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Cargo Insurance in Illinois

For an Illinois household move, the ICC says carrier liability may be below your goods’ value: basic released value is 60 cents per pound per article, while a higher declared value costs more and takes effect only if you pay the valuation charge. That valuation is not a separate goods policy. For insurance a household-goods carrier sells or arranges, §1457.160 limits risk descriptions and requires policy disclosure before service; if the carrier charges for insurance, get your written agreement before the move. 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.

What to Watch for in Illinois

  • Make a Deliberate Valuation Election

    The ICC guide says the basic mover-liability level is 60 cents per pound per article; a higher lump-sum valuation costs extra and takes effect only if you pay that charge. Record your election on the bill of lading or attachment and compare the recovery with the value of each item. 2

  • Separate Valuation From Insurance

    The ICC says carrier liability and insurance are different. Ask whether you are selecting the mover’s liability valuation or buying a separate goods policy, and review which property and loss situations each document addresses. 2,1

  • Get an Offered Policy Before Service

    For insurance a household-goods carrier sells to you, §1457.160 requires a policy copy before service, with the insurer or agent’s name, address and telephone number for claims. Ask whether it is a separate policy or master inland-marine enrollment, and review insured interest, perils and exclusions in the policy. 1

  • Approve Any Insurance Charge in Writing

    A household-goods carrier may not charge you for insurance unless you agree in writing before the move. Keep the signed agreement and ask whether the offer enrolls you under the carrier’s master inland-marine policy or is a specified-peril policy that must be clearly designated as limited-risk. 1

  • File a Separate Written Claim

    The ICC guide says a loss or damage claim must be filed with the mover in writing within 90 days of delivery; notes on the inventory or bill of lading alone do not constitute a written claim. Keep the mover’s copy and send a letter or claim form describing the loss. 2

Who Regulates Insurance in Illinois

Illinois Department of Insurance

The Department licenses and oversees insurers and insurance producers doing business in Illinois, reviews regulated insurance activity, and investigates complaints about coverage, claims, premiums, and sales. 3,5,4

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 3.5% of taxable premium plus a 0.04% stamping fee; separate 1% fire marshal tax on taxable fire premium When Illinois is the insured’s home state, the broker reports and remits a 3.5% tax on gross taxable surplus-line premium less returned taxable premium. The separate SLAI stamping fee is 0.04% for policies effective on or after January 1, 2023; a 1% fire marshal tax also applies to taxable fire premium. 7,6,10,11,8

Surplus Line Association of Illinois

  • Illinois guaranty fund limits: For covered claims against a member insurer, the Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund generally caps its obligation at $500,000 per claim; workers’ compensation claims are excepted from that dollar cap. This fund does not protect policies issued by nonadmitted surplus-lines insurers. The net-worth exclusions apply to covered claims against member insurers. 8
  • Illinois FAIR Plan: If you cannot obtain basic property coverage in the voluntary market, the Illinois FAIR Plan offers a residual-market option for eligible property. Check its current eligibility and coverage limits before relying on it for a commercial location. 9

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 Illinois. 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. 14

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Illinois

  1. Which valuation choice is written on my bill of lading, and what charge must I pay for the higher declared value to take effect?
  2. If you sell separate insurance, can I review the full policy and claims contact before I agree in writing?
  3. What is the mover’s correct claim address, and how will I document delivery and send a separate written claim within 90 days?

Cargo And Transit in Illinois: FAQ

What does Illinois’s 60-cents-per-pound valuation mean for a household move? 2

The ICC consumer guide describes it as the mover’s basic carrier-liability option. A higher lump-sum valuation costs extra and is effective only if the applicable charge is paid; this carrier valuation is not the same as separate cargo insurance. 2

What must an Illinois mover give me if it sells insurance for my goods? 1

For household goods the carrier transports, §1457.160 requires a carrier selling insurance to give you the policy before service with the insurer or agent’s claim contact. Any non-all-risk policy must clearly indicate that not all risks are covered; if the carrier charges for insurance, it must have your written agreement before the move. 1

How long do I have to file a household-move damage claim in Illinois? 2

The ICC guide says to file a written claim with the mover within 90 days of delivery. A notation on the inventory or bill of lading is not itself a written claim. 2

Cargo And Transit in Other States

Other Coverage in Illinois

Sources

  1. 92 Ill. Adm. Code §1457.160, Shipper Insurance Coverage. Illinois Commerce Commission / Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; §1457.160(a)-(e), limited-risk advertising, Article XXXI licensing prerequisite, master inland-marine arrangement, written agreement before charging, policy and claims-contact disclosure before service; JCAR Entire Part source history lists amendment at 49 Ill. Reg. 1149, effective January 9, 2025. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Household Moves in Illinois: A Consumer’s Guide. Illinois Commerce Commission; ICC Household Moves in Illinois consumer guide, footer states Revised 3/2026; “Carrier Liability,” “Bill of Lading,” and “Claims”. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Illinois Department of Insurance. Illinois Department of Insurance; Official agency homepage and agency information. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. File a Complaint. Illinois Department of Insurance; Official insurance complaint intake and consumer phone. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Calculating & Remitting Taxes: Surplus Line Tax. Surplus Line Association of Illinois; Current surplus-line tax applicability and rate. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. 215 ILCS 5/445: Surplus line. Illinois General Assembly; Subsections (3)(a), (12): tax and code applicability. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. 215 ILCS 5: Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund. Illinois General Assembly; Article XXXIV: cap, net-worth exclusions, exceptions, and non-admitted insurer exclusion. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Illinois FAIR Plan Association. Illinois FAIR Plan Association; Plan overview and current eligibility information. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Stamping Fees: Fee Calculation. Surplus Line Association of Illinois; Current stamping fee 0.04% of premium for policies effective January 1, 2023 or later; may be passed to insured. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  10. 50 Ill. Adm. Code § 2701.130: Taxes. Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; Surplus line producer pays 1% fire marshal tax on gross premiums less returned premiums for insurance subject to the Fire Investigation Act. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  11. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. About Risklytics. Risklytics; What we do; Who we insure; Licensing; Agency licenses table dated 2026-09-10. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.

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