Goods in Transit Insurance
Goods in transit insurance covers damage to your belongings while they are being transported from one property to another. Most people assume their home contents policy covers everything during a move, but standard policies often exclude items once they leave the property. Understanding the gaps in your cover before moving day prevents nasty financial surprises.
Goods in transit insurance covers damage during your move. Most home contents policies exclude moves.
Giant Van includes insurance on every booking, from £149 for house removals.
Check your policy, ask for certificates, and declare high-value items in advance.
Your Moving House Insurance Guide Options Explained
Furniture removal insurance protects against accidental damage during loading, transit, and unloading.
A scratched dining table, a cracked mirror, or a dented fridge door all fall within scope.
Standard policies from removal companies typically cover between £10,000 and £50,000 in total, with per-item limits of £500 to £1,500.
Giant Van includes goods in transit cover on every booking.
Check the small print for exclusions.
Most policies exclude damage caused by inadequate packing.
If you packed a vase in a box without bubble wrap and it broke, the claim would likely be rejected.
Policies also commonly exclude pre-existing damage and items of extraordinary value like antiques or fine art unless declared in advance.
If you own anything worth more than the per-item limit, tell your removal company before the move so additional cover can be arranged.
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Goods in transit insurance covers physical damage to your belongings while they are being transported between properties.
This includes items damaged during loading onto the van, during the drive, and during unloading at the destination.
Cover typically applies to breakage, scratching, denting, crushing, and water damage.
Standard policies cover household furniture, electrical appliances, boxed items, and personal effects.
Most policies have a per-item limit (typically £500 to £2,000) and an overall claim limit (typically £15,000 to £50,000).
Items excluded from standard cover usually include cash, jewellery over a certain value, perishable food, plants, and pets.
High-value items like antiques, fine art, and musical instruments may need a separate declaration of value to ensure adequate cover.
Giant Van includes goods in transit insurance on every booking at no extra cost.
The policy covers all items from the moment the crew begins loading until the final piece is placed in your new home.
How Moving House Insurance Guide Works
- 01
Report damage before the removal crew leaves your property.
- 02
Walk through each room and check furniture surfaces, corners, and edges.
- 03
Open boxes containing fragile items and inspect the contents.
- 04
Take photographs of any damage with a timestamp.
- 05
Note the item description, estimated value, and nature of the damage on the delivery sheet or in writing.
- 06
Most removal companies require written claims within 7 to 14 days of the move.
- 07
Provide photographs, the original quote or invoice, and proof of value (purchase receipt, bank statement, or insurance valuation).
- 08
Reputable companies like Giant Van handle claims directly and aim to resolve them within 28 days.
The Moving House Insurance Guide Coverage Map
Home contents insurance and goods in transit insurance are different policies that cover different situations.
Your home contents policy protects belongings inside your home against theft, fire, flood, and accidental damage.
Most home contents policies exclude items during a house move.
Check your policy wording carefully: look for clauses about 'removal' or 'transit'.
Some policies offer limited cover for items moved by professional removal companies but exclude DIY moves.
Goods in transit insurance covers the specific period of the move: loading, transport, and unloading.
It fills the gap that home contents policies leave open.
If your removal company does not carry goods in transit insurance, you bear all the financial risk of damage during the move.
Always ask for the insurance certificate before booking.
Giant Van includes transit cover on every job, from single-item man and van moves to full house removals.
Why Customers Choose Us for Moving House Insurance Guide
Giant Van carries goods in transit insurance on every booking.
The cover begins when the crew starts loading and ends when the final item is placed at the new property.
The company provides insurance documentation on request before moving day.
Claims are handled directly by the team, with a target resolution within 28 days.
Every crew is trained in proper wrapping, loading, and securing techniques.
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Transit Insurance
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Insured Removal Company vs Uninsured Operator
Do not assume you are covered.
Check your home contents policy and ask your removal company to provide their insurance certificate before moving day.
If you live in one of the sunniest cities in the UK and are relocating to a cooler region, the temperature difference during transit is minimal.
But if you are moving contents across a long distance in summer heat, consider which items need climate-sensitive handling.
Giant Van provides insured house removals from £149 with full goods in transit cover included.
Every booking comes with a written quote and clear insurance terms.
Message us in the live chat for details.
Goods in transit insurance is the safety net that separates a professional house move from a gamble.
Most home contents policies exclude items during transit, leaving a gap that only transit-specific cover fills.
Giant Van includes this cover on every booking, from a single sofa collection to a full 5-bed house removal.
If you are comparing removal companies, check insurance first.
A cheap quote without insurance is not cheap if something breaks.
Message us in the live chat for a fully insured quote.
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Goods in Transit Insurance — FAQs
Can I send parcels to USA from UK with removal insurance cover?
Standard removal goods in transit insurance does not cover parcels to USA from UK or international shipping. For international moves, you need marine or international transit cover. Specialist international movers offer this as part of the package. For smaller shipments, couriers like ParcelForce and DHL include basic cover with the option to buy additional protection.
Does moving insurance cover relocating abroad, such as how to live in Spain?
Standard UK domestic moving insurance does not extend to international moves. If you are working out how to live in Spain or any EU country post-Brexit, you need specialist international removal cover. Companies like Crown Relocations and Allied Pickfords offer container-based shipping with appropriate marine insurance. Customs paperwork and import duties are separate costs to factor in.
Does goods in transit insurance cover items I pack myself?
It depends on the policy. Some goods in transit insurance policies only cover items packed by the removal company's own crew. Others cover all items regardless of who packed them but may reduce the claim value for self-packed boxes. Ask your removal company which applies.
Giant Van covers all items on the van, whether packed by the crew or the customer, but professional packing gives stronger grounds for claims.
How much does separate moving insurance cost in the UK?
Standalone moving insurance costs £30 to £100 depending on the value of goods being moved and the level of cover. Providers like Clockwork Removals Insurance, Insure and Go, and some household insurers offer single-move policies.
For most UK moves, the simplest approach is booking a removal company that includes goods in transit insurance as standard, like Giant Van, where insurance is bundled into every booking.
Are high-value items like pianos covered by removal insurance?
Standard goods in transit insurance policies have a per-item limit, typically £500 to £2,000. A piano, antique furniture, or fine art may exceed this limit. Declare any item worth more than the per-item cap before the move. The removal company can arrange enhanced cover for a small additional premium.
Giant Van handles high-value items regularly and will advise on the appropriate level of cover during the pre-move survey.
What should I do if my removal company is not insured?
Do not book an uninsured removal company. If you discover the company lacks goods in transit insurance after booking, cancel and find an alternative. The risk of damage during a house move is real. A scratched wardrobe, cracked mirror, or damaged TV costs £100 to £500 to repair or replace. Without insurance, you absorb that cost entirely.
Giant Van includes insurance on every booking at no extra charge.
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Sources and further reading
These are the official UK sources that set the rules for a job like this one. Each link goes straight to the source so you can check it yourself. Links open in a new tab.
- Financial Ombudsman Service
Where to take an insurance complaint you cannot settle with the insurer directly.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49 (reasonable care and skill)
Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015: a service you pay for must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
The regulations covering what a trader must tell you before you book, and your right to cancel a service booked online or by phone.
All links checked on or after 1 August 2026.
Compiled by the Giant Van editorial team
Giant Van Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 16071027.