You’re ready to make a move. You think you have all the details prepared, but have you forgotten anything? Insert: Certificate of Insurance.
We understand that when moving in New York, there’s already a floodgate of logistical details to consider, and sometimes the smaller pieces (like paperwork), can fall by the wayside.
Consider this your friendly reminder than when you’re moving to a new apartment in the City, your building manager will almost certainly request that the moving company submit a Certificate of Insurance (also known as a COI).
At this point in the moving process, understanding insurance paperwork is probably the last thing you want to deal with, however, without this proof of insurance, your move might not happen at all.
We’re here to make the COI process simple and easy to understand, so that all your New York City moves go off without a hitch.
What is a Certificate of Insurance?
In its basic form, a Certificate of Insurance, or COI, provides proof that a moving company has the insurance that will provide coverage for both the company and the building, should any incidents occur. A COI clearly lays out the details of the policy, with a purpose of making the information accessible to all parties.
What is in a Certificate of Insurance?
COIs reflect a range of information, including:
- Building manager details: Your COI will be addressed to the authorized persons of the buildings you’re moving from and to. It will include their name, office address, and contact information.
- Insurance confirmation: Details highlighting the movers are insured, specifically for that building.
- Moving addresses: Address of the building you’re moving out of, as well as the address of the building you’re moving to.
- Policy details: effective date, policy number, list of insurers, types of coverage, policy limits, description of operates, locations, and vehicles, cancellation notice, signature of authorized representative.
What does a Certificate of Insurance Cover?
Coverage types: COIs typically have umbrella coverage, cargo insurance, workers compensation, automotive liability, and liability insurance.
Coverage amount: Most COIs have coverage of about $1MM – $2MM USD per move. However, the amount might go higher, pending on the move itself (building, articles being moved, etc.)
When is a Certificate of Insurance needed?
Typically, before being allowed to enter the building, a moving company (or contractor, delivery service, etc.), must show proof of insurance to management. The building you are moving to will also likely need to see the COI in advance of the move.
Unfortunately, many renters think that because they have their own apartment insurance, they do not need a COI. Movers’ insurance policies are different than what apartment insurance covers and will pertain to a much broader range of damages, in addition to greater coverage. COIs will also protect all parties in the event a mover is injured, or common areas damaged.
Is there anything I need to pay attention to within the Certificate?
We’ll try to make this easy for you. While each COI starts as a template, it is customized specifically to each move. It will include information such as the service being provided, the names and contact information of the parties involved, and the address the client is moving to. Pay particular attention to these items in ensuring their accuracy. From there, it reflects information such as the policy coverage, limits, etc.
How do I get a Certificate of Insurance?
Professional movers like Orange Truck are NYC movers with certificates of insurance and will always be able to work with the information your building requires. The first step is to contact the building’s management to confirm they require a COI, and if so, ask if there is a preferred template. Once that information is obtained, you can pass it along to your moving partner, who will send you back a completed COI to submit. You should also save a copy for your own records.
Remember that timing is important here. And while all buildings will differ, some will require the COI far in advance of the move (to accommodate things like elevator schedules, other moves, etc.).
When you partner with Orange Truck, we will handle the entire COI process alongside you, start to finish, so that you’re never left wondering what’s next.
How much does a Certificate of Insurance cost?
With Orange Truck Movers, COIs are free of charge.
What happens if I don’t submit a Certificate of Insurance?
COIs may seem like a daunting task, but the team at Orange Truck will guide you through every single step required. Remember that these pieces of paperwork are worth the patience, otherwise you may end up with a severely delayed moving day, or even being fined from your building for missing paperwork requirements.
Making sure the partner you work with has a COI will be worth its weight in gold when you compare it to having to potentially pay for costly damages done by a non-compliant company.
Questions about COIs or New York City moves?
If you have any questions about Certificates of Insurance, we are always available to help you.
We even offer free Additional Insurance for your home valuables (surpassing industry standard and covering up to $2,000) …because it’s more than just boxes.
If you’re ready to make your move and want to talk paperwork logistics later, that’s great too! You can start by getting an instant quote here.
