Get Started

Cargo and Transit Insurance in California

California's household-mover materials set a $20,000 cargo-liability filing per shipment unless the Commission formally authorizes a lesser adequate amount. The 2026 tariff separately sets household-move valuation choices, so a mover filing does not establish how your shipment is valued or insure your business's goods. 2,1

What Is Cargo And Transit?

Cargo coverage fits a shipper protecting goods it owns or a carrier responsible for another party’s goods. The quote needs to match who bears the loss, the shipment route and storage stops. Read the national Cargo and transit guide.

California Requirements

RequirementDetails
Cargo liability for licensed California household movers$20,000 per shipment ordinarily; a lesser amount requires formal Commission authorization after a showing that it adequately protects the public 1,3

What to Watch for in California

  • Separate the Mover Filing From Your Cargo Policy

    BHGS lists $20,000 per shipment as the ordinary household-mover cargo-liability requirement. GO 136 permits a lower amount only after the carrier applies and the Commission authorizes it as adequate; ask whether such formal action applies to this mover. Neither filing amount is your own goods-policy limit. 1

  • Choose and Record the Shipment Value

    For in-state household moves under the 2026 Maximum Rate Tariff, no declared choice defaults to actual cash value up to $20,000, while basic included protection calculates at 60 cents per pound per article. Select a value, ask how the mover calculates each item, and list extraordinary-value goods because the tariff warns that undeclared items may not receive full value. 2

  • Distinguish Requested Storage From a Mover Delay

    The California tariff says a mover may charge an additional valuation rate when storage-in-transit is at the shipper's request, but not when storage is for the mover's convenience. Ask the mover to identify who requested each storage stop and how your separate cargo policy treats that period. 2

Who Regulates Insurance in California

California Department of Insurance

The California Department of Insurance regulates insurers and insurance producers, provides company and license-status searches, and accepts complaints through its Consumer Complaint Center. Its commercial-insurance guidance explains the Department’s limited jurisdiction over surplus-line insurers. 6,7,8,9,19

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 3% of taxable premium when California is the insured's home state When California is your home state, the surplus-line broker tax is generally 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums. Ask the broker to show the home-state determination, taxable premium and any applicable exception; ordinary multistate reporting does not itself reduce the tax base. A broker generally must search the admitted market unless a California exemption or the qualified federal commercial-purchaser exception applies. CIGA does not protect claims under a surplus-line policy. 10,12,17,9,11,13,14,15,18

Surplus Line Association of California

  • California usually requires an admitted-market search: Before most nonadmitted placements, a broker must search among admitted insurers. After a public hearing and the required statutory findings, California’s Commissioner may exempt qualifying coverage or risks through an Export List order. The confidential written report remains required under §1763.1. Separately, §1763(h) waives the search for a commercial insured meeting California’s §1760.1(b) definition: the broker must first give written disclosure about possible admitted-market availability and its potential greater protection and oversight, then receive the insured’s written request for nonadmitted placement. The broker must ensure eligibility, with a safe harbor for reasonable reliance on information supplied in good faith. The federal exempt-commercial-purchaser route under §8205 has its own §8206 definition and requires disclosure about possible admitted-market availability and its potential greater protection and oversight, followed by the purchaser’s written request. Ask which route and eligibility criteria the broker relies on. 11,14,15,4,5,20
  • Separate tax calculation from allocation reporting: Section 1775.5 generally counts the entire premium for nonadmitted insurance placed in one transaction with one underwriter or group for a California-home-state insured. It has a separate interstate-motor-transit formula and exclusions for premiums on insurance placed by or through a special-lines surplus line broker under §1760.5 and the defined risk-financing portion of specified Superfund remediation products. CDI’s calendar-year 2025 instructions include policy-related fees in gross premium, say it does not collect the tax on risks outside the United States, and treat multistate allocation percentages as informational. Have the broker explain how those rules apply to your placement. 12,16,17

Providers With Documented State Licenses

These providers publish a national listing for Cargo and transit; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in California. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • CorgiCorgi Insurance Services, Inc.Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 23
  • TravelersThe Travelers Indemnity CompanyInsurer · checked 2026-09-28California DOI’s current company profile identifies The Travelers Indemnity Company (NAIC 25658) as UNLIMITED-NORMAL for property and casualty, authorized since 17 June 2002. The source covers this insurer in California and does not map every Travelers product to this issuing company; no expiry/renewal date is shown. 30

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in California

  1. Is this shipment a California-regulated household move, and which tariff valuation choice will the agreement record?
  2. For high-value or unusually light items, what amount is listed per article and how will the mover handle the extraordinary-value declaration?
  3. Which party requested each storage-in-transit stop, and what evidence shows that my own cargo policy follows the goods through that storage?
  4. Has the Commission formally authorized this mover to carry less than $20,000 per shipment, and can the mover show the current filing?

Cargo And Transit in California: FAQ

What protection applies if I make no choice on a California in-state household move? 2

Under the 2026 tariff, the shipment defaults to actual cash value up to $20,000 if you do not choose a protection level. The included basic option instead calculates at 60 cents per pound per article, so compare the agreement's selection with the goods' values. 2

Does a California mover's $20,000 cargo filing mean my shipment is fully insured? 1,3,2

BHGS lists $20,000 per shipment as the ordinary household-mover cargo-liability requirement, but GO 136 allows a lesser amount when the Commission formally authorizes it after an adequacy showing. That carrier filing is separate from the 2026 household-move valuation choice and does not establish your goods' insured value. 1,3,2

Cargo And Transit in Other States

Other Coverage in California

Sources

  1. Household Moving Applicants. California Bureau of Household Goods and Services; Who needs a household mover license; required cargo liability insurance. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Maximum Rates and Rules for the Transportation of Used Property (Maximum Rate Tariff 4). California Bureau of Household Goods and Services; Item 470, pp. 93–94; household goods within California; effective January 1, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Household Movers Act Laws, Rules, and Regulations. California Bureau of Household Goods and Services; General Order 136, §§1, 9(b)–10, PDF pp. 43, 46; $20,000 per shipment ordinarily; carrier must apply and show lesser amount adequately protects public; formal Commission authorization required. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. California Insurance Code §1763. California Legislature; §1763(a): diligent search; (h)(1): defined commercial-insured written disclosure and subsequent request; (h)(2): broker eligibility responsibility and reasonable good-faith reliance. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. California Insurance Code §1760.1. California Legislature; §1760.1(b): commercial-insured definition at placement, risk manager, prior premiums and size criteria with periodic monetary adjustments; (o): qualified risk manager. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. California Department of Insurance. California Department of Insurance; Official agency homepage. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. Company and Agent/Broker Information. California Department of Insurance; State page linking license-status checks, company information, and surplus-line insurer resources. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Consumer Complaint Center. California Department of Insurance; Consumer Complaint Center entry point to file an insurance complaint. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Commercial Insurance Guide (Form 700, revised June 14, 2024). California Department of Insurance; Form 700 revision beneath heading; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent: CDI licensing role (line 333); Surplus Line Insurance: broker disclosure, limited CDI jurisdiction and CIGA exclusion (lines 448–449); Talk to Us: consumer hotline (line 942). Page retrieved September 28, 2026; revision date is not an access date. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  10. 2024 Annual Report of the Commissioner. California Department of Insurance; Page 169: surplus-line brokers pay 3.00% of surplus-line premiums under CIC § 1775.5. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  11. California Insurance Code § 1775.5. California Legislature; §1775.5(a) 3% of gross premiums less returns and specified exclusions; (b) entire-premium rule and separate interstate-motor-transit deductions; (e) defined blended finite-risk and risk-financing terms. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. 15 U.S.C. §8201: Reporting, payment, and allocation of premium taxes. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8201(a) exclusive home-State premium-tax authority; (b)(1) interstate allocation procedures; (c) allocation reporting. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  13. 15 U.S.C. § 8205: Streamlined application for commercial purchasers. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8205(1)-(2): broker disclosure that admitted insurance may or may not be available with greater protection and oversight, then purchaser written request; ECP eligibility separately defined in §8206(5). Accessed 2026-09-28.
  14. 15 U.S.C. § 8206, Definitions. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8206(5) ECP eligibility including qualified risk manager, prior premiums and adjusted size/other criteria; (6) home State and affiliated-insured rules; (13) qualified risk manager. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  15. California Insurance Code § 1760.5. California Legislature, Legislative Counsel; §1760.5(g): premiums placed under the special-lines license are not subject to the §1775.5 broker tax. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  16. CDI FS-006, Surplus Line Broker and Special Lines Surplus Line Broker Insurance (Premium) Tax Return Instructions, revised 2025-11, calendar-year 2025. California Department of Insurance; Calendar-year 2025 instructions revised November 2025; page 2, lines 1–4: fees, outside-US risks, returns and 3%; page 5: allocation percentages informational. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  17. Association Constitution. Surplus Line Association of California; ArticleXV(1) Stamping Office filing function; XV(4) Commissioner-delegated duties subject to approved Plan of Operations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  18. About the Department. California Department of Insurance; Department overview: insurer solvency oversight, agent/broker licensing, company market-conduct reviews, complaints, and insurance-industry regulation. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  19. California Insurance Code §1763.1. California Legislature; §1763.1(a): Commissioner order after public hearing and statutory findings; Export List exemptions retain confidential written report; restricted classes and continuing review. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  20. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  21. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  22. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  23. Legal Information. Gallagher Small Business; Producer identification immediately above Quick Links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  24. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  25. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  26. Licenses & Disclosures. RiskCube; Property & Casualty Producer/Broker Licenses; February 11, 2026 version. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  27. Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  28. Hartford Fire Insurance Company. California Department of Insurance; NAIC 19682; California Company ID 0085-1; authorized 01/07/1870; license status UNLIMITED-NORMAL; property and casualty; Connecticut domicile. No expiry/renewal field. Accessed 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  29. Company Profile — Travelers Indemnity Company (The). California Department of Insurance; NAIC 25658; California Company ID 4772-0; authorized 06/17/2002; license status UNLIMITED-NORMAL; property and casualty; Connecticut domicile. No expiry/renewal field. Accessed 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  30. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

Get Help With Insurance Buying and Renewals.

Get help buying coverage and managing renewals, with less paperwork for your team. Start with a free consultation.

Talk to Spot