Moving Company Insurance in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires Workers' Compensation for moving companys. See the checklist below for the full breakdown and costs.
Pennsylvania handles moving company insurance through the private market, with workers' comp mandatory the moment you take on staff.
The detail that sets Pennsylvania apart for anyone handling other people's animals is liability: the state follows a mixed 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 Pennsylvania regulates moving companys
Workers' comp · Private market
Pennsylvania requires workers' compensation from the first employee, with very narrow exemptions. Sole proprietors with no staff aren't required to carry it — though many boarding facilities, apartment complexes, and corporate clients will still ask a pet-care contractor for a certificate before letting them work.
Dog-bite liability · Mixed
3 P.S. § 459-502 (Pennsylvania Dog Law)Under Pennsylvania's Dog Law, a dog's owner or keeper is strictly liable for the medical costs of a bite regardless of fault; recovering additional damages such as pain and lost wages requires proving negligence or that the dog had known dangerous propensities. A pet-care handler in control of the dog can be treated as its “keeper” for this purpose.
Licensing & permits
Pennsylvania is distinctive for its statewide kennel license: anyone who keeps, boards, or transfers 26 or more dogs in a calendar year must be licensed by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement (PA Department of Agriculture). That directly affects boarding sitters and daycare operators. Trainers and walkers below the threshold aren't licensed by the state.
SOURCE · State statutes & regulators as cited · Last reviewed 2026-07
Pennsylvania coverage requirements
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers' Compensation | Required | Statutory | Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply. |
State regulator: Pennsylvania Insurance Department
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 Pennsylvania — FAQ
Do moving companys need workers' comp in Pennsylvania?+
Yes — Pennsylvania requires workers' comp from your first employee. Solo moving companys with no staff are generally exempt until they hire.
If a dog in my care bites someone in Pennsylvania, am I liable?+
Under Pennsylvania's Dog Law, a dog's owner or keeper is strictly liable for the medical costs of a bite regardless of fault; recovering additional damages such as pain and lost wages requires proving negligence or that the dog had known dangerous propensities. A pet-care handler in control of the dog can be treated as its “keeper” for this purpose. That's why general-liability and animal-bailee coverage are worth prioritizing for moving companys working in Pennsylvania.
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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