Moving Company Insurance in Ohio
Ohio requires Workers' Compensation for moving companys. See the checklist below for the full breakdown and costs.
Ohio runs a state-fund workers'-comp system, so moving companys buy that one coverage differently than everything else on this page.
The detail that sets Ohio apart for anyone handling other people's animals is liability: the state follows a strict liability standard when a dog bites, which is exactly why the coverage priorities below look a little different here than they would a state over.
How Ohio regulates moving companys
Workers' comp · State fund (monopolistic)
Ohio is a monopolistic workers'-comp state: coverage must be bought through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), not a private insurer. A commercial package or BOP from a private carrier will not include workers' comp here — you buy it separately from the state fund, and you add employer's-liability (“stop-gap”) coverage through a private carrier because the BWC fund doesn't provide it.
Dog-bite liability · Strict liability (statutory)
Ohio Rev. Code § 955.28Ohio imposes strict statutory liability on a dog's owner, keeper, or harborer for injury the dog causes, regardless of the dog's prior behavior. Because a pet-care professional in physical control of a client's dog can be deemed its “keeper,” this statute can attach liability directly to your business — making general-liability and animal-bailee coverage especially important in Ohio.
Licensing & permits
Ohio requires annual county dog registration and licenses high-volume breeders under ORC Ch. 956 (Commercial Dog Breeders), overseen by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. There is no statewide license for sitters, walkers, or trainers; boarding kennels follow county rules.
SOURCE · State statutes & regulators as cited · Last reviewed 2026-07
Ohio coverage requirements
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers' Compensation | Required | Statutory | Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state). |
State regulator: Ohio Department of Insurance
Coverage checklist
| Coverage | Requirement | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial AutoCA | Required | $2,000–$5,000/yr |
| General LiabilityGL | Required | $600–$1,500/yr |
| Workers' CompensationWC | Required | $3,000–$8,000/yr |
| Inland Marine / Tools & EquipmentIM | Recommended | $400–$1,200/yr |
| Business Owner's PolicyBOP | Optional | $700–$2,000/yr |
| Commercial PropertyCP | Optional | $700–$2,500/yr |
Cost breakdown
- ·Truck size
- ·Fleet size
- ·Driving radius
- ·Interstate authority
Required for box trucks; interstate movers need DOT-compliant coverage.
- ·Residential vs. commercial
- ·Crew size
- ·Revenue
Covers damage to a home or business and injury during loading; many commercial clients require it.
- ·Payroll
- ·Crew size
- ·Heavy lifting
Required once you have employees; back and lifting injuries are frequent.
- ·Customer goods value
Cargo legal liability / released-value coverage for customer goods in transit.
- ·Office/storage
If you lease an office or warehouse.
- ·Warehouse ownership
If you own/lease a warehouse.
Best carriers for moving company
Moving Company insurance in Ohio — FAQ
Do moving companys need workers' comp in Ohio?+
Yes, once you have employees — but in Ohio you buy it from the state fund, not a private insurer, and add stop-gap employer's-liability separately. Solo moving companys with no staff are generally exempt.
If a dog in my care bites someone in Ohio, am I liable?+
Ohio imposes strict statutory liability on a dog's owner, keeper, or harborer for injury the dog causes, regardless of the dog's prior behavior. Because a pet-care professional in physical control of a client's dog can be deemed its “keeper,” this statute can attach liability directly to your business — making general-liability and animal-bailee coverage especially important in Ohio. That's why general-liability and animal-bailee coverage are worth prioritizing for moving companys working in Ohio.
Do moving companies need insurance?+
Yes. Commercial auto is required for moving trucks, general liability covers damage to a home during loading, and workers' comp is required once you have employee movers. Interstate movers also need DOT-compliant coverage.
How much does moving company insurance cost?+
Commercial auto runs $2,000–$5,000 per truck, general liability $600–$1,500, and workers' comp $3,000–$8,000 depending on payroll. Total for a small fleet often reaches $8,000–$20,000 per year.
What's the difference between released value and full-value protection?+
Released value (default, minimal per-pound) and full-value protection (full repair/replacement) are two levels of cargo liability for customer goods. Many customers expect full-value, which costs more.
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