Insurance during the cross country self move question

So just for clarification, he asked if his stuff was covered if it was stolen during a PCS move in a vehicle he is driving and he has a current renter's policy?

He is not looking to have coverage for damage during the move (ie scratches/dents, etc...) just if things got stolen, correct?

If the above is correct, then they have changed their policy. I was curious and looked to see if USAA has anything on their website (https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/advice-military-move-pcs) and came across this blurb

"Are my belongings covered during a military move?
During a military move, coverage for your items can vary based on who moves your property and how the loss occurs. Coverage during a full military move is normally provided by the military through the transportation service provider. Just make sure all your items are manifested and carefully follow all DoD required deadlines. During a DITY move, renters insurance may provide limited coverage.See note3 For instance, you might have coverage if your items are stolen from the moving truck but probably won't if you drop and break your $4,000 TV, unless it is covered through a VPP or technology endorsement. If you hire professional movers and they destroy your TV and it's on the bill of lading, it's probably covered through their insurance and then your own renters policy could serve as a backup. The bottom line is to understand your insurance policies to know when you have coverage and make a moving decision based on those risks."

That note 3 does say"For coverage to apply, property must be under a bill of lading or other professional shipping document. Breaking, marring and scratching are excluded." Which seems to be in agreement with what he is being told.

This is very weird because it once was covered under personal property of the renter's insurance for USAA no matter where it was located. We have since move away from USAA (for other reasons), but know last summer, our stuff was covered through ALLSTATE with the renter's insurance. We always do at least a partial dity move with our 2 cars filled to the brim and always ask the same questions.

Hopefully, he is able to sort this out before he leaves . Either way, he should check the reviews of locations of the hotels along the way and parks smartly in well lighted areas.
You are correct. Not looking at damage
Coverage but rather theft. This is all exactly what he was told. Twice. He has not spent time calling others at this point, but was told by USAA its the same with everyone (and I would expect USAA to be the most military move friendly).

Your suggestion is also his plan…staying at highly rated places, park under lights, against a wall, etc.
 
His situation is that he will be in Annapolis for a while first, and newly married with a wife and dog. They will be bare bones for sure, but there will be some stuff to move.

I would suggest letting Navy move them.....might as well get used to it.

Don't know the rules now, but suspect they are essentially the same as my prehistoric era -- Navy will move you to your first duty station from either Annapolis or Home of Record. I was in similar position; I believe I had a cruise box shipped from USNA and my first shipment was actually from my new wife's home (closer to Pcola than Home of record). When I left the Navy, they shipped everything back to my Home of Record (actually, to where I was attending law school, so I had to pay for the extra 60 miles ..)

I think the Navy moving system was actually pretty good ... (DW might disagree, but she's pickier than I am). Funniest story was watching movers individually wrap a pile of ball caps in packing paper -- you would never guess they got paid by the number of cartons and weight.
 
And then there is the time-honored advice of:
- Make sure you empty your trash cans before packers arrive, or the trash will get packed up too.
- Designate a closet or a room for everything going in your car or elsewhere and not going into that day’s shipment. That’s key paperwork, important files and documents, required uniform items, clean underwear, your chargers, prescription meds, the dog’s leash! Mark the area off-limits. Drag the head packer over and ensure they and their team know nothing from that room goes. You cannot keep eyes on a multi-person team. Every military family has Packout Day Gone Wrong stories.

Which reminds me, it’s always good to have your own helper on outbound or inbound days. Military folks are good about helping each other with this. Someone to spell you at the front door or during a break or taking over the inventory sheet to track boxes while you hover over the packers wrapping “the good stuff.”
 
I would suggest letting Navy move them.....might as well get used to it.

Don't know the rules now, but suspect they are essentially the same as my prehistoric era -- Navy will move you to your first duty station from either Annapolis or Home of Record. I was in similar position; I believe I had a cruise box shipped from USNA and my first shipment was actually from my new wife's home (closer to Pcola than Home of record). When I left the Navy, they shipped everything back to my Home of Record (actually, to where I was attending law school, so I had to pay for the extra 60 miles ..)

I think the Navy moving system was actually pretty good ... (DW might disagree, but she's pickier than I am). Funniest story was watching movers individually wrap a pile of ball caps in packing paper -- you would never guess they got paid by the number of cartons and weight.
Yep, shipment from OCS and another shipment from Home of Record for first PCS move.
 
I would suggest letting Navy move them.....might as well get used to it.

Don't know the rules now, but suspect they are essentially the same as my prehistoric era -- Navy will move you to your first duty station from either Annapolis or Home of Record. I was in similar position; I believe I had a cruise box shipped from USNA and my first shipment was actually from my new wife's home (closer to Pcola than Home of record). When I left the Navy, they shipped everything back to my Home of Record (actually, to where I was attending law school, so I had to pay for the extra 60 miles ..)

I think the Navy moving system was actually pretty good ... (DW might disagree, but she's pickier than I am). Funniest story was watching movers individually wrap a pile of ball caps in packing paper -- you would never guess they got paid by the number of cartons and weight.
When we first started moving, the boxes and paper were paid by the military by the number used.

Now the way it works, moving company bids on a move and the number of boxes and paper is paid by the moving company. There is definitely a difference these days and I need to tell movers, that needs more paper wrap or no that needs to go in a box since it's going in storage.

Oh and yes EVERYTHING needs its own number! Do not take 3 garage items to the truck with 1 number labeled as misc garage items. I would like to receive all my stuff back and if it's missing, I would like to know what is missing!

I think in the last 10 years, moves have gotten harder. Not sure if it's because we are Coast Guard and typically moving from non-military areas, but it has gotten harder and harder to even get a military contract and I need to stay on top of them to ensure we actually have a move scheduled. Had a time where we were expecting a move on Wednesday and found out on Monday that they could not find anyone to take the HHG. After a lot of phone calls on my end, there were movers there on Thursday. Moving from the greater DC/MD area (or other military areas) is much easier getting a contract, but just needed to put in earlier enough to schedule around all the other military moves.
 
Professional mover packs the laptop poorly and drops the box on the lift gate, all damage liability 100% theirs, document and submit claim. Owner or a buddy does it during a DITY move, I don’t think so.

Not quite a parallel story, but demonstrates coverage. A USNA sponsor mid of ours, at graduation, packed up all of his uniforms and related paraphernalia, shoes, sports gear, laptop, gaming box, personal items, etc., filled his Toyota Camry to the brim, visibly packing the back seat. Exhausted after Friday graduation, he parked the car on the street at an apartment complex in Prince George’s County, MD (hint: car theft capital of DC metro) at a classmate’s new short-term rental, and decided he was too tired to move anything inside. He flew off to Vegas Saturday morning with his girlfriend for some funtime, leaving car keys with classmate. Classmate went out to his own car Sunday morning, did not see the car. Called our sponsor son in Vegas to ask him if he had given keys/loaned car to anyone else. Car with all contents had been stolen, including all new summer white, dress and khaki uniforms, sword, new officer cover, laptop, most civilian clothes, all IT gear, personal papers, diploma, orders, all of it.

I had coached him to finally call USAA 2 weeks before graduation and get personal property coverage. USAA covered loss of car (it was found stripped and abandoned) and any car-related things and a rental car with his auto policy, and his personal property policy less deductible covered all other losses. They immediately deposited an interim check in his checking account to cover uniforms, ribbons, cover, shoes, etc., and basic civilian clothing items. He had to scramble to create an inventory, order all kinds of uniform stuff, deal with police report and adjusters, all while driving to Pensacola for flight school.
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