pound per article, and the balance of the loss is recoverable from the insurance company up to the amount of insurance purchased.  United Van Lines, LLC, and our agents do not offer insurance coverage.  If you are interested in obtaining third-party insurance coverage, please consult with your insurance representative.

  3. When storage-in-transit is provided, an additional valuation charge applies for the time your shipment is in storage.

 

WHAT YOU MUST DO TO DECLARE A VALUE ON YOUR SHIPMENT

The contract (bill of lading) you will execute with your mover contains the following Customer's Declaration of Value.  You should fully understand its contents since you will be required to declare a value for you shipment and sign the Declaration certifying that you did so.

If you fail to declare a value for your shipment and/or sign the declaration certifying that you did so, your mover may refuse to ship your goods.

We recommend that you carefully read the Declaration and the follow the instructions provided in the numbered (1 through 9) directions.

 

CUSTOMER'S DECLARATION of VALUE

THIS IS A TARIFF LEVEL OF CARRIER LIABILITY - IT IS NOT INSURANCE

You must select, in your own handwriting, one of the following two options for your shipment.  The option you select establishes your mover's maximum liability for your goods, subject to the rules contained in your mover's tariff.

 

OPTION 1:  Full (Replacement) Value Protection.  If any article is lost, destroyed or damaged while in your mover's custody, your mover will either 1) repair the article to the extent necessary to restore it to the same condition as when it was received by your mover, or pay you for the cost of such repairs; or 2) replace the article with an article of like kind and quality, or pay you for the cost of such a replacement.  An additional charge applies for this option.

To select Option 1, you must write on the line below, either a lump sum dollar amount for the value of your shipment that may not be less than $5000, or an amount per pound that may not be less than $5.00 per pound, whichever is greater.

The value of my shipment is:

1

 

You must also select one of the following deductible amounts that will apply for your shipment:
No Deductible

2

 $250 Deductible

3

 $500 Deductible

4

 

OPTION 2:  Released Value of 60 Cents Per Pound Per Article.  If any article is lost, destroyed or damaged while in your mover's custody, your mover's liability is limited to the actual weight  of the lost, destroyed or damaged article multiplied by 60 cents per pound per article.  This is the basic liability level and is provided at no charge.  It is considerably less than the average value of household goods.

To select Option 2, you must write, on the line below, the words "60 cents per pound".

The value of my shipment is:

5

 

 

 

Your signature is required here:  I acknowledge that I have 1) declared a value for my shipment and selected a deductible amount, if appropriate, and 2) received and read a copy of the mover's brochure explaining these provisions and the applicable charges.

 

6

  

7
 

Customer's Signature

  

Date

EXTRAORDINARY (UNUSUAL) VALUE ARTICLE DECLARATION:  I acknowledge that I have prepared and retained a copy of the "Inventory of Items Valued in Excess of $100 Per Pound Per Article" that are included in my shipment and that I have given a copy of this Inventory to the mover's representative.  I also acknowledge that the mover's liability for loss of or damage to any article valued in excess of $100 per pound will be limited to $100 per pound for each pound of such lost of damaged article (based on actual article weight), not to exceed the declared value of the entire shipment, unless I have specifically identified such articles for which a claim for loss or damage is made on the attached inventory.

 

8

  

9
 

Customer's Signature

  

Date

 

 

One - Read the Declaration and evaluate your needs.

Two - Declare a specific valuation.

A.  To select Option 1 - Full (Replacement) Value Protection, write on Line 1 either:

  1. A per pound amount which cannot be less than $ per pound, or

  2. A higher lump sum dollar amount (for example, "$30,000" ).

An additional charge applies when you select this option, but this higher level of valuation is much more likely to cover the value of your entire shipment and all of the articles included in your shipment.

When you select Option 1, you must also choose one of the three deductible levels of coverage.  To do so, you must initial on:

  • Line 2 to select No deductible, or

  • Line 3 for a $250 deductible, or

  • Line 4 for a $500 deductible.

B.  To select Option 2 - Released Value of 60 Cents Per Pound Per Article, write the words "60¢ per pound" on line 5.

Remember, this Option is provided at no additional charge; however, the protection provided by this option is considerably less than the average value of typical household goods, and you should understand that any recovery from your mover for loss or damage will be nominal.

Three - You must SIGN and DATE the DECLARATION OF VALUE on Lines 6 and 7.

Four - If your mover has special provisions that limit its liability for articles of extraordinary value (any items whose value is greater than $100 per pound, for example, jewelry, silverware, china, furs, antiques, oriental rugs, and computer software), you should also sign and date the Extraordinary Value Declaration on Lines 8 and 9 to verify that you advised the mover that such articles will be included in your shipment.  If you fail to advise your mover of such articles in your shipment, the mover's liability will be limited to no more than $100 per pound.

Five - Be certain that you understand the material contained in this brochure and if you do not, ask your mover for more information.

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© 2002 United Van Lines, LLC.  All rights reserved.

 

 

 

HIGH VALUE INVENTORY

You will be asked by your salesperson or coordinator to complete a High Value Inventory Form.  You will use this form to notify us of any "extraordinary value" articles you will have in your household shipment.

The purpose of completing this inventory is to assist you in identifying articles of "extraordinary or unusual value" in order for United Van Lines to be aware of these items requiring special handling and protection.  Failure to identify such articles will result in limited carrier liability.

"Extraordinary value" is defined as any article worth more than $100 per pound.  Common items in this category are, but not limited to:  coins, currency, jewelry, sterling silverware, crystal, china, figurines, objects of art, computer software, rare documents, manuscripts, fur garments, antiques, rare collectibles, oriental or Persian carpets, etc.

The High Value Inventory form must be filled out completely.  We require you list the exact number of items you are shipping with a complete description of those items.  For example:

  • Box of jewelry containing 3 pairs of pearl earrings, 1 ladies Seiko watch, 1 gold bracelet.

  • Oil painting, ocean scene, name of artist, size of painting, type of frame.

  • Persian carpet, 8 ft. by 10 ft. (blue background with floral design)

We strongly urge you not to ship jewelry, coin or stamp collections, currency or computer software with no backup copy.  However, if you choose to ship these items, we require a very detailed list with their respective values.  For example:

  • Coin collection of 3 coins:  1 1890 silver dollar, value $800.00; 1 1903 quarter, value $300.00, 1 1903 quarter, value $450.00

This form, once completed, will be given to the packing crew and they will inventory the articles when they are packed.  In turn, the van line driver will inventory the articles when they are loaded on the moving van.  Please note the High Value Inventory does not serve as proof of value.  If you have not listed articles having a value in excess of $100 per pound on this inventory, your signature on the form attests to the fact that such articles are not included in your shipment.  If there are no articles of extraordinary value, "NONE" needs to be marked on the High Value Inventory form and signed if there are no articles of extraordinary value.

If through inadvertence or any other cause, items having a value in excess of $100 per pound per article are included in your shipment and you fail to list those items in the inventory, or fail to sign the inventory, you expressly agree that the carrier's liability for loss or damage to those items will be limited to no more than $100 per pound per article based upon the actual article weight.

It is your responsibility to check that every item on your High Value Inventory form is received at destination, including each individual carton and more importantly their contents, before signing.

Click here to link to the High Value Inventory form.

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