how-to
9 Things to Check in Removal Company Insurance
Last Updated: 29 October 2026
Quick Summary
When checking removal company insurance, ask for the certificate of insurance, policy schedule and exclusions list before signing, and confirm the per-item limit on transit cover. Check whether cover is new for old or market value, whether transit cover applies during storage, and what the public liability limit and excess are.
- Goods in transit cover protects your belongings while loaded, in the van and being unloaded.
- Public liability insurance covers injury to people and damage to property caused by the crew.
- Many policies exclude damage to boxes you packed yourself, plus valuables, cash, plants and pets.
- Transit cover may end when goods are unloaded at a warehouse, so ask if storage cover is separate.
- Your own home contents insurance may cover some items in transit and fill gaps.
Table of Contents
- Why Removal Company Insurance Decides How Your Move Ends
- Goods in Transit Insurance for Removals: What It Actually Covers
- Removals Public Liability Insurance: The Cover That Protects Your Home
- Removals Insurance Exclusions: The Gaps That Catch People Out
- Insurance for Belongings in Storage: What Changes When Your Items Stay Behind
- The Documents to Ask For Before Signing Anything
- Questions to Ask a Removal Company About Its Cover
- Your Own Cover Versus the Company's: What You Still Need
- Common Mistakes When Checking Removal Company Insurance
- Booking a Move With Insurance You Have Verified
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Removal Company Insurance Decides How Your Move Ends
Most people book a removal firm on price and a friendly phone manner. Then a box of china arrives in pieces, and the conversation changes.
Removal company insurance is the part of the booking nobody reads until something goes wrong. It decides who pays when a mirror cracks, a sofa leg snaps, or a laptop goes missing between the van and the new hallway. At Fletcher Removals and Storage, we hold Goods in Transit and Public Liability Insurance, and we are happy to share the details before anyone signs.
The firm may be insured, but only up to a small amount per item, or only for total loss, or not at all once your goods sit in a warehouse overnight. You need to know which.
Below, we break down the key things to check, from transit cover and liability limits to the exclusions that quietly remove protection.
Goods in Transit Insurance for Removals: What It Actually Covers
Goods in transit insurance for removals covers your belongings while they are loaded, in the van, and being unloaded at the new address. For a deeper explanation of the different cover types, see moving company insurance coverage explained. It responds to damage, theft, and loss during that window, up to a stated limit.
Two things matter more than the headline figure. First, whether cover is "new for old" or "indemnity" (market value minus wear). Second, whether it applies per item, per consignment, or per vehicle load.
A firm might advertise a headline figure of cover. That sounds generous until you learn whether it is the total for the whole load or applies per item. Always ask how the limit is applied.
Cover Limits and How They Are Calculated
Cover limits are usually set per consignment, per vehicle, or per individual item, and the lowest of these caps your payout. Ask for the per-item ceiling specifically, because that is where most disputes start.
A common mistake is assuming the total figure protects every single box. It rarely does. If a single item is worth more than the per-item limit, you may need to declare it and pay a small premium, or move it yourself.
Removals Public Liability Insurance: The Cover That Protects Your Home
Removals public liability insurance covers injury to people and damage to property caused by the removal team while working. It protects your home, your neighbours' property, and anyone on site.
This is different from transit cover. Transit cover protects your goods. Public liability protects the building and the people. If a porter knocks over a paint tin onto your new carpet, or a crew member is injured in your hallway, public liability is the policy that responds.
Ask for the limit of indemnity, and check that it reflects the size of the job you are booking.
Removals Insurance Exclusions: The Gaps That Catch People Out
Removals insurance exclusions are the specific situations and items a policy refuses to cover. They are written in the small print, and they are where most unhappy surprises live.
No policy covers everything. The problem is that people assume "fully insured" means "everything is covered." It never does. Knowing the exclusions before you book lets you plan around them, pack those items yourself, or buy separate cover.
Exclusions to Ask About Before You Book
Read the exclusions list line by line and ask the firm to confirm each one in writing. Common exclusions across policies include:
- Items you packed yourself. Many policies exclude damage to boxes packed by the customer, because the firm cannot vouch for the packing.
- Valuables and cash. Jewellery, passports, cash, and documents are often excluded or capped very low.
- Living things. Plants and pets are almost never covered.
- Inherent vice. Damage caused by the item's own weakness, like a cracked chair leg that gives way, may be refused.
- Mould, damp, and pests during storage.
- Delay-related losses, such as a missed flight or a hotel bill.
Insurance for Belongings in Storage: What Changes When Your Items Stay Behind
Insurance for belongings in storage covers your goods while they sit in a warehouse or container, which is a separate risk from transit. Cover often drops or changes the moment your items stop moving.
This catches people during a gap between homes. If you are unsure whether your existing policy helps, read is home insurance enough for storage units? Transit cover may end when the van is unloaded at a warehouse, and storage cover can have different limits, exclusions, and excess.
Ask three questions: Is storage cover included or extra? Is the warehouse secure and monitored? Is there a time limit on how long goods can stay covered?
The Documents to Ask For Before Signing Anything
Ask for the certificate of insurance, the policy schedule, and the exclusions list before you sign. Our step-by-step guide to checking a removal company's insurance walks you through verifying each document.
The certificate proves cover exists. The schedule shows the limits and what is included. The exclusions list shows what is not. Together, they tell you whether the cover is real and whether it fits your move.
Do not accept a verbal "we're fully insured." Ask for the documents, check the policy is current, and confirm the firm's name matches the one on your quote. If the paperwork feels evasive, walk away.
Before you sign anything, ask for these documents and check what each one tells you.
| Document | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Certificate of insurance | Proves cover exists |
| Policy schedule | Shows the limits and what is included |
| Exclusions list | Shows what is not covered |
Questions to Ask a Removal Company About Its Cover
Put these questions in writing and keep the replies.
- What is the per-item limit on your transit cover?
- Is cover new for old, or market value?
- Does transit cover apply during storage, or is that separate?
- What are your main exclusions?
- What is your public liability limit?
- How do I make a claim, and what is the excess?
- Are you insured for the full value of my move?
If any answer is vague, ask again. "It's all covered" is not an answer. A specific figure and a document are.
Your Own Cover Versus the Company's: What You Still Need
Your own home contents insurance may still cover some items in transit, and it may fill gaps the firm's policy leaves.
Check your own policy before the move. Some contents policies cover goods in transit, often up to a limit, and some cover items in storage for a set period. Tell your insurer you are moving, and confirm the dates.
The two covers can work together. The firm's policy handles the move. Yours may pick up what is excluded. Do not assume either one covers everything. Read both, and note the excess on each.
Common Mistakes When Checking Removal Company Insurance
The biggest mistake is trusting a verbal promise. "We're fully insured" means nothing without a certificate and a schedule you have read.
Other frequent errors:
- Not checking the per-item limit, then discovering a valuable item is capped low.
- Assuming transit cover includes storage, when it stops at the warehouse door.
- Packing valuables yourself, then finding they are excluded.
- Ignoring the excess, which can swallow a small claim.
- Not reading exclusions, then arguing about them after damage.
- Choosing on price alone, when the cheapest quote carries the thinnest cover.
A few minutes with the paperwork saves months of argument. The cheapest move is rarely the safest one.
Booking a Move With Insurance You Have Verified
Once you have checked the cover, the booking itself is straightforward. Our guide to choosing a removal company takes you through the rest of the decision. You know the limits, the exclusions, and what your own policy adds. Now you can choose with confidence.
Look for a firm that shows its cover openly and answers questions without flinching. That transparency is a good sign on its own.
At Fletcher Removals and Storage, we hold Goods in Transit and Public Liability Insurance and share the details up front. We were established in 2013, take a personalised approach to every enquiry, and offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Our trained, uniformed staff provide packing, dismantling and secure onsite storage.
Get started with Fletcher Removals and Storage and move knowing your cover has been checked, not assumed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance should a removal company have?
A professional removal company should hold at least two policies: goods in transit insurance, which covers your belongings while they are loaded, in the vehicle and unloaded, and public liability insurance, which covers damage to your property or injury to others during the move. Ask to see both certificates and check the policy is current, the cover limit is realistic for your move, and the company name on the certificate matches the company you are booking. If your items go into storage, ask separately about cover for that period.
What is the difference between goods in transit insurance and public liability insurance?
Goods in transit insurance protects your possessions while they are being transported, and often while they are being packed and carried. Public liability insurance protects third parties: if a mover damages your walls, floors or a neighbour's property, or someone is injured during the job, that policy responds. The two cover different risks, so a company holding only one is not fully covered. Check both, and confirm the transit limit is high enough to replace everything you are moving.
What exclusions should I check in removal company insurance?
Read the removals insurance exclusions before you sign. Common ones include items you packed yourself, high-value goods such as jewellery, cash, artwork and antiques unless declared, plants and perishables, and damage caused by inadequate original packaging. Some policies also exclude certain events or apply a per-item limit. Ask which exclusions apply to your specific belongings, declare anything valuable in writing, and get confirmation of what happens if something is damaged or lost.
Should I arrange my own cover for a house move?
Check your home contents policy first, because many extend limited cover to items in transit or in storage, though usually with conditions and caps. Goods in transit insurance is a key protection during the move itself, and insurance for belongings in storage matters if your items stay in a warehouse. Compare what each policy actually pays out, note any excess, and avoid assuming you are covered twice when the two policies may exclude the same items.
