The invention is related to methods and apparatus that encode redundant motion vectors for predictive-coded visual object planes (P-VOPs) to increase the robustness of transmitted video signals. One embodiment provides the redundant motion vectors in a user data video packet of an MPEG-4 compliant bitstream, which thereby allows the enhanced bitstream to remain compliant with MPEG-4 syntax and backwards compatible with MPEG-4 decoders. The enhanced bitstreams allow a video decoder to display a video with a better picture and relatively less error and error propagation when portions of the bitstream are disturbed or corrupted by interference, delays, and the like.