Booking a man and van feels simple until something gets damaged and nobody will pay for it. If you're moving a flat, a few boxes or a whole houseful of furniture across London, you need to know your driver is properly covered before the day arrives, not after a wardrobe gets chipped on the stairs. This guide explains what man and van insurance actually covers, what it doesn't, and exactly what to ask before you hand over a deposit.
Why This Catches People Out
Most people assume insurance is automatic. It isn't. Goods in transit insurance, the policy that covers your belongings while they're in the van, is not a legal requirement in the UK. A man and van can legally load your sofa, your boxes and your telly into a van with no cover at all for your things, provided the vehicle itself carries the right insurance to trade. That gap catches out thousands of people every year, usually on the cheapest, last-minute bookings where price was the only thing checked. Across the UK there are more than 1.2 million uninsured vehicles on the road, roughly one in every 38, and the Motor Insurers' Bureau says an uninsured vehicle is seized somewhere in the country every four minutes. Removals work is no exception to that pattern.
The Insurance a Van Actually Needs
Two policies matter here, and they're not the same thing. The first is hire and reward insurance: commercial cover that legally allows a driver to carry other people's belongings for payment. Standard van insurance doesn't include this, so a driver working without it is breaking the law the moment they take a booking. The second is goods in transit insurance, which covers your belongings if they're damaged, lost or stolen in the van. A firm can hold one without the other. If the crew brings extra hands on the day, they also need employer's liability cover; operators who skip it risk fines of up to £2,500 a day. A properly run man and van service, like our man and van service, carries all three as standard, not as an upgrade you have to ask for.
What Goods in Transit Cover Should Include
Cover varies more than you'd expect. Most goods in transit policies apply a limit per item, and that limit can be surprisingly low for anything valuable. A laptop worth £1,500 might only be covered for £50 under a basic policy unless you declare it separately before the move. There's a second catch worth knowing: insurance usually only applies to boxes the removals team packed themselves. If you packed your own boxes, damage to what's inside often isn't covered at all, which is one reason many people choose a professional packing service rather than risk it. Always ask what the per-item limit is and whether self-packed boxes are included before you assume you're protected.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Pay a Deposit
Ask before you book, not after. A few short questions on the phone can save you a lot of trouble later.
- What's the goods in transit cover limit, and does it apply to items I packed myself?
- What's the public liability limit if something in my home gets damaged, not just my belongings?
- Can you send a copy of the insurance certificate before moving day?
- Is the quote fixed, or can charges change for stairs, parking or extra time?
A firm that answers these clearly and in writing is one you can trust with your keys.
Signs a Man and Van Isn't Properly Covered
A few warning signs are easy to miss when you're focused on getting the cheapest quote. Watch for a driver who can't produce any insurance paperwork, a price that sits far below every other quote you've had, or no fixed business address and no online reviews to check. Membership of the British Association of Removers is a useful signal too, since BAR inspects a company's vehicles, premises and insurance arrangements before admitting them and keeps checking afterwards. That kind of vetting matters most when you're moving something irreplaceable, which is exactly when specialist item removals need proper cover, not a best guess.
How Just Removals London Covers Every Move
Every move we run carries goods in transit cover plus £5m public liability as standard, not as an add-on. Our crews are DBS-checked, trained and uniformed, and we're a BAR member, so the same vetting standards mentioned above apply to us too. Whether it's a full house removal or a single item across town, you get a fixed price agreed upfront, free wrapping and floor coverings, and furniture dismantled and put back together at the other end. We cover every London postcode, plus moves across the UK and abroad, with no nasty surprises on the invoice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do man and van services have to be insured in the UK?
A man and van must legally hold hire and reward insurance to carry paying customers' belongings, but goods in transit cover for your actual items isn't a legal requirement. That means a van can be legal to drive while carrying zero cover for your furniture, which is why it's worth checking before you book rather than assuming it's included.
What does goods in transit insurance actually cover?
Goods in transit insurance covers your belongings against damage, loss or theft while they're being carried in the van. Cover is usually capped per item, so high-value things like laptops, jewellery or antiques may need to be declared separately to be properly protected.
Are my belongings covered if I pack the boxes myself?
Often not. Many goods in transit policies only cover items that the removals crew packed themselves, so self-packed boxes can fall outside the cover entirely. Ask your mover directly whether self-packed items are included before moving day.
How much public liability cover should a removals company have?
£5m public liability is a solid standard for a professional London removals company, covering damage to your home as well as your belongings. Always ask for the figure in writing rather than a vague assurance that you're covered.
Is BAR membership a sign a mover is properly insured?
Yes, largely. British Association of Removers members are vetted on their vehicles, premises and insurance arrangements before joining, with ongoing checks afterwards, and disputes can go to an independent ombudsman. It's not a guarantee of perfection, but it's a strong signal you're dealing with a properly run company.
A cheap man and van quote can turn into an expensive lesson if something goes wrong and nobody's covered. Ask the right questions, get the answers in writing, and you'll know exactly where you stand before moving day. If you'd rather skip the guesswork, get a free, no-obligation quote from Just Removals London and move with a fully insured crew from the start.