Moving Guide — Charleston, SC
Movers offer valuation, not insurance — a contractual limit on what they owe you. On interstate moves, full value protection is the federal default; the no-cost 60-cents-per-pound released value applies only if you elect it in writing. And if your move stays entirely inside South Carolina, those federal rules don’t apply at all: your coverage comes from the tariff your mover files with the SC Public Service Commission.
Updated August 2026 · 9 min read · Serving the Lowcountry since 2008
The short version:
- Valuation is not insurance. It’s a cap on the mover’s liability, not a policy from an underwriter.
- 60¢ per pound is a federal interstate rule — and it pays terribly. A 50-pound TV is worth $30 under it, regardless of what you paid.
- A move inside South Carolina isn’t governed by that rule. SC intrastate moves fall under the PSC, not the FMCSA.
- For a local SC move, ask your mover for their filed tariff terms. That document, not federal law, is what governs your claim.
- Boxes you packed yourself are treated differently from boxes the movers packed. This catches people constantly.
This is the most misunderstood topic in moving, and most cost guides make it worse by applying federal rules to local moves where they don’t belong. Here’s the accurate version.
1. “Insurance” is the wrong word
When a mover talks about coverage, they’re almost always describing valuation, not insurance.
- Insurance is a policy purchased from a third-party underwriter, regulated as insurance.
- Valuation is a term in your contract with the mover that sets the maximum they’re liable for if they lose or damage something.
The difference matters when you file a claim. Valuation is a ceiling on the carrier’s legal exposure. It’s not a promise to make you whole.
When a mover says “we’re insured,” that’s its own business coverage — the policies protecting the client and crew while the job runs. Real and important, and not the same thing as coverage for your dining table. Ask any mover, us included, what its coverage actually includes — we’ll put ours in writing with your estimate.
2. The federal rules — and when they actually apply
If your move crosses a state line, it’s an interstate move regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under 49 CFR Part 375. Interstate movers must offer two levels of valuation.
Released-value protection — the no-cost option you must elect in writing
Under 49 CFR § 375.201, the no-cost option caps the mover’s liability at 60 cents per pound, per article — and it only applies if you affirmatively sign a waiver electing it on the shipping documents.
Here’s what that means in practice:
Your 50-pound flat-screen television, which cost $1,500, is dropped and destroyed. Maximum payout: $30. (50 lbs × $0.60)
The item’s actual value is irrelevant. Weight is the only input. Released value is not meaningful protection for anything electronic, antique, or fragile — which is most of what people worry about.
Full value protection — the federal default
Full value protection is the level that applies unless you sign a waiver choosing released value — the paid, more comprehensive option is the starting point under federal rules, not the upgrade. It obligates the mover to repair the item, replace it with something comparable, or pay you its current replacement value.
- Typically costs about 1% to 1.5% of the declared value of the shipment.
- Federal rules require declared value to be calculated at a minimum of $6.00 per pound of total shipment weight.
- Usually offered with deductible tiers ($0, $250, $500) — a higher deductible lowers your premium.
⚠️ Now the part most guides get wrong
None of the above governs a move that stays inside South Carolina.
The 110% rule, the 60-cent released-value statute, the federal valuation requirements — those are interstate rules. A Charleston-to-Mount-Pleasant move, or Charleston to Columbia, is an intrastate move and falls under a different authority entirely.
3. What actually governs a local South Carolina move
Intrastate household-goods moves in South Carolina are regulated by the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) and enforced by the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) under S.C. Code Title 58, Chapter 23.
To move household goods legally within the state, a company must hold a Class E Certificate, issued through the Office of Regulatory Staff under PSC authority.
What changed in 2022
South Carolina significantly reworked this framework with Act 214 of 2022, which amended § 58-23-1010.
Before Act 214, a new moving company had to demonstrate “public convenience and necessity” to enter the market, and carriers were bound to rigid pricing tariffs. The Act replaced that with a “fit, willing, and able” standard and moved the state to a maximum-rate structure.
Under the current system, a Class E carrier files a maximum rate tariff with the PSC. The carrier may charge below that ceiling to stay competitive, provided it issues a binding written quote.
What that means for your claim
Because federal valuation law doesn’t reach a purely in-state move, your coverage terms come from the specific tariff your mover filed with the PSC.
Many South Carolina movers voluntarily adopt a 60-cents-per-pound baseline in their filed tariffs, mirroring the federal standard. But that is a choice each carrier makes — not a statutory guarantee. You cannot assume it.
So the single most useful question you can ask a local Charleston mover is: “What do your filed tariff rules say about released value versus full value protection, and can you show me in writing?”
A carrier operating properly can answer that. Ask us and we’ll put ours in writing with your estimate.
And if something does go wrong on a local move, disputes go to the SC ORS Motor Carrier Services division — not the federal complaint database.
4. The packed-by-owner trap
This one costs people real money and almost nobody knows it in advance.
When movers load your shipment, cartons are marked on the inventory as mover-packed or PBO — “packed by owner.”
Under federal rules for interstate moves, carriers are generally not liable for the contents of a box you packed yourself. And here’s the sharp edge: even if you bought full value protection, if a PBO box arrives with no visible external damage — no crushed corner, no puncture — the carrier can deny the claim on the grounds of improper internal packing.
The practical guidance is simple: anything genuinely valuable or fragile should be packed by the movers, precisely so that it isn’t PBO. Pack your own books and linens. Let the crew pack the crystal, the electronics, and the art.
5. What to do before moving day
A short, high-leverage checklist:
- Ask for the valuation terms in writing with your estimate — and for a local SC move, ask specifically about the filed tariff.
- Photograph high-value items before the move, including existing damage. Timestamps settle disputes.
- Get an inventory and check how your boxes are marked. PBO versus mover-packed decides claims.
- Ask about the deductible if you’re buying full value protection.
- Check your homeowner’s or renter’s policy. Some cover goods in transit; many don’t, or cover them only in specific circumstances. Ask your agent directly rather than assuming.
- Don’t pay a large deposit. Reputable movers may take a modest booking fee. A demand for a large cash deposit before any work is a recognized fraud indicator.
6. Warning signs worth taking seriously
Federal consumer-protection guidance flags a consistent set of red flags. They apply just as well locally:
- An estimate given sight-unseen, with no in-home or virtual survey.
- A crew arriving in an unmarked rental truck rather than a company vehicle.
- A large cash deposit demanded up front.
- Vague or evasive answers about liability and coverage.
- No written estimate.
For an interstate move you can verify a carrier’s USDOT and MC numbers through the FMCSA’s SAFER system at protectyourmove.gov. For a South Carolina intrastate mover, the relevant credential is the PSC Class E certificate, verifiable through the SC ORS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is moving insurance the same as valuation? No. Valuation is a contractual cap on the mover’s liability, set out in your contract. Insurance is a policy from a third-party underwriter — and a mover can’t sell true insurance unless it’s also a licensed insurance producer. Movers offer valuation; some can refer you to licensed third-party coverage.
Does the 60-cents-per-pound rule apply to my move within South Carolina? Not automatically. That figure comes from federal interstate regulation. For a move staying entirely inside South Carolina, coverage is set by the tariff your mover files with the SC Public Service Commission. Many carriers adopt a similar 60-cent baseline voluntarily, but you should ask for their specific terms rather than assume.
What is full value protection and what does it cost? It obligates the mover to repair, replace, or pay the current replacement value of a lost or damaged item. On interstate moves it typically runs about 1% to 1.5% of the shipment’s declared value, with deductible options that lower the premium.
Will my homeowner’s insurance cover my belongings during a move? Sometimes, and often only partially or under specific conditions. Policies vary widely on goods in transit. Call your agent and ask directly before you rely on it.
What happens if a box I packed myself gets damaged? On an interstate move, boxes marked PBO — packed by owner — are treated differently: carriers are generally not liable for the contents unless the carton shows visible external damage. For a move inside South Carolina, the equivalent terms live in the carrier’s filed tariff, so ask. Either way: have the movers pack anything fragile or valuable.
Who do I complain to if a local Charleston mover damages my things? For a move entirely within South Carolina, the SC Office of Regulatory Staff’s Motor Carrier Services division handles disputes. The federal complaint database covers interstate moves.
Ready for a Move You Can Trust?
We’ve been moving Charleston families since 2008, and we’d rather explain how coverage actually works before your move than argue about it afterward. Ask us what our terms are and we’ll give them to you in writing alongside your estimate.
Get a free, no-obligation in-home or virtual estimate.
Call (843) 737-1279 or contact your local mover.
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This article explains general regulatory frameworks and is not legal advice. Coverage terms vary by carrier — always ask for yours in writing.
