Which items are excluded from liability?

Under § 451d HGB, excluded items are precious metals, jewels, precious stones, money, stamps, coins, securities and documents, as well as live animals and plants. The company is also not liable for damage caused by inadequate packing by the customer or by items the customer loaded themselves. So transport valuable items yourself or have us pack them.

How high is statutory liability for a standard move?

Statutory liability is not based on kilograms but on loading space: €620 per cubic metre required for your move. For a 3-room flat with about 30 m³, that is up to €18,600. If your household goods are worth more or you have individual expensive items, raise a declaration of value or additional insurance when the quote is drawn up.

Do I have to report damage immediately when unpacking?

Yes, as early as possible: externally visible damage must be reported no later than the day after delivery, hidden damage within 14 days (§ 451f HGB). After delivery, text form is required, such as an email with photos. The sooner the damage report is made, the easier it is to attribute the damage to the transport.

Does statutory liability also apply to a part load?

Yes, the same statutory liability applies to a part load as to an exclusive transport. What counts is the loading space your belongings need – for 5 m³ that is up to €3,100. Especially for small volumes with individual expensive items, it is therefore worth looking at additional insurance.

What happens in the event of a total loss, for example due to an accident?

In the event of a total loss , the moving company reimburses the value of the items at the time of acceptance, but no more than €620 per cubic metre of loading space required. If the value is higher, only additional insurance taken out beforehand covers the difference. An inventory list with realistic values makes settlement easier.

Can I extend the protection individually?

Yes. For valuable antiques, works of art or pianos, higher liability can be agreed or additional insurance taken out. Raise this before the contract is concluded – afterwards, once the damage has already happened, it is no longer possible.

Is damage to the flat itself also insured?

Scratches on walls, door frames or in the stairwell are not damage to the belongings and therefore do not fall under the limit of €620 per m³. If our team caused the damage, we are liable under the general statutory rules. Document the condition of the stairwell with a few photos before the move – that helps everyone involved at the handover .

Does liability differ for long-distance moves?

No, statutory liability for long-distance moves is the same as for a move within the same city: €620 per cubic metre of loading space. Because more can happen on long routes, many customers consider additional insurance here for particularly valuable belongings. Careful packing and load securing remain the best protection .

How do I document the condition of my furniture before the move?

We recommend taking photos of valuable or fragile items before the move and recording them in writing. This condition record serves as important evidence in the event of damage and speeds up settlement considerably, as existing damage can be clearly distinguished.

Who is liable if the customer packs themselves?

If you packed yourself, the moving company is not liable for damage attributable to inadequate packing (§ 451d HGB). Breakage in a poorly padded box is then at your expense. Have at least crockery, glass and electronics packed by our staff – then the full statutory liability also applies to these boxes .

Does liability differ depending on location?

No, liability under the HGB is the same nationwide – regardless of where your move starts or ends. We are based in Berlin and drive nationwide; destinations with their own page are listed under Locations . Differences arise only from the volume and any additional insurance agreed.

LIABILITY UNDER THE HGB

Moving insurance: what is covered?

What the moving company's statutory liability covers, where it ends and when additional insurance is worthwhile.

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THE LAW, NOT THE SMALL PRINT

Protection when moving

Moving insurance: statutory liability and extra protection

What applies, what is missing

Unsere Firma Liability when moving: €620 per cubic metre under the HGB, exclusions, reporting deadlines and optional additional insurance.

What is often called “moving insurance” is first of all the moving company's statutory liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB). It applies to every removal contract, whether a private move or a commercial move: if belongings are lost or damaged, the company is liable for up to €620 per cubic metre of loading space required for your move (§ 451e HGB). For 30 m³ that is a maximum of €18,600. What is reimbursed is the value at the place and time of acceptance, i.e. the current value.

Certain cases are excluded, such as money, jewellery and documents, or damage caused by your own inadequate packing (§ 451d HGB). The same limit also applies to long-distance moves – so anyone taking valuable furniture, art or a piano along should consider additional insurance. At Beste Umzug Unternehmen we discuss this before the move and give you the fixed price after the survey.

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ADVICE ON LIABILITY

PERSONAL ADVICE

Clarify liability before you set off

Liability under the HGB, additional insurance on request

Call us on 01625978461 with no obligation. We explain how far the statutory liability goes for your volume and discuss whether additional insurance makes sense for individual items. We give you the fixed price after the survey; we are based in Berlin and drive nationwide.

Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.

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CLEAR RULES

How we handle liability and damage

Inform beforehand, settle cleanly afterwards

The law requires moving companies to inform consumers clearly and prominently, when the contract is concluded, about liability and the option of further insurance (§ 451g HGB). That is exactly what we do: you find out in advance what liability under the HGB covers and what it does not. On request we document the condition of your furniture before transport and settle claims in line with the statutory deadlines – for a private move just as for a long-distance move.

Packing service

If we pack ourselves, the liability exclusion for inadequate packing by the customer no longer applies – a real advantage of the packing service for crockery and glass.

Condition report

Photos and notes on existing damage before loading make it clear later whether a scratch is new – which speeds up every claims settlement.

Valuables separately

For a piano, antiques or art, the limit of €620 per m³ is often not enough; we discuss additional insurance beforehand.

Furniture transport

Blankets, straps and a fixed loading order prevent most damage before liability even needs to be discussed – in furniture transport.

TRANSPARENT LIABILITY

What you should know about your protection

Statutory liability is based on the loading space, not on the value of your furniture. An inventory list with values quickly shows whether individual items exceed the limit and should be insured additionally.

Liability per cubic metre

The company is liable for €620 per cubic metre of loading space required – for 20 m³ that is up to €12,400, regardless of the actual value of the goods.

Current value, not new price

What is reimbursed is the value at the place and time of acceptance. A ten-year-old sofa is therefore not refunded at the price of a new sofa.

Clear exclusions

Money, jewellery, securities, documents and live animals and plants are not covered by the liability – you are better off transporting these things yourself.

Know the deadlines

Report visible damage no later than the day after delivery and hidden damage within 14 days – after that the claim lapses.

Report in writing

After delivery, the damage report must be made in text form; an email with photos is enough, a phone call alone is not.

Extra protection possible

For particularly valuable belongings, higher liability can be agreed or transport insurance taken out – talk to us beforehand.

WITH A PART LOAD TOO

Part load: the same liability

Shared loading space, same rules

With a part load, several customers share one transport. Your belongings are nevertheless subject to the full statutory liability of €620 per cubic metre of the loading space your things need. For 5 m³ that is up to €3,100 – so you should additionally protect valuable individual items.

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FURTHER QUESTIONS

Liability,
contents insurance, claims

What applies when

There are several levels to moving insurance: the moving company's liability under the HGB, optional transport insurance and your contents insurance, which during transport only steps in for the risks insured there, such as fire or burglary. Distinguishing from existing damage is also important. How to report damage correctly is explained in the article Claiming for moving damage; special features of long-distance moves can be found there.

Before the move

An inventory list with values, photos of existing damage and the question of additional insurance belong in the planning – for a private move, senior move or student move just as for large households.

Packing and liability

Whoever packs bears the risk: with a packing service by the company, careful furniture transport and secured small transport, the exclusion for customer packing does not apply.

After the damage

Photos, text form, deadlines: for an office move, company relocation, public-authority move, part load or furniture taxi too, timely reporting decides whether a claim exists – hidden damage within 14 days.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions on liability when moving

Answers on the liability limit, exclusions, deadlines, part loads and additional insurance.

Yes, basic protection exists for every move with a moving company: it is liable by law for €620 per cubic metre of loading space required (§ 451e HGB). This is not comprehensive cover but limited liability at current value. For valuable items, additional insurance can make sense, which we are happy to discuss with you on request; we give you the fixed price after the survey.

What damage does moving insurance cover?

Covered are loss of and damage to the belongings in the period from acceptance to delivery – i.e. during loading, the journey and unloading, if the company carries out this work. Liability is limited to €620 per cubic metre of loading space required (§ 451e HGB); the value at the time of acceptance is reimbursed (§ 429 HGB). Damage to walls, stairwells or door frames is not damage to goods; the company is liable for it under general law if its team caused the damage.

Under § 451d HGB, excluded items include precious metals, jewellery, money, securities and documents, damage caused by inadequate packing or labelling by the customer, items loaded by the customer themselves, live animals and plants, and damage arising from the particular fragility of an item. At Beste Umzug Unternehmen we pack fragile items ourselves on request, so that this exclusion does not apply.

How is a claim settled?

It is best to record visible damage directly on delivery – it must be reported no later than the day after. Hidden damage that you only notice when unpacking must be reported within 14 days of delivery (§ 451f HGB). After delivery, the report must be in text form; an email with photos and a short description is enough.

We then examine the damage and settle it – depending on the case, by repair or compensation for the value within the statutory liability. Missed deadlines cause the claim to lapse, unless the company failed to inform you on delivery about the form and deadline for reporting damage (§ 451g HGB). So keep the quote, inventory list and photos until the matter is settled.

Prices for your protected move

With us there are no hidden costs. The price scale is based on the number of rooms: 1-room flats from €349, 2-room flats from €615, 3-room flats from €894 and 4-room flats from €1,344. For houses or villas we always draw up an individual quote, as the scope varies greatly. Anyone moving over a greater distance should calculate from €3.80/km for the long-distance move. At the free survey we also clarify whether additional insurance makes sense for individual items.

What determines the price – and the liability limit

First of all, the volume plays a central role – it also determines the statutory liability limit of €620 per m³. Next comes the distance, which starts at €3.80/km. Further factors are the floor, the lift and a possible no-parking zone. For additional services we recommend furniture assembly and a part load.

Services that prevent damage

These services reduce the risk of damage even before transport.

📦 Furniture transport: safe furniture transport with special packaging.
🏠 Private move: an individual private move to suit your wishes.
🏢 Company relocation: a smooth company relocation without a long interruption to business.
🚚 Part load: an inexpensive part load for smaller volumes.
🔧 Move with assembly: a complete move with assembly from a single source.
🧹 House clearance: fast house clearance including disposal.

The same liability on every route

Whether within Berlin or right across Germany: liability under the HGB is the same for every move. We are based in Berlin and drive nationwide – destinations can be found in the overview of destinations, long distances under Long-distance moves.

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September 10, 2026

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