Attorney-reviewed analysis of moving and storage service agreements. Understand liability limits, damage claims, and what happens when things go wrong.
Moving and storage services handle your most valuable possessions during one of life's most stressful transitions. Yet most contracts severely limit liability for damage, impose strict claim deadlines, and include forced arbitration clauses that make it difficult to seek fair compensation when belongings are damaged or lost.
All four services reviewed have liability caps far below the actual value of stored or transported items. Default coverage often provides as little as $0.60 per pound, meaning a damaged $2,000 TV could yield only $30 in compensation.
| Service | Score | Grade | Key Concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpareFoot (Best in Category) | 65 | B- | Marketplace model shifts liability to facility operators |
| Public Storage | 58 | C+ | Broad damage disclaimers, lien sale for late payments |
| U-Haul | 52 | C | Self-move means self-liability, equipment condition varies |
| PODS (Lowest in Category) | 45 | C- | Transit damage exclusions, limited liability per container |
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Most services default to "released value" coverage at $0.60 per pound, meaning a 50-pound TV worth $2,000 would only be covered for $30 in damages.
Damage claims often must be filed within 72 hours to 9 days of delivery. Missing these windows can completely bar any recovery, even for obvious damage.
Storage facilities can auction your belongings after relatively short delinquency periods, often with minimal notice requirements and no obligation to get fair market value.
Water damage, mold, pest infestation, and temperature-related damage are typically excluded from any coverage, even when caused by facility conditions.
If you've experienced damaged belongings, unfair lien sales, or disputes with moving and storage companies, our legal team can review your situation.
Schedule a ConsultationEach moving and storage service is evaluated by a licensed attorney on a 100-point scale, examining: