How home insurance treats a move
Your policy moves with your things, within limits.
A move puts your belongings in three places: the old home, in transit and the new home. A standard homeowners policy has rules for each. Here's how the common ISO homeowners form handles them. Insurers' own forms vary, so check your policy.
In transit
Personal property coverage on the standard form covers your belongings while they're anywhere in the world. But it only covers the causes of loss the policy lists, such as fire, theft or a vehicle accident. Damage from rough handling or packing usually isn't covered. That's where the mover's liability or separate moving insurance comes in.
At the new home: the 30-day rule
Property kept somewhere other than your insured home is normally limited to a share of your personal property limit, 10% or $1,000, whichever is greater, on the standard form. But property in a newly acquired principal residence isn't subject to that limit for 30 days from when you begin moving it there. That gives you time to put a policy in place at the new address.
Property moved out of danger
If you move belongings to protect them from a covered danger, such as an approaching fire, the standard form covers them against direct loss from any cause for up to 30 days while they're away.
What to do before you move
- Buy the policy on the new home to start on or before the day you take ownership or begin moving in.
- Keep the old home insured until you no longer own it. A vacant home may have limited coverage.
- Update your insurer about valuables, a storage unit or a gap between homes.
Common questions
Usually for the causes of loss your policy names, such as fire, theft or a vehicle accident, but not for breakage from handling. Check your policy and the mover's liability option.
Under the standard ISO form, property in a newly acquired principal residence is covered without the usual off-premises limit for 30 days from when you start moving it there. Put a policy on the new home as soon as possible.
Only after you no longer own it, usually after closing. See our guide to cancelling home insurance after a sale.
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This page is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what’s actually available to you.
Sources
- Homeowners 3 – Special Form, HO 00 03 04 91 (ISO form on file), Maine Bureau of Insurance. Checked 23 September 2026.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state, and are subject to underwriting. Quote My Policy LLC connects you with licensed insurance professionals. Nothing here binds coverage.