Removals Insurance Explained: What Cover You Actually Need

There are three types of cover that matter on moving day: goods in transit (your belongings while the mover handles them), public liability (damage to property or injury to people), and your own contents insurance (which may or may not extend to a move). Most disputes happen because people assume one of the three covers something it does not.

This guide explains what each one actually does, the exclusions that catch people out, and the specific questions to ask before you book. Every move we handle carries goods-in-transit cover up to £50,000 plus public liability as standard.

The three types of cover

What is usually excluded

• Items you packed yourself. This is the big one. Most policies only cover breakages in boxes packed by the removals crew. If you self-pack, damage to the contents is often on you – which is one reason our professional packing service exists.
• High-value items not declared. Jewellery, art, antiques and instruments usually need declaring in advance and may need separate cover.
• Existing damage and wear. Pre-existing scratches, loose joints and failing flat-pack are not claimable.
• Perishables, cash and documents. Almost universally excluded. Keep these with you.
• Mechanical or electrical failure. A washing machine that stops working without visible external damage is often outside cover.

Cover levels and what they mean

A stated limit like £50,000 is normally the total for the load, not per item. Some policies also apply a single-item limit, which is why a £4,000 piano or a £3,000 television may need declaring separately even when the total limit looks generous. If you are moving something genuinely valuable, ask for the single-item cap in writing.

Specialist items are often better handled by a specialist service. Our piano moving service uses different equipment, different crew training and different handling, which changes both the risk and the cover position.

Questions to ask before you book

1. What is the goods-in-transit limit, and is it per load or per item?
2. Is public liability included, and at what level?
3. Are self-packed boxes covered for breakage?
4. What is the excess on a claim?
5. How long do I have to report damage after the move?
6. Can you send the certificate of insurance?

Any established firm will answer these without hesitation. A reluctance to put cover in writing is the clearest warning sign there is, and it is one of the main reasons the cheapest quote is often the most expensive outcome – as we explain in why removals cost what they do.

Storage and insurance

If your belongings go into storage between properties, check whether cover continues during the storage period or whether that is a separate arrangement. Our Glasgow storage service covers items while they are held, but always confirm this in writing with any provider.

Common questions

Does my home insurance cover the move?

Sometimes, often partially, occasionally not at all. Call your insurer and ask specifically about goods in transit during a house move – do not assume.

What do I do if something is damaged?

Photograph it before anything is moved again, report it in writing the same day, and keep the packaging. Prompt reporting matters.

Should I take out extra cover?

If you own individual items worth more than the single-item cap, yes. Otherwise standard cover is usually sufficient.

Want our insurance details before you book? We are happy to send the certificate and cover levels in writing. Get in touch or call +44 7424 958288.