Commercial Auto
Coverage for covered bodily injury, property damage and vehicle exposures involving your moving trucks and vans.
Moving company insurance · BMC-34 support
Household Goods Motor Carrier Insurance
Coverage and BMC-34 filings for moving companies that transport household goods.
Moving household goods creates a different insurance responsibility than simply operating a commercial vehicle. Motive helps household goods motor carriers understand the coverage and filings required around the way they operate.
Commercial auto. Cargo. Liability. BMC-34 filings. One insurance conversation.
Commercial autoHousehold goods cargoBusiness liabilityBMC-34 filing support
Built around your operation
What is a Household Goods Motor Carrier?
A Household Goods Motor Carrier is a for-hire moving company that transports household goods for the public.
For interstate operations, household goods motor carriers have insurance and operating authority requirements that differ from many other commercial transportation businesses.
More than getting from A to B.
- Packing and unpacking
- Loading and unloading
- Inventorying household goods
- Binding or nonbinding estimates
- Transportation between homes or other eligible locations
Protect every part of the move
Insurance Built for Moving Companies
Your business may be responsible for the truck, the driver, the crew, and your customer’s property. The right insurance program starts with the way you work.
Motor Truck Cargo
Coverage for covered loss or damage to customers’ household goods while your business transports them.
Public Liability
Bodily injury and property damage liability protection arising from commercial vehicle operations.
General Liability
Protection for certain third-party claims from business operations outside the normal auto exposure.
Workers’ Compensation
Coverage related to employee injuries, including the physically demanding work of moving crews.
Physical Damage
Protection for insured vehicles against covered collision and comprehensive losses.
Umbrella or Excess Liability
Additional liability protection above certain underlying policies, when appropriate.
Property or Storage Exposure
Coverage to review when your business has a warehouse or stores customers’ property.
Coverage → filing → federal record
What Is a BMC-34 Filing?
A BMC-34 is proof of cargo liability insurance filed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for qualifying household goods motor carriers.
- 01 / THE COVERAGE
Cargo Policy
The actual insurance coverage for covered household goods cargo losses.
- 02 / THE PROOF
BMC-34
Proof of qualifying cargo coverage, submitted by the insurer or authorized electronic filer.
- 03 / THE RECORD
FMCSA
The filing becomes part of the carrier’s federal insurance and operating authority record.
A BMC-34 is not a separate insurance policy. It is the filing that shows the required cargo liability insurance is in place. Motive can help coordinate the insurance side of that process.
Ask About a BMC-34 Filing →The connection to your authority
Why Does the BMC-34 Matter?
Qualifying interstate household goods carriers need proof of cargo insurance on file with FMCSA. Missing required insurance filings can affect obtaining or maintaining operating authority.
That makes the filing more than paperwork. It connects the policy to your federal insurance record.
Three details to confirm
POLICYRequired cargo coverage is in place
FILINGThe insurer has submitted the applicable filing
AUTHORITYFMCSA’s record reflects the required proof
See the whole insurance picture
BMC-34 Is Only One Part of the Insurance Picture
The filing addresses proof of cargo liability insurance. It does not replace the other coverage your moving business may need.
| Coverage to review | What it addresses | BMC-34 connection |
|---|---|---|
| Motor truck cargo | Customers’ household goods in transit | Proof of qualifying cargo coverage |
| Commercial auto / public liability | Commercial vehicle liability exposures | Separate liability filing where applicable |
| General liability | Certain third-party business liability claims | Not established by BMC-34 |
| Workers’ compensation | Employee injuries | Not established by BMC-34 |
| Physical damage | Covered loss to insured vehicles | Not established by BMC-34 |
| Umbrella / excess | Additional liability limits over underlying policies | Not established by BMC-34 |
| Storage / property | Warehouse and stored-property exposures | Separate coverage review needed |
Different proof. Different responsibility.
BMC-34 vs. Public Liability Filing
BMC-34
- Cargo liability insurance
- Household goods cargo exposure
- Federal cargo insurance filing
Public Liability Filing
- Bodily injury and property damage financial responsibility
- Commercial vehicle liability exposure
- Separate federal insurance filing where applicable
A qualifying household goods carrier may have both public liability and cargo filing requirements. Motive helps connect those filings to the insurance program.
Start with your operating authority
Who May Need a BMC-34?
A BMC-34 is particularly relevant to businesses operating as household goods motor carriers under applicable interstate authority.
Not every business delivering furniture or appliances is automatically a household goods motor carrier. Your business model and operating authority matter.
Review My Operation →- Interstate household goods movers
- Moving companies with applicable household goods authority
- Businesses transporting customers’ household goods between states
Personal belongings. Specialized risks.
Moving Companies Have Different Risks Than General Freight Carriers
Your crew enters customers’ homes, carries furniture through hallways, uses loading ramps, and handles belongings that may be packed, transported, temporarily stored, and unloaded.
A damage claim can involve more than the truck itself. Your insurance should reflect that reality.
Prepare for your quote
What Motive Will Want to Know
Have these details handy. They help us understand what your insurance program needs to accomplish.
- Number of moving trucks
- Vehicle types and weights
- Number of drivers
- Number of moving crews
- Local or interstate operations
- States where you operate
- Operating radius
- Household goods transported
- Packing and unpacking services
- Loading and unloading services
- Warehouse or storage operations
- Current cargo coverage
- Current auto coverage
- Claims history
- FMCSA operating authority
- Current insurance filings
- Renewal date
From first truck to first move
Starting a New Household Goods Moving Company?
Build the insurance and filing process together, so required filings are part of the plan from the beginning.
- 01
Understand the operation
Describe your vehicles, crews, territory, and moving services.
- 02
Review required coverage
Discuss the policies and limits your operation may need.
- 03
Identify applicable filings
Connect cargo and public liability requirements to your authority.
- 04
Place coverage
Work through underwriting and confirm policy terms and effective dates.
- 05
Complete applicable filings
Coordinate with the insurer or authorized electronic filer.
- 06
Begin operations
Confirm active authority and all other operating requirements before your first move.
Room to grow
Growing Moving Fleets
One truck has different insurance needs than twenty. Each new vehicle, driver, and crew can change your exposure.
One truckSmall fleetGrowing operationEstablished fleet
Claims, vehicle schedules, certificates, contracts, and insurance administration become more complex as you grow. Motive helps bring those pieces into one conversation.
Explore commercial truck and fleet coverage →
Your questions, answered
Household Goods Insurance & BMC-34 FAQs
What is a BMC-34 filing?
A BMC-34 is proof of cargo liability insurance filed with FMCSA for qualifying household goods motor carriers. It connects the required cargo coverage to the carrier’s federal insurance record.
Who needs a BMC-34 filing?
It is relevant to household goods motor carriers operating under applicable interstate authority. The actual operation and authority determine the filing requirements; a furniture or appliance delivery business is not automatically classified as a household goods carrier.
Is BMC-34 the same as cargo insurance?
No. The cargo policy provides the coverage, subject to its terms. The BMC-34 is the filing that provides proof of that qualifying coverage to FMCSA.
Who files the BMC-34 with FMCSA?
The insurance company or its authorized electronic filer submits the filing. Motive can help coordinate the insurance side of the process.
What insurance does an interstate moving company need?
An interstate moving company may need commercial auto and public liability, motor truck cargo, general liability, workers’ compensation, physical damage, umbrella or excess liability, and property or storage coverage. Required filings and the appropriate coverage depend on the operation.
What is the difference between BMC-34 and a public liability filing?
BMC-34 provides proof of cargo liability insurance. A public liability filing addresses bodily injury and property damage financial responsibility for commercial vehicle operations. A qualifying carrier may need both.
Can Motive help with BMC-34 filing support?
Yes. Motive helps review the insurance needs of household goods moving operations and coordinate applicable filing support with the insurer or authorized filer. Start with a quote request or contact our team to discuss your authority and current coverage.
Filing references: FMCSA insurance filing requirements and FMCSA registration forms. Coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions, exclusions, and underwriting. The appropriate coverage and filings depend on your operation.
Let’s talk about your next move
Insurance and Filings Without the Guesswork
Household goods transportation is a specialized commercial risk. Motive helps moving companies understand the coverage, filings, and operational risks behind every move.
Protect the truck. Protect the cargo. Protect the operation.
Keep the right filings in place.
Household Goods Motor Carrier Insurance + BMC-34 Filing Support