What is a Certificate of Insurance?

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a document that proves your moving company carries the required insurance coverage. Most NYC buildings, co-ops, and condos require a COI before allowing movers to use service elevators or enter the building.

The COI protects both you and the building from liability during your move. It shows that we carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage.

Provide Building Info

Simply provide us with your building’s name, address, and management company details.

⚡ We Process Fast

Email us your sample certificate for instant processing — we’ll have your COI ready in no time.

Sent Directly

We send the COI directly to your building management and provide you with a copy.

Your actual COI will include your building's specific details and be customized for your move. Ready to get yours?

Always Free

No extra charge for COI – it’s included with every move at no additional cost.

Fully Licensed & Insured

We carry all required insurance including general liability and workers’ compensation.

Fast Processing

Usually processed within 24 hours, often same-day for urgent requests.

Direct to Building

We handle all communication with building management – one less thing for you to worry about.

Free COI With Every Move

Certificate of Insurance for NYC Moves — Complete Guide

Every Serenity Movers move includes a free COI sent to your building within 24 hours. Here's what a NYC COI must include, requirements by building type, and why a COI doesn't cover your belongings.

What is a Certificate of Insurance for moving in NYC?

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a document that proves your moving company carries active liability insurance and names your building as a protected party. Most NYC apartment buildings, co-ops, and condos require one before any mover can enter the building. Serenity Movers provides a COI with every move at no extra charge.

Why do NYC buildings require a COI?

Buildings require a COI to protect themselves from liability if the moving crew damages the building’s common areas — elevator walls, lobby floors, stairwells, hallways — during a move. Without a COI naming the building as an additional insured, the building has no direct claim against the mover’s insurance if damage occurs. The requirement protects the building, its shareholders or unit owners, and ultimately all residents.

What does a NYC moving COI need to include?

A standard NYC residential building COI typically requires:

General liability coverage: Minimum $1M per occurrence, $2M aggregate. Many luxury co-ops require $2M per occurrence or higher.
Additional insured endorsement: The building corporation, managing agent, and sometimes the co-op board are named as additional insured parties on the policy.
Workers’ compensation: Proof that the mover carries workers’ comp for its crew.
Commercial auto: Coverage for the moving truck.
Certificate holder language: The exact legal name of the building entity as it appears in the building’s corporate documents — not just the address.

Commercial buildings (for office moves) typically require higher limits — $2M–$5M general liability — and may require umbrella coverage. Serenity Movers’ commercial COI meets the requirements of NYC’s major commercial landlords.

COI requirements by building type

Pre-war co-op (Park Ave, Fifth Ave, UES, UWS)

Most demanding. Requires building corporation + managing agent as additional insured. Often $2M+ coverage minimum. Some require 48–72 hours advance submission.

Luxury condo (new construction)

Standard $1M–$2M requirements. Often require the condominium association and building management company as additional insured. Generally submitted to a concierge or management portal.

Battery Park City buildings

Standardized BPCA requirements across all buildings. We know every BPC building’s specific requirements by name.

NYC rental apartment building

Typically $1M general liability. Requirements vary by management company. Many large rental portfolios (Equity Residential, Related, etc.) have standardized requirements we meet automatically.

Walk-up rental / brownstone

Often no COI required by the landlord. We still carry full coverage — but you won’t need to submit anything to get us into the building.

NYC commercial building (office move)

$2M–$5M general liability, umbrella coverage, commercial auto, and workers’ comp. Certificate holder must match the exact legal entity on the building deed.

How Serenity Movers handles your COI

We ask for your building’s requirements when you book: Some buildings have a standard COI request form. Others give you the additional insured language over the phone. We accept either and handle the rest.
We submit within 24 hours of booking: Your COI is sent directly to your building’s managing agent or management portal within one business day of confirming your move.
We follow up if the building has questions: Occasionally building management has questions about the certificate wording or requests amendments. We handle these directly — you don’t need to mediate between us and your building.
We cover both buildings: If you’re moving out of one managed building and into another, we issue separate COIs for both. Both are included free.
No hidden fees, ever: COI provision is always included in your flat-rate quote. There is no COI processing fee, no rush fee, and no charge for amendments.

Frequently asked questions about COIs for NYC moves

What happens if I book a mover who doesn’t have a COI?

The building will not allow them in. Building management will turn away any moving crew that cannot produce a valid COI at the service entrance. This means your move doesn’t happen — the truck arrives and has to leave, your moving window is lost, and in some cases your building deposit is forfeited. Always confirm COI availability before booking any moving company for a managed NYC building.

How do I find out what COI my building requires?

Call or email your building’s managing agent and ask for the COI requirements. Most buildings have a one-page document listing the required coverage amounts and additional insured language. Some buildings have an online portal where you submit the COI directly. Share whatever requirements your building gives you with us when you book — we handle the rest.

How long does it take to get a COI?

Serenity Movers issues COIs within 24 hours of booking — typically same day during business hours. If your building requires the COI 48–72 hours in advance (some co-ops specify this), book your move at least 3–4 business days before move day to ensure the COI is submitted and accepted in time. Last-minute same-day moves are sometimes possible, but COI-dependent buildings are the hardest to accommodate on short notice.

Can you provide a COI for a New Jersey building?

Yes. Our coverage applies across all states we operate in — New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Many Hoboken and Jersey City buildings have COI requirements similar to NYC. We provide COIs for both your NYC origin building and your NJ destination building as part of any cross-state move.

Does a COI mean my belongings are insured during the move?

No — these are two different things. A COI protects the building from damage caused by the moving crew in common areas. Your belongings are covered under the cargo/goods-in-transit insurance that Serenity Movers carries separately. To understand how your belongings are protected, see our moving insurance page.

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