Can I sue a moving company for lost items?
Yes. The inventory list is your central evidence. A moving company that took items at the start but didn't deliver them is on the hook for the loss. What you can recover depends on which coverage level you picked on the shipping document (the 'bill of lading'): the default 'released-value' coverage pays just 60 cents per pound, while 'full-value' (paid extra) pays replacement cost. The pickup inventory list — signed by both you and the driver — is what proves they took it. Federal law (the Carmack Amendment) governs across-state moves.
What kinds of loss claims can you bring?
Four common patterns. Each is its own claim. The inventory list and valuation election determine the math.
Items not delivered (full loss)
Items checked off on the inventory list at origin but missing at destination. Whether stolen, lost, or misdelivered, the carrier is liable. Recovery is per your valuation election: released-value or full-value.
Boxes not delivered
Carriers count boxes at origin and at destination. Missing boxes are recoverable based on what was inside. Inventory lists at the box level help; many carriers do not itemize box contents.
High-value items lost
Federal rules let movers cap their responsibility on items worth more than $100 per pound (jewelry, art, electronics) — unless you specifically declared them on a high-value inventory in writing. If you declared, full-value protection applies. If you didn't, you're stuck with your overall coverage level (often just 60 cents per pound).
Items damaged so badly they're unusable
When repair would cost more than replacement, the mover owes you replacement value instead. The law calls this a 'constructive total loss.' Photos of the damage plus replacement quotes prove the case.
How much can you recover?
Released-value vs. full-value election determines the math. Full-value protection produces near-replacement cost; released-value caps recovery at 60 cents per pound.
Lost items (per valuation method)
Full-value: replacement cost or repair, whichever is less. Released-value: 60 cents per pound. State-law moves: state-specific rules. Bring replacement quotes from current retailers.
Declared high-value items
Items listed on the high-value declaration are protected up to declared value. If you declared a $2,000 watch and it is missing, $2,000 is recoverable separately from the overall valuation cap.
Filing fees, interest, alternative housing
Filing fee, service-of-process cost, and pre-judgment interest at your state's legal rate. Reasonable temporary replacement costs (e.g., bedding while you wait for replacement bed).
Replacement cost for lost dining set, lost computer, and lost art, plus declared-value watch, plus filing fee.
File a claim with the carrier first.
The carrier's claim process is required by federal law for interstate moves and by state regulation for local. File there first with the inventory list, photos, and replacement quotes. If they deny or undervalue, the demand letter and small-claims complaint follow.
- Bill of lading with valuation method
- Inventory list signed at origin and delivery (with exceptions noted)
- High-value declaration if applicable
- Photos of high-value items before move
- Replacement-cost quotes from current retailers
- Concealed-loss notice within 30 to 60 days for late discoveries
- A 30-day deadline before you file in small claims
On April 8, 2026, you completed our move from Seattle to Portland for $5,200. We selected full-value protection (BOL line 22, declared $8,000). At unloading, four numbered boxes were missing per the inventory list and a high-value-declared dining set was reduced to one chair (originally six).
I filed claim #2026-1182 with your office on April 11. As of today (24 days later), no resolution has been offered. Replacement-cost quotes (attached): dining set $2,800, missing boxes contents $1,200, declared antique watch $300. I demand within fourteen (14) days:
- Reimbursement of $4,000 in cargo loss (full-value protection);
- Reimbursement of $300 in declared high-value loss.
Total demand: $4,300.00. If unresolved, I will file in Small Claims Court and report your handling to the FMCSA (interstate) or Washington UTC.
How to file a moving-loss case.
Four steps. The inventory list is the centerpiece. Without it, claims are very hard to win.
File a written claim with the mover
Federal interstate moves require carriers to acknowledge in 30 days and resolve in 120. State moves vary. File in writing with the BOL, inventory list, photos, and replacement quotes. The carrier has to respond.
File regulatory complaints
Interstate: FMCSA at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move. State PUC for intrastate. Better Business Bureau as added pressure. The regulator can fine the carrier and pull authority.
File in small claims
If carrier and regulator do not resolve within 90 days, file. Filing fees usually run $30 to $100. File in the destination county.
Hearing
Lead with the inventory list (signed at origin), the BOL showing valuation, photos of high-value items, and replacement quotes. Hearings usually run 10 to 15 minutes.
Collecting from a mover.
Movers carry liability insurance. After judgment, you can present it to the carrier. After 30 days post-judgment, the enforcement tools are a judgment lien on real estate, a bank levy, and a writ of execution on trucks or accounts receivable.
What evidence do you need to sue a mover?
The inventory list is the spine. Without one signed at both origin and delivery, claims are very hard.
Total weight: 7,200 lbs. Total cost: $5,200.
Valuation method (line 22): FULL-VALUE PROTECTION at $1.10 per pound declared. Total declared value: $7,920.
Origin Signed 04/08/2026
Items 1-118 listed by category and condition. All items signed off as 'good condition' by driver and customer at origin pickup.
Items at delivery: 1-114 received. Items 49, 73, 88, 102 missing. Six-piece dining set: only one chair received.
Driver signature confirms 118 items at origin. Customer documented 4 missing boxes at delivery.
Common mover defenses, with rebuttals.
Three arguments cover most loss cases. The inventory list shuts down most of them.
Keep it simple. Organized records, clear timelines, and solid evidence are your best defense.
How much do consumers actually win?
Typical recovery in moving-loss cases. Full-value protection cases recover replacement; released-value cases are usually too small for small claims.
Released-value or partial. 60 cents per pound caps recovery. Court awards what the BOL controls.
Full-value cargo plus declared-value items. Most common when full-value was elected and inventory documents the loss.
Major loss cases. High-value declared items missing, plus significant general loss. Cases beyond the cap need higher courts.
Better evidence. Better prep. Better outcome. Your documentation makes the difference.
What are the alternatives to small claims?
Moving cases have specific regulatory paths. Use them before court.
FMCSA / State PUC
Free, regulatoryWhen it fits: interstate (FMCSA) or intrastate (state PUC). Federal: file at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move. Regulators investigate, fine carriers, and pull authority.
Tradeoff: regulators do not always order restitution. Threat is often more effective than outcome.
Carrier's claim department
Required first stepWhen it fits: always. Federal interstate: 30-day acknowledgment, 120-day resolution. State moves vary. Most carriers settle reasonable claims to avoid regulatory complaints.
Tradeoff: carriers often offer below-market settlement. Push back with replacement quotes.
Small claims (this guide)
When the carrier deniesWhen it fits: the carrier did not resolve within 90 days, or offered an inadequate settlement. Damages within your state's cap.
Tradeoff: 30 to 90 day timeline. Filing fee $30 to $100. Carmack preemption may apply.
Recover the lost items.
Loss demand letters work fast when paired with the inventory list and replacement quotes. FMCSA or state PUC complaints add pressure. Our generator builds yours in under two minutes.
Illustrative. High-value declaration items push recovery above the per-pound cap.
Frequently asked.
The questions homeowners actually ask before filing. Email support if yours isn’t here.
What is the inventory list and why is it so important?
A list of every item the carrier accepts at origin, signed by both the driver and the customer. It establishes what the carrier took and the condition. At delivery, you check off each item; missing items are documented as exceptions. Without an inventory list signed at both origin and delivery, loss claims are very hard to win.
What is a high-value declaration?
Federal regulations let carriers limit liability on items worth more than $100 per pound (jewelry, art, electronics) unless declared in writing on a high-value inventory. If you do not declare, recovery on those items is capped at the per-pound rate. Declaration is usually free; just ask the carrier for the form before pickup.
How long do I have to file a loss claim?
Federal interstate: 9 months from delivery to file with the carrier, then 2 years from claim denial to file in court. State law varies but most states allow 1 to 4 years. File the claim with the carrier first; you usually cannot sue until they deny or fail to respond.
What if items are missing from sealed boxes I packed myself?
Concealed-loss claims (items in sealed boxes you cannot inspect at delivery) are allowed for 30 to 60 days after delivery in most jurisdictions. Notify in writing as soon as you find missing items. Photos of high-value items before packing help, even though you packed.
Can the mover claim items were 'lost' but really stolen?
Carriers are liable regardless of cause. Loss is loss whether by theft, misdelivery, or genuine misplacement. The carrier owes the value (per your valuation election) for any item they accepted but did not deliver. Theft can also trigger separate criminal investigation.
What if I cannot prove what was in a missing box?
Box-level inventory matters. If you can document what was in each box (photos, lists provided to carrier), recovery is straightforward. Without box-level documentation, courts often estimate reasonable contents based on size and weight. Reasonable estimates of clothing, books, or kitchenware are usually accepted.
Can I sue if the move was a 'broker' and not a direct carrier?
Yes, but identify the right defendant. Brokers and carriers have different liabilities. The bill of lading shows the actual carrier's USDOT number. The broker may also be liable for breach of contract, but the carrier holds the cargo liability. Sue both if the BOL identifies separate broker and carrier.