How Are Risk, Insurance and Valuables Handled During an International Move?
In an international move, risk is managed in three layers: careful packing and handling that prevents damage, the carrier's limited legal liability, and separate marine cargo insurance that covers the real value of your goods. High-value items such as jewellery, art and electronics need itemised declaration and custom crating, while cash, passports and documents travel with you.
What risks can damage or destroy belongings in an international move?
The main risks are handling damage, moisture and temperature change inside sealed containers, theft or pilferage, loss at sea, and delays during customs inspection. Professional packing and sealed, inventoried containers reduce most of them, but only insurance recovers the value of goods lost or damaged despite good handling.
| Risk | How it happens | How it is reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Handling breakage | Loading, unloading and transfers between trucks, ports and vessels | Export-grade packing, padding and custom crates for fragile items |
| Moisture and condensation | Temperature swings inside sealed containers on long sea routes | Moisture absorbers, wrapped upholstery, properly dried and packed textiles |
| Theft and pilferage | Multiple hand-offs and storage points along the route | Sealed containers, recorded seal numbers, itemised inventory |
| Loss at sea or in an accident | Container loss, fire, vessel accident or road collision | Marine cargo insurance at the right value |
| General average | Cargo is sacrificed at sea to save the vessel, and all cargo owners share the cost | Insurance covers your share of the contribution |
| Customs delay or inspection | Documentation gaps, random or targeted inspection | Accurate inventory, valuation records and correct paperwork |
Who is liable if my belongings are damaged or lost?
The carrier is liable, but only up to a legal limit set by weight or package, not by the value of your goods. Under sea rules the cap is commonly 666.67 SDR per package or 2 SDR per kilogram, and for air cargo 26 SDR per kilogram. Insurance closes the gap between that limit and your actual loss.
An SDR (Special Drawing Right) is an IMF unit worth roughly US$1.3 at recent rates. Limits depend on the route, the transport document and applicable law, so confirm the figures for your shipment.
| Transport mode | Typical legal limit | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Sea freight (Hague-Visby rules) | The higher of 666.67 SDR per package or 2 SDR per kg | If a container is treated as one package, recovery can be a small fraction of the contents' value |
| Air freight (Montreal Convention) | 26 SDR per kg since 28 December 2024 | Better per kilo, but still far below replacement cost for jewellery or art |
| Your mover's contract terms | Often a per-kilogram allowance set in writing | Check the amount before signing; it is a liability limit, not insurance |
What does international moving insurance actually cover?
Marine cargo insurance covers physical loss or damage to your goods in transit, usually door to door. All-risk policies cover accidental damage, theft and loss, while basic policies cover only named events such as fire, collision or sinking. Wear and tear, inadequate packing by you, and delay are typically excluded.
| Cover type | What it typically covers | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| All-risk (Institute Cargo Clauses A style) | Accidental physical loss or damage from external causes, subject to listed exclusions | Household goods, art, electronics |
| Named perils (Clauses B or C style) | Only listed events such as fire, collision, vessel sinking or seawater entry | Low-value, budget shipments |
| Total loss only | Complete loss of the whole shipment | Rarely suitable for a household move |
| Carrier liability only | The legal limit described above; not insurance | Not recommended for valuables |
The policy wording and schedule decide what is covered. Read them before your shipment leaves, and ask for war and strikes cover to be stated clearly.
How much insurance do I need, and how do I declare value?
Insure for the replacement value of everything you ship, not the freight cost. Prepare an itemised inventory with photographs, purchase invoices and appraisals for jewellery and art. Under-declaring can trigger an average clause, which cuts every claim proportionately: goods worth 10 lakh insured for 5 lakh may recover only half of any loss.
Documents to gather before valuation:
- Purchase invoices or recent valuations for high-value items.
- Certified appraisals for jewellery, watches and art.
- Photographs of each valuable item, including serial numbers and any existing marks.
- A room-by-room inventory listing item, condition and declared value.
- Agreed-value confirmation in writing for unique items that cannot be replaced.
Which items count as high-value or sensitive?
High-value items are those whose replacement cost, sentimental worth or legal sensitivity is out of proportion to their weight: jewellery, watches, art, antiques, collectible wine, electronics and musical instruments. Sensitive items include documents, medicines and cash. Each needs a specific plan: declare it, crate it, insure it separately, or carry it personally.
| Item | Recommended approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jewellery and watches | Carry personally when possible; if shipped, itemise with appraisals and photos and insure at agreed value | Small, easily lost, and often limited or excluded unless declared |
| Fine art and antiques | Custom crating, condition report, agreed-value cover, and an export-law check | Fragile, unique and legally regulated |
| Electronics | Original or fitted packing, serial numbers recorded, all-risk cover | Shock damage inside a device may not be visible |
| Musical instruments | Hard cases, humidity care, declared value | Sensitive to shock, heat and humidity |
| Wine and collectibles | Check import limits, protect from temperature swings, insure at agreed value | Duty rules and spoilage risk |
| Passports, certificates, property papers | Always carry personally | Irreplaceable and needed at immigration |
| Cash and securities | Do not ship; carry within declared limits | Excluded by most policies |
| Medicines | Carry with prescriptions | Import rules and temperature sensitivity |
| Lithium batteries, flammables, firearms | Not shipped as ordinary household goods; special rules apply | Dangerous-goods and licensing regulations |
How are valuables packed and handled in transit?
Valuables should travel with an itemised, photographed inventory, export-grade packing, custom crates where needed, and sealed containers with recorded seal numbers. Pikkol plans high-value moves with these controls and written condition records, so any damage can be traced to a stage and claimed with evidence.
What a well-run high-value move looks like:
- Pre-move survey: a specialist assesses the home, lists valuables and agrees a valuation approach.
- Itemised inventory: each valuable is listed with description, condition, photographs and declared value.
- Specialist packing: fragile and unique items are wrapped, padded or crated to suit their shape and material.
- Sealed loading: containers are sealed and seal numbers are recorded on the paperwork.
- Tracked transit and storage: you receive shipment updates and storage points are documented.
- Delivery check: items are checked against the inventory, and any damage is noted before the crew leaves.
What should I carry personally instead of shipping?
Carry anything irreplaceable, urgently needed or restricted in transit: passports, original certificates, property papers, cash within legal limits, everyday jewellery, prescription medicines, laptops, phones and keys. Cabin baggage keeps them under your control and avoids the customs and insurance limits that apply to shipped goods.
| Carry with you | Ship with your movers |
|---|---|
| Passports, visas, original degree and property documents | Furniture, appliances and household goods |
| Cash and cards within declared limits | Fine art and antiques in custom crates, insured at agreed value |
| Everyday and high-value jewellery and watches | Musical instruments and large electronics in fitted packing |
| Prescription medicines with doctor's letters | Books, collections and décor |
| Laptops, phones and backup drives holding important data | Seasonal clothing and non-urgent personal items |
What legal and customs rules apply to valuables?
Rules apply at both ends. India prohibits exporting antiquities at least 100 years old without government authorisation, and valuables must be declared honestly on inventories. Destination countries set transfer-of-residence conditions, duty on new goods, and limits on items such as alcohol, ivory and exotic skins. Check before you pack.
- Antiquities: under India's Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, objects 100 years or older cannot be exported without authorisation. Check with the Archaeological Survey of India before packing anything old.
- Declaration: understating value on customs or insurance documents can lead to penalties, seizure or rejected claims.
- Transfer of residence: many countries give duty relief on used personal effects if conditions are met, such as a minimum period of ownership. Confirm the current rules with the destination customs authority.
- Restricted goods: wildlife products, some medicines, alcohol and weapons face import bans or licensing.
- Currency: cash above prescribed limits must be declared when leaving India.
What happens if something is damaged or lost?
Record damage on the delivery receipt, photograph it before discarding packaging, and notify your mover and insurer in writing within the policy's notice period. A surveyor may inspect, and settlement depends on your inventory, proof of value and policy terms. Prompt notice and clear evidence matter most for a fast, full claim.
- Note visible damage or missing items on the delivery receipt before signing.
- Photograph the item, its packaging and the carton label; keep everything until the surveyor clears it.
- Notify the mover and insurer in writing straight away and quote the policy number.
- Submit the inventory line, proof of value and photographs.
- Cooperate with the surveyor, who may inspect the goods and assess repair or replacement.
- Receive settlement as repair cost, replacement value or agreed value, as the policy states.
What do the common insurance terms mean?
Insurance terms decide how much you recover. Agreed value fixes the payout in advance, a deductible is the amount you bear on each claim, an average clause reduces payouts if you under-insure, and general average shares losses among cargo owners when cargo is sacrificed at sea. Ask your mover to explain each before you sign.
- Agreed value
- A value fixed in advance for an item, usually supported by an appraisal, so a total loss is paid at that figure.
- Deductible (excess)
- The part of each claim you pay yourself before the insurer pays.
- Average clause
- A rule that reduces claims proportionately when the declared value is lower than the true value.
- General average
- A maritime principle under which all cargo owners share the cost of cargo sacrificed to save the vessel or the voyage.
- Inherent vice
- A defect or natural tendency of an item to deteriorate, such as rust, which policies usually exclude.
- Door to door
- Cover that starts when goods leave your home and ends on delivery at the destination address.
- SDR
- Special Drawing Right, the IMF unit used to express carrier liability limits.
Which questions should I ask any mover before trusting them with valuables?
Ask who issues the insurance, whether cover is door to door, how value is set, what the deductible and exclusions are, and how claims are made and timed. A trustworthy mover answers in writing, provides the policy wording before you pay, and does not present a limited liability allowance as insurance.
- Is the policy issued by a licensed insurer, and can I see the wording and schedule now?
- Does cover include storage in transit and delivery to my address?
- Is value agreed or based on invoices, and how are unique items treated?
- What are the deductible, exclusions and time limits for notifying a claim?
- Who packs my valuables, and is their packing accepted for insurance?
- Who handles the claim, and what is the usual settlement time?
How does this connect to Pikkol's HNI relocation service?
Families moving art, jewellery, collections and high-value furnishings abroad usually need a tailored plan rather than a standard move. Pikkol's HNI relocation service combines specialist packing, insurance guidance and door-to-door coordination. This page explains the risk and insurance mechanics; the HNI page explains how Pikkol plans and manages such a move.
Your valuables protection checklist
Use this checklist to protect high-value items at each stage of the move. Complete valuations and photographs before packing, verify the inventory at loading, keep documents and policy copies with you in transit, and record any damage on delivery before you sign. Work through it with your mover and insurer.
Before packing
- Get valuations and appraisals for jewellery, art and collectibles
- Photograph every valuable with serial numbers
- Check antiquities and import restrictions
- Choose cover type and agree values in writing
At packing
- Attend the packing of valuables or review the record
- Confirm crates and fitted packing for fragile items
- Verify the inventory matches what is loaded
- Note the container seal number
In transit
- Keep policy and inventory copies with you
- Track shipment updates
- Confirm storage points and duration
- Keep passports, cash and documents with you
On delivery
- Check items against the inventory
- Note damage on the receipt before signing
- Photograph damage and keep packaging
- Report claims in writing straight away
Frequently asked questions about insurance and valuables
Is my shipment insured automatically when I move abroad?
No. Carriers have limited legal liability, but that is not insurance. Marine cargo insurance is a separate policy you buy or accept through your mover. Confirm in writing when cover starts and ends, how value is set, and what is excluded before your shipment leaves.
How much does international moving insurance cost?
Premium is usually a small percentage of the declared value. The rate depends on route, transport mode, cover type, deductible and the kinds of items shipped. Ask for a written quote showing the rate, deductible and exclusions so you can compare options accurately.
Can I ship jewellery and cash in a household consignment?
Jewellery can be shipped if itemised and insured at agreed value, but carrying it personally is safer. Cash and securities should not be shipped, because most policies exclude them and customs rules limit what you can move. Declare amounts above prescribed limits at customs.
Can I insure art and antiques, and take them out of India?
Art and antiques can be insured on an agreed-value basis with a condition report and custom crating. However, India restricts exporting antiquities that are 100 years or older without government authorisation, so check with the Archaeological Survey of India before packing anything old.
What happens if my shipment is lost at sea?
Under marine cargo insurance you claim the insured value, subject to policy terms. In a general average event, your insurer typically covers your share of the shared loss. Without insurance, you may have to post security before cargo is released and recover only the carrier's limited liability.
How long do I have to make a claim?
Time limits vary by policy and carrier, and can be short. Note visible damage on the delivery receipt, photograph it at once, and notify your mover and insurer in writing immediately. Report concealed damage as soon as you find it, within the policy's stated period.
Does insurance cover items I pack myself?
Often only partly. Many policies exclude or limit loss caused by inadequate packing, so damage to self-packed cartons can be denied unless the mover inspected and accepted the packing. For valuables, let the professional team pack and record them, and get acceptance in writing.
Is delay covered if my shipment arrives late?
Most cargo policies exclude loss caused by delay, even when the delay is long. Plan for gaps by keeping a first-week essentials bag and temporary furnishings, and ask whether your mover offers storage or any delay allowance. Read the exclusions before assuming otherwise.
Should I insure electronics and instruments separately?
Usually they can sit under one all-risk policy, provided they are listed on the inventory with serial numbers and values. Internal damage from shock may not show externally, so photograph working condition before packing and test each item promptly on delivery.
How do I get a quote for a high-value international move?
Share your origin, destination, move date and a list of valuables with estimated values. Pikkol arranges a survey, virtual or in person, and gives a written estimate covering packing, shipping, insurance options and delivery, so you can compare like for like.
Sources and references
Plan a protected move for your valuables with Pikkol
Tell Pikkol where you are moving from, where you are going, and which valuables you plan to ship. We will arrange a survey, a written estimate and insurance guidance tailored to your belongings, so your most valuable items travel with a clear plan and documented protection. Request your free quote at pikkol.com/contact-us.
This page is general guidance, not legal, insurance or tax advice. Limits, exclusions and customs rules change, so confirm them against your policy wording and the relevant authorities before you ship.