A removals firm that says it is fully insured is not always insuring you. Get this wrong and a cracked mirror or a dented wardrobe on move day comes out of your own pocket. Here is what house move insurance actually covers, what it does not, and what to check before you book.
What "Fully Insured" Actually Means
Fully insured does not always mean what you think. Most removal companies carry public liability insurance. That covers people and property if the crew causes an accident on site, say a scratched banister or a dented door frame. It does not automatically pay out if a box goes missing or a vase cracks mid-move. The cover that actually protects your belongings is goods in transit insurance, which can run to up to £50,000 per load, with individually listed items covered up to around £1,000 each. Just Removals London includes goods-in-transit cover and £5m public liability as standard on every job, so you are covered both ways rather than just the one that protects the crew. Ask any firm you are comparing which of the two they actually carry before you sign anything.
The Three Layers of Cover in a House Move
A house move actually needs three layers of cover, and most guides only mention one of them.
- Your existing contents insurance: covers items at your current address, and sometimes your new one, but rarely inside the van itself.
- The removal company's own cover: goods in transit plus public liability, the layer that actually protects things while they are being moved.
- Unoccupied property cover: for the days your old home sits empty before completion, or your new one sits empty before you move in.
Check all three before moving day, not just the one the firm mentions in its brochure.
What Insurance Will Not Cover
Not every box is treated the same way. Fragile items you packed yourself are often excluded from a removal company's cover unless a professional crew did the packing, which is one reason a dedicated packing and unpacking service exists. High-value items over roughly £1,000, think pianos, antiques or original artwork, usually sit outside standard cover too unless they are declared and listed individually beforehand, which is why piano and specialist items cover works differently to a standard load. DIY van hire moves typically fall outside your home contents policy altogether. If in doubt, ask before you pack a single box.
What to Ask Before You Book
Ask these questions before you sign anything. Request proof of both goods-in-transit and public liability cover, not just a verbal assurance. Find out the per-item and per-load limit, the excess you would pay on a claim, and whether cover still applies on a third-floor flat with no lift, where breakage risk is genuinely higher. Check whether wrapping and floor protection are included free or charged as an extra, since a fully wrapped house removals move carries less risk than one where furniture travels bare. It also helps to ask whether the firm belongs to the British Association of Removers, since BAR inspects members against agreed insurance and operating standards before they can join. A firm that hesitates on any of these questions is worth thinking twice about.
If Something Gets Damaged: How Claims Work
Damage happens more often than people admit. Recent survey data found 48% of Brits have had at least one item damaged during a house move, and 30% of those blamed the removal company they used. If something does go wrong, report it within the window stated in your contract, commonly 24 to 48 hours. Photograph the damage before you move it again, keep any broken packaging as evidence, and put your claim in writing with the photos attached. A mover with nothing to hide will not slow this process down.
Insurance and Short-Term Storage
Storage can change your cover without you realising. If your belongings sit in short-term storage between properties, a goods-in-transit policy from your mover often only extends a limited number of days before separate storage insurance takes over. Just Removals London's secure storage service can bridge the gap when your dates do not line up, but always confirm where transit cover ends and storage cover begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my own insurance if I hire a removals company?
Not necessarily, but it is worth checking. A professional mover with goods-in-transit and public liability cover protects your belongings during the move itself. Your existing contents policy may still matter for the days either property sits empty before or after the move.
What does goods-in-transit insurance actually cover?
It covers your belongings against loss, theft or damage while they are being loaded, carried and unloaded. Cover often extends up to £50,000 per load, with higher-value items needing to be listed individually.
Are self-packed boxes covered if something breaks?
Usually only in part. Many policies exclude fragile items you packed yourself unless a professional crew handled the packing, which is why a proper packing service closes that gap for china, glassware and anything else that travels badly loose.
How long do I have to report damage after a house move?
Most removal firms ask you to report damage within 24 to 48 hours of the move. Take photos straight away and put your claim in writing with the images attached.
Do pianos and antiques need separate cover?
Yes, in most cases. High-value or specialist items are usually excluded from standard cover unless they are declared and listed before the move, so always flag anything valuable in advance.
Insurance should not be the part of your move you find out about after something is already broken. Ask the right questions before you book, and you will know exactly what is covered from the first box to the last. A free, no-obligation quote is the easiest way to start, with fixed prices, DBS-checked crews and cover that protects your belongings, not just the crew carrying them.