Moving in New York City often involves more than packing boxes and reserving a truck. If you are moving into or out of an apartment, condo, co-op or commercial building, management may ask your moving company to provide a Certificate of Insurance, commonly called a COI.
A COI is especially common in buildings with elevators, doormen, management companies and formal moving procedures. Understanding the requirement before moving day can help prevent delays at the building entrance.
What Is a Moving COI?
A Certificate of Insurance is a document showing that a moving company carries certain insurance coverage. Building management may request it before allowing movers to work inside the property.
The certificate itself does not replace an insurance policy. It provides information about the moving company and the coverage shown on the certificate.
Why Do NYC Buildings Request a COI?
New York City residential and commercial buildings often have rules intended to protect the property during a move. Movers may be using elevators, hallways, loading areas, staircases and other common spaces while transporting furniture and boxes.
Management may therefore require documentation from the moving company before the move takes place.
Not every building requires the same paperwork. Requirements can differ from one property to another, so the best first step is to ask your building management, superintendent, landlord or management company exactly what they need.
How Do I Know if My Building Requires a COI?
Contact both your current building and your destination before moving day.
Ask whether movers are required to provide a Certificate of Insurance and whether the building has a sample COI or written insurance requirements.
If they provide a sample, forwarding that information to your moving company can make the process much easier.
What Information May Be Needed?
Building management may provide specific names, addresses or entities that need to appear on the certificate. Because requirements differ by property, customers should avoid guessing about the wording.
Instead, obtain the building requirements directly from management and send them to the moving company as early as possible.
When Should You Request a COI?
Do not wait until movers arrive at the building.
Ask about COI requirements while you are scheduling the move. This gives you time to collect instructions from management and allows the moving company to review the request before moving day.
If you are still planning your move, our NYC moving checklist covers other important tasks to complete before moving day.
Do Walk-Up Buildings Require a COI?
A walk-up does not automatically mean that no insurance documentation is required. Some smaller buildings may have fewer formal requirements, while others may still request documentation from movers.
The building itself should confirm what is required.
If stairs are part of your move, also read our guide to moving into a walk-up in NYC.
COIs and Elevator Buildings
Elevator buildings often have additional moving procedures. You may need to reserve a service elevator, move during approved hours and provide documentation before the reservation is confirmed.
Our NYC elevator moving guide explains how to prepare for this type of move.
COIs for Residential Moves
Apartment, condo and co-op moves frequently involve coordination with building management. If you are preparing for this type of relocation, learn more about our residential moving services in NYC.
COIs for Commercial Moves
Office and business buildings may also have insurance, elevator, loading-area and scheduling requirements. Businesses planning a relocation can review our commercial moving services in NYC.
What Happens if the COI Is Not Ready?
If a building requires documentation and it has not been approved, building staff may delay or restrict the move. That can create unnecessary complications for the customer and moving crew.
This is why building requirements should be confirmed before moving day rather than after the truck arrives.
NYC Moving COI Checklist
- Contact management at your current building.
- Contact management at your destination building.
- Ask whether each property requires a COI.
- Request written requirements or a sample certificate when available.
- Send the requirements to your moving company.
- Confirm any elevator reservation and permitted moving hours.
- Complete these steps before moving day.
Planning a Move in NYC?
Lovely Moving & Storage helps customers prepare for local residential moves throughout New York City. If your building has specific requirements, provide the details when requesting your estimate so they can be reviewed before moving day.
Learn more about our local moving services in NYC or request a moving quote with information about your origin, destination, inventory and building access.
COI Requirements Across NYC
Certificate of Insurance requirements are set by individual buildings rather than by borough, so customers should always confirm the rules directly with management.
COIs can be relevant for moves in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.
For apartment relocations, see our NYC residential moving services. Businesses can review our commercial moving services.